No fork or knife required.
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A good party requires some tasty party foods! Sure, there will be refreshing beverages, groovy music, cute decorations, and, of course, good company. But if you ask us, no get-together is complete without a few small bites. And we do mean small! In fact, we like to think that some the easiest appetizers are the ones that don't require a fork and knife. That's why we've rounded up the best finger food ideas that you can eat with your hands.
Many of these recipes are crunchy, cheesy, or wrapped in bacon, but we have a few healthy appetizers, too. Just look at the air fryer falafel, shrimp co*cktail, and buffalo cauliflower bites. You'll also find some creative ideas that will have everyone at your party raving like the reuben egg rolls, fried mac and cheese balls, and spinach-artichoke dip served in wonton cups. Then again, you can't go wrong with party food favorites like pinwheel recipes, pigs in a blanket, party dips, and deviled eggs—they make a welcome addition to any potluck spread. Just serve them with one of our tasty co*cktails, and these finger food ideas are guaranteed to win over any crowd.
1
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These flaky pinwheels are swirled with salty ham and melty cheese, and ranch-flavored cream cheese mixture. Good thing you can keep them stashed in the freezer for whenever the craving hits.
Get the Ham and Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
2
Crab Rangoon
With its creamy, spicy filling and its signature crunch, it's no wonder this classic appetizer is always a hit. You can pan fry it or make it in the air fryer, but just be sure to serve it up with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Get the Crab Rangoon recipe.
3
Fried Zucchini
Give your veggies the French fry treatment and no one will complain. These zucchini sticks are crispy and golden with a cheesy breadcrumb coating that's so easy to make.
Get the Fried Zucchini recipe.
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4
Coconut Shrimp
The combination of crunchy coconut and succulent shrimp will make you feel like your on a beach vacation. It would be perfect for a pool party, a cookout, or any time you want to get a taste of the tropics.
Get the Coconut Shrimp recipe.
5
Air Fryer Taquitos
Skip the freezer aisle and try making your own crispy beef taquitos at home instead. It's so easy thanks to the air fryer—and you don't even need to fuss with a pot of oil.
Get the Air Fryer Taquitos recipe.
6
Potato Skins
Ree's been making these crispy potato skins for years and she admits, "they never, ever go out of style." You can fill them up with whatever your heart desires, but cheese, bacon, and sour cream are always a good idea.
Get Ree's Potato Skins recipe.
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7
Reuben Egg Rolls
This party food is everything you love about a Reuben sandwich—including the corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese—in one crunchy bite. There's even a side of Russian dressing for dipping.
Get the Reuben Egg Rolls recipe.
8
Pot Stickers
This recipe keeps things simple by using store-bought dumpling wrappers. Then, each one is filled with crunchy veggies and hearty ground pork. It's all finished with a sweet and savory dipping sauce and chili oil for spice.
Get the Pot Stickers recipe.
9
Air Fryer Falafel
This Middle Eastern favorite is made with a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and chickpeas. Then, it's crisped up in the air fryer for your next mezze plate. Serve it with tahini yogurt sauce for dipping.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
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10
Corn Fritters
There's just something about fried dough that's so irresistible. To make it even better, this variation is loaded with sweet corn. You can even top it with sifted powdered sugar for extra sweetness.
Get Ree's Corn Fritters recipe.
11
Everything-Cucumber Smoked Salmon Bites
Hosting a tea party or weekend brunch? This hand-held snack is the perfect bite. It's light and refreshing with a pop of everything bagel seasoning.
Get Ree's Everything-Cucumber Smoked Salmon Bites recipe.
12
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
It doesn't even need to be a party to make these scrumptious chicken tenders. They're just as delicious as an after-school snack. What's more, they're healthier than your typical fried tender.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.
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13
Festive Goat Cheese Balls
This pretty appetizer only requires four ingredients and it comes together in a matter of minutes. It might just be one the easiest finger foods you could make.
Get Ree's Festive Goat Cheese Balls recipe.
14
Air Fryer Okra
Even those who are skeptical about okra will love this method for preparing the Southern favorite. The okra pods are cut in half lengthwise so there's even more surface area to be breaded and fried. And all that means is that there's extra crunch.
Get the Air Fryer Okra recipe.
15
Beef Empanadas
The tender golden dough and warm beef filling make this meat pocket extra-special. If you're in a pinch, you can look for store-bought frozen empanada discs or even pie dough as a substitute.
Get the Beef Empanadas recipe.
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16
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Sweet, smoky, salty, spicy—there are so many flavors packed into one tiny bite. It's no wonder this party food has been around for decades. You might even want to make a double batch since they'll likely disappear in minutes.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Dates recipe.
17
Sausage Balls
These cheesy sausage balls are incredibly poppable! And the best part is that you can serve them up any time of day—from breakfast to dinner. We especially love when they’re dunked into the honey mustard sauce.
Get the Sausage Balls recipe.
18
Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
The creamy crab filling and elegant mushroom caps make this finger food feel like a special occasion treat. Luckily, you can skip the more expensive jumbo lump crabmeat and use regular lump crab or even claw meat instead.
Get the Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.
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19
Deviled Eggs
For the Drummond family, it wouldn't be a party without deviled eggs. They're the perfect accompaniment to a holiday potluck, cookout, brunch, or dinner party—and they're so easy to make!
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
20
Popcorn Chicken
It's crispy fried chicken—but make it bite-sized! The trick is to add the buttermilk and hot sauce marinated chicken to a bag with the dry ingredients and seasoning, then shake it to coat. It's an easier method than your typical dredging station-fried chicken.
Get the Popcorn Chicken recipe.
