Winter Party Appetizers

Updated: November 16, 2016
On game days and movie nights, winter entertaining has a style all its own. Fuel the fun with these easy appetizer recipes for bite-size foods, delicious dips, irresistible snack mixes, and more.
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Stuffed Baked Mushrooms

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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.

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Cheesy Skillet Artichoke Dip

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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.

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Zesty Popcorn Mix

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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.

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Molasses-Lime Meatballs

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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.

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Honey and Black Bean Dip

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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.

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Rosemary Roasted Nuts

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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.

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Classic Soft Pretzels

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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.

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Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

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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.

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Pumpkin-Cinnamon Empanadas

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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.

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Shrimp-Olive Skewers with Orange-Fennel Salad

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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. 

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Reuben Spread

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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.

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Hamburger Sliders with Cranberry Chutney

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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.

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Cinnamon Pretzels

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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.

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Bacon-Cheddar Cheese Balls

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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.

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Grilled Pizza Poppers

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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.

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Cajun Turkey Sliders with Spicy Remoulade

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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.

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Swiss Olive Galette

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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.

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Roasted Dates with Bacon

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

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Bacon and Cracked Black Pepper Biscuits

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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.

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Roasted Corn Salsa

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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.

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Chipotle Kettle Corn

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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.

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Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

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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.

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Goat Cheese and Almond Guacamole

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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.

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Roasted Vegetable Spread

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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.

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Sweet Onion-Tomato Tartlets

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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.

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Crab-Topped Shrimp

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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.

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Smoked Cheddar Mini Muffins

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

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