Whether friends stop by unexpectedly or you’re heading to a party, sometimes you just need a quick and easy appetizer ready to go.
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Using ingredients that you already have on hand, these five appetizers are always a hit and on the table in record time. I have made them for years, and everyone always wants the recipes. Take advantage of the free printable list of ingredients and you will always be prepared for unexpected guests!
Number one on the list is this summer favorite: Burrata with Balsamic and Basil. I timed it at exactly 5 minutes! Everyone loves it and it’s sooooo easy to make. I always keep a container with burrata in the fridge ready for this appetizer. Add a little olive oil, salt and pepper, balsamic vinegar and fresh chopped basil from the garden and you’re done! It can be served with crackers, fresh bread or crostini. It will disappear faster than the amount of time it took to read this!
Second fastest on our list and also a summer favorite, Zucchini Rounds are easy to put together quickly especially when the zucchini is fresh from the garden. With ingredients on hand, this comes together in about 10 minutes. It’s incredibly simple to make and only requires mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, dried basil and zucchini slices. For smooth slicing use a food processor with a slicer attachment or my favorite Shun Santoku Knife. This quick and easy appetizer cooks super fast, looks amazing and tastes wonderful!
The third on our list, yet another summer favorite, uses more fresh basil from the garden. Basil Goat Cheese Crostini is a fast one to pull together with only a few ingredients. All you need is goat cheese, a baguette, garlic clove, basil, and olive oil. Again I keep most of these items on hand especially during the summer. If friends unexpectedly pop in for a visit, I can have this on the table in under twenty minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Dip is a family favorite for our non-vegetarians. It takes a little longer to prepare, but using a convection setting can really speed it up without compromising the quality. I love to make it in the fall for football season. Do yourself a favor and invest in a cast iron dish like this Le Creuset Oval Baker. Not only does it cook evenly, but it also retains heat longer than a glass dish. Rotisserie chicken, blue cheese dressing, cream cheese, wing sauce and hot sauce make this dish come together quickly and easily. You can really kick up the heat on this one by adding more hot sauce if that's what you like! Serve with Frito Scoops. It's a crowd pleaser, so make it and take it to a tailgate and people will be asking for the recipe.
Jalapeño Corn Dip is our family’s absolute favorite. Clocking in at 45 minutes, it may not be the fastest recipe on this list, but it's worth the wait. I can’t take credit for it; my dear friend, Jan Kent, made it years ago when we all lived in Charleston and she would bring it to book club or Bunco. It’s sooooo good! All of the ingredients are pantry/freezer items so I can whip this up quickly. I keep a bag of frozen white corn in the freezer, cream cheese and butter in the fridge, a jar of diced jalapeños and a bag of Fritos in the pantry. Ready to go!
Keep my free list of ingredients and recipes on hand for these 5 quick and easy appetizers that everyone will devour!
Need some ideas for using up jalapeños from the garden? Read Jalapeño Harvest. The jalapeño poppers are delicious!
For more recipes that are great for football season, check out 10 Soup Recipes for Fall.
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