I love to find recipes filled with flavor but not killing me with calories. I have 15 recipes that I use as a go to appetizer if the family wants something different or we have friends drop by. Here are 15 Healthy Quick Appetizers for you to try out or add to your healthy appetizers list.
I like to be able to do simple and quick but with a wide array of flavors. So between using my food processor and a few healthy tricks we can enjoy a great appetizer in under 15 minutes. The best part is I have no regrets when eating any of these. So try a few and see what your favorite might be and add it to your go to list.
Warm Spiced Cashews
A recipe for coating cashews in a little peanut oil, dark brown sugar, five spice powder, cumin, red pepper, pepper and kosher salt. Then easily bake them in the oven for 7 minutes and when you smell that heavenly aroma it is time to cool them and eat. I would advise making extra because these are addicting. This recipe is by My Recipes.
White Bean Pumpkin Hummus
I love hummus and making my own always seems so easy and has much more flavor. I can adjust the spices to fit my family’s taste and warming pita bread and cutting it into triangles is delicious. This recipe calls for cannellini beans but your can use chickpeas if you desire. Then add fresh cut pumpkin or canned pumpkin and tahini paste, garlic, cumin and paprika. It makes a delightful creamy consistency and is also good used as a spread. This recipe is by Simple Vegan Blog and is a great holiday appetizer as well.
Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas
This recipe takes about 20 minutes but is well worth it. The chickpeas must be rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel or getting a good crisp on them will be difficult. The chickpeas are then cooked in oil until crispy. When crisped put them in a bowl and add parmesan cheese, lemon rind, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Toss lightly and the appetizer is ready. Again a double batch is advised because they are so crunchy and tasty. This recipe is by A Dish Of Daily Life.
Spicy Maple Cashew Popcorn
I thought I was a plain salted popcorn type of person until I tasted this recipe. Now I want someone to make this every time we think about making popcorn. I think you should resolve yourself to once you have tasted Spicy Maple Cashew Popcorn, the plain popcorn will never be enough. This recipe takes about 5 minutes to make and most of that is making your fresh kernel popcorn. Then in a small saucepan cook a little sugar, maple syrup, red pepper and salt to taste. The popcorn and cashews are mixed together in a bowl and then the simple sauce with a little butter poured and tossed lightly over top.You can share this with friends or make a bowl for yourself. This recipe is by My Recipes.
Buffalo Chicken Celery Bites
I like the idea of being able to repurpose some leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken and make it into a quick and easy appetizer. We always have hot sauce and celery on hand so it is easy to put together. I use shredded chicken, hot sauce, mayonnaise and salt and pepper to taste. Then clean celery stalks and fill them with this spread. I like to crumble blue cheese on top and serve. This takes about 10 minutes to put together and everyone loves it. This is a recipe by Mantitlement.
California Sushi Bites
If you like crab meat then keep it on hand with the usual avocado and cucumber. This is so refreshing and just slicing the veggies is the difficult part. A slice of cucumber with a little piece of fresh avocado on top. Toss crabmeat, mayo, sriracha and green onion with salt and pepper in a bowl and put a small scoop on top of the avocado. Sprinkle sesame seeds over top and serve with warm soy sauce. If you make an assemble line in the kitchen this whole process goes very fast. I have also used tuna and it is also very good. This recipe is by Delish.
Strawberry, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Bites
A box of your favorite cracker, goat cheese, a slice of strawberry and a drizzle of balsamic over the top makes this a tasty treat. I like it even in the winter months when I might have to pay more for strawberries. The combination of flavors fit together perfectly and it is easy to pull together in few minutes. This recipe is by Joyful Healthy Eats.
Spicy Chipotle – Lime Hummus
I really enjoy making many different flavors of hummus because I find I like each one with something specific for dipping. I like the Spicy Chipotle-Lime Hummus with a great tortilla chip. The chickpeas mixed with lime and adobo sauce and chiles among other spices is a perfect flavor to add to tortillas.I like to chill this one for little while after i make it for the full flavor to develop. This recipe is all made in a food processor and then placed in a bowl for dipping. Recipe is by Cooking Classy.
Pizza Zucchinis
This 3 ingredient appetizer is easy and fast. It only takes a fresh sliced zucchini, pizza sauce and mozzarella. Layer them on a sprayed baking dish and bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown. The zucchini can be precooked if you prefer a softer bite. I like mine a little crunchy with the dripping cheese. It is grain free and gluten free and does not have too many calories. This recipe is by Sweet CS Designs.
Roasted Cranberry and Goat Cheese Flatbread
I like to have flatbread on hand because it is easy to use as a base for a pizza or to put another great topping on it. I enjoy have cranberries during the holiday and this combination is a healthy light mixture. I roast the cranberries ahead of time in the oven with maple syrup, shallots and salt. Then when ready to eat spread on a flatbread and add goat cheese. It is a mix between sweet and savory on a flatbread. It looks festive and your guests will love this appetizer. This recipe was created by Healthy Seasonal Recipes.
Hummus Flatbread with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Pesto
This is the other flatbread that I like to make for family or friends. You can use whole wheat or gluten free flatbread. In this recipe they use store bought hummus but feel free to make your own. Then cook the spinach in a pan with oil until wilted while browning the flatbread. Once the flatbread is toasted spread on a layer of hummus, add the wilted spinach, sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts. This recipe then drizzles pesto sauce over the top and it is ready to eat. The combination of crispy flatbread with the toppings just melts in your mouth. Don’t skip the pesto sauce because it completes the flavor. This is a recipe by The Roasted Root.
Fruit Pizza Crackers
Sometimes we have lots of fruit in the refrigerator to finish using or everyone wants an appetizer or snack that is on the sweeter side. I like to utilize what fruit we have and cut it up into small pieces. Then I use a wheat cracker and spread a cream cheese mixture with a little honey to make it more spreadable. Top it all with the fresh fruit and call it fruit pizza. If you have a younger crowd visiting have them help with the assembling of the fruit pizza. This recipe is by Homemade Ginger.
Raspberry Fruit Tartlets
It is a good idea during the holidays to keep some phyllo dough on hand in the freezer. It is easy to use the phyllo dough in mini muffin pans This recipe calls for a little phyllo dough with brie inside toasted in the oven for about 5 minutes and top with raspberry jam and walnut chips. It is just a heavenly bite out of the oven. This recipe is by A Sprinkle of This and That.
Vegetable Tortilla Round Ups
These Vegetable Tortilla Round Ups are good for an easy snack on the go or a great recipe for guest who stop by. The cream cheese, mayo, dry ranch mix and dill mixture is great as a spread for the tortilla. Then finely chop fresh veggies that you have on hand and spread over the tortilla. Roll it up and slice it up for a great quick snack. This recipe is by Culinary Hill.
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bites
During the holidays we might be a little more extravagant with our appetizers when company stops in to visit. This appetizer is elegant and delicious for unexpected guests. The mix is cream cheese, fresh dill and horseradish with a little heavy cream ( optional) to make it creamy. Use sliced english cucumbers as your base and then the blended mix and top with a small piece of smoked salmon. Pull it all together with a decorative toothpick and serve. It is easy but beautiful. This recipe is by Baker By Nature.
If the holidays are hectic or you are just in the mood to relax with family, try several of the above mentioned recipes. It will keep you healthier and they are full of new flavors for everyone to try. Please pick a few favorites that you might make all year round.