35 Easy Party Recipes

Celebrate a special occasion or just a fun Friday night with our recipes for dips, fondues, meatballs, snack mixes and more party appetizer foods.

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Cheese Fondue

Classic cheese fondue is a splurge in every sense--but it's also guaranteed bliss. (And you don't even need a fondue pot!) CJ Bienert, owner of The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, shares his easy recipe.Cheese Fondue recipe

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Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

Shape and bake the chicken meatballs ahead of time, then pop them in your slow cooker with cranberry and barbecue sauces.Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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Zucchini-Tomato Cups with Blue Cheese

These six-ingredient bite-size appetizers taste best warm, so assemble them in advance and pop them in the oven when guests arrive.Zucchini-Tomato Cups with Blue Cheese

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Ripe Olive Cheese Ball

Perfect for parties and tailgating! Make these cheese balls up to three months ahead of time then freeze. Thaw frozen cheese balls overnight in fridge before serving.Ripe Olive Cheese Ball

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Cheesy Snack Mix

Grated Parmesan cheese gives extra cheesy flavor to this blend of crispy corn and rice cereals, canned shoestring potatoes, crisp breadsticks and bite-size cheese crackers.Cheesy Snack Mix

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Parmesan-Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil

This beautiful and unusual recipe makes one small cheese ball, but easily doubles or triples to make multiple for a party. The recipe comes from Indiana-based Annie Marshall of the blog Everyday Annie.Parmesan-Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil

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Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo

Skip the supermarket tray. Our shrimp cocktail update is the ultimate make-ahead party app. Roasting brings out the shrimp's natural sweetness, and the two homemade sauces are ridiculously simple.Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce and Lemon-Chive Mayo recipe

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Turkey Pesto Sliders

These six-ingredient party sandwiches are simple and delicious. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.Turkey Pesto Sliders

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Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings

A reader in Saint Paul gave us this recipe, which always gets raves from her guests. The sweet glaze uses pineapple juice, ketchup and soy sauce.Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings recipe

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Marinated Cheese Cubes

Pantry ingredients turn ordinary Monterey jack into a deli-style party snack that tastes even better when you make it ahead. You can prep it three days in advance.Marinated Cheese Cubes

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Buffalo Sweet Pepper Poppers

These easy appetizers combine two party favorites -- jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken wings.Buffalo Sweet Pepper Poppers

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Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Onion dip is a classic for a reason-and this 100 percent homemade version is one of the best we've tasted. It's fab with potato chips, of course, but we also love it with crisp Romaine or Little Gem lettuce leaves for a lighter twist.Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

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Fresh Vegetable Chips

These chips are a fresh and healthy alternative to traditional potato chips. Serve with Caramelized Onion Dip, if you like.Fresh Vegetable Chips

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Gouda and Red Onion Pizza

This easy appetizer pizza features shredded Gouda and caramelized onions. The recipe comes from Gouda maker Oakvale Farmstead Cheese in London, Ohio.Gouda and Red Onion Pizza

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Swiss-Artichoke Dip

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.Swiss-Artichoke Dip

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Spicy Rosemary-Peanut Caramel Corn

This is caramel corn all grown up-studded with salted peanuts, flecked with rosemary and kissed with cayenne. Make a double batch to pack as gifts, or set a bowl on the coffee table as a way-fun alternative to Chex Mix.Spicy Rosemary-Peanut Caramel Corn

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Mediterranean Eight-Layer Dip

We've seen a lot of dips through the years, but we've never forgotten this one -- juicy veggies, tangy olive tapenade and feta piled on a thick layer of hummus. We like to make it ahead and serve it with warm toasted pita wedges. This recipe, originally published in December 2005, made our 25th anniversary list of all-time favorite recipes.Mediterranean Eight-Layer Dip

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Mini Burger Party Platter

To keep in step with the small-meal trend in restaurants, we created this Mini Burger Party Platter with fun sauces to choose from, including Balsamic Mayo, Herbed Goat Cheese and Citrus Ketchup.Mini Burger Party Platter

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Hot Artichoke and Asiago Cheese Dip

Roasted red sweet peppers fleck this dip with a festive crimson touch. Serve the warm, cheese-filled appetizer with bread or pita wedges, or some water crackers.Hot Artichoke and Asiago Cheese Dip recipe

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Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue

Lots of Monterey Jack cheese goes into this creamy fondue, along with sour cream, chipotle peppers and bacon. Scoop up with bread or tortilla chips.Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue

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Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

This five-ingredient recipe comes from the bacon pros at Nueske's meats in Wisconsin.Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms

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Feta, Honey and Date Spread

This spread can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to 3 days. For a flavorful dipper, brush pita wedges with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and thyme before toasting in oven.Feta, Honey and Date Spread

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Mini Italian Beef Sandwiches with Pepperoncini Slaw

These little beef sandwiches make a great appetizer for a party. And you can put them together in just 20 minutes.Mini Italian Beef Sandwiches with Pepperoncini Slaw

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Wasabi Almonds and Popcorn

If you'd like to cut additional fat from this zesty snack mix, use five sprays of butter-flavor nonstick spray instead of butter. Be sure to add the spray right before eating to prevent the popcorn from getting soggy.Wasabi Almonds and Popcorn

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Easy Party Wraps and Tomato Cups

Roll up cream cheese, sliced cold meats and tortillas for a savory party wrap. Or make the wrap sweet with figs, cranberries and herbed cream cheese in wheat tortillas.Another easy appetizer: Zucchini-Tomato Cups. The recipe comes from the Kirby House Restaurant in Abilene, Kansas. If you're not a blue cheese fan, use pesto-flavored cream cheese instead.Savory Cream Cheese Spread with Party Wraps recipe Zucchini-Tomato Cups recipe

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Tortilla-Black Bean Casserole

Layer a tomato-bean mixture, cheese and tortillas for a casserole with south-of-the-border flavor. Let each guest top their portion with chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, green onions, olives and/or sour cream.Tortilla-Black Bean Casserole

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Chocolate-Caramel Fondue

Just three ingredients go into this quick dessert: sweetened condensed milk, caramel ice cream topping and chocolate. Vary your dippers to match the mood of your party.Chocolate-Caramel Fondue

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Mexican Seven-Layer Dip

Combine pantry-ready ingredients such as canned bean dip and taco sauce for this easy dip. Serve with tortilla chips.Mexican Seven-Layer Dip

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Not Your Ordinary Brie

Apple-cranberry chutney adds a spicy kick to this warm, baked brie appetizer.Not Your Ordinary Brie

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Fireside Beer-Cheese Fondue

Mix and match cheeses to suit your taste in the fondue, then serve with an assortment of dippers, such as cubed French or Italian bread, cooked ham cubes, seedless grapes, apple chunks, and cut-up fresh vegetables.Fireside Beer-Cheese Fondue

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Devilishly Good Deviled Eggs

A hint of curry and some chutney elevate these deviled eggs to spectacular. Spoon the filling into a sandwich-size clear plastic bag and snip a corner for easy piping.Devilishly Good Deviled Eggs

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