Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas
Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas
Quick and Easy Appetizer Ideas
Tis the season of hustle and bustle. It seems that if you aren’t heading somewhere or people aren’t heading to your place, then you are prepping for the next activity. No matter the occasion to gather, one thing remains the same—there will be food. After all, isn’t that why people put off making diet changes until the new year? All that yummy goodness that can’t be resisted! But in all the stress of running around, sometimes you don’t have time to create a masterpiece of a dish. So, whether you are taking food elsewhere or having people over, here are some quick appetizers you can whip up with just a few items.
Cream Cheese Spread
This one is the easiest and best because it takes 1.5 minutes to make and people love it. Plus there are so many variations that you could make it for every function!
Ingredients:
- 8oz block of cream cheese
- 10oz of Jelly, Chutney, or Relish of your choosing
- My favorites: Pepper Relish, Apricot Jelly, or even cranberry sauce (use up those leftovers!)
Just simply put the cream cheese on a plate and pour the jelly/chutney/relish over the top. Serve with crackers and a cheese knife! If you want to take it a step further, let the cream cheese soften at room temperature and mix in the topper to make it more of a dip.
Easy Flatbreads
I’ve found myself stocking up on Naan Bread when it goes on sale because it keeps so well in the freezer and only takes a few minutes to thaw. You can use Naan or any other pre-prepared flat bread options to create these. This is so easy, and you can make it as fancy or casual as you’d like depending on your crowd!
Ingredients:
- Flatbread of choice
- Sauce of choice (optional)
- Cheese of choice
- Toppings of choice
Simply take your flatbread, add a sauce if you have one in mind, then add your toppings and cheese. If you have colorful toppings, I’d add the cheese then toppings, so the color doesn’t get buried under that layer of cheesy goodness! All your ingredients should be precooked, so once assembled, pop it in the oven at 325 for just a few minutes. Once your cheese melts take it out of the oven and slice it up in a fun way to serve, think squares or long skinny triangles!
I love getting creative with these flatbreads, especially in thinking up ways to use leftovers! Here are a few of my favorite combinations:
BBQ Chicken– barbeque sauce, shredded chicken, sliced jalapenos, shredded mozzarella or provolone, topped with cilantro before serving.
Chicken Caesar– top flatbread with sliced chicken, parmesan and mozzarella then after baking, top with tossed Caesar salad (dressing and lettuce).
Caramelized Onion and Bacon– mozzarella or provolone, diced bacon and caramelized onion.
Roasted Veggies– a brush of olive oil, roasted seasoned vegetables and feta.
Pesto– pesto, spinach, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.
Turkey and Apple– pesto, thin sliced apple, turkey, white cheddar cheese and topped with arugula and walnuts before serving.
Another great option is to have frozen appetizers on hand. No, I’m not talking about pizza rolls (although with the right audience, this could totally work!), there are tons of grown up options out there. Just visit your favorite grocer and peruse the frozen section and stock up with your friends and family in mind. That way when people are heading over you can pop a few things in the oven and be good to go!
Hosting friends and family is a great way to make your house feel more like a home. After all, you are inviting the ones you love to fill your space and make memories alongside you! If you are looking for more tips on hosting a last minute get together click here.