15 appetizers that make any meal start on a good note

ByHeidi Bruaw

These are the recipes you pull out when you want the table to feel a little more fun before the main dish even hits. From warm, cheesy bites to fresh, crowd-pleasing favorites, each one is made to spark conversation and keep everyone reaching for just one more. With these 15 appetizers, every meal starts with something worth gathering around.

A plate of white rice topped with saucy meatballs, garnished with chopped green onions, sits on a wooden board with a wooden spoon and a drink in the background.
Firecracker Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Bacon Curls

A hand holding a partially eaten bacon curl, revealing bacon inside. The background features a white tiled wall and a turquoise surface.
Bacon Curls. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Microwave Bacon Curls are simple to make and always go quickly. They’re salty, crispy, and hard to resist grabbing right off the plate. Serve them up and any meal instantly starts on a good note. They’re the kind of little extra that makes everyone smile before the main dish even hits the table.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Curls

Cowboy Caviar

A bowl of bean and corn salad with diced avocado, red onion, tomatoes, and cilantro surrounded by tortilla chips.
Cowboy Caviar. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Skip the jar and make a big bowl of Cowboy Caviar instead. It’s bright, fresh, and loaded with crisp veggies and hearty beans. Every scoop brings a little zing that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar

Alabama Fire Crackers

A white bowl filled with seasoned square crackers is placed on a wooden surface, with a red and white checkered cloth in the background.
Alabama Fire Crackers. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Alabama Fire Crackers are a bold, snackable favorite. Buttery crackers sit overnight in a seasoned oil, soaking up plenty of flavor. They’re perfect for parties, game day, or anytime you want something with a little heat. Every bite delivers a punchy, zesty kick that keeps you reaching for more.
Get the Recipe: Alabama Fire Crackers

Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Meatballs

Meatballs in a white bowl on a wooden table.
Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs are a must for any get-together. Just toss everything in the pot and let them simmer into sweet-and-savory perfection. Set them out and watch them vanish before anything else.
Get the Recipe: Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Meatballs

Chili Popcorn

A wooden bowl filled with Chili Popcorn sits on a red and white checkered cloth, with a red container and white tiled wall in the background.
Chili Popcorn. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Chili popcorn is all about bold flavor and easy snacking, with warm, crunchy kernels coated in chili powder, garlic, and paprika. The savory spice blend gives every handful just the right kick without any fuss. It’s the kind of snack that starts any meal on a good note.
Get the Recipe: Chili Popcorn

Deviled Egg Dip

A bowl of deviled egg dip garnished with chives and paprika, surrounded by baby carrots on a striped cloth.
Deviled Egg Dip. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This old-school dip won’t last long once it hits the table. Deviled Egg Dip is ultra creamy with chopped eggs, cream cheese, mustard, and a little relish for zip. Set it out with crackers or veggies and watch it disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Egg Dip

Hot Chipped Beef Dip

A bowl of dip with carrots and celery.
Hot Chipped Beef Dip. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This hot chipped beef dip is rich, creamy, and loaded with melty cheese. It comes together with almost no effort, making it perfect for busy days or last-minute gatherings. Serve it warm and watch it vanish as everyone goes back for just one more scoop.
Get the Recipe: Hot Chipped Beef Dip

Guacamole

A bowl of guacamole garnished with a cilantro leaf, surrounded by lime slices and tortilla chips on the side.
Guacamole. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Forget the packaged kind and make it fresh instead. This guacamole comes out creamy and bright with plenty of lime and crisp red onion. A touch of jalapeño adds just enough heat to keep every bite interesting. It’s the kind of dip that disappears fast once the chips hit the table.
Get the Recipe: Guacamole

Firecracker Meatballs

A plate of white rice topped with saucy meatballs, garnished with chopped green onions, sits on a wooden board with a wooden spoon and a drink in the background.
Firecracker Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Sticky, sweet, and with just the right kick, these Firecracker Meatballs come together in no time. Every bite is coated in a bold sweet-heat sauce that keeps you reaching for more. They’re the kind of appetizer that makes any meal start on a good note.
Get the Recipe: Firecracker Meatballs

Fresh Salsa

A bowl of fresh pico de gallo with diced tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, and jalapeños, garnished with a cilantro leaf.
Fresh Salsa. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This fresh salsa makes a bowl of plain chips feel like something worth gathering around for. Juicy tomatoes, a squeeze of lime, and plenty of cilantro keep it bright and zippy. A touch of jalapeño adds just enough kick to keep things interesting.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Salsa

Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

A white bowl of dip with chips and cheese.
Jalapeno Artichoke Dip. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This Jalapeño Artichoke Dip is built on a creamy, cheesy base packed with tender artichoke hearts and bits of jalapeño. It comes out of the oven warm, melty, and perfectly golden on top. Every scoop has a little heat that keeps you coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

Spiced Almonds

A white bowl filled with roasted, seasoned almonds is placed on a white and grey striped fabric.
Spiced Almonds. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Spiced almonds come together with barely any effort, which is perfect for a snack. Toss them with chili powder, celery salt, a little heat, and a splash of Worcestershire for bold, savory flavor. A quick spin in the microwave and they’re ready to set out for easy grabbing.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Almonds

Dill Pickle Dip

A plate with round crackers, cherry tomatoes, and a bowl of creamy Dill Pickle Dip topped with pickle slices. A bowl of pickles and a colorful floral napkin are nearby on a wooden surface.
Dill Pickle Dip. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Dill Pickle Dip is a quick and easy crowd-pleaser. It’s smooth and creamy with just the right tangy kick. The bold pickle flavor makes it especially hard to stop scooping. You can stir it together in minutes using simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Get the Recipe: Dill Pickle Dip

Cream Cheese Pickle Wraps

Overhead view of cream cheese pickle wraps on white plate.
Cream Cheese Pickle Wraps. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Add a fun twist to your appetizer spread with Cream Cheese Pickle Wraps, an easy favorite that always gets people talking. Creamy, tangy, and bite-sized, they’re the kind of snack guests keep reaching for. They’re a simple party pick that belongs on every gathering table.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Pickle Wraps

Deviled Eggs with Bacon

Two deviled eggs on a wooden table.
Deviled Eggs with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These Deviled Eggs with Bacon are a crowd-pleasing appetizer that fits right in at any get-together. Crispy bacon and tangy pickles add a bold, savory twist to every bite. They’re simple to make and always the first thing to disappear from the platter.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Bacon