Winter Party Appetizers

Baked and stuffed with a variety of crowd-pleasing fillings, these savory caps are ready to party. Give button mushrooms a quick clean before popping them into the oven with combinations like roast beef with blue cheese and hummus with olives.

Your grandmother's classic cast-iron skillet is back in style. Fill it with gooey spinach-artichoke dip before topping with a layer of frozen dinner rolls and baking into a cheesy, all-in-one appetizer.

Make a savory snack mix that rivals its store-bought contenders with a simple blend of chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. The spicy seasoning joins Worcestershire sauce to coat a variety of chips, pretzels, nuts, and sweet dried apricots.

After simmering with green onions and Worcestershire sauce, these slow-cooked mini meatballs get a sweet-and-tangy flavor twist from our homemade molasses-lime sauce. Serve on skewers for an easy grab-and-go party snack.

Spice up boring bean dip with zesty chorizo sausage. A spoonful of smooth, sweet honey complements the peppery Mexican meat, which pairs with shredded cheese, carrots, and black beans in this fiesta-ready dip.

Snack smarter and satisfy cravings for crunch with sweet-and-salty roasted nuts. After baking, this gluten-free blend of almonds, walnuts, and pepitas gets a buttery coating of brown sugar, rosemary, and cayenne pepper.

Warm, soft, salty -- classic soft pretzels are hard to deny, especially when dunked in grainy mustard or melty cheese sauce. A quick dip in a baking soda solution helps provide the snack's signature dark brown exterior.

What's better than mini party sausages? Mini party sausages with bacon! These irresistible links stay smokin' with a little jacket of bacon and a coating of brown sugar.

Empanadas can make any occasion feel fresh when filled with in-season flavors and global ingredients. For a winter take on the classic pastry, stuff the flaky crusts with a cozy blend of canned pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

It doesn't get much easier than skewering shrimp and green olives. A side of grilled fennel bulbs add slightly sweet cold-weather flavor to the appetizers. Pair with one of our three easy make-ahead dipping sauces: orange compote, red pepper dip, and Mexican cocktail sauce. 

Get all the goodness of this deli favorite in a delectable cheesy spread. Combine corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and two types of cheese in your slow cooker, and simmer until party guests arrive. To serve, slather the spread onto rye bread or crackers and top with a pickle slice.

Crunchy apple and tart cranberries plus horseradish and arugula give these beefy little sliders some zing. Cloverleaf rolls are just the right size to hold them.

Bake up a large-batch appetizer the entire party can agree on with these simple (and sweet!) mini pretzels. After tossing with ground cinnamon, sugar, and oil, the convenient snack food can be microwaved to save time.

Bring the yum factor to the party with plenty of cheese to go around. Shape two or more balls to roll in either bacon bits or pistachios.

Keep the party revved up with grilled bite-size pizzas. Ready-made pizza dough, cut into small circles, makes the process simple. Top with grill-roasted tomatoes and mozzarella slices.

Size and shape the turkey patties to fit the buns. They'll be manageable to hold, and each bite will get a taste of the sweet pepper topping.

A galette is a rustic tart of crusty pastry with fillings savory or sweet. This version gets its appetizing appeal from leeks, fennel, olives, and Gruyere cheese. Serve it warm from the oven.

Stuff dates with a whole almond, wrap in apple-smoked bacon, bake for 15 minutes, and wait for the generous thanks.

For a perfect party spin on the classic BLT, tuck bacon slices between light, flaky biscuits made with cracked black pepper. Add mayonnaise, roma tomato slices, and arugula, then watch them fly off the plate.

Skillet-roasting heightens the flavor of corn, onion, peppers, and garlic in this chunky and colorful salsa. Dig in with ample wedges of tortilla chips, jicama, or sweet peppers.

Add a kick to traditional kettle corn with this chipotle-sprinkled version that's perfect for sharing. Cook the popcorn yourself, or make prep extra easy with microwaveable kettle corn.

Tender chicken marinates in cayenne-spiced yogurt sauce for up to 24 hours, so it's ready to party when you are. Pair with fresh mint leaves and roasted peppers.

Revamp traditional guacamole with fresh ingredients like crumbled feta or goat cheese, almonds, and cilantro. Chopped serrano peppers add just the right amount of heat.

No need to remind everyone about eating their vegetables when you serve this spread -- especially with vegetable dippers offered alongside. Roasting heightens the flavors, and balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs brighten it even more.

Juicy roasted tomatoes, onion seasoned with rosemary, and shaved Manchego cheese make irresistible one-bite starters. The puff-pastry crust is a simple substitute for time-consuming shells.

Here's seafood on the double. Little shrimp boats stuffed with a cheesy crab mixture are quick to fix and make delightful nibbles for any get-together.

Light little appetizer bites to accompany a sipper are always welcome. Cheese is the reliable constant offered here in these delicious muffins.