25 Spring Appetizer Recipes Everyone Will Love

Highlight the freshest ingredients of the season in dips, flatbreads, soups, and small bites.

snap pea and melted leek tartines
Photo:

The Ingalls

Spring is such a wonderful time for cooking and entertaining—the days have become longer, temperatures are slowly rising, and there's a bounty of fresh ingredients in season. The prospect of bright flavors gets home cooks excited to serve colorful dishes that put springtime's best produce, which includes asparagus, peas, fava beans, and artichokes, on display right off the bat. We're talking about the first course of the night—appetizers.

Whether you're gathering friends and families for an Easter celebration, a Passover seder, a baby shower, or even a garden soirée, serving seasonal flavors in the form of a shareable, passable appetizer is the most delicious way to celebrate. If you're hunting for a few easy ideas, try veggie-forward dips and hummus for easy, make-ahead dishes that are simple to transport and always a hit at parties. Serve them with plenty of colorful crudités, crisp toasts, crackers, or an assortment of all three. Looking for more ideas? The 25 spring starters on this list are a perfect way to welcome the season—and your guests.

01 of 25

Green Goddess Dressing and Dip

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Jonathan Lovekin

Make this classic dip for guests and store extra in your refrigerator to use as a dressing. The tangy sour cream-and-mayonnaise base is accentuated by fresh scallions and anchovies; serve with a seasonal array of fresh vegetables.

02 of 25

New Potatoes With Aioli and Preserved Lemons

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Marte Kopperud

This zingy appetizer is easy to make especially if you use store-bought preserved lemons.

03 of 25

Miso-Sirarcha Deviled Eggs

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Gentl and Hyers

Our test kitchen has nailed the deviled egg. There's plenty of umami thanks to the unexpected combo of miso and sriracha in this take on the classic one-bite appetizer.

04 of 25

Minted Pea and Prosciutto Crostini

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Salty prosciutto complements sweet spring peas in this elemental hors d'oeuvre.

05 of 25

Grilled Artichoke, Green Garlic, and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

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Romulo Yanes

If you're unfamiliar with green garlic, it looks somewhat like scallions—ask your grocer for help identifying them in the produce aisle, although the best varities are found at farmers' markets throughout the spring season. In a pinch, you can substitute cloves from the head of a regular garlic as well as the green top of a scallion.

06 of 25

Skewered Greek Meatballs

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Feta and oregano add a Mediterranean zing to juicy beef-and-pork meatballs. Serve them with minty cucumber-yogurt dipping sauce.

07 of 25

Roasted-Spring-Onion and Goat-Cheese Eggs

roasted spring onion and goat cheese eggs
Anson Smart

These pretty mini Easter eggs don't crack; they melt in your mouth when spread on crackers. Roasted scallion infuse soft goat cheese with a garlicky bite, and purple chive blossoms and pink peppercorns accent them in pastels.

08 of 25

Cantaloupe and Mozzarella With Prosciutto and Basil

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Paint a portrait in spring pastels with this inviting arrangement of antipasti.

09 of 25

Fava Bean and Goat Cheese Dip With Radishes

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Johnny Miller

Fava beans and radishes, two colorful harbingers of spring, combine in this brightly flavored appetizer. For more refreshing radish dishes, visit our recipe collection.

10 of 25

Lemony White-Bean Hummus

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Dana Gallagher

Serve this creamy, citrusy twist on traditional hummus with baby carrots, sugar snap peas, radishes, and other tender spring vegetables. It's one of our favorite riffs on classic hummus.

11 of 25

Herb-Cheese Palmiers

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The classic French confection gets a savory makeover with Parmesan, Cheddar, and your choice of fresh herbs folded up in a sheet of puff pastry.

12 of 25

Radish Dip

radish dip
Dana Gallagher

Radish stars in this robust dip, which features fresh julienned radish, feta cheese, lemon juice and zest, sour cream, and another springtime favorite, dill. You can serve it with toast, crackers, or crudités—or slices of whole radishes.

13 of 25

Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes

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For this simple appetizer, wrap tiny new potatoes in strips of bacon and let the oven do the rest. Add a side of Lemon Aioli for dipping.

14 of 25

Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini

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Marinated artichoke hearts, Parmesan, and parsley come together in quickly for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. The crostini can be served at room temperature or broiled for a few minutes so the cheese melts.

15 of 25

Spiced Carrot Spread

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Carrots aren't just for the Easter bunny! They take on an intriguing allure when steamed and puréed with tahini, ginger, garlic, and other warming Middle Eastern spices.

16 of 25

Fried Baby Artichokes

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Savor the delights of spring's first artichokes in this preparation, which calls for a quick poach before frying the thistles in the same pan along with fragrant cloves of garlic.

17 of 25

Asparagus-and-Potato Flatbread

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Romulo Yanes

Transform store-bought pizza dough into a party-perfect appetizer adorned with tangy goat cheese and whisper-thin strips of asparagus and potato.

18 of 25

Pickled Spring Onions and Asparagus

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The sour-salty-sweet flavors of pickled spring vegetables make a brilliant accompaniment to a cheese platter.

19 of 25

Smoked Trout Pate on Toasted Baguette

smoked trout pate toasted baguettes
Burcu Avsar

This cream cheese-based dip gets a subtle bite from fresh chives and shallot, while toasted baguette offers a crusty complement.

20 of 25

Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho

Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho
Frédéric Lagrange

Marinate fresh gazpacho ingredients—including yellow tomatoes, English cucumber, bell peppers, and a ripe peach—with basil, garlic, and sherry vinegar overnight; then, quickly purée before serving for a simple soup.

21 of 25

Spring Pesto Dip

spring pesto dip with veggies
Lennart Weibull

While this creamy pesto dip is a welcome addition to your favorite sandwich, it also works well as a vibrant centerpiece for crisp springtime vegetables.

22 of 25

Chilled Melon, Cucumber, and Mint Soup

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English cucumbers, honeydew, lime juice, fresh mint leaves, and Greek yogurt combine to create a sweet first course—or single-serve, sippable passed hors d'oeuvres—at your next spring party.

23 of 25

Grilled Asparagus Flatbreads

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Jennifer Causey

Grilled slices of olive loaf, topped with fresh burrata or ricotta cheese, radish sprouts, and asparagus, are a light pre-dinner snack or lunchtime entrée.

24 of 25

Pea, Almond, and Ricotta Spread

pea and almond hummus
Con Poulos

This creamy spread, made from English peas, almonds, and ricotta cheese, can be used as a dip to anchor an appetizer spread or as a spread for sandwiches and tartines. Purée this dip up to a week in advance for easier party prep.

25 of 25

Snap-Pea and Melted-Leek Tartines

snap pea and melted leek tartines
The Ingalls

Crispy slices of toasted bread, ricotta with lemon zest, caramelized leeks, and sugar snap peas tossed with lemon and mint are layered to create a sweet-and-savory spring appetizer.

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