Are you planning a party or have been asked to bring an appetizer but want to stay on track? These lightened-up appetizers are delicious!

Best Lightened - 1

If you’re throwing a party, you’ve got to have great snacks for your guests. But that doesn’t mean that you need to serve only rich and heavy foods. We have lots of appetizer ideas to keep your guests at the snack table happy!

No one can resist a dip, so make sure to surround it with veggies or pita chips. Appetizers such as our lazy deviled eggs or party shrimp will fill you up, while curried cauliflower bites are a great way to add a veggie to the table.

If you’re bringing an appetizer to a party, consider bringing a dip like edamame hummus that travels well and doesn’t need to be warmed up. Our easy marinated olives are another appetizer that travels well.

Classic American appetizers are always a hit at a party. And often we can update an old favorite to make it a little lighter. Here are a few of the most popular party appetizers:

  • Chicken Wings – try these salt and pepper chicken wings which are baked instead of fried!
  • Cheese Dip – Our chili cheese dip has a secret veggie ingredient!
  • Deviled Eggs – Our lazy deviled eggs are not only much easier to make, they use almost no mayonnaise.
  • Onion Dip – we make our caramelized onion dip with some yogurt so it is a lot lighter.

Classic party appetizers

These classic party appetizers are guaranteed to be a hit at your party!

A vibrant bowl of guacamole brimming with diced tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños, served with two crunchy tortilla chips on the side. - 2 A platter of garlic butter party shrimp - 3 Roasted Onion Dip on a plate with veggies - 4 A plate of Honey Garlic Chicken Wings - 5

Appetizer dips

Every party needs a good dip, and all of these recipes are delicious!

Chili Cheese Dip in a bowl surrounded by corn chips - 6 A close up of vibrant pink beet hummus with a little minced parsley, lemon zest, and sesame seeds on the top. - 7 A bowl of baba ganoush from our favorite baba ganoush recipe, topped with olive oil and herbs, served with pita chips, cucumber slices, and bell pepper on a white plate. - 8 Whipped Lemon Ricotta on an appetizer plate - 9 Looking down on Pesto Hummus in a black dip bowl - 10

Heartier filling appetizers

Having a few filling appetizers is a great way to make sure you don’t snack on too many heavy snacks. All of these appetizers will fill you up!

A plate piled with lamb lollipops with mint pesto on the side. - 11 Pineapple Meatballs in a white bowl with rice. - 12 Chorizo Bites on an appetizer plate - 13 Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms on an appetizer plate - 14 Pineapple Sausage Bites on skewers on an appetizer platter - 15

Seafood appetizers

Seafood is wonderful, and having a few seafood appetizers to snack on is a great way to lighten up the appetizer table.

Seared tuna bites on a serving tray - 16 Tender shrimp cakes on a platter with a side of lemon aioli. - 17 Oysters on the Half Shell on a serving plate - 18 A close up of a plate of crispy coconut shrimp with mango dipping sauce on the side. - 19 Thai Mussels on the dinner table - 20 A Salmon Avocado Roll sliced and ready to serve - 21

Finger foods

Finger foods are the best! There is just something about little bites of tasty food. All of these recipes are super cute and party perfect.

looking down on this easy beet appetizer recipe - 22 smoked salmon appetizer bites on a plate topped with lemon cream cheese - 23 blue cheese grape appetizers on toothpicks lined up on a plate - 24 Smoked Salmon Mousse on crackers and cucumbers. - 25 Scallop Lollipops on an appetizer plate - 26 BLT Cups on a serving tray - 27

Lightened-up remakes

Sometimes, we just want an appetizer with all the cheese and crispiness. These appetizers are lighter versions of heavy classics.

sweet potato nachos with sour cream and avocado on the side. - 28 Looking down on Mexican Fries on a dinner table - 29 A close up of this easy Eggplant Fries recipe on a serving plate - 30