27 Best Cold Appetizers You Can Make For Any Occasion

Most appetizers are great when served hot or warm. However, it can be tiring to keep up with the hassle of ensuring they stay hot until they’re served because no one wants a cold hardened cheese dip or chilled soup. There are cold appetizers recipes that are perfect for your next party. From dips to spreads to finger foods, we have everything you need.

This is why cold appetizers are a life-saving alternative– they’re easier to manage, tasty, and can be served whenever you want. But with a slew of different options, it can be hard to figure out what cold appetizers taste great. 

Well, you’re in luck because if you’re the type always racking your brain for what appetizers you can bring to an outdoor event or simply can’t be bothered to try to reheat an appetizer before serving, you’re in luck because we’ve put together some of the best cold appetizers recipes you can bring to any occasion.

Quick Table: Cold Appetizer

Recipes	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers	325	18 Min
Mini Pepper Jelly Cheese Balls	89	20 Min
Keto Bacon. Egg & Cheese Sliders	219	10 Min
Easy Vegan Crab Bites	211	20 Min
Deviled Strawberries	124	20 Min
Roast Beef Stackers	230	30 Min
Mini Bun-Less Cheese Burgers	293	45 Min
Prosciutto Rolls	120	30 Min
Watermelon Feta Bites	25	15 Min
Italian Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery	38	10 Min
Blt Dip With Crostini	427	10 Min
Avocado Cucumber Roll	272	30 Min
Cranberry Chicken Salad On Apple Slices	220	10 Min
Bang Bang Shrimp Dip	195	25 Min
Mini Muffin Appetizer Sandwiches	203	50 Min
Cold Veggie Pizza Appetizer	96	10 Min
Cream Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers	549	10 Min
Salami Pinwheels	83	1 Hour 15 Min
Cuban Sandwich Appetizer Skewers	164	15 Min
Bacon Apple Cheddar Dip	94	15 Min
Greek Salad Skewers	64	15 Min
Shrimp Ceviche	77	25 Min
Cranberry Goat Cheese Truffles	191	15 Min
Cucumber Bites	33.79	15 Min
Individual Charcuterie Skewers	811	30 Min
7-Layer Greek Hummus Dip	314	15 Min
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs	118	27 Min

1. Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

There are some who would devour a bowl of pasta for lunch, breakfast, and dinner without complaint, and if you’re one of such pasta lovers, these pesto tortellini skewers are a great way to turn your go-to meal into a cold appetizer.

They are quite easy to make and feature spinach-filled tortellini tossed in pesto sauce and skewered with sun-dried tomatoes.

You can even add to the fun by using a mix of regular tortellini and spinach tortellini to add some cool colors to your skewers.

Calories Per Servings: 325

Preparation Time: 18 Minutes

2. Mini Pepper Jelly Cheese Balls

These bite-sized cheese balls are seriously addictive.

They are made from cream cheese and rosemary and rolled in a nutty coating of toasted almonds and topped with pepper jelly for a sweet and spicy kick.

Chopped pecans are also a great alternative for cheese ball coating, so feel free to use them if you’re not a fan of almonds.

Calories Per Serving: 89

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes 

3. Keto Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sliders

A keto appetizer that’s sure to please any crowd, these sliders are so easy to make.

They feature boiled egg slices filled with creamy guacamole, bacon, and cheese. They are held together with a toothpick to create the perfect gourmet sandwich.

Feel free to use sausage patty oor deli meat in place of bacon if you prefer.

Calories Per Serving: 219

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes 

4. Easy Vegan Crab Bites

These vegan crab bites will satisfy vegans and meat eaters alike.

They feature a creamy filling of hearts of palm, mayonnaise, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and onions perfectly tucked into phyllo shells.

Make sure to double check your store-bought phyllo cups to ensure they’re vegan if you’re very strict about ensuring these crab bites are vegan.

Calories Per Serving: 211

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

5. Deviled Strawberries

Not every appetizer always has to be savory, and these devilled strawberries are perfect for satisfying that light sweet craving before any meal.

Hollowed strawberry slices are filled with a mix of cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla extract and then topped with crumbled graham crackers.

They are the perfect appetizer to make all year round since strawberries are always available in any season.

Calories Per Serving: 124

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

RELATED: 14 Thai Appetizers That Are Easy To Make

6. Roast Beef Stackers

Looking for an appetizer you can put together in minutes? These roast beef stackers are perfect for you.

Triscuit crackers, roast beef, pickles, and a creamy horseradish sauce are neatly stacked and held together with sandwich picks.

It is a tasty appetizer with a perfect combo of tangy flavors and a crunchy texture you’ll adore.

Calories Per Serving: 230

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

7. Mini Bun-Less Cheeseburgers

Cheeseburgers are an incredible classic that almost no one can say no to, and with these mini bunless versions, you’ll have a keto-friendly appetizer that everyone will love.

With a combination of baked meatballs, melted cheese, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, and bacon, you won’t even miss the burger buns.

Calories Per Serving: 293

Preparation Time: 45 Minutes 

8. Prosciutto Rolls

An easy-to-make appetizer with salty and creamy flavor, prosciutto rolls are great appetizers to make for any party.

They feature rolls of prosciutto filled with goat cheese, fig preserves, and arugula.

Drizzle with a lemon vinaigrette, and you’ll absolutely fall in love with this simple appetizer.

Calories Per Serving: 120

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

9. Watermelon Feta Bites

Watermelon feta bites are a great refreshing appetizer to serve in the summer.

They are easy to make and consist of watermelon squares topped with feta cheese and sprinkled with basil and olive oil.

They have an incredible mix of sweet and savory tastes that’ll surely please any crowd.

Calories Per Serving: 25

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

10. Italian Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

If you’re looking for a game day appetizer that even the pickiest veggie-hating kid will love, these Italian cream cheese stuffed celeries are perfect.

A cheese mixture made from cream cheese, Italian seasoning, mayonnaise, and mozzarella is filled into celery stalks. Garnish with paprika and parsley for an added spicy kick.

The best thing about these stuffed celeries is that you can make them 1-2 days ahead and they’ll still taste fresh and delicious.

Calories Per Serving: 38

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

RELATED: 17 Popular Japanese Appetizers

11. Blt Dip With Crostini

This dip takes all the flavors and ingredients we love about the classic Blt sandwich and turns it into a fantastic dip that can be munched on at any time of the day.

It is a super creamy and chunky dip that features a combination of cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onions. Serve with crostinis, and you’ve got the perfect appetizer open sandwich.

Feel free to add some mozzarella or cheddar cheese if you’d like to add a hint of cheese flavor to this dip

Calories Per Serving: 427

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes 

12. Avocado Cucumber Roll

Need an appetizer that’s healthy and great for a low-carb diet? This avocado cucumber roll would be perfect for you.

With beautifully rolled cucumber slices filled with boiled shrimp, avocados, black sesame seeds, and an aioli sauce made from wasabi paste, mayo, and lemon juice, it is the perfect refreshing Asian-inspired recipe to wow your guests.

You’ll need a mandolin to get perfectly thin and even cucumber slices for the roll, so be sure to use one.

Calories Per Serving: 272

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes 

13. Cranberry Chicken Salad On Apple Slices

A unique appetizer with a fruity crunch, cranberry chicken salad on apple slices is an appetizer that will seriously knock your socks off.

A savory salad loaded with chicken, cranberry, pecans, cranberry, mayo, sour cream, and curry powder is served on fresh apple slices.

If you’re not a fan of mayo or are looking for a low-fat alternative, feel free to use greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise.

Calories Per Serving: 220

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes 

14. Bang Bang Shrimp Dip

As you can probably tell from its name, this shrimp dip is an appetizer that packs a delightful punch of flavor and spice.

This Thai-inspired dish features steamed shrimp and green onions tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce made with mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar. Serve with crackers or cucumber slices for a tasty combo.

Calories Per Serving: 195

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes 

15. Mini Muffin Appetizer Sandwiches

These mini muffin sandwiches are the perfect cold appetizer for the holiday season.

They feature a corn muffin sandwich base filled with cranberry cream cheese spread, brie, and smoked turkey slices. It is a mouthwatering sandwich with a lovely blend of salty and sweet-tart flavors that’ll satisfy anyone.

Calories Per Serving: 203

Preparation Time: 50 Min

16. Cold Veggie Pizza Appetizer

A pizza that tastes amazing when served cold? Sign us up!

This cold veggie pizza is a delicious appetizer with a base of baked crescent rolls layered with cream cheese, mayo, and ranch dressing and topped with broccoli, red peppers, green onions, and cheddar cheese.

It is a great veggie-filled appetizer that will turn you into a veggie pizza lover.

Calories Per Serving: 96

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes 

17. Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

Cream cheese stuffed mini sweet peppers are tasty appetizers that require no cooking or baking and are easy to make. They’re also low-carb and keto friendly.

Mini bell peppers are filled with a mixture of cream cheese, bacon, shredded cheese, and mayonnaise.

You can even  add a touch of spice or nutty crunch to these creamy peppers by including some jalapenos or chopped walnuts.

Calories Per Serving: 549

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes 

18. Salami Pinwheels

A tasty appetizer with three basic ingredients, these salami pinwheels are so easy to make they’ll save you stress.

Salami slices are layered and rolled up with cream cheese and banana peppers in this tasty appetizer.

Not a fan of salami? Feel free to use turkey, ham pepperoni, or any other sliced meat of your choice .

Calories Per Serving: 83

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes

19. Cuban Sandwich Appetizer Skewers

If you need an appetizer you can make ahead of time and serve at any moment, Cuban sandwich appetizer skewers are perfect for you.

Ham, dill pickles, swiss cheese, and salami are skewered on toothpicks and served with mustard.

These skewers have quite large ingredients, so be sure to use long toothpicks of at least 4-inches, or the food will fall right off the skewer sticks.

Calories Per Serving: 164

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

20. Bacon Apple Cheddar Dip

A creamy and tart dip that’s super easy to whip up, this bacon apple cheddar dip is one you’ll love as an appetizer and go-to snack.

It consists of a mix of red apple, mayonnaise, walnuts, bacon, cheddar cheese, and onion powder. Serve with crackers or any of your favorite veggies.

If you don’t have red apples, feel free to use any other apple variations like green.

Calories Per Serving: 94

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

21. Greek Salad Skewers

A simple and healthy appetizer you can serve kebab style, these greek salad skewers are the perfect starter to bring to a potluck or outdoor party.

Tomatoes, olives, and cucumber slices are marinated in Italian dressing and served on a skewer with cubes of feta cheese.

It is an easy low-carb appetizer you can make the night before your big event or whip up minutes before serving.

Calories Per Serving: 64

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

22. Shrimp Ceviche

Shrimp ceviche is a refreshing appetizer that’s perfect for seafood lovers.

This no-cook appetizer uses cooked shrimp marinated in lime juice and combined with a host of fresh vegetables that include tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro.

It is the perfect dip to pair with tortilla chips or enjoy on its own. You can also spruce up this ceviche by adding your favorite veggies like avocados or even corn.

Calories Per Serving: 60

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes 

23. Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles

Almost No one can say no to a good cheese appetizer and these cranberry pecan goat cheese truffles are going to have you and everyone who tastes them in a chokehold.

These mini cheese balls are loaded with goat cheese, cream cheese, cinnamon, and honey and then rolled into a colorful pecan and cranberry topping.

You can make these cheese truffles more than a day ahead, so they’re great to store up in the fridge while you prepare for an upcoming party.

Calories Per Serving: 191

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes 

24. Cucumber Bites

These cucumber bites are beautiful and tasty appetizers that will surely get a lot of love.

Hollowed cucumber slices are filled with a creamy mix of cream cheese, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, dill, and Italian seasoning. The cherry tomato topping is the perfect addition to this refreshing appetizer.

If you want a more flavor- filled filling, any herbed or flavored cream cheese would be a great alternative to regular cream cheese.

Calories Per Serving: 33.79

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes 

25. Individual Charcuterie Skewers

Charcuterie boards are well-loved platters often displayed at picnics and brunch, but if you have a party where you can’t log round a whole board of appetizers, these individual charcuterie skewers are a great alternative.

They are bite-sized skewers consisting of cheddar cheese, pickles, salami, pepperoni, and babybel cheese pieces.

These skewers can be customized to fit your preference, so feel free to use any meats, cheese, or fruits you prefer.

Calories Per Serving: 811

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes 

RELATED: Easy Keto-Friendly Appetizers For Any Occasion – Our 21 Top Picks

26. 7-Layer Greek Hummus Dip

This 7-layer greek hummus dip is a vegetarian appetizer that’s both healthy and delicious.

Seven layers may sound complicated, but this dip is quite easy and only requires a layer of store-bought hummus, greek yogurt, olives, cucumbers, feta, tomatoes, and parsley.

Serve this dip with pita chips for the perfect appetizer combo with a Mediterranean vibe.

Calories Per Serving: 314

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

27. Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs

Devilled eggs are the perfect gluten-free keto appetizers to impress anyone. These fun bloody mary versions combine the delicious flavors of the classic bloody mary cocktail with the creaminess we all love about deviled eggs.

The filling here is a spicy combination of egg yolk, mayonnaise, horseradish, hot sauce, and tomato juice. The egg slices are also coated in bloody mary rim seasoning and topped with bacon after filling.

If you’re not a fan of hot food, feel free to skip the hot sauce.

Calories Per Serving: 118

Preparation Time: 27 Minutes 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Canapes Hot Or Cold?

Canapes can be served hot or cold depending on what ingredients and topping they are made with. Some canapes taste better when served warm; others can stay for hours without reheating and still taste great. 

What Appetizers Can I Serve During The Cold Season?

The best appetizers to serve in the cold seasons include fruit and veggie salsas, salads, skewers, and cups or deli and meat roll-ups that don’t require any additional heating before serving.

How Do You Keep Food Cold At A Party?

If you are serving appetizers that need to be chilled all day, a great way to keep them cold is to place the serving platter over ice.

You can also put ice in a bowl and place the cold appetizers in it, then cover the food with aluminum foil to keep everything perfectly chilled all day.