There’s nothing more enjoyable in life than eating good food with friends. The keys to a successful party are addictive appetizers, fun people, and a relaxed host. These recipes will not only keep you sane but also they will keep you from spending hours in the kitchen. Keep reading for easy apps that will keep your guests coming back for seconds and thirds.

1. Pizza Pinwheels: Load up puff pastry with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni; and after half an hour in the oven, they will send you to comfort food heaven. (via Brit + Co)

2. Garlicky Cheese Bread: Guests love pulling apart this cheesy bread. Serve it with marinara sauce or warmed tomato soup for dunking. (via Feed Your People: Big-Batch, Big-Hearted Cooking and Recipes to Gather Around)

3. Easy Meatballs: Dress up store-bought meatballs by tossing them in flavorful sauces like oyster, coconut curry, and barbecue-apricot. (via Brit + Co)

4. Easy, Fancy Crostini: Don’t let a budget keep you from entertaining. A baguette usually only costs a couple dollars, and it can make around 25 crostini, enough to fill a big crowd. (via Brit + Co)

5. Jalapeño Popper Dip: Who has time to stuff and bake poppers? When that’s not an option, make this stove-top queso dip instead, which features all the traditional ingredients found in the spicy, cheese-stuffed peppers. (via Brit + Co)

6. Watermelon Jerky: Need a good appetizer to use up a watermelon? Chop it into strips and dehydrate it for a crunchy, slightly sweet snack. (via Brit + Co)

7. Shrimp Puffs: Baked puff pastry adds extra crunch. Serve these alongside a spicy-sweet Asian-inspired dip. (via Brit + Co)

8. Pulled Jackfruit Nachos: Anything baked on a sheet pan makes entertaining a breeze, leaving you more time to spend with your guests. (via Brit + Co)

9. Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Stuffed Mushrooms: These rich and creamy morsels, stuffed with artichoke dip, have the potential to be the showstopper at your dinner party. Simply slow-cook and serve. (via Brit + Co)

10. Cloud Bread Pizza: Kids and adults alike will flip over these fluffy pizzas. Top them with plenty of cheese and pepperoni. (via Brit + Co)

11. Chocolate Hummus: Turn dip up a notch by making chocolate hummus. Serve it with sweet dippers like apple slices and waffle crackers. (via Brit + Co)

12. Instant Pot Carnitas: Instead of spending hours babysitting your carnitas in the oven and adding in tons of extra oil, these delicious and crispy carnitas can be made in your Instant Pot. Then just throw them in some taco shells with cilantro and onion. (via Brit + Co)

13. Quinoa Salad: Serve this healthy grain as a salad or side to a heartier protein dish. You can sub in any fresh and dried fruit to keep this seasonal. (via Brit + Co)

14. Baked Korean Chicken Wings: Add some extra kick to the old chicken wing staple with tasty Korean flavors. Gochujang brings this dish to life and gives it lots of color. (via Brit + Co)

15. Skillet Gnocchi, Mini Sausage, and Sage Skewers: Even though this dish sounds intense, it couldn’t be easier. Just sauté up some favorite mini sausage and gnocchi and thread them onto skewers to serve. (via Giovanni Rana)

16. Keto Cauliflower Cheese Tots: How cute is bite-sized food? These cheesy tots are loaded with cauliflower rice rather than the traditional potato. (via Brit + Co)

17. Pizza Nachos: Literally bursting with flavor, this two-in-one snack will be appreciated by vegetarians and meat eaters alike. (via Brit + Co)

18. Fresh Fruit, Cheese, and Charcuterie Platter: This addition is always appreciated in an appetizer lineup, and you can prepare it in advance. It’s also a tasty alternative to dessert if you didn’t have time to make something sweet. (via Brit + Co)

19. Bacon Pastry Twists: Puff pastry soaks up all the bacon fat goodness. Serve it with a beer cheese dip to send tastebuds over the edge. (via Brit + Co)

20. Spinach Jalapeño Queso Dip: Not only is this dip vibrantly colored, the flavors are equally attractive. (via Brit + Co)

21. Charcuterie Skewers: Putting together a snack platter is almost as much enjoyable as the snacking. Mix things up with pickles, salty meats and creamy cheeses for some very grown-up entertaining. (via Brit + Co)

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Kate Thorn
Kate Thorn is an illustrator, foodie, photographer, and blogger at Create & Kate. She loves creating art, traveling, and all things chocolate. A native to the Great Northwest, she is currently living in London and pretending to be a mature grad student.