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The 65 Best Fall Appetizers to Devour This Season

Once Labor Day weekend ends, it's time to start dreaming about autumn menu ideas and easy recipes for your first fall dinner party. Or maybe it's a monster movie marathon, your kids' Halloween party or a weekend getaway. What should you tackle first? Pumpkin bread? A warm and cozy soup? Cinnamon rolls? Apple pie? We always like to start at the top with quick apps and handhelds that all your guests can get behind. Behold: 65 recipes for fall appetizers that’ll never disappoint.

50 Easy Fall Dessert Recipes for Beginners


1. Brie-stuffed Pretzel Bites

Dough meets cheese. What can go wrong? The answer is absolutely nothing. They'll be a game day favorite in no time.

2. French Onion Cups

Your favorite feel-good soup baked into puff pastry, Gruyère and all.

3. The Classiest Cheese Balls In The Universe

When it comes to entertaining in the fall and winter, cheese balls are a no-brainer. Try combos like everything bagel seasoning with goat cheese, lemon-dill with cheddar and pomegranate with blue cheese.

4. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites

Hello, panko-Parm breading and tangy Dijon dip. Bake them instead of frying for a healthy spin.

5. Roasted Veggie Chips

Skip the store-bought tortilla chips and substitute roasted and herbed beets, turnips, parsnips and radishes.

6. Baked Mac-and-cheese Bites

When these hit the table, we’re kids all over again. And yes, we’ll be dipping them in ketchup, thank you very much.

7. Prosciutto Bites

Mamma mia. These five-ingredient, prosciutto-wrapped balls of pizza dough taste like straight-up salty, savory bliss.

8. Delicata Squash Rings With Garlic-lemon Sauce

Transform the season’s bounty in just 40 minutes. They’ll be gobbled up in five.

9. Baked Gorgonzola Bites

Meet the savory monkey bread you’ve always dreamed about. It’s only 30 minutes away.

10. Acorn Squash And Caramelized Onion Dip

Beware: Once your guests get a taste, you’ll have no choice but to whip this up for every future holiday party you ever host.

11. Cranberry-brie Pie Crust Bites

Skip the jiggly jarred stuff and make your own red wine cranberry sauce instead.

12. Apple-cider Doughnut Holes

Want to see some kids’ table magic? Set out a bowl of these poppable treats and watch them disappear.

13. Roasted Squash And Farro Salad With Avocado Dressing

Because you’ll need something healthy to serve at Thanksgiving before all those fresh-baked pies.

14. Roasted Sweet Potato And Caramelized Onion Flatbread

Pizza night can be as simple as piling roasted veggies, mozzarella and thyme onto store-bought flatbread.

15. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

Gluten-free, vegan and mind-blowingly simple. Set out bowls of peanuts, sesame seeds and diced scallions so your guests can serve themselves.

16. Eggplant Parm Bites

Careful, these are dangerously poppable. Set them out with marinara, ketchup and pesto at your kid's next slumber party.

17. Carrot Pigs In A Blanket

Everyone’s favorite finger food just got a makeover. And she looks good, especially dripping with green goddess dressing.

18. Prosciutto And Fig Salad Board

A bowl? Never heard of it. This elegant presentation has dinner party written all over it.

19. Spaghetti Squash Fritters

Spicy yogurt makes everything better. But these fried beauties made of spaghetti squash, scallions and kale don’t need much help.

20. Sweet Potato Crostini

Well, aren’t you fancy? Trade bread for crispy roasted sweet potatoes, then top with smoked salmon and cream cheese, dried cranberries and roasted almonds or whatever else your heart desires.

21. Crispy Roasted Artichokes

Start with fresh artichokes or opt for canned. Either way, these tangy dippers are going to taste unreal slicked in garlic aioli.

22. Bacon, Onion And Asiago Fondue

Nothing cures a chilly fall day like a mini skillet of ooey-gooey cheese. And it’s got crispy bacon and caramelized onions to boot.

23. Cheesy Polenta Bites With Brussels Sprouts And Pancetta

Thanks to their miniature size, each and every morsel is totally surrounded by a crispy, cheesy, buttery outer crust.

24. Italian Bruschetta Bar

A timeless starter that everyone’s sure to dig into. Pile it high with salami, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, cornichons and, well, whatever strikes your fancy.

25. Baked Brie With Figs, Pistachios And Orange

You should probably bookmark this one for Christmas. Just saying.

26. Baby Blooming Onions

We hope you’re serving steak for the main course. The horseradish dipping sauce will taste great on that too.

27. Brussels Sprout Sliders

Bye-bye, buns. These are stuffed with prosciutto, pearl mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.

28. Spicy Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs

You’re three ingredients and 20 minutes away from the easiest app ever. Just stick ’em with toothpicks and serve with napkins.

29. Crisp Fall Green Salad With Benne Seed Ginger Dressing

If you love sesame seeds, this dressing made with the heirloom variety is about to become your new best friend.

30. Roasted Mixed Nuts

Appetizers don't get more classic than this. Fresh herbs, smoked paprika and cayenne bring a ton of flavor to your choice of nuts.

31. Cranberry, Brussels Sprouts And Brie Skillet Nachos

Save the queso and guac for a rainy day and serve this seasonal delicacy instead. If you have any leftover turkey lying around, pile that on too.

32. Boursin Cheese With Caramelized Onions And Bacon

Like a fancy cheese ball—but even easier.

33. Pumpkin Soup In Mini Pumpkin Bowls

All hail the gourd of the hour. You’ll get to use all of it too: the flesh for the soup, the seeds for a crunchy topping and the hulled pumpkin for a bowl.

34. Cranberry-brie Puff-pastry Pops

Because hors d’oeuvres (and everything else) are just better on a stick.

35. Tomato Soup In Grilled Cheese Bread Bowls

OK, ready for this? Serve the soup in a hulled-out loaf of bread, then transform the topper into a melty grilled cheese sandwich for dipping. We know, brilliant.

36. Pumpkin Polenta

Whether you serve this as starter or a side, no one will miss the mashed potatoes.

37. Easy Skillet Mushroom And Gouda Fondue

A shallow skillet makes this crowd favorite super easy to dip bread or crudités into. No metal skewers required.

38. Pumpkin Pizza Crust With Arugula And Prosciutto

Spicy arugula, salty prosciutto and creamy blue cheese are just the match for buttery, sweet pumpkin crust.

39. Biscuit Dough Pumpkin Hand Pies

Since the pies are wrapped neatly in flaky biscuit dough, they travel like a charm. Serve sliced into pieces as a starter or whole for dessert.

40. No-bake Mini Mason Jar Spiced Cheesecakes

Cocktail hour isn’t complete without these teeny-tiny sweets, starring gingersnaps and red currant jelly.

41. Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup

We’re not saying you *need* to serve it with mini soft pretzels…but we can’t see why you wouldn’t.

42. Whipped Ricotta With Roasted Pumpkin

It’s made with roasted kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin.

43. Mini Apple Tarts

Wanna know the secret to their cute, round, shape? They’re baked in mason jar lids.

44. Peanut Butter Dip

We dare you to dip just one pretzel—we’re pretty sure it’s impossible.

45. Pumpkin Flatbread With Gruyère And Crispy Sage

Sink your teeth into roasted pumpkin, garlicky sage and gooey Gruyère in all its gluten-free glory.

46. Brown-sugar Pear Puff Pastries

Time to stock up on pears at the farmers market. Impress your guests with bakery-level beauties that are shockingly easy to tackle yourself.

47. Apple, Grape And Pecan Pasta Salad

Crisp apples and chopped nuts give the quintessential summer side some fall flair.

48. Slow-cooker Chicken Potpie Soup

The edible equivalent of a mother’s hug. The white cheddar-chive biscuit on top is the ultimate pièce de résistance.

49. Pizza With Butternut Squash Sauce

Marinara takes a back seat to a seven-ingredient sauce that’s the most decadent pairing for creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella.

50. Mini Caramel Pecan Pies With Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust

We know you’re not supposed to have sweets before dinner, but one look at these and all your guests will make an exception.

51. Green Bean Casserole Galette

Just because it’s a vegetable course doesn’t mean it can’t be wrapped in flaky pastry—especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

52. Homemade Cheese Crackers

These Cheez-Its replicas are extremely easy to make, and you can customize the type of cheese to suit your palate.

53. Whipped Feta Avocado Crostini With Pomegranate

Monique Volz’s chic twist on avocado toast is worthy of being served on a silver platter.

54. Bacon-wrapped Cheese Straws

These flaky, crisp homemade crackers are conversation-pausing swirls of goodness.

55. Brussels Sprout And Apple Tart

Don't skimp on the walnut pesto.

56. Five-minute Bean Salad

With fresh herbs, garlic and a drizzle of olive oil, canned white beans are transformed from a shortcut to a party-ready appetizer. Feel free to briefly pan-fry the beans before tossing in the other ingredients.

57. Sweet Potato Wedges With California Avocado Aioli

Come sweater season, we nosh on sweet spuds every chance we get. Here, they're paired with a decadent homemade aioli made with a whole avocado.

58. Ritz Crackers With Whipped Honey Ricotta And Bacon

Got 15 minutes? Then this satiating starter is within reach. Bonus points for candying the bacon in maple syrup and brown sugar.

59. Pepper Teigen’s Thai Glazed Ribs

How do these ribs cook up in 20 minutes you ask? They're deep-fried instead of smoked or grilled, so they're ready to devour in a fraction of the time.

60. Feta Wrapped In Phyllo With Sesame And Honey

Six ingredients + five minutes of prep = the most comforting appetizer of all time. Serve it as a starter, side or after dinner with fresh fruit and vino.

61. Caesar Pasta Salad

Who said summer has dibs on pasta salad? This crisp, zingy number tastes good all year long. Chalk it up to the homemade Caesar dressing complete with anchovy paste and grated Parm.

62. Vegan Miso Caramel Dip With Pretzels And Granny Smith Apples

A spoonful of dissolved miso paste adds a punch of funky, umami-laced richness to the dip. Swap in whatever apples you have on hand (or trade pretzels for potato chips).

63. ‘frycuterie’ Board

Aka the most likable appetizer on the planet. Everyone will be psyched over this mix of crinkle-cut, curly and sweet potato fries and tots (especially the kids).

64. Black Sesame Shortbread

Believe it or not, you don't need an electric mixer to pull off melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. Melting the butter eliminates the need for beating and creaming it and cornstarch gives the cookies a delicate texture without any extra work.

65. Spanish Tapas Board

Because nothing gets a party started like a massive mélange of meat and cheese. This board also boasts tender patatas bravas with saffron aioli and heirloom pan con tomate.


For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.


taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College