Toothpick Appetizers Are the Perfect Party Food for Mingling
Sugared Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
The best things in life are bite-size and bacon-wrapped. Toothpicks work to both keep the bacon in place while cooking and provide the perfect handle for popping bite after bite into the mouths of your party guests. Please your crew with these sweet and smoky bites.
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Pickle Poppers
This toothpick appetizer idea is like a jalapeño popper without the spice. Simply stuff a halved pickle with a cheese mixture, wrap it in ham, and bake. Pop in a toothpick to hold the poppers together and to make it easy for social snacking.
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Seared Scallop Tequila Shooters
If starting the party with a shot is wrong, we don't want to be right. These little toothpick scallop shooters are the perfect Mexican-inspired starters. Perch a spicy scallop pick over tequila and mango for an instant fiesta.
Buy It: Bormioli Rocco Shot Glasses ($9, Bed Bath & Beyond)
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Chicken-Chorizo Meatballs
Give classic chicken meatballs a South-of-the-Border makeover with chorizo, salsa verde, and poblano peppers. These meatballs on a stick are tender, spicy, and easily come together in a slow cooker. Serve them hot for the perfect mini bite.
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Roasted Dates with Bacon
This recipe had us at “bacon.” There are only three ingredients for these delicious toothpick appetizers, and it only takes 35 minutes from start to finish for a batch of 16. Guests will love the hidden almonds inside each bacon-wrapped bite.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
Scallops make an elegant yet easy appetizer for your party. Wrap them in a bit of prosciutto and a fresh basil leaf before threading onto a skewer and serving.
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Cheesy Mexican Fondue
Is there anything better than melty cheese? We don’t think so, either. That’s why this spicy Mexican-inspired appetizer is at the top of our list. Cornbread on toothpicks is the perfect dipper for this spicy fondue.
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Zesty Fajita Bites
For a fun and fiery start to your next fiesta, roll up sizzling fajitas for a crowd. Simply assemble, slice, and skewer. Yes, these rolled-up toothpick appetizers are that easy.
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Bourbon-Glazed Cocktail Sausages
Party tonight? Simply toss four ingredients in your slow cooker, set it, and go! Serve the bourbon-spiked toothpick sausages with plenty of sauce.
Buy It: Crock-Pot 2-Quart Slow Cooker ($15, Bed Bath & Beyond)
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Molasses-Lime Meatballs
Give basic barbecue meatballs the night off. These tangy turkey bites boast good-for-you oats and a sticky-sweet sauce. Just toss in a few toothpicks and these party meatballs are ready to go.
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Parmesan-Stuffed Dates
Who knew three simple ingredients could create something so delicious? This toothpick appetizer is seriously addicting. Each bite is salty, sweet, and smoky perfection.
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Marinated Cheese
It’s hard to beat the simplicity of these no cook toothpick appetizers. Simply cut up cubes of Monterey Jack cheese and let the chunks marinate in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, spices, and garlic in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. You’ll be amazed how quickly these cheese appetizers on a toothpick will disappear.
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Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs Appetizer
Dried cranberries are mixed right into a meaty combination of ground turkey and breadcrumbs for these make-ahead meatball appetizers. Once the meatballs are baked through in the oven, they go right into a slow cooker filled with cranberry sauce and barbeque sauce where they’ll soak in the tangy-sweet fusion for up to three hours. Serve directly from the crock or on a plate with toothpicks.
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Hot Ham and Cheese Bites
Think ham and cheese is a boring sandwich? Not when you layer it on garlic Texas toast. Load up your plate with slices of the irresistible melty toothpick sandwich appetizer.
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Wrap and Roll Basil Pinwheels
It doesn’t get easier than make-ahead toothpick appetizers. Simply spread a tortilla with semi-soft cheese, top with basil and ham, then roll. Secure the rolls with a toothpick for easy serving and mess-free eating.
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Cheddar-Beer Weenies
The only thing better than cheddar-beer weenies? Bacon-wrapped cheddar-beer weenies on a toothpick. You're welcome.
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Caprese Surprise Meatballs
There’s a delicious surprise inside each of these Italian appetizers on a toothpick. A single strip of prosciutto wraps around either an olive, bocconcini, or a fresh piece of mozzarella cheese to add a fun filling to these saucy meatballs. A trio of sauces—pesto, Alfredo sauce, and marinara sauce—finish these toothpick meatballs off with a salute to the Italian flag.
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Watermelon-Prosciutto Bites
It doesn’t get much easier than no-cook toothpick appetizers. Sweet meets salty in these crave-worthy bites. This easy appetizer trio features juicy watermelon, goat cheese, and prosciutto.
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Curried Pork Bites
Toothpick food never looked and tasted so good. These curried pork bites can be made up to 24 hours in advance so it’s easy to simply take them out of the refrigerator and throw them on the grill. Top them with a tangy yogurt sauce or skewer each bite with a toothpick and arrange them around a bowl of the sauce for a fun dipping appetizer.
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Smoked Salmon Zucchini Bites
We’re bringing our favorite brunch flavors to the party. Thanks to the trusty toothpick, a simple roll of zucchini, smoked salmon, and cream cheese becomes an elegant appetizer. Better yet, these no-bake toothpick appetizers keep things cool without heating up your kitchen.
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Olive and Pepperoni Kabobs
Making showstopping appetizers in less than 20 minutes is a cinch with this appetizer. Rosemary serves as a fragrant skewer for these antipasti-style, cinched-up meat and cheese appetizers. Of course, toothpicks would work, too.