Our Best No-Cook Appetizers for Super-Easy Entertaining
No stove, no oven, no problem! These no-cook recipes are proof that you don’t need heat to make a scrumptious starter.
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Photography: Chelsea Cavanaugh1 of 24
No stove, no oven, no problem! These no-cook recipes are proof that you don’t need heat to make a scrumptious starter.
3-Ingredient Finger Foods
Make happy hour positively gleeful with these no-cook hors d’oeuvres that can be whipped up with just a trio of ingredients -- and polished off in a single bite. They’re a cinch to assemble, pleasing to the eye, and so tasty your guests will go back for thirds.
1. Japanese Rice Crackers + Avocado + Salmon Roe
2. Celery + Cream Cheese + Everything Bagel Topping
3. Persian (Mini) Cucumber + Boursin Cheese + Smoked Trout
4. Crostini + Major Grey's Chutney + Serrano Ham
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Take classic prosciutto-wrapped melon to the next level by arranging them on a platter with milky bocconcini and fresh basil.
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Avocado Ranch Dip
Ranch is always a crowd-pleaser! This kid- and adult-approved version gets its creamy texture from avocado instead of the usual mayonnaise.
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Botanical Canapes
A minimalist motif gives these canapes maximum charm: Thinly sliced scallions and snipped chives make stems for salmon-caviar blooms. Spread plain or smoked-salmon cream cheese onto soft white sandwich bread. Trim to desired shape, and arrange the chives and luminous bright orange roe into single stems or a field of flowers.
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Dates and Blue Cheese
You only need four ingredients -- dried dates, Gorgonzola piccante, toasted almonds, and honey -- to make these sweet-and-savory hors d'oeuvres. They'll be the first to disappear at your next cocktail party, guaranteed.
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Radishes and Peanut Butter
PB and...R? Trust us, they make a surprisingly delicious pairing, especially when you add a sprinkling of flaky sea salt. If you want to go a more traditional route, serve radishes with seasoned olive oil or chive butter.
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Crowd-Pleasing Pick Up Sticks
It's all about artful arrangement for these sophisticated skewers. Try our delectable ingredient combinations, then let your imagination run wild.
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Horseradish-Pimiento Cheese
Prepared horseradish perks up this piquant take on the Southern favorite.
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Smoked salmon and sliced avocado are wrapped in tender lettuce leaves and served with a lively tahini sauce in this Southeast Asian-inspired appetizer.
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Whipped Hearts of Palm and Feta Dip
Mildly flavored hearts of palm are the perfect foil for salty feta in this cool, creamy dip. Finish with fresh dill and a pinch of cayenne.
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Salsa Fresca
Don't be tempted by premade salsa at the store! You can make your own in a flash. Here, tomatoes and onions are amped up with jalapeno, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro.
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Marinated Mozzarella
Take your cheese-and-charcuterie platter to new heights by bathing fresh mozzarella in olive oil, fresh herbs, and red-pepper flakes. Make it the star, then bring in salami and olives as supporting players.
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Ceviche with Scallion and Sesame
Ceviche is what you call the magical dish that results from "cooking" raw seafood with citrus. Here, red snapper is marinated in fresh lime juice and orange juice, then topped with fish sauce, sesame oil and seeds, serrano, and scallion.
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Yogurt Dip
Choose unexpected crudites for this zaatar-laced yogurt dip, such as endive, fennel, cauliflower, and broccolini. It pairs well with just about any vegetable.
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Avocado & Honeydew Melon
Ripe avocados and sweet summer melon need nothing more than a sprinkling of fresh mint and sea salt to shine.
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Grape Pico de Gallo
Don't let tomatoes have all the salsa fun! Swap them out for seedless green grapes, then add the usual jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
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Spicy Tuna Tartare
This haute hors d'oeuvre never goes out of style! Toss fresh tuna with mayonnaise, soy sauce, sriracha, and fresh chives and serve atop gaufrettes.
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Tofu with Tomatoes, Basil, and Mint
Upend your summer Caprese salad routine with this Asian-inspired version. Ripe tomatoes join soft tofu, fresh herbs, and toasted sesame seeds in a soy sauce-sherry vinaigrette.
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Smoked Salmon Dip with Bagel Chips
We've transformed our favorite bagel toppings into a sensational cream cheese-based dip.
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Mango-and-Avocado Salsa
Take guacamole for a tropical spin by adding mango to the mix. Fiery habanero chile offsets the sweetness perfectly.
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Antipasto Skewers
Finger food doesn't get easier than this! All you need to do is thread store-bought ingredients like giardiniera, olives, bocconcino, and prosciutto onto skewers. Our Cheddar and Pickle Skewers are dead-simple, too.
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Speedy Smoked-Salmon Crackers
Butter crackers are layered with herbed Neufchatel (it's way lighter than cream cheese!), sliced radishes, and smoked salmon in these elegant canapes.
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Buffalo-Style Celery Sticks
Give crunchy celery the Buffalo treatment by stuffing stalks with a flavorful mixture of blue cheese, cream cheese, and cayenne pepper.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Breadsticks
Having an impromptu cocktail party? Pair crisp grissini with thin slices of salty prosciutto for an appetizer that comes together in mere seconds.
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These No-Cook Appetizers Make Entertaining Super Easy
No stove, no oven, no problem!
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We have an hors d'oeuvre for everyone, from the traditional to the adventurous. We're talking dips, toasts, fried foods, and so much more.