3 Easy Appetizer Ideas that are sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Pair these semi-homemade apps with store bought snacks to create an effortless spread.
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I love entertaining. Enjoying good food and drink with great company is one of my favorite things in the world. Sometimes though, you just don't have the energy to do it up huge every time. I've got you covered during those tiresome times with a couple easy appetizer ideas. Put out a couple semi-homemade apps and supplement with store-bought snacks (chips, salsa, apples, clementines, carrots, hummus, pretzels...). You'll have a full spread that will satisfy your guests and make it look like you put in way more time creating it than you actually did.
Just a heads up, I didn't put ingredient amounts for the appetizer ideas below. You can easily decide on how many potatoes and sweet peppers you need based on your crowd - I always err on the side of too much than not enough! I probably used 6 or 7 baby red potatoes and 9 or 10 sweet peppers and it was enough for 7 people.
These 3-ingredient stuffed peppers are quick, easy and delicious. The reds, oranges and yellows bring a fresh pop of color to any buffet spread.
Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Ingredients
Sweet Peppers
Chive & Onion Cream Cheese
Chives
Directions
Cut tops off sweet peppers and cut in half length-wise. Take a spoon and scoop out seeds. Spread cream cheese into each pepper, top with chopped chives. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pesto gives these potato chips an extra level of flavor that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Topped with Italian cheeses, these are delicious served warm or at room temperature.
Pesto Potato Chips
Ingredients
Baby red potatoes
Olive Oil
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder & Paprika
Pesto -store bought or home-made. Check out my favorite pesto recipes here.
Finely shredded Italian Cheese blend.
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray (yay for easy clean-up).
Cut potatoes into 1/8 - 1/4" medallions. In a large bowl, drizzle potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Spread in a single layer across baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes.
Pull from oven, flip medallions and brush tops with pesto. Sprinkle cheese over the tops and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Marinated Cheese and Olives are easy and delicious. A great make-ahead appetizer that is easy to jar-up and send home with guests after the party!
Marinated Cheese and Olives
I can't take credit for this one, but have to include it as it's one of my staples for any gathering. It's so easy to put together ahead of time and great for sending home jars with guests. Check out the recipe from Five Heart Home here.