Holidays & Occasions Easter 61 Easy Easter Appetizers To Help You Hop Into Spring The holiday meal won't be complete without at least a few appetizers on the menu. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 8, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel Even though the main dish is the star of the show at Easter dinner, every Southern host knows you've got to have a few appetizers to welcome your guests. That doesn't mean that you should spend even more time and effort in the kitchen than you already are, though. These easy Easter appetizers will look beautiful and taste incredible, but no one will know how easy they were to put together.With classic Easter appetizers like our Basic Deviled Eggs or Ham Biscuits, the whole crowd will be pleased. For the easiest Easter appetizer, go with recipes with short and sweet ingredient lists, like our Bacon Bow Ties, Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls, or Okra In A Blanket.While you're planning out your Easter menu, consider these Easter appetizer recipes that are easy to get on the table and use some of your favorite in-season ingredients. Your guests will love you even more for it. 01 of 61 Sweet Pea-Parmesan Dip Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Serve up peas in dip form and everyone will be asking for the recipe. This bright dip comes together in just 15 minutes. Get The Recipe 02 of 61 Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapés Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This easy appetizer relies on a handful of store-bought goods to create an impressive looking bite. Assemble them just before guests arrive to keep the chips crispy. Get The Recipe 03 of 61 Asparagus Ribbon Crostini Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Assemble these spring crostini easily with ribbons of in-season asparagus and a lemon-infused ricotta mixture. The only cooking required is toasting the bread. Garnish with lemon zest and fresh mint. Get The Recipe 04 of 61 Cheese Dreams Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Similar to cheese straws, these snacks whip up in a flash. Your guests will actually have dreams about these cheesy bites of goodness. This recipe will be your new party go-to. Get The Recipe 05 of 61 Spinach Dip Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Not all spinach dips need to be warm. This cold, creamy version comes together in just 10 minutes. Get The Recipe 06 of 61 Baked Brie In Puff Pastry Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle We love an appetizer that's both easy and impressive, and this recipe fits the bill. Of course we couldn't resist adding a little bit of pepper jelly to the top of the brie before wrapping it in the puff pastry. Get The Recipe 07 of 61 Veggie Tray Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Fresh and colorful, you can't go wrong starting the meal out with a pretty tray of vegetables. Blanching tougher vegetables before adding them to the tray will make them more tender. Get The Recipe 08 of 61 Cucumber-And-Onion Dip Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Think of this dip as a scoop-able version of cucumber salad that won't spoil Easter dinner. You can make it up to 3 days in advance. Get The Recipe 09 of 61 Rosalynn Carter's Cheese Ring Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A favorite recipe of Rosalynn Carter, this cheese ring deserves a spot on your Easter table. While the strawberry preserves are optional, we like the sweetness it adds to balance out the salty cheese ring. Get The Recipe 10 of 61 Baked Brie Bites Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster With five store-bought ingredients, this is the easiest appetizer to make. Crunchy phyllo dough and pecans, creamy brie, and red pepper jelly for a little kick make this a well-balanced bite. Get The Recipe 11 of 61 Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This spring appetizer has it all—sweet strawberries, tangy goat cheese, and spicy jalapenos. A touch of honey and lime round out the flavors. Substitute ricotta if you don’t have goat cheese on hand. Get The Recipe 12 of 61 Carrot-Tahini Dip Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis We took a spin on traditional hummus with bright, sautéed carrots in place of garbanzo beans. Use fresh and sweet spring carrots for the best flavor. Get The Recipe 13 of 61 Crudités Platter Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Instead of a charcuterie board, opt for a fresh crudités platter. This inexpensive seasonal spread is full of color and uses a variety of in-season vegetables to create a delicious and stunning platter that will shine on your table. Get The Recipe 14 of 61 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Serve this Southern favorite on crunchy crostini for easy individual pickup. No need for pepper in this recipe—the radishes add a peppery bite and crunch. Get The Recipe 15 of 61 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you've never made this Southern classic before, don't let their fancy façade scare you. They are actually super simple to make. Watch as we demonstrate how easy it is to perfect this heavenly finger food, and you'll be prepared for any potluck party invitation that comes your way. Get The Recipe 16 of 61 Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis While these crostinis might look fancy, they're a cinch to make and are ready to serve in just 15 minutes. Let your food processor do all the hard work of mincing the herbs and garlic—just throw all the ingredients in and voila! Get The Recipe 17 of 61 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living We made your classic sausage balls recipe even better with the addition of another Southern go-to, pimiento cheese. These can be made ahead and frozen so you can pull out as many as you need for your Easter gathering. Get The Recipe 18 of 61 Tomato Tea Sandwiches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele This classic tomato sandwich only requires a few ingredients, but they'll disappear right before your eyes. These dainty sandwiches get a boost of flavor from an herby Summer Sauce that’s combined with cream cheese. Get The Recipe 19 of 61 Herbed-Goat Cheese Spread Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Add this versatile spread to your Easter charcuterie board. Pepper and honey accentuate the flavors of the fresh herbs and tangy goat cheese. Spread on crackers or toasted baguette slices, or use as a dip for fresh spring veggies. Get The Recipe 20 of 61 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Instead of having everyone dip out of the same bowl, prepare these individual crackers ahead of time, so each guest gets all the flavor in each little bite. The pepper jelly and cream cheese combo is elevated with the addition of shrimp and seasoned crackers. Get The Recipe 21 of 61 Okra In A Blanket PHOTO: JAMES RANSOM, PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY, FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN We've yet to meet anything that isn't delicious wrapped in bacon, prosciutto, or country ham. In this classic appetizer, two Southern foods meet—tangy pickled okra and salty ham. Get The Recipe 22 of 61 Creamy Avocado Dip Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Once you try this tasty dip with your Easter appetizer spread, you'll want to put this avocado dip on every sandwich or wrap you make, too. You can substitute Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise or sour cream for a lighter version. Get The Recipe 23 of 61 Butter-Baked Saltine Crackers Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen No one ever said no to a buttery cracker...and these are no exception. Good luck only eating a few. They're as delicious as they are nostalgic and are great for serving with a variety of dips. Get The Recipe 24 of 61 Mamau's Cheese Straws Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel; Food Styling: Pam Lolley Our Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans shared his grandmother's recipe for cheese straws, which will surely become a favorite tradition for your family's holidays, too. Thanks to cheese spread, there’s no shredding required. Just mix, pipe, and bake. Get The Recipe 25 of 61 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Guests will love this party favorite in mini form. Picky kids and choosy adults alike will adore this bite-sized appetizer that you can make with six ingredients you probably already have on hand. Top with sour cream and chives. Get The Recipe 26 of 61 Spinach-Artichoke Dip Caitlin Bensel Has there ever been any spinach and artichoke dip left at the end of the gathering? No, the answer is no. Get The Recipe 27 of 61 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox This fresh take on classic finger sandwiches looks beautiful and tastes even better. The salad can be made one day ahead, then assemble the appetizer before serving. Get The Recipe 28 of 61 Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese Laurey W. Glenn This simple appetizer is ready in just 15 minutes, but it doesn't slack on presentation or flavor. The endive leaves provide a pretty display as well as crunch for every bite. Get The Recipe 29 of 61 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman This two-ingredient recipe couldn't be easier or more delicious. It'd be wise to make multiple batches. Get The Recipe 30 of 61 Ham Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas There's nothing quite like a flaky buttermilk biscuit with ham. These biscuits are made even more delicious with our Pecan Cheese Spread. Get The Recipe 31 of 61 Collard Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez Rethink the classic spinach dip and try this variation. Classic collards get an appetizer makeover with this warm, cheesy dip. Get The Recipe 32 of 61 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Smoked ham gets a kick from Creole mustard and cayenne pepper in this ham salad. This Southern classic is a recipe to keep on hand for any spring luncheon or get-together. Get The Recipe 33 of 61 Muffuletta Deviled Eggs Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham We're just as happy with these delicious deviled eggs as we are with candy-filled plastic eggs. Don't want to be subject to just one deviled egg recipe? Make our DIY Deviled Egg Bar for an interactive appetizer experience. Get The Recipe 34 of 61 Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey This creamy crab dip includes a Southern favorite, Old Bay seasoning. Crackers and colorful endive make great vehicles for this decadent dip. Get The Recipe 35 of 61 Creamy Crab Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez Calling all coastal cooks: You've got a new crab recipe to try. Spread this on toast points or crostini for a throwback appetizer that will please everyone. Get The Recipe 36 of 61 Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus Hector Manuel Sanchez Southerners can justify adding black-eyed peas to many dishes, and this hummus is proof that they'll always taste just right. Serve with plenty of pita chips. This dip won’t last long. Get The Recipe 37 of 61 West Indies Crab Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This crab dish from Mobile, Alabama, is a light and beautiful way to start your meal. A light vinaigrette dresses lump crab to highlight its sweet flavor. You can serve it in lettuce cups or with saltine crackers as more of a dip. Get The Recipe 38 of 61 Chicks in a Blanket Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Chicken-apple sausages are a welcome and flavorful change from the usual pigs in a blanket, and a homemade everything bagel seasoning topping makes them over-the-top delicious. Serve with spicy mustard for dipping. Get The Recipe 39 of 61 Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox These homemade crackers are the most thoughtful addition to a cheese and charcuterie board. Try three variations: Pimiento Cheese, Pecan-and-Thyme, and Bacon, Bourbon, and Benne Seed. Get The Recipe 40 of 61 Caramelized Onion Dip Getty Images / 7886565 The key to the most flavorful dip is cooking the onions over medium heat until they're translucent and then reducing the heat until they're nice and brown. From there, all you need to do is mix the rest of the ingredients and grab a bag of classic potato chips. Get The Recipe 41 of 61 Mini Tomato Sandwiches with Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio Transform your favorite BLT into an adorable appetizer with these mini stacked sandwiches. You can prepare the sandwiches an hour ahead of time and chill them in the refrigerator. Get The Recipe 42 of 61 Deviled Crab Melts Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox These crostinis with melty cheese, fresh tomatoes, and lightly spiced crab are the most elegant way to kick off your holiday meal. Keep watch as they broil, pulling them out just as they start to brown. Get The Recipe 43 of 61 Bacon Deviled Eggs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer We dreamed up a fun grazing-board presentation for this new deviled egg recipe. Include cheese straws, pickled okra, hummus, or whatever dips and crudites you prefer. Get The Recipe 44 of 61 Baked Brie with Pecans Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Baked brie is a go-to appetizer for Southern hosts, but we dressed it up for a holiday gathering with a flavorful spiced honey-pecan mixture on top. Serve with crackers or apple or baguette slices. Get The Recipe 45 of 61 Easy Egg Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You can make this egg salad up to three days before Easter to save you time that morning. We love to make tea sandwiches with different kinds of bread to add a nice visual element to your presentation. Get The Recipe 46 of 61 Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall An appetizer spread wouldn't be complete without a cheesy dip, and this one can be prepped a day in advance before baking. You'll love the tangy-spicy combination of flavors. Get The Recipe 47 of 61 Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You won't believe how much flavor is stuffed into these little mushroom bites. Make these ahead of time and pop them in the oven when guests arrive. They only need five minutes to bake. Get The Recipe 48 of 61 Bacon Bites Molly Bolton / Southern Living With just three ingredients, you can wow your holiday guests. These fancy breadsticks won’t last long thanks to an unbeatable combination of bacon and brown sugar. Assemble in advance and bake before serving. Get The Recipe 49 of 61 Deviled Potatoes Hector Sanchez Fill these mini potatoes with everything you love about potato salad and deviled eggs. In just two bites, these appetizers will be gone fast. Make these in advance and let them sit before serving. Get The Recipe 50 of 61 Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Guests will hop right over to this patch of garden goodness. Baby spinach and Vidalia onions star in this creamy dip. Radishes, baby carrots, and bell peppers make the perfect dippers. Get The Recipe 51 of 61 Blistered Cherry Tomatoes with Red Pepper-Feta Spread Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis If you can find them, cherry tomatoes on the vine make a striking display. This appetizer piles on the flavor with a red pepper-feta dip topped with bursting cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle fried quinoa on top for an unexpected crunch. Get The Recipe 52 of 61 Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Make this creamy dip in advance and reheat it when you’re ready to serve. The addition of country ham gives this indulgent dip incredible flavor. Serve with toasted, sliced French bread or pita chips. Get The Recipe 53 of 61 Smoky Field Pea Hummus Photo: Iain Bagwell Field peas and ham are a great pair in this hummus, but feel free to use any legume you prefer. The ham hock adds a nice smoky flavor, but it can be omitted. Get The Recipe 54 of 61 Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham These appetizers come together quickly thanks to flaky puff pastry. A tasty filling combines tomatoes with cheese and a sprinkle of fresh basil. Get The Recipe 55 of 61 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL This spring Caprese salad features basil, strawberries, and fresh mozzarella in a white balsamic vinaigrette. Serve it as an appetizer on toasted baguette slices, or serve it over arugula for a delightful spring salad. Get The Recipe 56 of 61 Spicy Cheese Twists Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis It doesn’t get much easier than this appetizer. Similar in flavor to cheese straws, these cheese twists rely on a box of puff pastry. Cayenne adds a nice kick. Get The Recipe 57 of 61 Fried Deviled Eggs Micah A. Leal The appetizer tray just got a little more interesting. Bring these fried deviled eggs to Easter dinner, and you just might outshine the ham. The crunchy first bite is a nice contrast to the creamy filling. Get The Recipe 58 of 61 Our Favorite Pimiento Cheese Hector Manuel Sanchez Is it even a Southern gathering if pimiento cheese isn't present? Serve up our favorite homemade spread with your cracker of choice. Get The Recipe 59 of 61 Party Poppers Hector M. Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham It isn't a party until the poppers have arrived! These jalapeños are stuffed with melty cheese and wrapped in bacon for a classic bite sized treat that can't be beat. Get The Recipe 60 of 61 Mini Caprese Bites William Dickey While we love a caprese salad—these skewers with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic are an easy bite-sized alternative. Get The Recipe 61 of 61 Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey Stack juicy melon, salty prosciutto, and creamy mozzarella on a skewer for a delicious snack. These are the ideal spring appetizer to serve that are refreshing and not too filling. Plus, they're easy to make and take. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit