25 Best Individual Appetizers

Despite what your parents may have told you, sharing isn’t always a good thing. Just take a look at these tasty individual appetizers!

These recipes are designed for you and you only. Bite-sized and delicious, they’re sure to tickle your tastebuds without spoiling your main course.

It doesn’t matter what you’re in the mood for, there’s a tiny appetizer with your name on it. 

From fruity cranberry brie bites and to spicy tacos, there are lots of tastes to explore.

And vegetarians don’t have to miss out. Check out delicious plant-based starters like cheese ball bites, garlic pretzels, veggie cups, and mini-quiches.

There’s a lot of variety among these 25 great recipes, but they all have one thing in common – you won’t have to share!

1. No-Bake Cranberry Brie Bites

Dinner parties don’t have to be a hassle with this easy starter.

With very little prep, you can pull this elegant appetizer together in minutes. 

Round crackers are topped with a thick slice of creamy brie and a dollop of tart-but-sweet cranberry sauce. 

Garnish with chives and that’s it. The only thing left to do is to eat them!

2. Taco Cup Appetizers

This Mexican-themed appetizer is top of my list for my next party.

Ground beef is seasoned with spices, mixed with refried beans, and piled into flaky wonton cups. 

Topped with lots of cheese, sour cream, and salsa, you won’t be able to resist these tiny parcels of joy.

3. Black Bean Corn Salsa Cracker Bites

There’s no cooking involved with these bright bites. No baking, no stirring, no frying – just a few minutes of assembly.

Crunchy crackers are piled high with cucumber slices, corn, salsa, and beans. They’re colorful, they’re tangy, they’re zesty, and they’re very, very good.

4. Mini-Cheese Ball Bites

Pass these around at a cocktail party and you’ll be taking empty plates back to the kitchen.

Creamy, smooth cheese balls are speared with crunchy breadsticks for a delicious app-on-a-stick.

5. Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

If you’ve an air fryer, now’s the time to put it to good use.

This magical piece of kitchen equipment uses convection to get that crisp-fried taste, without all the grease of standard frying.

Try this easy recipe for a healthy alternative to deep-fried pizza rolls and enjoy all that crunchy flavor without losing your appetite for the mains!

6. Deviled Eggs

Fun fact – deviled eggs are one of the world’s oldest appetizers.

Rumor has it that the Romans used to pass around plates of these delicious eggs at their dinner parties.

You may not be serving Caesar, but you can still make an impression with this delicious recipe.

Simple but satisfying, it’s a creamy blend of egg yolks, mayo, dijon mustard, and a dash of paprika. 

7. Mini-Taco Bowls

This easy appetizer isn’t fancy, but it is flavorful.

Taco-seasoned beef is spooned into crispy tortilla shells and dressed with all the usual sides. 

You’ll get all the tastes and textures of satisfying tacos, all in a single bite.

Things might get messy, but that’s all part of the fun (have lots of napkins on hand).

8. Boozy Bacon Cheddar Bites

This recipe had me at ‘boozy bacon’.

You, too, will lose your mind over these savory slices. Mayo, mustard, beer, and hot sauce is whisked together to make a tangy paste. 

You’ll then add bacon and cheese before piling the whole mixture on top of soft muffins and toasting until bubbly.

These are great as party finger food, but they’re also ideal for quick snacks and light lunches.

9. Mini-Potato Skins

Loaded potato skins are the ultimate game-day food. 

They’re filling, they’re tasty, and no-one in possession of a working set of taste buds can ever resist them.

This easy recipe starts with mini-white potatoes and ends with a delicious, cheesy, bacon-laden, snack that hits all the right notes.

10. Mac and Cheese Bites

What’s better than mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese rolled up in a tiny ball and deep-fried until golden brown!

Squishy and gooey on the inside and crispy and crunchy on the outside, one bite, and you’ll be in comfort food heaven.

11. Bite-Size Chicken Tacos

Colorful and fun, these mini-tacos are the best kind of messy eating.

They’re also very popular with little snackaholics, so serve them at kids parties if you want to be the best mom on the block.

You can mix and match your toppings with this versatile version. Serve with sour cream, salsa, green salad, or just a sprinkling of cilantro!

12. Beef Wellington Bites

Festive and impressive, these tiny beef wellingtons would look great on your Thanksgiving table or Christmas menu.

And they’re surprisingly easy to make! There’s no messing around with pastry dough.

Just buy ready-made puff pastry and wrap them up as you would a parcel.

Serve with a peppery cream dipping sauce and watch them disappear!

13. Mini-Garlic Butter Pretzels

Bread is always a crowd-pleaser, but all that dough does weigh you down.

These tiny pretzels are the perfect solution. They’re small enough to satisfy while remaining light and airy.

Drench in a buttery garlic glaze and enjoy!

14. BLT Bites

Low-carb and keto-friendly, these tasty bites are great for diet-conscious party guests.

They’re made by stuffing fresh tomato with bacon and lettuce, all wrapped up in a creamy sauce.

You’ll get all the flavors of a classic BLT, but none of the carby grains. Magic!

15. Ham and Cheese Sliders

These tiny sandwiches are both very tasty and totally adorable.

They’re made from layers of salty ham and sharp cheese, nestled in a soft bun and glazed with a poppy seed dressing.

Soft, chewy, and very addictive, these are great for backyard BBQs or potlucks. 

16. Mini-Quiche

A rich buttery filling is wrapped in a flaky pie crust. I could eat these mini-quiches all day, every day.

This recipe features a basic quiche filling made with egg and cheese, but you can easily take things up a notch by adding other ingredients.

Try scallions, mushrooms, and peppers for a vegetarian version. Keep things carnivore with bacon, spinach, and ham. Play around and find your favorite!

17. Caprese Bites

Made with just 6 ingredients, these Mediterranean-style bites are a quick and easy appetizer.

Despite their simplicity, they’re full of complex flavors with creamy mozzarella, ripe tomato, zesty balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil. 

18. Stuffed Mushrooms

Use big mushrooms for this delicious appetizer as they will shrink in cooking. And, trust me, you don’t want to lose any of the juicy filling.

They’re stuffed with seasoned sausage and cream cheese for a gorgeously rich starter.

Garlic, white wine, green onions, and fresh parsley round out the flavorful filling. 

19. Meatball Sliders

This is comfort food in appetizer form.

Tiny burgers, loaded with Italian meatballs, tangy tomato sauce, and melty mozzarella – starters don’t get any more delicious than this.

20. Popcorn Chicken

I would suggest keeping this recipe for game day, but why wait?

You can enjoy that deliciousness right now in just a few easy steps. 

Simply toss chicken chunks in a panko breading and fry until golden and crispy.

You can add spice if you feel like something fiery, and be sure to check out the many suggestions for dipping sauces. 

21. Bisquick Sausage Balls

Quick, convenient, and very easy, I make these soft buttery Bisquick balls when I’ve a hungry crowd to feed.

Sausage meat is blended with Bisquick baking mix and cheese, then baked into golden, soft, meaty goodness.

22. Individual Veggie Cups

Perfectly portioned and very portable, these veggie cups are a great option for picnics or BBQs.

They’re a simple but tasty combination of all the good snacking veggies – carrot sticks, celery, bell peppers, peas, and tomatoes. 

I love doing these in the summer when the vegetables are deliciously ripe and refreshing.

23. Baked Potato Bites

Healthy and nourishing, this is a beautiful appetizer made from baked potato halves.

The topping for these tender potato bites is made with sour cream, bacon, and asparagus. There’s no frying, no mess, and no greasy after taste.

24. Individual Seven-Layer Dips

Avoid the curse (and mess!) of double-dipping with these individual dips.

All seven layers of the traditional Mexican dip are loaded into single-serving cups so you can enjoy a feast of flavors without ruining your appetite.

25. Charcuterie Cones

Salty and savory, these meaty cones are the ultimate fun finger food.

They’re individual-sized cones stuffed with all the ingredients of a charcuterie board. 

Breadsticks, cheese, salami, olives, and other garnishes – you’ll be surprised how much you can fit in a single serving!