5-Ingredient Appetizers

August 27, 2019

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These recipes for instant appetizers use 5 ingredients or fewer (not counting oil, salt and pepper). They make creating elegant treats surprisingly simple. Whether you are hosting a dinner party or a holiday party, these easy appetizer recipes will be a hit with your guests.

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Cucumber-Avocado Cauliflower Rice Sushi

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Use cauliflower rice to turn classic cucumber-avocado sushi into a low-carb snack, lunch or appetizer. This roll is vegetarian-friendly and a no-egg mayo makes it great for vegans too. Make these rolls as you eat them, instead of letting them sit. The cauliflower rice can dry quickly, which makes rolling tricky.

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Cheesy Zucchini Breadsticks

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Shredded zucchini, eggs and cheese combine in this easy recipe for low-carb cheesy breadsticks like you would get from the pizzeria, but healthier! Dip this gluten-free appetizer in marinara or pico de gallo for even more flavor.

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Black-Eyed Pea Dip

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In this black-eyed pea dip recipe, black-eyed peas are pureed with extra-virgin olive oil, red-wine vinegar, garlic and thyme--a nice alternative to hummus. Try this protein-rich black-eyed pea dip with your favorite fresh vegetables or baked pita chips.

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Jason Mraz's Guacamole

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In this easy guacamole recipe, musician Mraz prefers California Hass or Reed avocados because they are the creamiest. Adjust the heat, tang or other flavorings to suit your tastes.

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Smoked Salmon Tartare

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Smoked salmon gets an added crunch when served on radish slices.

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3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites

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Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.

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Roasted Pears with Prosciutto

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This 3-ingredient finger food is the perfect classy appetizer for your next party. It's so simple to make yet so elegant and delicious. Finishing with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar makes the flavors pop and takes this easy app to the next level.

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Wasabi Crab on Endive

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Spicy wasabi mayonnaise makes crab sing in these easy appetizers.

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Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

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This finger food is the perfect healthy appetizer to get your party going. Three ingredients are all it takes to make this elegant hors d'oeuvre--no one will ever guess how easy they were to make! Want to keep things plant-based? Use vegan pesto in the breadcrumb stuffing. You can also swap the whole-wheat breadcrumbs for gluten-free.

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Roast Beef & Beet Nosh

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Horseradish sour cream, pickled beets and roast beef top toasted rye bread for a yummy appetizer reminiscent of a delicious deli sandwich. Look for pickled beets in jars or cans near other pickled vegetables in most supermarkets. You can use 24 rye crackers instead of the toasted rye bread, if desired.

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Apricot Canapes

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These sweet and savory bites are like a cheese course in a bite.

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Smoky Nut-Stuffed Apricots

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Dried apricots are stuffed with provolone cheese and pecan halves, then wrapped in bacon, baked, and served warm for a fresh take on a favorite appetizer.

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Roasted Pears with Brie & Pistachios

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Roasted pears with Brie and pistachios is delicious as a first course or a side with roast pork or lamb. Leave the stems on for the prettiest presentation.

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Pear-Pecan Cheese Ball

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Sweet pear, salty Cheddar cheese and crunchy nuts make this healthy cheese ball recipe an alluring holiday treat. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers.

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Tomato-Basil Skewers

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Skewering mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes makes them easy to nosh at a party.

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Spinach-&-Brie-Topped Artichoke Hearts

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In this deconstructed version of hot spinach-artichoke dip, we stuff artichoke hearts with lightly seasoned cooked spinach and melt Brie on top.

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Strawberry & Brie Bites

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Strawberries, Brie cheese, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar come together in this addictive one-bite appetizer recipe.

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Date Wraps

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Sweet dates and salty prosciutto combine in a tasty bite.

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Green Chile & Goat Cheese Dip

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This creamy, cheesy dip is spiked with green chiles and smoky chipotle pepper. Be sure to drain the ricotta the day before you want to serve the dip. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

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Lemon-Garlic Marinated Shrimp

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Marinating precooked shrimp in garlic- and lemon-infused oil is a simple yet elegant appetizer.

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Polenta Wedges with Tomato Tapenade

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Crispy pieces of polenta topped with a tangy sun-dried tomato tapenade makes a pretty and tasty appetizer.

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Shrimp & Avocado Canapes

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Precooked shimp make this pretty appetizer a snap to prepare.

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Steak-&-Boursin-Wrapped Bells

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For an even quicker preparation, try deli roast beef.

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Green Tahini Ranch Dip

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Fresh spinach and herbs blended with tahini and garlic make this tahini dip recipe perfect for crudités--or try it as a vegan alternative to regular ranch dressing.

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Tropical Snack Mix

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Sweet, salty and simple, this tropical treat is a perfect on-the-go snack for a quick energy boost.

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Soy-Lime Baked Buffalo Wings

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Make this baked Buffalo chicken wing recipe at home to save 138 calories and a whopping 598 milligrams of sodium compared to the same number of deep-fried wings. If your market sells its chicken wings whole, you'll want to separate each into a "wingette" and a "drumette" so they cook evenly. They're easy to split apart with a sharp knife. Serve with carrot sticks, celery and ranch (or blue cheese) dressing.

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Sausage Balls

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These homemade sausage balls are a healthy riff on the original--we add riced cauliflower for moisture and a veggie boost, whole-wheat flour stands in for prepared biscuit mix, and sharp Cheddar adds flavor. Serve these sausage balls for brunch, as an appetizer, or mix them with your favorite marinara for dinner.

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Baked Hummus

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This Mediterranean party dip couldn't be easier. Just layer hummus, feta cheese, olives and tomatoes, then bake for a tasty snack or appetizer.

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New England Fried Shrimp

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Who doesn't love a crunchy fried shrimp? This version takes virtually fat-free shrimp out of the deep fryer and pan-fries them in a little bit of oil instead. With 9 grams of total fat and 213 calories per serving, you can feel good about enjoying them.

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Turmeric-Ginger Tahini Dip

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Flavored with turmeric, ginger and garlic, this tahini dip recipe is perfect for dipping vegetables or topping your next falafel.

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Garlic Hummus

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This classic hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

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Roasted Corn Cheese Dip

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Inspired by queso fundido--melted Mexican cheese dip--this corn and warm Cheddar cheese dip is great with toasted baguette.

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Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus with Spiced Honey Glaze

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Serve these bacon-wrapped asparagus spears at your next party. They're grilled with a cayenne and honey mustard glaze and the taste is out of this world.

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