60 Appetizer Recipes That’ll Get The Party Started This Fall
We are big fans of summer (love her work!), but fall might just be our favorite time of year for eating, don't you think? It’s got all the best food holidays (like Thanksgiving!), all the coziest foods (like casseroles and soups), and it’s the perfect time to gather our friends and families over out of the cold. Whether you’re throwing a rager or are just having a casual get-together this fall, you’ve gotta have apps. They make or break a party, in our opinion (that, and cocktails)—lucky for you, we’ve got tons of seasonal options here. Check out our list of 60 fall appetizers for all the ideas you'll ever need!
When it comes to the perfect party, there are a few appetizer guidelines we like to follow. There should be a mix of sweet and salty, bite-sized options and chips and dips, a little something healthy in there, and nothing overly complicated. We’ve got some go-tos we return to again and again, but we’re transforming them for fall with seasonal flavors and produce. Looking for something sweet? Try our cannoli chips and dip, our sweet potato bites (complete with marshmallows), or our pumpkin pie wontons. Leaning more salty? Check out our green bean casserole bundles, our ham and cheese pinwheels, or our bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. Not into plates, and want easy finger foods? Try our butternut squash potstickers, our pumpkin deviled eggs, or our french onion soup bombs. Want an appetizer table showstopper that’ll make all your guests ooh and ahh? Take a look at our cranberry brie pull-apart bread, pub beer cheese dip, or Thanksgiving ring. Want to default to something easier, like chips and dip? Try switching up the flavors of your favorite dips, like with our cranberry whipped feta dip, our pumpkin hummus, or our maple-prosciutto baked brie. It’s easy to incorporate all your fall favorites into appetizers—honestly, what better reason to throw a party?
Want more fall inspiration? Check out our favorite fall cocktails, fall dinners, and fall desserts too.
Fried Gnocchi Bites
These crunchy, little pillowy bites are absolute perfection and an excellent bite-sized appetizer to serve at any function. The gnocchi are breaded in seasoned bread crumbs and Pecorino (which provides some sharpness), then fried, giving the soft and slightly chewy dumplings a crispy exterior. Serve with your favorite jarred marinara sauce for dipping or make our easy homemade marinara sauce.
Get the Fried Gnocchi Bites recipe.
Buffalo Blitz Bites
Buffalo chicken dip is the perfect combination of a spicy, meaty Buffalo wings and creamy, cheesy party dip, making it the most crowd-pleasing appetizer you can serve…until the invention of Buffalo Blitz Bites. Classic Buffalo chicken dip mix—chopped chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, blue cheese, hot sauce, and chives—is baked into a crisp puff pastry shell until bubbling and golden. Instead of eating the celery and carrots on the side, we tossed them in some apple cider vinegar and added them on top, making this a one-stop shop for all your favorite game-day flavors.
Get the Buffalo Blitz Bites recipe.
Apple Cheddar Bundles
If the aroma of toasted puff pastry, roasted apples, and nutty cheddar cheese doesn’t wake up your spirit… we're not sure what will. These flaky puff pastry bundles will get everyone in the fall spirit, especially while sipping on amaretto sours and apple cider mimosas.
Get the Apple Cheddar Bundles recipe.
Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a star side in our book, and adding Parmesan to these crispy bites makes them practically irresistible. We coat these sprouts in a cheesy, garlicky mixture before baking on a high heat, giving them an ultra-crispy crust perfect for dunking in homemade Caesar dressing.
Get the Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Craving something a little more creative than your average Buffalo wings? Enter: Buffalo chicken meatballs. Ready in just 30 minutes, these meatballs are a flavor-packed app you can have ready in no time, so you don't have to miss any of the big game.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.
Meatball Sub Egg Rolls
These fun little hybrids are exactly what they sound like—all of the fillings you'd find in a meatball sub loaded into an egg roll wrapper and deep-fried until golden brown, delicious, and perfect for folks who don't want their hands covered in hot marinara sauce.
Get the Meatball Sub Egg Rolls recipe.
Pigs In A Blanket
There's something very classic about the crescent roll dough flavor, so we tend to gravitate toward it, but puff pastry or even biscuit dough should work here too.
Get the Pigs In A Blanket recipe.
Toasted Ravioli
The steps are simple for this foolproof app: Start with your favorite ravioli (store-bought are just fine here), coat them in eggs and bread crumbs, then fry—either in hot oil or in your air fryer. Serve them with warm marinara on the side and showered with Parmesan for the best app around.
Get the Toasted Ravioli recipe.
Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs
With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, these are great for serving with toothpicks as an app or over fluffy mashed potatoes for a low-key Thanksgiving dinner.
Get the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs recipe.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Wings are a game day staple, but if you’re vegetarian (or simply looking to eat less meat), then these cauliflower wings are the answer. When you're craving something a bit lighter—or need to please plant-based guests—these wings are the app you'll turn to again and again....and, again!
Get the Buffalo Cauliflower Wings recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
In this recipe, cream cheese and shredded pepper jack are stuffed in the jalapeños before being wrapped in smoky bacon (because everything is better with bacon 😉). When cooked, the cheese gets hot and melty while the peppers mellow slightly, making every bite a perfect combo of flavors.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers recipe.
Loaded Cheese Ball Bites
These easy bites are perfect for a fall get-together. We love their little pretzel handles, but feel free to leave them out or even make one huge cheeseball instead!
Get the Loaded Cheese Ball Bites recipe.
Potato Gratin Stacks
Potatoes au gratin are one of the most satisfying sides, so we decided to turn it into a crowd-pleasing bite-sized app too. No casserole dish needed here—a muffin tin, Russet potatoes, two types of cheese, heavy cream, and staple seasonings are all you need to create these cheesy stacks.
Get the Potato Gratin Stacks recipe.
Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
Pull-apart bread reaches a whole new level, thanks to brie and cranberry sauce. Use your favorite homemade sauce recipes, but store-bought works too if you're short for time!
Get the Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread recipe.
Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Bites
Little puff pastry squares get topped with caramelized onions and a little crumbled goat cheese for an easy appetizer that always wows. The final step is a light drizzle of honey for that salty sweet combination everyone will love. Hot tip: These are the perfect opportunity to bust out any good-quality honey you’ve been saving.
Get the Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Bites recipe.
Caramelized Onion Dip
With this recipe, we take the classic onion dip one step further by incorporating deeply caramelized onions into the mix. It takes a little longer than you might think for onions to truly caramelize, but we promise it’s worth it (and can be made ahead of time!).
Get the Caramelized Onion Dip recipe.
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish Aioli
Typically, shrimp cocktail brings to mind a large platter of chilled shrimp and a sweet, tangy sauce. We’re opting for roasting instead of the traditional poaching method to give this old-school appetizer even more flavor.
Get the Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish Aioli recipe.
Tempeh Buffalo “Wings”
Quicker to make and easier to eat than Buffalo chicken wings, this plant-based version swaps chicken for snackable triangles of tempeh to mimic the crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Get the Tempeh Buffalo “Wings” recipe.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins are pretty amazing. You can carve them, roast them, serve them savory or sweet. One of their best (and often overlooked) attributes is their seeds! They’re super easy to prepare and make a seriously delicious snack. They're great prepared super simply, roasted with salt and melted butter, but the variations are completely endless, so get creative.
Get the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.
Potato Skin Bites
These cheesy bites taste just like loaded potato skins, but are SO much easier. Simple slice and roast your potatoes, then top them with all your favorite ingredients. Stick them under the broiler for a minute to melt the cheese, and you'll have the tastiest bite-sized app ever.
Get the Potato Skin Bites recipe.
Reuben Pinwheels
If you love meaty, savory, tangy Reuben sandwiches, then these crispy Reuben pinwheels are the easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ve been searching for. Made with store-bought buttery puff pastry and layered with corned beef, gooey Swiss cheese, creamy thousand island dressing, and crunchy sauerkraut, these bites have everything you love about the classic sandwich in a party-ready shape.
Get the Reuben Pinwheels recipe.
Cheesy Green Bean Mushroom Tart
Green beans and mushrooms are a combo we never get tired of, and that goes double for this tart. Fresh blanched green beans are layered onto a creamy blend of ricotta and goat cheese, topped with garlicky mushrooms and cheddar cheese, then baked on a puff pastry crust until perfectly melty, crisp, and crave-able.
Get the Cheesy Green Bean Mushroom Tart recipe.
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.
Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
Boursin-Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are THE appetizer we make for every party, and while our classic recipe is great, sometimes we like to switch it up a bit. Enter boursin cheese. It adds a little something to these that’ll have your guests coming back for more.
Get the Boursin-Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.
Pumpkin Deviled Eggs
These pumpkin deviled eggs are way easier to make than a jack-o'-lantern. Paprika gives each its bold color, while a fresh chive makes for the perfect stem. So cute!
Get the Pumpkin Deviled Eggs recipe.
Antipasto Roll-Ups
Your favorite antipasto just got even better—it’s now wrapped in buttery puff pastry. A couple bites in, and you’ll be going back for another. And another. Layered with Provolone, salami, pepperoni, roasted red peppers, and slathered in a Kalamata olive and pepperoncini spread, you’re going to be dreaming about these bundles for days.
Get the Antipasto Roll-Ups recipe.
French Dip Squares
Turns out you don't need fancy ingredients to make the best party appetizer ever. These easy french dip squares are loaded with complex flavors (thanks caramelized onions!) AND there's enough to feed a hungry crowd. The perfect shortcut to a French dip sandwich, we'll be making these over and over again.
Get the French Dip Squares recipe.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Part retro, part cult classic, it’s hard to go wrong with a cheese ball. This festive pumpkin rendition may not contain any actual pumpkin, but it’s full of fresh herbs, minced jalapeño, and of course, plenty of cheese (and is SO cute on a holiday cheese board!).
Get the Pumpkin Cheese Ball recipe.
Potato Croquettes
Potato croquettes are one of the most popular Spanish tapas, or small plates, and for good reason. They’re a fantastic way to give day-old mashed potatoes a new life and are the perfect bite-size appetizer for when you want something more exciting than potato chips that still hits those same comfort food notes.
Get the Potato Croquettes recipe.
Skillet Beer Cheese
One of our top hall of famers, this dip will get any campfire party started. The pinch of cayenne really adds that special something to this melty, creamy beer cheese. This is best served with toasted baguette, good company, and a cold beer.
Get the Skillet Beer Cheese recipe.
Pub Beer Cheese Dip
We've done beer cheese in a skillet with pigs in a blanket, over brats, on sliders, and even folded it into macaroni for the most genius comfort food ever. There's one way we had never done it: COLD. 😲 It's salty, creamy, cheesy, and as ridiculously simple to make as it is to scarf down.
Get the Pub Beer Cheese Dip recipe.
Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
Trust us, grape jelly goes GREAT on meatballs. Autumn party guests of all ages will love it. The sweet jelly mixed with smoky BBQ sauce is a match made in heaven.
Get the Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe.
Thanksgiving Ring
We’ve created our fair share of creative recipes to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, but this Thanksgiving ring lets one of our favorite ingredients shine: crescent rolls. We stuff our crescent rolls—shaped in a shareable, stunning ring—with all our favorites: mashed potatoes, stuffing, leftover turkey, and cranberry sauce. Served with leftover gravy for dunking (of course), this Thanksgiving ring is the simple, easy appetizer (or meal!) to make in the days after the holiday.
Get the Thanksgiving Ring recipe.
Sweet Potato Bites
Sweet potato casserole is always a favorite at our Thanksgiving celebrations, so we thought we'd turn it into an appetizer too. These bites will go fast, so make extra!
Get the Sweet Potato Bites recipe.
French Onion Soup Bombs
Cheese and savory onion soup all packed into a delicious ciabatta roll—what more could you need? If you don't have ciabatta rolls on hand, feel free to use Hawaiian rolls instead! They'll be just as good.
Get the French Onion Soup Bombs recipe.
Baked Brie In Puff Pastry
We filled ours with raspberry jam, but use your favorite spread or jelly (apple or pumpkin butter would be nice!). Drizzle it with some honey and you'll have a warm, cheesy app that feels extra fancy in no time at all.
Get the Baked Brie In Puff Pastry recipe.
Spinach Puffs
If you love baked spinach dip, you will love these baked puff pastry puffs. They're filled with a mixture of sautéed onion, garlic, spinach, and cream cheese and baked inside little puff pastry cups in a muffin tin. We bet you can't eat just one!
Get the Spinach Puffs recipe.
Butternut Squash Potstickers
Making your own potstickers doesn't have to be complicated. These vegan potstickers are easy to put together and most of your time is spent roasting your squash until really tender, which can be done ahead of time. Crimping takes a little practice, but the good news is that even if they look a little wonky they are still going to taste great!
Get the Butternut Squash Potstickers recipe.
Green Bean Casserole Bundles
These are the perfect fall appetizer—they've get everything you love from green bean casserole, but are SO much easier to make. Hot tip: Make extra, these go fast!
Get the Green Bean Casserole Bundles recipe.
Sheet Pan Honey Mustard–Pretzel Chicken
In our opinion, the crunchier, the better. Which is why pretzels make the perfect chicken coating for these nuggets. The obvious and best dipping sauce? Honey mustard, of course. It's a MUST.
Get the Sheet Pan Honey Mustard–Pretzel Chicken recipe.
Baked Feta Bites
If you’re a fan of our cranberry brie bites, we’ve got news for you: There’s a new app in town, and it’s inspired by another fan fave, baked feta pasta. This cheesy finger food features the flavors you know and love, all nestled into bite-sized cups of golden crescent roll dough.
Get the Baked Feta Bites recipe.
Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Pizza Dip
We wanted to make sure this dip was absolutely perfect, so we tested it over and over (and over) again until it was. The Delish team never complained once. 😉 Make this for your fall parties and it'll be gone in 10 seconds flat—we can almost guarantee it.
Get the Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Pizza Dip recipe.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
If you're unfamiliar with dates, it's time to familiarize yourself! The date's sweetness is the PERFECT counterpoint to crisp, salty bacon and creamy goat cheese. We guarantee these will fly off the platter when the party's barely begun.
Get the Bacon Wrapped Dates recipe.
Cannoli Chips & Dip
This Italian dessert-inspired app takes cannoli to a whole new, easily shareable level. The best part? The shells will never get soggy!
Get the Cannoli Chips & Dip recipe.
Soft Pretzel Bites
Using canned biscuit dough to make pretzel bites is the best hack ever. The pretzels won't look gorgeous as they come out of the boiling water, but don't worry—they will brown and crisp up and be oh-so-gorgeous when they come out of the oven!
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.
Cranberry Brie Bites
Our love for crescent roll recipes is no secret. Why make dough from scratch when everyone loves the canned stuff?! These are a fan favorite every fall. They always disappear within minutes, probably because the combo of salty, creamy brie, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans is PERFECT.
Get the Cranberry Brie Bites recipe.
Pumpkin Pie Dip
We have made so many pumpkin pie desserts, but we love this for its simplicity, and because it is the ultimate last-minute dish for Friendsgiving. Gingersnaps are great for dipping, but don't stop there: apple fries, cannoli shells, or graham crackers would also be delicious.
Get the Pumpkin Pie Dip recipe.
Cocktail Meatballs
Cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, sweet chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce combine to make the incredible sauce for these meatballs. It's sweet, smoky, and salty, and your fall party guests won't be able to stop eating them.
Get the Cocktail Meatballs recipe.
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
These ham and cheese pinwheels are made easy using store-bought crescent roll dough. They are chock full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham, topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor you and your guests will love.
Get the Ham & Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
Cheese Fondue
Few foods are more fun to eat than a good old-fashioned cheese fondue. Not only is it a fun throwback to the fondue craze of the 70's but it is up there in some of the best foods for a small party. What makes this fondue better than the rest? The *slightest* hint of garlic flavor, achieved by rubbing the inside of your pot with a cut garlic clove. GENIUS.
Get the Cheese Fondue recipe.
Cheese Straws
Crunchy, flaky, and cheesy. What's not to love? These are studded with cheddar, green onions, and sesame seeds for the most flavor-packed cheese straws we've ever had. Using store-bought puff pastry makes them extremely easy to pull together for any fall party.
Get the Cheese Straws recipe.
Chocolate Fondue
Is there anything more decadent than fondue? This chocolate version comes together in a flash and can satisfy even the most demanding sweet tooth this fall.
Get the Chocolate Fondue recipe.
Pumpkin Hummus
We kind of love how well this hummus really walks the line between sweet and savory. It tastes just as good with cinnamon-sugar pita chips as it does with bell peppers!
Get the Pumpkin Hummus recipe.
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
This easy recipe turns those sad leftover mashed potatoes into something MAGICAL. If you've got more holiday remnants on your hands, you gotta check out our recipes for reviving your Thanksgiving leftovers. We're especially fond of these insane Friendsgiving Nachos.
Get the Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.
Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta
Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this super shareable appetizer.
Get the Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.
Sausage Balls
Many of you might be thinking: "Wait, what even is a sausage ball?!" The answer: addictive bites of cooked pork sausage, cheddar, and Bisquick that will be the most popular appetizer at your baby shower. Just make sure your guests finish them; otherwise, you'll be popping these bad boys for days after your party ends.
Get the Sausage Balls recipe.
Pumpkin Pie Wontons
Pumpkin pie better watch out. These cute wontons are so fun to make. Using wonton wrappers means you get to skip making pie dough, but still get a perfectly crispy, flaky crust. Dip them in our homemade apple caramel sauce and whipped cream!
Get the Pumpkin Pie Wontons recipe.
Maple-Prosciutto Baked Brie
If you're looking for an ooey-gooey, melty cheese moment that will have your guests oohing and aahing, look no further than baked brie. This recipe takes the concept up a notch by wrapping the brie in prosciutto and topping the whole thing with a smoky maple glaze. MMM.
Get the Maple-Prosciutto Baked Brie recipe.
Pumpkin Butter Brie Pull-Apart Bread
If you already have a jar of pumpkin butter (maybe our slow-cooker version!), feel free to use it here. Otherwise stick with this easy (semi-cheater) version. There's no cooking it down on the stovetop—all the magic happens in the bread, with the brie, in the oven.
Get the Pumpkin Butter Brie Pull-Apart Bread recipe.
Mini Shepherd's Pies
These will satisfy ALL your guests' comfort food cravings, without having to assemble an entire shepherd's pie. Bonus: They're adorable.
Get the Mini Shepherd's Pies recipe.
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