18 Vegetarian Appetizers So Good, You'll Want to Eat Them for Dinner

Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce
Photo: Charlotte and Johnny Autry

These meatless starters are perfect for evenings when you want to snack around. There's a little something for everyone in this mix, and no main dish is necessary when you can whip up a batch or two of savory dips, crispy veggie fries and cheesy bites. Recipes like our Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce and Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Fries are so tasty, entrées will be the farthest thing from your mind.

01 of 18

Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce

Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce
Charlotte and Johnny Autry

Here we soak lentils instead of fully cooking them, which gives them just enough added moisture to be whirred up into a fritter without being too wet. Serve these curry-spiced fritters on top of a green salad or tucked into a pita.

02 of 18

Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll

Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll
Jamie Vespa, M.S., R.D.

Buttery puff pastry is a tasty shortcut ingredient that can be used in many delicious ways. Here we roll out a pastry sheet and cover it with fig jam and crumbled goat cheese, then roll it up into a log and bake it. The end result is a sweet-and-savory appetizer that looks and tastes impressive, especially considering it has just three ingredients.

03 of 18

Marinated Yogurt Cheese

8527736.jpg

By draining the liquid whey out of yogurt, you can make a "cheese" with the texture of soft cream cheese. Here it's turned into a savory spread with dried herbs. Avoid using regular yogurt containing additives like modified food starch, vegetable gums or gelatin; these thickeners inhibit the release of the whey. Serve this with crusty French bread or crackers.

04 of 18

Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Fries

8328259.jpg

The cheesy flavor and crispy crust on these eggplant "fries" is just like fried eggplant Parmesan, but with a fraction of the oil. They're the perfect appetizer for Italian night! Dip these crispy fries into a big hot bowl of your favorite marinara.

05 of 18

Cheesy Zucchini Tots

Cheesy Zucchini Tots
Casey Barber

Not one, not two, but three cheeses make these low-carb cheesy zucchini tots live up to their name. Bake them in the oven or fry them in your air fryer for a crisp exterior and a gooey, melted center. Don't use pre-shredded cheese here; shred it fresh for the best and creamiest results. Serve with ketchup, marinara, ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.

06 of 18

Edamame with Ginger Salt

Edamame with Ginger Salt
Jerrelle Guy

Add zing to convenient frozen edamame with easy homemade seasoning. You'll have leftover ginger salt—try a sprinkle on steamed or roasted veggies.

07 of 18

Crispy Parmesan Mushroom Fries with Ranch Sauce

Crispy Parmesan Mushroom Fries with Ranch Sauce

If you're looking for a new way to enjoy portobello mushrooms, look no further. These meaty mushrooms are sliced, then coated in crispy breadcrumb topping. Hot out of the oven, they're served with a creamy ranch sauce. They're a perfect lower-carb alternative to regular french fries!

08 of 18

Panko-&-Parmesan-Crusted Mushrooms

Panko & Parmesan Crusted Mushrooms

Serve these rich and tender mushrooms filled with panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese alone as an appetizer or alongside anything from pork to fish. To ensure even cooking, look for mushrooms that are similar in size.

09 of 18

Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips

overhead shot of air fryer zucchini chips on a black plate with creaming dipping sauce

These crispy air-fryer zucchini chips are delicious paired with the creamy dill dipping sauce--or any sauce you have on hand. And the best part? The air fryer delivers a crispy crunch without having to pile on the oil like traditional fryers do.

10 of 18

Cheesy Jalapeño Corn Dip

8097416.jpg

Creamy melted cheese brings sweet corn and spicy jalapeño together with a nice pop of brightness from lime juice and cilantro in this tasty dip inspired by Mexican elote and esquites. This creamy and satisfying dish can be served with tortilla chips and veggies for dipping.

11 of 18

3-Ingredient Cheddar & Apple Bites

3-ingredient Cheddar Apple Bites

Creamy apple butter and sharp Cheddar cheese are a perfect match in these easy party hors d'oeuvres. This recipe calls for prepared pie crust, which is pressed into mini muffin tins to make little tart shells, so it's super easy to make as well. Add slices of apple for extra crunch, if you'd like, or keep these bites simple. Either way, consider making a double batch--they'll go quickly.

12 of 18

Avocado Fries with Sriracha Aioli

Avocado Fries with Sriracha Aioli

Creamy avocados are a delicious foil to crunchy breading in this healthy oven-fried avocado fries recipe. Dip into spicy Sriracha dipping sauce for a flavor explosion. Save your ripe avocados for guacamole or toast--only firm ones will do when making these fries.

13 of 18

Almost Chipotle's Guacamole

Almost Chipotle's Guacamole

Make guacamole at home that tastes just like it came from Chipotle--but don't worry, our version won't be extra! This deliciously fresh guac is perfect for topping burrito bowls or tacos, or serve as an appetizer or healthy snack with tortilla chips and veggies.

14 of 18

Butternut Squash Queso Fundido

a cast iron skillet with a cheesy dip

This cheesy dip recipe is lightened up by subbing mashed butternut squash for some of the melted cheese. We also loaded it with chili-spiced caramelized onions. Serve this healthy makeover with tortilla chips or sliced jicama for dipping.

15 of 18

Loaded Sweet Potato Nacho Fries

a cast iron skillet with sweet potatoes and various toppings

Bump up the vitamin A and fiber when you swap tortilla chips for sweet potatoes in this healthy recipe. Serve as an appetizer at your next party or turn it into dinner by adding chicken, tofu, shrimp or more beans for protein.

16 of 18

Classic Hummus

6080917.jpg

It's easy to make hummus at home with just a few pantry items. Serve drizzled with your best-quality extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley. Mop it up with warm whole-wheat pita bread or cut-up vegetables.

17 of 18

Caprese Skewers

Tomato-Basil Skewers
Photographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall

We take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.

18 of 18

Fresh Tomato Salsa

Fresh Tomato Salsa
Jason Donnelly

This easy fresh tomato salsa recipe yields about 5 cups of salsa—plenty to serve a crowd. If you like spicy salsa, use the full amount of jalapeños and add more cayenne pepper. Serve with chips, tacos and more.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles