Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 24 Make-Ahead Hors d'oeuvres for Stress-Free Entertaining So you can kick back and enjoy the party along with your guests. By Kate Merker, Sara Quessenberry, and Kimberly Holland Updated on December 14, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Con Poulos The best hors d'oeuvres ideas don't require hours of prep work and sweating away in a kitchen while your guests enjoy each other's company. In fact, our favorite hors d'oeuvres recipes are ones you make ahead, pack away, and bring out just in time to plate and serve. Make-ahead hors d'oeuvres not only help you plan, strategize, and work in advance, but they let you really enjoy the event you've worked so hard to bring together. Here, we assembled some quick and easy dishes, so you can pick and choose what fits your palate and preferences. Wow your guests and save time with these 24 easy hors d'oeuvres recipes. 01 of 24 Creamy Smoked Fish Dip Make this hors d'oeuvre if you're short on time. In fact, you'll only need around 10 minutes to prepare this satisfying party dip. Serve with bagel chips, potato chips, or crudités. Get The Recipe 02 of 24 Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas Antonis Achilleos Skip the last-minute fussing with these ridiculously delicious stuffed pockets that can go from oven to serving platter with no additional day-of prep needed. All you need to do is prepare the empanadas the day before your party and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake. Get The Recipe 03 of 24 Bacon-Wrapped Apricots With Sage Con Poulos Talk about convenience―apricots swathed in bacon can be assembled days before and then cooked straight from the freezer. Place toothpicks beside the dish to serve. This savory appetizer is sure to satisfy. Get The Recipe 04 of 24 Caramelized Onion Tarts With Apples Con Poulos Want to look like a pro? Here, frozen puff pastry dough is spread with tangy crème fraîche and topped with a sweet and savory mix of onions and apples. There is minimal prep time because the recipe uses a pre-made puff pastry and just the right amount of toppings to make this dish quick and tasty. Get The Recipe 05 of 24 Goat Cheese Spread Dana Gallagher Some spreads (like this goat cheese spread) actually taste better when they've had a few days to sit and "meld." So feel encouraged that you should be making this recipe ahead and not on the day of the party. This herbaceous spread pairs well with salty crackers. Get The Recipe 06 of 24 Rosemary Pecans Beatriz da Costa You can cook this nut mix up to a week in advance. Keep it fresh in an airtight container stored at room temperature. Pecans are tossed in melted butter, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt before being roasted, then rosemary is added for an immaculate earthy taste. Get The Recipe 07 of 24 Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney Con Poulos Add a surprising twist to a familiar favorite with this gooey grilled cheese that is refreshed with a dollop of fruit chutney. Fortunately, you can make this hors d'oeuvre in minutes during a casual get-together. Get The Recipe 08 of 24 Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart Greg DuPree Remember, not everything needs to be served hot or cold to be delicious. Room-temp hors d'oeuvres that are baked in advance make the last-minute rush to assemble a non-factor. This tart can be cut into bite-sized pieces and served warm or at room temperature (and still be delicious either way). Get The Recipe 09 of 24 Chimichurri-Yogurt Dip Victor Protasio Aside from stirring in yogurt, herbs, and a few other ingredients, the magic of this dip is in the chimichurri. There's no need to waste time baking here. Just mix together the ingredients and serve with a side of lettuce and radishes. Get The Recipe 10 of 24 Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze Getty Images Vegetable and cheese trays can be assembled in advance—but try a classic flavor combination on a skewer for a playful twist. You'll only spend five minutes putting these bright and colorful skewers together. Bite-size mozzarella balls and juicy cherry tomatoes make the perfect snack. Get The Recipe 11 of 24 Chickpea and Mint Crostini Mikkel Vang To save time on this recipe, toast baguette slices in advance and store. Then mix the topping ingredients and set aside. The best part about this hors d'oeuvre idea is that you don't need to spend time topping the crostini. Leave the topping in a serving bowl for your guests to serve themselves. Get The Recipe 12 of 24 Crispy Homemade Baked Potato Chips Lauren Simpson You only need a short list of ingredients to pull off these homemade crispy potato chips. Make ahead, and store in an airtight container to keep them from becoming stale before serving. Get creative and add different seasonings to your taste. Here, we've added paprika, but try chili powder, rosemary, or onion powder for a fun twist. Did we mention it's vegan? Get The Recipe 13 of 24 Vegan Ranch Dressing Victor Protasio Silken tofu replaces regular buttermilk and mayonnaise in this vegan ranch dressing recipe. Serve with a variety of crudités for dipping. No one will even know it's vegan. Get The Recipe 14 of 24 Spicy Parmesan Crackers Make a double batch of these spicy parmesan crackers—we promise one just won't be enough. Contain them in an airtight zip-top bag until you're ready to serve. We recommend serving them with something sweet, like some homemade chocolate chip cookies for the perfect contrast. Get The Recipe 15 of 24 Pink Hummus Victor Protasio This pink hummus will get everyone's attention. Use a cooked magenta beet to achieve the pink color. Serve with an array of crudités for dipping: Think of your favorite vegetables, crackers, pita bread, and more. Get The Recipe 16 of 24 Cowboy Caviar Rus32/Getty Images This scoopable appetizer went viral on TikTok for a reason: It's delicious and so customizable to your taste. Jalapeño, a variety of bell peppers, onion, corn, canned beans, and sliced olives are the basic ingredients to the mix, however, you can add whatever you like. Get The Recipe 17 of 24 Carrot-Ginger Dip Caitlin Bensel A touch of maple syrup is added to this cooked carrot puree for a bit of sweetness. This dip is best served cold and tastes better when the dip has time to marinate in the refrigerator, which makes it a perfect make-ahead hors d'oeuvre option. Serve with rice crackers, pretzels, and crudités. Get The Recipe 18 of 24 Many-Cheese Cheese Ball Victor Protasio Inspired by the French cheese spread fromage fort, this cheese ball is made with whatever leftover cheeses you have in your fridge. Preferably, about three to four varieties of different firmness levels. Store pre-made crostini in an airtight container, and the cheese ball in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Get The Recipe 19 of 24 Caramelized Onion Chutney Marcus Nilsson A quick and easy chutney recipe can take you far. Chutneys can be used as a sauce alongside grilled meats or as an appetizer. Just add them to a cheese and charcuterie platter or serve alongside grilled or toasted baguette, crackers, and soft cheese. Get The Recipe 20 of 24 Double Tomato Crostini Christopher Baker When entertaining a large crowd, sometimes simple is better (and faster). Crostini, a cocktail-party classic, gets an upgrade with a flavorful double tomato combination. Get The Recipe 21 of 24 Pears With Rosemary Sugar David Prince Sliced pears, oranges, sugar, and rosemary are all you need to whip up this 10-minute appetizer. Use your fingers to sprinkle sugar in an even layer all over the pears. Double the recipe if serving a crowd. Get The Recipe 22 of 24 Glorious Green Dip Victor Protasio Charred scallions, spinach, chives, mild cannellini beans, lemon juice, and mayonnaise are pureed to make this healthy green dip. Make up to two days in advance, and store in an airtight container. Serve with homemade potato chips, broccoli, carrots, and whatever other dippables your heart desires. Get The Recipe 23 of 24 Orange-Chili Shrimp Cocktail David Prince Want to let the sauce shine? For an easy make-ahead hors d'oeuvres, thaw a few pounds of cooked peeled and deveined shrimp and partner the crowd-pleasing seafood bites with a stand-out orange-chili topping that can be made earlier in the day. Get The Recipe 24 of 24 Easy Homemade Mild Salsa Cara Cormack Like hot salsa? Keep the seeds in, but remove them if you like a mild blend. This homemade salsa can be stored for up to five days in advance, but aim for less time for ultimate freshness. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Get The Recipe 33 Make Ahead Meals for Family Dinners and Parties Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit