These Easy, Healthy Appetizers Have Fewer Than 250 Calories (But Sure Don't Taste Like It!)

Pump up the protein—and the color—of your next snack-a-thon with this choose-your-own-adventure hummus. We’ve designed four variations of the low-cal and low-sodium appetizer recipe so you can try one or all: bell pepper, roasted squash, lime-avocado, and roasted beet. Garnish with nuts and fresh herbs to really make each bowl pop, then pair with a side of whole-wheat flatbread wedges and vegetable sticks.

While they might look fancy and a bit fussy, this easy, healthy appetizer means you’re just 10 minutes away from hosting a chic tea party. Simply layer slices of firm bread with semisoft garlic and herb cheese, cucumbers, radishes, and fresh herbs. Season with salt and black pepper and serve alongside a fruit salad and freshly-brewed tea. How regal!

The spice is right in these low-salt appetizers that work well as part of a morning or evening menu. That’s because the filling for these low-cal and no-carb deviled eggs features warm ginger and zesty sriracha sauce. Top each egg half with pickled ginger, fresh green onion, and an extra drizzle of sriracha and everyone will be officially convinced that “healthful and “flavorful” need not be exclusive terms.

Buy It: Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma Deviled Egg Platter ($21, Williams Sonoma)

Stock up on button or cremini mushrooms for a snackable 99-calorie stuffed mushroom option. The quick, healthy appetizer recipe is filled with healthy fats from avocado, toasted nuts, and olive oil, as well as a lot of punchy flavor from champagne vinegar, fresh rosemary, and red onion.

Stuffed peppers aren’t just for dinner. Mini sweet peppers cut in half and piped full of jalapeño pepper-spiked, herb-laced Neufchâtel are cheesy, easy, healthy appetizers ideal for snacking. Each 36-calorie pepper is surprisingly satisfying. (By the way, fresh or dried herbs both work wonderfully to infuse the cheese.)

Break out the slow cooker and toss together this easy, healthy appetizer recipe. Featuring beef, sausage, and oats, our lean meatballs are a healthy appetizer for meat-lovers. A sweet-and-tangy molasses and lime dressing keeps these bite-size snacks super-moist.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Slow Cooker ($30, Target)

We don’t know about your snack sessions, but nearly all of ours include at least one guacamole recipe. Studded with ruby-hued tart pomegranate and sunshine-colored papaya, this is one of the prettiest quick, healthy appetizers to ever leave our Test Kitchen. Follow our instructions to stir in a good squeeze of lime juice (to prevent any potential avocado browning) and you can prep and chill this 78-calorie-per-serving app up to 4 hours ahead.

Sure, you could purchase a bag of roasted chickpea snacks to add to your spread. But once you see how wildly easy it is to prep your own tailor-made flavor of this low-sodium appetizer recipe, you’ll want to DIY from this point forward. All you need is 5 minutes to prep, two cans of garbanzos, olive oil, your favorite spice mix, and a sheet pan.

Why use just one spread when you can have two? These double-layer toasts boast both creamy ricotta cheese and a protein-rich pea and edamame combo. Bonus: This quick, healthy appetizer recipe is also a vibrant and showy addition to your party table.

Crisp your own chips and you can control the sodium content—oh yes, and the flavor! Go savory with chili powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper for a low-salt appetizer option that’s good to go with hummus or spinach-artichoke dip. Or feel free to sweeten the deal with brown sugar and cinnamon, which make a delightful pairing for dessert hummus or Greek yogurt.

Score double the pleasure, double the summery fun in this easy, healthy appetizer that features both fresh and sun-dried tomatoes. Our version of the classic Italian starter is also loaded with fresh basil, parsley, and feta cheese. Combine that all with a dash of EVOO atop a whole grain baguette slice and you won’t believe how much flavor you can savor for less than 200 calories per serving.

Spuds have had their turn. It’s kale’s turn to get the chip treatment. Seasoned with just enough salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, our fresh kale chip recipe is as crispy and satisfying as popcorn or store-bought chips, just with fewer calories and even more vitamins. Experiment with different seasonings until you find your favorite variation of this quick, healthy appetizer.

Swap the usual chickpeas with soybeans for this spicy and smoky hummus recipe. Since fiber-rich edamame is fairly flavor-neutral, paprika, garlic, and cumin really shine in this quick, healthy appetizer. Pair the dip with veggies or pita chips or use as a layer inside mini snack-size sandwiches.