Here are 15 Make-Ahead Appetizers that I like to make for family or friends gatherings. If you are in search for appetizer ideas that can be made in advance for a party here are some of my suggestions. These are all recipes that can be found on my blog, recipes that I gathered before and after I started this blog. All of them are delicious and really appreciated each time I prepare them for any kind of gatherings. Hope you will try them too.
1.Chickpea Salad
This is one of my favorite salads, very flavorful that can be served on on crackers or pita bread chips. I made this recipe for the last couple of gatherings and everybody loved it. None of it was left by the end of the party.
2.Tortilla Pinwheels
This is a flavorful appetizer, easy to prepare, that can be made in the evening before the day of the event, refrigerate overnight and save some time for other things left to do for the event day. You can use homemade tortillas to make this even more delightful. Served with chili sauce, makes it one unique appetizer everybody will remember.
3.Red Lentil and Toasted Walnut Dip
The combination of toasted walnuts with lentils is just awesome. The spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander are such a good addition and bring flavor to this dip. This appetizer can also be made a day or even 2 in advance. Serve it on crackers, chips, fresh bread and fresh vegetables.
4.Spinach and Mushroom Pinwheels
Pinwheels appetizer will always look good on any party. You can choose whatever you want for the filling, from cheese, to bacon, red peppers for color and of course mushroom and spinach as these shown here. These can be made easier with bought puff pastry or if you want to make everything from scratch follow this recipe.
5.Soy Pate
This is one of the vegetable appetizers everybody enjoys. Everybody was eating and was asking me what it is. If you wouldn’t know you could hardly say it’s made form soybeans. Pairing it with fresh bread and fresh vegetables is just delicious.
6.Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits
These soft and flaky layered biscuits, made with buttermilk and honey are so simple to make and make a wonderful appetizer as they are or use as a base for small appetizer sandwiches.
7. White Bean Crostini
I don’t know an easier appetizer dip than thins White Bean Dip. It’s done in a matter of minutes, just add all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and blend until right consistency is achieved. It tastes so good and so refreshing because of the lemon and fresh parsley. Use it over crostini, crackers or pita bread chips.
8. Homemade Cheese Sticks
These cheese sticks were always a hit to any party I’ve made. They are easy to make and the best part is that you can even make them with 3 or 4 days in advance. They are absolutely delicious with a nice blend of butter and cheese flavor, perfect for dips or served as they are.
9. Celery Root Salad
This is another refreshing dip that can be easily made in advance and it still keeps its fresh taste. So easy to make, all you need to do is to let the celery boil until tender, and process with few other ingredients. So easy but so flavorful. I served this with homemade crackers but any other chips or crackers will work as well.
10. Homemade Hummus
I have made hummus for few gatherings and everybody loved it. You can serve it simple with fresh vegetables, toasted bread, crostini, pita bread or if you have more time make delicious looking appetizers like filling tomatoes with it.
11. Eggplant Salad
This is another easy recipe for a flavorful make-ahead appetizer dish and one of our favorite. You can roast the eggplants way ahead and freeze them until ready to use. I usually have roasted eggplants in my freezer and with one day before the party just thaw them and process. This way it takes minutes to finish this tasty appetizer.
12. Vegetable Balls
These are delicious and healthy baked vegetable balls, that everybody love including kids. You can serve them alongside salsa, vegetable sauce or on skewers with cherry tomatoes and hard cheese. They look and taste soo good.
13. Frittata Primavera
This is quick and easy, no exact rule to what you put inside your frittata. Use your favorite ingredients, cut it in one bite slices and your appetizer is done and looking great.
14. Mushroom Empanadas
Make-ahead appetizer, small pastries filled with your favorite filling, from vegetables to meat or cheese makes a wonderful appetizer that all will love. You can sprinkle some sesame and flax seeds on top for a more appetizing look. I’ve done these for my daughter’s birthday and they were all gone in a matter of minutes.
15. Mini Tarts with Chicken
These full of flavor make-ahead mini tarts appetizer are looking soo good. The same as with the empanadas you can choose to fill them with whatever you like, from chicken to only vegetables. In any way they are amazing.
