25 Easy Cold Appetizers Your Visitors Will Adore!

 

Cold appetizers are the best kind for party hosts. They’re not only guaranteed to win over the crowd, but they’re also straightforward to make!

It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort to prepare delectable cold make-ahead appetizers for your upcoming gathering.

Making simple appetizers that your visitors will adore takes only a few minutes, giving you plenty of time to finish other preparations or simply kick back and unwind.

It’s good to have cold appetizers in the hot summer (or late spring) months because you don’t have to heat up your kitchen. Cold appetizers are also frequently lighter, making them ideal for serving when you only want light snacks for a party or gathering.

So check out our top 25 easy cold appetizers from dips to finger foods to cold appetizers on a stick, and more!

Quick and Easy Cold Appetizers Recipes Ideas

(This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosures here.)

 

1. Fresh Kiwi Mango Strawberry Salsa

Get The Full Recipe On Noshing with the Nolands

This fresh Kiwi Mango Strawberry Salsa is perfect for a hot summer day!

Everyone will enjoy this fantastic salsa that goes well with everything from an appetizer to dinner and beyond.

The star of this gorgeously colorful salsa is kiwifruit. These Kiwifruits are high in vitamin C, E, potassium, and fiber so that makes this appetizer healthy as well.

 

2. Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Lemon Tree Dwelling

Everyone enjoys a nice cheese ball, and this is the best one we’ve had thus far!

All of your favorite flavors are combined in one mouthwatering, dippable Jalapeo Popper Cheese Ball, making it the star of the show.

 

Easy Cold Appetizers Finger Foods…

 

3. Cheese Ball Bites

Get The Full Recipe On Princess Pinky

The ideal appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, or any other occasion is a mini cheese ball nibble.

For a quick bite-sized appetizer, roll them in your favorite topping and tuck a pretzel inside!

 

4. Easy Bruschetta Recipe (easy cold appetizers finger foods)

Get The Full Recipe On I Wash You Dry

Bruschetta is a simple appetizer recipe that is perfect for parties and potlucks! Excellent for making ahead of time and eating later!

This Easy Bruschetta Recipe, made with fresh tomatoes, basil, and onion and served over toasted baguette pieces, is my go-to summer appetizer.

For an additional special treat, drizzle some homemade Balsamic Glaze over the top.

 

5. Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries (Strawberry Blossoms)

Get The Full Recipe On The Food Charlatan

Strawberry Blossoms are a highly unique and creative party food dish. People will be amazed when they see these crimson beauties at your next get-together.

So gorgeous, so elegant… Ideal for Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, baby showers, wedding showers, Mother’s Day… or simply potluck parties.

Cold appetizers are one of our favorites.

 

6. Cucumber Bites Appetizers (easy cold appetizers finger foods)

Get The Full Recipe On Valyas Taste of Home

For several reasons, this amazing Cucumber Bites Appetizers Recipe is outstanding.

They are excellent for entertaining because they are simple to put together.

 

7. Easy Veggie Cups (Individual Appetizers In Cups)

Get The Full Recipe On Unsophisticook

Skip the usual veggie tray and try these fun veggie cups!

Perfect for any occasion, these individual servings are a breeze to serve, with no double dipping and easy cleanup.

An awesome, simple vegetarian appetizer!

 

8. Smoked Gouda & Apple Crostini with Honey Drizzle (easy cold appetizers finger foods)

Get The Full Recipe On Joyful Healthy Eats

A simple Holiday dish that only requires 5 ingredients is smoked gouda and apple crostini drizzled with honey.

This crostini strikes all the right notes: it’s crunchy, sweet, salty, and savory.

 

9. Turkey Roll Ups (Costco Copycat)

Get The Full Recipe On Culinary Hill

Make your own turkey roll-ups at home, just like the ones you get at Costco.

They’re so much easier to make, less expensive, and tastier than store-bought versions!

 

10. 3-Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers Recipe (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On A Spicy Perspective

This ridiculously simple 3-Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers Recipe will impress your guests while keeping you calm.

It’ll quickly become your new favorite appetizer recipe.

 

11. Tomato Basil Bruschetta with Balsamic Drizzle

Get The Full Recipe On Cookie and Kate

The ideal starter for summer celebrations is Bruschetta. Since ripe tomatoes are the primary ingredient in superb bruschetta, I only prepare them in the summer.

When done right, bruschetta is thin and crisp, topped with dark-red tomatoes, and bursting with flavor. The worst kind of bruschetta is flavorless, pink, and mushy.

 

12. Mini BLT Tomato Cups (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On The Endless Meal

Look no further for bite-sized appetizers for your next party.

These Mini BLT Cups are as adorable as they are delicious!

Cherry tomatoes are stuffed with arugula and a touch of chipotle mayo before being topped with a piece of crispy bacon.

 

Dips…

 

13. Best Ever Cold Crab Dip

Get The Full Recipe On Spaceships and Laser Beams

Our go-to appetizer recipe is this incredible traditional cold crab dip. With a few basic ingredients, it’s simple to make a great, handmade flavor.

I believe you’ll agree with me if I say this cold crab dip is the best you’ll ever eat. If you enjoy crab dips, be sure to sample both our crab rangoon dip and our hot crab dip. (Try these cucumber nibbles for another traditional appetizer.)

You can also serve this recipe as a spicy crab dip, or a hot crab dip when baked. I have a friend who constantly prepares crab dip and keeps it warm in her crockpot for gatherings, which I think is brilliant.

It will be delicious no matter how you prepare it.

 

14. Key Lime Pie Dip (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Domestic Super Hero

If you love key lime pie then you should also try this version of key lime pie dip.

It’s inexpensive, simple to make, quick, and tasty with just a few ingredients including cream cheese, condensed milk, and of course limes.

Graham crackers can be broken up and used as toppings giving it a little crunch.

This is a great party appetizer because it comes together quickly.

Bring this Key Lime Pie Dip to your next gathering or party, and I guarantee that your friends will be begging you for the recipe.

 

15. Crack Dip

Get The Full Recipe On Spend with Pennies

Crack Dip is quick, cheesy, and loaded with bacon flavor.

The base is made creamy with cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo, and it’s seasoned with a ranch dressing mix.

Crumbled bacon (or bacon bits), cheddar, and green onions are optional.

This super yummy dip goes well with crackers, chips, and veggies, or you can use it as a spread for burgers or sandwiches.

An ideal cold appetizer for parties or game days!

 

16. Easy Taco Dip (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Sugar Spun Run

This Easy Taco Dip is a quick and easy dip that’s full of flavor and will be a favorite at any summer picnic.

It’s prepared with traditional cream cheese and sour cream base, taco seasoning (you can use a pre-made packet or make your own), and all of your favorite taco toppings.

On mine, the usual ingredients—crisp shredded lettuce, spicy jalapenos, crumbled Mexican cheese, and juicy Roma tomatoes—always appear, but I’ve heard of people topping theirs with anything from onions to carrots.

What I also love about this cold appetizer is that it’s very versatile, you can customize it however you want it!

 

17. Beer Dip

Get The Full Recipe On Family Fresh Meals

We always carry this dip with us and it always vanishes first. This simple dip is a must-have for any event, really.

It’s fun and certainly a crowd-pleaser!

Think about all that deliciousness in a bowl, including cream cheese, cheese, ranch dressing, and beer.

Who would have imagined those ingredients would go so nicely together? It’s like explosions in my mouth!

 

18. Knorr Spinach Dip (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Culinary Hill

The traditional recipe for Knorr Spinach Dip is exactly what you’ve come to expect. Making it is quite simple, and it tastes much better than you remember. It is cold and creamy.

For years, skilled cooks have relied on a pantry mainstay—Knorr vegetable mix—as a spice for spinach dip. Even though it is a soup mix, the little, yellow packet has a picture of the dish it is most famous for: spinach dip.

Depending on the audience, serve it with crackers, slices of bread, and a ton of vegetables. Just Make sure you have enough since spinach dip this good, with the bread dish and everything, tends to vanish.

 

19. Easy Dill Dip

Get The Full Recipe On Culinary Hill

From now on, Easy Dill Dip will be a hit at all of your gatherings. This ultra-creamy classic only gets better the day after you prepare it because it only contains dried herbs and spices.

Every great host or hostess understands the value of a nice Dill Dip. It comes together quickly with only a few ingredients and five minutes of hands-on time. People eat their vegetables because they are so in love with them.

Although I normally prefer and advise using fresh herbs instead of dried ones, dried herbs are best for dill dip.

 

Cold Appetizers on a Stick

 

20. Caprese Skewers (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Dinner at the Zoo

These Caprese skewers are a quick and elegant appetizer that blends tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Everyone likes this taste combination, and eating it off a stick makes it even more entertaining. I serve these Caprese kabobs at all my parties.

 

21. Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

Get The Full Recipe On Taste of Home

We came up with the idea for this tangy and delicious cold appetizer on a stick.

The cinnamon-spiced yogurt dip adds a whimsical touch that kids adore, and it’s simple to prepare ahead of time and bring to the stadium, beach, or playground.

 

22. Antipasto Kabobs (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Taste of Home

Simple, filling, and lovely! You can essentially use what you already have.

Everyone enjoyed the tortellini dish I made with pepperoni, basil, grape tomatoes, black olives, and bits of pepper jack cheese.

Chunks of zucchini would also be an excellent addition!

 

23. Feta, Mint, and Watermelon Bites Recipe

Get The Full Recipe On HGTV

Simple, fresh watermelon and feta canapés seasoned with red wine vinegar and mint pair nicely with effervescent champagne.

These gorgeous appetizers deserve to be present at your next garden event.

 

24. Blackberry Bites (easy cold appetizers)

Get The Full Recipe On Call Me PMc

Look no further than these Blackberry Bites if you need to pull up an appetizer or party snack at the last minute.

They are a quick and simple appetizer that is light and fresh.

 

25. Healthy Appetizer: Watermelon Feta Skewers

Get The Full Recipe On Pizzazzerie

You will like these tasty watermelon feta skewers, the ideal summer treat!

These snacks are simple to prepare for a large group and look great.

Additionally, they are pretty adaptable; while we use feta with basil and mint, mozzarella, halloumi, or blue cheese would also taste fantastic!

 

 

I love all of these easy cold appetizers! Which ones are you going to try first? Write down your comments below!

 

More Awesome Articles You’ll Love:

• 12  Best Super Bowl Dips
• 11+ Easy Halloween Appetizers
• 12 Easy Summer Appetizer Ideas
• 11+ Easy Holiday Dips You’ll Love
• 12 Easy Finger Foods for a Crowd
• 13 Best Weight Watchers Appetizers
• 12+ Flavorful Beef Stew Crockpot Recipes
• 11+ Best Easter Appetizers (+ Easy Recipes)
• 14 Best Individual Appetizers for Social Distancing Parties

 

If you find this article useful, please share it on Facebook or Pinterest. Thank you for visiting Sharp Aspirant!

 

---

Follow us on PINTEREST for more easy cold appetizers!

---