Food and Recipes Appetizers The 39 Best Appetizers To Serve All Spring Long We're talking colorful dips, festive platters, crunchy crostinis, and more. By Josh Miller Josh Miller Josh Miller is a writer, editor, recipe developer, and food stylist who has been writing about Southern food and working in the publishing industry for the past 20 years. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Taste of the South, and Southern Cast Iron magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 16, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely After a long winter, we're all looking forward to dining al fresco and hosting outdoor barbecues. As you're starting to venture outside more to soak up some sun for Easter dinner, Mother's Day brunch, a bridal shower, or upcoming graduation this spring and summer, don't neglect the most delicious start to any celebratory menu: the spring appetizers.These spring appetizer recipes feature the most colorful and juiciest fruits and vegetables of the bunch, as well as a lighter flavor profile to keep you and your dinner party guests satisfied (but not too full) until the second course. We guarantee that these tasty appetizers will cure your spring fever. 01 of 39 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox You can prepare the egg salad for this herbaceous appetizer one day in advance to save you time on the day you'll be serving. Fresh chives and dill liven up the egg mixture, and blanched asparagus tips add spring color. For an elegant presentation, serve on toasted, crustless bread slices. Get The Recipe 02 of 39 Spinach Dip Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Spinach dip doesn't always have to be warm, and this creamy dip proves just that. In just 10 minutes, you can whip up this refreshing dip for your spring guests, even at the last minute. Get The Recipe 03 of 39 Cheesy Artichoke Dip With Spring Crudités Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Whether you serve this cheesy dip with fresh vegetables or crisp pita chips, it's sure to be scooped up quickly by your guests. The artichokes are the true star of this recipe since we left out the spinach in this version. Get The Recipe 04 of 39 Rosalynn Carter's Cheese Ring Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox You can pull this timeless appetizer together in just 5 minutes. Adding strawberry preserves just before serving adds a nice touch of spring to the plate. Get The Recipe 05 of 39 Cucumber-And-Onion Dip Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Think of this dip as a combination of cucumber salad and onion dip. It's refreshing like a salad yet still scoop-able like a dip. Get The Recipe 06 of 39 Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Creamy goat cheese and sweet, fresh strawberries balance out the heat from the jalapeños in this crostini recipe. Not only are they delicious, but they're pretty too. Get The Recipe 07 of 39 Sweet Pea-Parmesan Dip Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis A bag of frozen peas can be turned into this pretty dip in just 15 minutes. Even those who may not usually love the green vegetable will love scooping up this appetizer. Get The Recipe 08 of 39 Crudités Platter Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs No matter the spring occasion you need an appetizer for, you can't go wrong with a crudités platter. The best part about this impressive platter is that it doesn't require any cooking. Get The Recipe 09 of 39 Whipped Goat Cheese With Smoky Bacon Jam Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Appetizers should be easy yet impressive, and this recipe fits the bill. It may remind you of a restaurant appetizer, but you can whip it up at home to impress your guests. Get The Recipe 10 of 39 Spinach-Artichoke Dip Caitlin Bensel Instead of reaching for a pre-made dip, whip up this homemade version that takes just 15 minutes of hands-on time. In this dip, we recommend using frozen artichokes instead of the canned variety for the best flavor. Get The Recipe 11 of 39 Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This 15-minute appetizer starts with a toasty baguette slice that's covered with a creamy spinach-ricotta mixture and then topped with a slice of prosciutto. The mixture can be made up to two days in advance to help them come together even quicker on the day they'll be served. Get The Recipe 12 of 39 Carrot-Tahini Dip Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Think of this dip as a hummus that's made with carrots instead of garbanzo beans. It's fresh, colorful, and delicious. Get The Recipe 13 of 39 Deviled Crab Dip Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely When making the dip, be sure to fold the crabmeat gently so it doesn't fall apart too much and large pieces can be scooped up. You can you fresh or canned crab meat. Get The Recipe 14 of 39 Roasted Artichokes With Creamy Garlic Dipping Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones This recipe is here to prove that you shouldn't be intimidated by cooking artichokes. Simply roast them and serve them with a garlic dipping sauce for an appetizer that's perfect for spring. Get The Recipe 15 of 39 Herbed Goat Cheese Spread Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Make the most of fresh herbs from your garden by whipping up this creamy goat cheese spread in just 5 minutes. It's simple yet packs plenty of flavor. Get The Recipe 16 of 39 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Upgrade the traditional cream cheese and pepper jelly duo by adding pan-fried shrimp to top off each cracker. Basic saltines get a makeover with an olive oil and spice blend coating, then layered with cream cheese, pepper jelly, and the herb-and-lemon seasoned shrimp. Assemble just before your guests arrive, but be prepared for this appetizer to disappear soon after. Get The Recipe 17 of 39 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele No matter the occasion, egg salad is a great starter that comes together in just 15 minutes. We’ve refined this classic recipe with a peppery bite from radishes. Chopped eggs, mayo, scallions, dill, and salt make up the rest of this salad, but customize to your taste by adding a dash of paprika, cayenne, or pepper. Get The Recipe 18 of 39 Collard Dip Southern Living It’s time for the classic hot spinach dip to get a Southern spin with collard greens. Thaw and drain frozen chopped collard greens and fold them into a creamy cheese mixture and bake until bubbly, about a half hour at 375 degrees. Serving this dip with fresh colorful veggies will create a beautiful display to welcome spring. Get The Recipe 19 of 39 Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers with Chipotle Comeback Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Make sure to use regular, not thick cut bacon, for these skewers so it'll cook evenly with the shrimp. Prepare the shrimp and sauce a day ahead, then they cook quickly on the grill with 3 minutes per side. The sweet and smoky comeback sauce, a Southern favorite, works great as a dip, sandwich spread, or salad dressing, so make extra, which will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Get The Recipe 20 of 39 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Sometimes going back to basics is the best approach to creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer like this classic deviled eggs recipe. Looking for an easy way to peel eggs? After cooking the eggs, lightly crack them and soak in an ice bath for 10 minutes, then peel under cold water. You may want to double the recipe for this no-frills appetizer, depending on how many guests you're serving. Get The Recipe 21 of 39 Cheese Dreams Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Appetizers that can be made ahead are always a winner in our book. White crustless sandwich bread cut into squares gets smothered in a kicked up cheddar cheese blend and baked to create these addictive cheesy bites. Prepare a day ahead, or freeze for up to three weeks to have a party-ready snack on hand. Get The Recipe 22 of 39 Mamau's Cheese Straws Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel; Food Styling: Pam Lolley A bowl of cheese straws will start any gathering out on the right note. And nothing’s better than a favorite family recipe like this one cherished through the generations. This recipe makes a large batch, so store in an airtight container, and share extra straws as food gifts. Get The Recipe 23 of 39 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio Choosing the ripest tomatoes is key to ensuring this 20-minute appetizer tastes its best. BLTs reduced to mini size may be less indulgent than a whole sandwich. but it will require restraint to have just one. This easy-to-transport app will be appreciated at a picnic or ladies brunch. Get The Recipe 24 of 39 Our Favorite Pimiento Cheese Hector Manuel Sanchez With warmer weather around the corner, it's time to break out the pimiento cheese to make bite-sized, tea sandwiches or to enjoy with saltines. Our favorite tried-and-true pimiento cheese has toasted pecans for crunch and a kick from ground red pepper. Your cheese grater is essential for this one, pre-shredded cheese won’t cut it, hand-grated cheese’s taste and texture just can’t be beat. Get The Recipe 25 of 39 Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A creamy, cheesy dip is a welcome addition to any menu. To spread the pepper jelly smoothly over the hot dip, stir the jelly in a bowl to loosen it up first. This starter can be served with the crudité or bread of your choice. Get The Recipe 26 of 39 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living This recipe combines two classic appetizers into one bite-sized savory treat. With just four ingredients this easy, cheesy, and meaty app also makes a large batch in just 30 minutes. These freeze well to use later for breakfasts, lunches, and apps. Get The Recipe 27 of 39 Fried Deviled Eggs Micah A. Leal We always like to try a new twist on deviled eggs. Here we add a little crunch to deviled eggs by frying the egg whites before adding the creamy filling. Customize the panko-and-Parmesan breadcrumb mixture with your favorite flavors, from Cajun to Old Bay seasonings. Get The Recipe 28 of 39 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This tried-and-true appetizer requires just 10 minutes of hands-on time and is sure to be loved by guests of all ages. Gouda cheese and everything bagel seasoning packs this updated version with flavor. These are best enjoyed hot out of the oven. Get The Recipe 29 of 39 Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Frozen mini pastry shells are a convenient base for a flavor-packed mushroom filling. If you’re putting a party spread together, these come together in 25 minutes and pair nicely with classic apps like deviled eggs and cocktail meatballs. The mushroom filling would be delicious on pizza or in pasta sauce if you have any leftover. Get The Recipe 30 of 39 Baked BLT Dip Southern Living This recipe transforms the classic sandwich into your new favorite dip. This decadent app is loaded with a pound of crispy bacon mixed into the creamy dip and also sprinkled on top. Our favorite way cook bacon is in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, it’s a lot less messy and can be done in one batch. Get The Recipe 31 of 39 Deviled Potatoes Hector Manuel Sanchez Two Southern classics, deviled egg, and potato salad, collide to create these tiny delicacies. After baking petite red potatoes, the interior is scooped out to create the filling mixed with capers, fresh herbs, mustard, and sour cream. This party snack can be made a day ahead for easier prep. Get The Recipe 32 of 39 Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason We elevated the typical deviled egg recipe with plenty of bold Tex-Mex flavor to really wow your guests. We hope they can take the heat. These eggs get their kick from fresh jalapeño (or go hotter with Serrano pepper) and chili powder. Get The Recipe 33 of 39 Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip Photo: Greg Dupree Say hello to a much improved and tastier version of classic spinach dip. The kicker here is the flavorful addition of sweet Vidalia onions. After combining the cooked onion-and-spinach mixture with the sour cream and chives, the flavors need to meld by chilling for at least 30 minutes. Get The Recipe 34 of 39 Party Poppers Photo: Hector Sanchez It wouldn't be a spring party without a little heat. These poppers are extra meaty—filled with a chicken cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. These can be prepared in 35 minutes with broiling for a few minutes at the end to crisp the bacon. Get The Recipe 35 of 39 Baked Brie Bites Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Impress your guests with this sophisticated five-ingredient appetizer recipe. For easy prep, the store-bought ingredients simply get assembled and baked. These little bites hit all the flavor notes with creamy cheese, sweet pepper jelly, crunchy toasted pecans, all in a flaky crust. Get The Recipe 36 of 39 Mini Caprese Bites William Dickey These show-stopping party skewers will have you dreaming of long, warm nights spent outdoors with family and friends. Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic is a crowd-pleasing combination. It’s always fun for kids to eat food on a stick, but skewers also makes eating this app easy and mess free. Get The Recipe 37 of 39 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Fresh basil, strawberries, fresh mozzarella, and white balsamic create a spring version of caprese salad. The ingredients need to marinate and meld by chilling for two hours for the best flavor. This sweet and tart appetizer doubles as a fresh, crisp salad. Get The Recipe 38 of 39 Asparagus Ribbon Crostini Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This quick and easy appetizer celebrates spring with fresh and bright seasonal ingredients asparagus, lemon, and mint. We love the combination of the crispy bread, the creamy ricotta-Parmesan spread, and the lemony and minty asparagus ribbons. Other than toasting the baguette slices, the preparation for this 30-minute app is pretty effortless. Get The Recipe 39 of 39 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox While these cheese puffs are delicious on their own, they're even better when filled with ham salad. These puffs are flavored with Gruyere, dry mustard, and cayenne. If you entertain a lot, these versatile puffs are good to have ready to heat up from your freezer. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit