01
Whipped Feta Dip
Best for: the fastest appetizer on this list
Feta, Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic and olive oil whipped smooth in about ten minutes.
Planning tip: Serve with whatever vegetables, pita or crackers you already have.
Get the recipe →Appetizers · Quick & Easy
30 Last-Minute Appetizers
Guests on the way and nothing ready? Every idea here goes from start to finish in about 45 minutes or less, with no overnight chilling, and many are done in 10 to 20.
Quick picks
Ready in 10 minutesWhipped Feta Dip
Best from the pantryTexas Trash Dip
Best hot dipQueso Blanco Rotel Dip
Best air-fryer biteCoconut Shrimp
Sorted by how much time you have
The NoshParty recipes are ordered from fastest to slowest: two dips that take about 10 minutes, a group of recipes that take 25 to 35 minutes and a few that take 40 to 45. The air-fryer bites from our sister sites at the end mostly cook in 5 to 20 minutes.
If you have 15 minutes, make a no-cook dip and one air-fryer bite. With 30 minutes, add queso or Ritz ham sandwiches. With 45 minutes, you can put out a small but convincing spread of three or four appetizers.
The collection
30 ideas worth making
02
Smoked Salmon Dip
Best for: something that looks special with no cooking
Smoked salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, lemon, dill and capers, done in about ten minutes.
Planning tip: Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds if you forgot to take it out.
Get the recipe →
03
Buttery Ritz Ham Sandwiches
Best for: pantry and deli-drawer ingredients
Little ham and Swiss cracker sandwiches brushed with a buttery Dijon glaze and baked briefly.
Planning tip: Brush the glaze rather than pouring it so the crackers stay crisp.
Get the recipe →
04
Queso Blanco Rotel Dip
Best for: a hot dip without turning on the oven
Silky white queso on the stovetop in about 25 minutes, using deli white American cheese and a can of Rotel.
Planning tip: Add the cheese gradually over low heat and stir constantly.
Get the recipe →
05
Mushroom Hummus
Best for: vegan guests
Canned chickpeas and quickly browned mushrooms turn into a hearty hummus in about half an hour.
Planning tip: Brown the mushrooms in a single layer; crowding them makes them watery.
Get the recipe →
06
Spicy Chicken Dip
Best for: using a store-bought rotisserie chicken
Rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, ranch, hot sauce and cheddar baked until bubbling.
Planning tip: Shred the chicken while the oven heats.
Get the recipe →
07
Pico de Gallo
Best for: a fresh option with tortilla chips
Fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime; salting and draining takes 15 minutes of mostly hands-off time.
Planning tip: Use the draining time to chop everything else.
Get the recipe →
08
Easy Cheeseburger Sliders
Best for: something hearty on short notice
Seasoned beef, cheese and pickles baked in a tray of Hawaiian rolls in about 35 minutes.
Planning tip: Brown the beef while the oven preheats.
Get the recipe →
09
Texas Trash Dip
Best for: a hearty hot dip from the pantry
Refried beans, cream cheese, taco seasoning and green chiles under plenty of cheese, mostly pantry staples.
Planning tip: Mix it right in the skillet you bake it in to save washing up.
Get the recipe →
10
Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip
Best for: impressive results from a jar of jelly
A cheddar and cream cheese base baked and topped with pepper jelly, pecans and green onions.
Planning tip: Toast the pecans in the oven while it heats.
Get the recipe →
11
Cajun Deviled Eggs with Shrimp
Best for: a cold bite you can still make the same day
Cajun deviled eggs with quick-cooked shrimp, made in about 40 minutes including cooking the eggs.
Planning tip: Cool the boiled eggs in an ice bath to speed things up.
Get the recipe →
12
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites
Best for: a sweet-salty bite with three main ingredients
Fresh pineapple chunks wrapped in bacon, glazed and baked in about 40 to 45 minutes.
Planning tip: Buy pre-cut pineapple to save 10 minutes.
Get the recipe →
13
Pepperoni Pizza Puffs
Best for: kids and pizza lovers
A quick batter with mozzarella and pepperoni baked in a mini muffin tin.
Planning tip: Mix the batter first; it needs a 10-minute rest while the oven heats.
Get the recipe →More from our kitchen network
17 quick air-fryer and oven bites
Most of these come from our sister site Simply Air Cook and cook in 5 to 20 minutes, which makes them ideal when the oven is already full.
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a quick seafood bite
Coconut shrimp that air-fry in about seven minutes, served with sweet chili or mango dip.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: two ingredients, ten minutes
Sweet dates wrapped in bacon and crisped in the air fryer.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a freezer-and-fridge staple
Crescent dough and mini sausages, golden in about eight minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Garlic Knots
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: pairing with queso or marinara
Store-bought dough tied into knots and finished with garlic butter in under ten minutes of cooking.
Get the recipe →Spinach Feta Phyllo Cups
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: using frozen phyllo shells
Spinach and feta in crisp phyllo cups, ready in minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Brie Bites with Cranberry Sauce
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: holiday drop-in guests
Warm brie and cranberry sauce bites made in under ten minutes.
Get the recipe →Brie Fig Jam Tartlets
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: an elegant bite from a few jars
Brie and fig jam in crisp tartlet shells, cooked in about six minutes.
Get the recipe →Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon Bites
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a lighter protein
Sticky, crisp salmon cubes ready in about ten minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Salmon Bites (Garlic Butter)
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: toothpick-ready seafood
One-inch salmon cubes cooked in five to seven minutes and tossed with garlic butter.
Get the recipe →Parmesan Zucchini Sticks
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a vegetable appetizer
Parmesan-crusted zucchini sticks ready in about eight minutes of cooking.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Mini Onion Rings
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: kids and crunchy-snack fans
Tiny crisp onion rings ready in about ten minutes.
Get the recipe →Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a hearty dipper
Cheesy, crunchy chicken tenders that cook in about ten minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Jalapeño Popper Rolls
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a spicy crunchy bite
Crisp rolls with jalapeño popper filling, ready in under 20 minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer BBQ Meatballs
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a toothpick protein
Smoky-sweet BBQ meatballs in under 25 minutes.
Get the recipe →Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: spring gatherings
Asparagus bundles wrapped in bacon and air-fried in about 15 minutes.
Get the recipe →Crispy Kale Chips
From Simply Air Cook
Best for: a light, crunchy snack
Four-ingredient kale chips that crisp in about five minutes without blowing around the basket.
Get the recipe →Buffalo Chicken Dip
From Top Lifestyle News
Best for: game-day emergencies
Shredded chicken, creamy cheeses and buffalo sauce baked into a hot dip in under 30 minutes.
Get the recipe →A 45-minute game plan for three appetizers
Minutes 0–5: heat the oven, take out cream cheese to soften and start salting tomatoes for pico de gallo.
Minutes 5–20: mix Texas Trash Dip in its skillet and put it in the oven. Chop the pico vegetables.
Minutes 20–35: make a batch of air-fryer bites, such as coconut shrimp or pigs in a blanket, and finish the pico.
Minutes 35–45: set out chips, plates and napkins, take the dip out of the oven and let it rest while guests arrive.
Shortcuts that do not show
Rotisserie chicken, pre-cut pineapple, frozen shrimp, store-bought pizza dough and phyllo shells all save real time without making the food taste like a shortcut. Shredding your own cheese gives smoother dips, but on a truly tight schedule bagged cheese is fine for baked dips.
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Frequently asked questions
What counts as a last-minute appetizer?
For this list, a recipe that can be made from start to finish in about 45 minutes or less, with no overnight chilling or long marinating, and preferably from ingredients many kitchens already have.
What should I keep on hand for surprise guests?
A block of cream cheese, a jar of pepper jelly or salsa, a can of Rotel, refried beans, tortilla chips, crackers, frozen mini sausages or shrimp, a tube of crescent dough and a bag of shredded cheese cover most of the recipes here.
Can I make several of these at once?
Yes. Pair one oven or stovetop recipe with one air-fryer recipe and one no-cook dip, so you are never waiting for the same appliance. Start whatever takes longest first.