Food & Cooking Recipes Appetizers Party Appetizers & Snacks 17 Vegetarian Appetizer Recipes Everyone Will Love You've stocked the bar and have the basics of a good cheese board down. Now it's time to step up your entertaining game with these interesting vegetarian bites. By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 13, 2023 Close Photo: Marcus Nilsson Maybe you have a vegetarian on the guest list, or you're planning a meat-heavy main course and want to balance the meal. Whatever the reason, adding a vegetarian appetizer to your menu is never a bad idea. No matter what kind of event you're hosting, whether a backyard BBQ or an elegant sit-down dinner, you're sure to find something here that fits your event (and everyone's diet!). From dips to handheld bites, these vegetarian appetizer recipes are delicious and unique—they're the party foods you need. These Casual Appetizer Recipes Will Get Any Party Started 01 of 17 Queso Fundido Pernille Loof Although this melted cheese party starter often includes chorizo, it's delicious without the sausage. Our vegetarian version has two kinds of cheese and two kinds of chiles. Best of all, it's fast: Your cheese dip will be bubbling and delicious after only 10 minutes. View Recipe 02 of 17 Gooey Gouda Puff-Pastry Bites Con Poulos All you need to make these easy handheld parcels are store-bought puff pastry, nutty Gouda cheese, and Dijon mustard. Serve them with a dollop of lingonberry jam (or any jam, actually) for sweetness. View Recipe 03 of 17 Beet Muhammara The Ingalls This beet-centric take on the favorite Middle Eastern dip, muhammara, has a stunning color and plenty of flavor from walnuts, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, and molasses. It's great with radishes or other crudités. View Recipe 04 of 17 Creamy Broccoli-Spinach Dip Julia Gartland Here's a refreshing update to spinach artichoke dip, where fresh broccoli florets are swapped in for canned artichokes. And since this version is served at room temperature, you don't even have to turn on the oven. View Recipe 05 of 17 Pan-Roasted Marinated Mushrooms Nico Schinco This quick and easy appetizer plays well with others, especially if the others include rich cheese and buttery crackers. Plus, you can make it up to two days ahead of time. View Recipe 06 of 17 Kettle-Chip Nachos CHELSEA CAVANAUGH Here's a fun twist on the appetizer everyone loves—it calls for kettle chips and melted Gouda and blue cheese instead of the usual tortilla chips and cheddar or Monterey Jack. View Recipe 07 of 17 Date, Olive, and Goat-Cheese Tart Louise Hagger This appetizer has everything we love about a cheese plate—turned into a tart. It stars a creamy, tangy filling studded with sweet Medjool dates, briny Kalamata olives, and fiery pickled serranos on a store-bought puff pastry crust. View Recipe 08 of 17 Broccoli Fritto Misto Yuki Sugiura This recipe transforms humble broccoli into a fantastic starter. You dip florets and broccolini, along with sage leaves and hot pickled pepper rings, in a light batter, then fry to perfection. Adding rice flour to the batter makes for a super-crispy coating; a zippy dipping sauce of vinegar, garlic, and pickle brine is a great accompaniment. View Recipe 09 of 17 Baked Feta Marinara Dip Sidney Bensimon Marinara isn't just for pasta: This clever recipe has you doctor it with smoky piquillo peppers and tangy feta cheese for a dip that's delicious with crostini. View Recipe 10 of 17 Greek Layer Dip Pernille Loof Serve this zesty spin on a traditional seven-layer dip with pita chips for a twist on the typical Mexican version. View Recipe 11 of 17 Cheater's Deviled Eggs Raymond Hom Think of these as reinvented deviled eggs that are easier to make. Spread rice crackers with mayo and mustard, then top with a slice of hard-boiled egg, smoked sweet paprika, and fresh dill. View Recipe 12 of 17 Seeded Feta Bites Nico Schinco These cheese bites are a snap to make and fun to eat. You set out cubes of feta and then let guests skewer them and roll in a fragrant blend of sumac, sesame seeds, and flaky sea salt. View Recipe 13 of 17 Samosas with Potatoes and Peas Bryan Gardner Although there are many steps to making them, this take on savory Indian pastries is well worth the effort; to make the process easier, spread the work out over two days. The cumin-studded dough is a lovely match for the hearty potato-and-pea filling. Serve fresh out of the fryer with a duo of homemade chutneys. View Recipe 14 of 17 Warm Fennel-and-Parmesan Dip Marcus Nilsson A warm, golden dip always tempts guests, and this one is especially great with toasted rustic bread. It gets rich flavor from Parmesan cheese, caramelized fennel, and garlic. View Recipe 15 of 17 Lima-Bean Crostini with Ricotta A bit unexpected, lima beans are a great addition to crostini. Although they're a bean, they feel like a fresh vegetable with delicious flavor and a creamy texture. And they pair nicely with rosemary, lemon juice, and ricotta in this easy hand-held appetizer. View Recipe 16 of 17 Goat-Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms These two-bite classics are always a hit. This version uses simple white button mushrooms and soft goat cheese—and definitely don't skip the toasted bread crumbs on top! View Recipe 17 of 17 Grilled-Asparagus, Tomato, and Fontina Pizzette Paola + Murray You can make these mini pizzas as big or small as you'd like, and cut them into slices, wedges, or whatever works. The combination of asparagus, scallions, and tomatoes is a little different from what you usually find on pizza, but it's a winner, especially alongside shredded fontina and fresh thyme. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit