Recipes and Cooking Party Recipes Appetizers These Easy, Healthy Appetizers Have Fewer Than 250 Calories (But Sure Don't Taste Like It!) By Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Instagram Website Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, and former fitness instructor who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness. (Or tries to, at least!) She holds a double major in magazine journalism and kinesiology from Iowa State University. She also passed her level one sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers, received her personal trainer certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and group fitness instructor certification through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). She's covered health, food, fitness, psychology, beauty, and beyond for more than 12 years. In addition to BHG.com, her writing has been published in AllRecipes, Runner's World, Shape and Fitness Magazines, as well as on EatingWell.com, Shape.com, ReadersDigest.com, TheHealthy.com, Prevention.com, WomensHealthMag.com, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Andy Lyons Get the party started with these easy, healthy appetizers. You can feel good about snacking on and sharing these awesome apps because they all feature less than 250 calories, fewer than 400 milligrams of sodium, and at least a little fiber. With dips, deviled eggs, and fully-loaded toasts, these low-cal and low-sodium appetizers are light on effort yet heavy on flavor. 01 of 16 Matcha-Cucumber Crostini View Recipe Carson Downing Think of this crostini recipe like a thoroughly modern twist on the classic afternoon tea time snack: cucumber sandwiches. In place of the plain cream cheese spread, we suggest dressing it up with mellow, naturally nutty matcha powder, a drizzle of honey for just enough sweetness, and a bit of tangy lemon zest for brightness. Generously spread that atop toasted baguette, finish with thin slices of crunchy cucumber, and this healthy appetizer is ready for Instagramming—and devouring! 02 of 16 Hummus 4 Ways View Recipe Jason Donnelly 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 healthy 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. Make-Ahead Dips You Can't Resist Dunking Into 03 of 16 Fruit Platter with Maple-Mascarpone Dip View Recipe Brie Passano Part fruit salad, part "chips" (hey, those are apple chips!) and dip, this easy, healthy appetizer idea is a colorful and fun way to inspire everyone to get closer to their five-a-day. Mascarpone and maple syrup are the only two ingredients required for the luscious dip. Surround a big bowl of that just-sweet-enough cheese with skewers or stripes of your favorite seasonal fruits. 20 Healthy Sweet Snacks for 50 Calories or Less to Buy or DIY 04 of 16 Paleo Avocado Deviled Eggs View Recipe Andy Lyons This high-protein healthy appetizer recipe works well as part of a morning or evening menu. That's because the filling for these keto- and paleo-friendly deviled eggs features the creamy, butter avocado you know and love from those trendy toasts, plus a dash of hot sauce and chives. Everyone will be officially convinced that "healthful and "flavorful" need not be exclusive terms. 05 of 16 Cucumber Tea Sandwiches View Recipe Carson Downing While they might look fancy and a bit fussy, this healthy appetizer recipe idea 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! 06 of 16 Avocado-Stuffed Mushrooms View Recipe Andy Lyons Stock up on button or cremini mushrooms for a snackable, perfect-for-passed-apps stuffed mushroom. The healthy appetizer recipe is filled with healthy fats from avocado, toasted nuts, and olive oil. The punchy flavor is courtesy of champagne vinegar, fresh rosemary, and red onion, and all of the above can be yours in just 30 minutes! 07 of 16 Herbed Cheese Mini Peppers View Recipe Andy Lyons 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 bite-sized pepper is surprisingly satisfying. (By the way, fresh or dried herbs both work wonderfully to infuse the cheese.) 08 of 16 Molasses Lime Meatballs View Recipe Andy Lyons 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 option that's sure to please meat-lovers. A sweet-and-tangy molasses and lime dressing keeps these bite-size snacks super-moist. 09 of 16 Savory Baked Pita Chips View Recipe Jason Donnelly 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 to customize this healthy appetizer menu addition with brown sugar and cinnamon, which make a delightful pairing for dessert hummus or Greek yogurt. 10 of 16 Two Tomato Bruschetta View Recipe Karla Conrad 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 for a snack that would make Giada De Laurentiis proud. 11 of 16 Peppered Kale Chips View Recipe Andy Lyons Spuds have had their turn. It's time for kale to get the chip treatment. Seasoned with just enough salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, this 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 easy, healthy appetizer. (We're currently crushing on everything bagel seasoning blend here!) 12 of 16 Edamame-Lemongrass Hummus View Recipe Jason Donnelly Swap the usual chickpeas with soybeans for this spicy and smoky hummus recipe. Since fiber-rich edamame is fairly flavor-neutral, garlic, ginger, parsley, and lemongrass really shine in this simple healthy appetizer recipe. Pair the dip with veggies or pita chips or use as a layer inside mini snack-size sandwiches. 12 Vegan Dip Recipes That Prove That Dips Don't Need Sour Cream or Cheese to Be Delicious 13 of 16 Air-Fryer Pumpkin Seeds View Recipe Katlyn Moncada Preheat your air-fryer as you toss raw pepitas with a bit of oil and your favorite seasonings. Add those spiced-up seeds to your air-fryer basket and they'll be toasted to perfection in a mere 3 minutes. Healthy appetizers don't come much quicker or easier than this! Choose to follow our instructions to make them smoky, sweet, or spicy—or assemble a buffet of all three and poll your guests about which is their favorite. 14 of 16 Smoky Pineapple Guacamole View Recipe Andy Lyons We don't know about your snack sessions, but nearly all of ours include at least one guacamole recipe. Studded with tropical grilled pineapple pieces, this is one of the best easy, healthy appetizers to ever leave our Test Kitchen. Follow our instructions to add a good squeeze of lime juice (to prevent any potential avocado browning) and store in an airtight plastic bag, and you can prep and chill the heart-healthy snack up to 8 hours ahead. 15 of 16 Fresh Berry Bruschetta View Recipe Karla Conrad Come summer, we can't get enough bruschetta any which way. (Stay tuned for a more traditional savory version.) When we have a bounty of fresh berries, we turn to this healthy appetizer recipe to give the classic Italian toast snack a sweet makeover with cinnamon-sugar-dusted crostini, a schmear of mint-laced cream cheese, and smashed strawberries and blackberries. Savor it for a starter or as dessert—or both! 16 of 16 Roasted Chickpeas View Recipe Andy Lyons 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 healthy appetizer recipe, you'll want to DIY from this point forward. All you need is 10 minutes to prep, a can of garbanzos, olive oil, hot pepper sauce, a pinch of seasonings and salt, and a sheet pan. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit