Keep your family and friends happy (and still hungry!)

before the big meal with these appetizer recipes.

Jessica Gavin, Simply Recipes Contributor

2.

Sausage balls in a bowl at a table with glasses of wine and some table napkins

Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

Homemade Veggie Dip

Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

3.

Coco Morante, Simply Recipes Contributor

4.

Jessica

5.

Three crostini topped with savory mushrooms and caramelized onions on a white plate.

Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

Refrigerated and covered, spinach dip will last for about 5 days."

Sally Vargas, Simply Recipes Contributor

6.

Your sausagehasto be room temperature and your cheesehasto be cold.

Platter of Vegetables and a Bowl of Veggie Dip

Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

Laurel

7.

Lisa Lin, Simply Recipes Contributor

8.

Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor

9.

A platter of smoked salmon-topped potatoes.

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

Youre basically making your own mix here, except way better."

Carrie Havranek, Simply Recipes Contributor

10.

Or top with fresh choppedfennelfronds, after the tart has been taken out of the oven."

Savory pinwheels on a white platter.

Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

11.

Cheese Straws

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

“Increase or decrease the spices to suit your tastes.

This recipe is mild and cheese-forward, so amp up the cayenne if you like spice.

Bowl of Easy Spinach Dip Surrounded by Veggie Strips and Pita Triangles

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

I sometimes add a generous dusting of freshly ground black pepper to the mix.”

Laurel

12.

Jessica

13.

2016-12-13-deviled-eggs-3

Lisa Lin

Julie and Amy Luxemberg, Simply Recipes Contributors

14.

Just cover and refrigerate them, and then cook them right before serving."

Elise

15.

Cheese ball with crackers ready to serve

Nick Evans

If it’s too salty, you could add in some extra cream cheese."

Karishma Pradhan, Simply Recipes Contributor

16.

I like to buy tail-on, shell-on, deveined shrimp.

A bowl of mixed nuts

Alison Conklin

Of course, use what you’re able to find at the market."

Jaden Hair, Simply Recipes Contributor

17.

Caramelized Onion Tart

Cheese Sticks on a Lined Baking Sheet

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Baked brie with cranberry sauce and candied walnuts on a serving tay with crackers and fruit set around it.

Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

3-ingredient appetizers (goat cheese crostini) on a wooden board

Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

Stuffed mushroom caps on an appetizer tray

Sally Vargas

Whipped feta with figs, nuts, and honey in a bowl.

Karishma Pradhan

Shrimp Cocktail + Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

A plate of angels on horseback ready to eat

Elise Bauer