Must-Try Finger Foods for Hosting with Style

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Whether you’re throwing a casual get-together or hosting a full-on soirée, these party finger foods bring bold flavor in bite-sized form. From crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings to crowd-favorite Brie Bites and Easy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, this list is loaded with recipes that are easy to prep and even easier to devour. Add in vibrant touches like Peach Salsa and Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, and you’ve got a spread that’s just as impressive as it is inviting.

Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

A pile of crispy onion rings rests on parchment paper next to a small bowl of ketchup.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

These Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings are golden, crunchy, and soaked in tangy buttermilk—perfect for game day snacking or piling high on your favorite burger.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

Brie Bites

Cranberry Brie Bites on a large platter.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Irresistible Brie Bites wrap creamy Brie, tangy cranberry sauce, and crispy bacon in flaky puff pastry—an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that disappears fast.

GET THIS RECIPE: Cranberry Brie Bites

Creamy Whipped Feta Dip with Garlic and Toasted Walnuts

A bowl of creamy dip topped with chopped herbs, olive oil, and crushed nuts rests on a rustic green wooden chair.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Whipped Feta Dip is creamy, tangy, and bold—an effortless appetizer that’s perfect with crostini, veggies, or walnuts and sure to steal the show on game day.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Whipped Feta Dip with Garlic and Toasted Walnuts

Steak Tartines with Red Peppers and Horseradish Cream

Small bites of steak on toasted baguette rounds with horseradish sauce.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Savory Steak Tartines are elegant, two-bite appetizers topped with tender beef and zesty horseradish sauce—perfect served at room temp and easy to prep ahead for effortless entertaining.

GET THIS RECIPE: Steak Tartines

Citrus Shrimp with Louis Sauce

Poached cocktail shrimp with lemons, oranges, and grapefruits on a platter with sauce Louie.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Citrus Poached Shrimp with Louis Sauce brings bold Louisiana flavor with chilled shrimp poached in citrus and spice, served with a zesty sauce for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing bite.

GET THIS RECIPE: Citrus Shrimp with Louis Sauce

Feta and Caramelized Onion Tarts

Bite-sized tarts filled with Feta cheese and caramelized onions.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Feta and Caramelized Onion Tarts blend salty feta and sweet onions in buttery pastry—deliciously addictive, easy to eat by hand, and perfect for making ahead and freezing.

GET THIS RECIPE: Feta and Caramelized Onion Tarts

Ricotta Crostini with Peaches and Prosciutto

Peach slices on top of whipped ricotta cheese spread onto a slice of toasted baguette, with prosciutto and a sage leaf.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Honey-Whipped Ricotta Crostini with Peaches and Prosciutto hits all the right notes—creamy, sweet, salty, and crisp—stacked on toasted baguette for the perfect handheld party bite.

GET THIS RECIPE: Ricotta Crostini with Peaches and Prosciutto

5 Ingredient Southern Fried Zucchini Fritters

Shredded zucchini mixed with batter and fried into crispy fritters with sea salt.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Southern Fried Zucchini Fritters are light, crispy, and packed with sweet-savory flavor—just five ingredients and a sprinkle of sea salt make them the perfect snack with your favorite drink.

GET THIS RECIPE: 5 Ingredient Southern Fried Zucchini Fritters

Easy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms 

Mushroom caps that are stuffed with peppadew peppers and crab meat.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Easy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms are a restaurant-worthy appetizer made at home in 30 minutes—filled with crab, lemon, and piquante peppers, they’re elegant, hand-held, and perfect for make-ahead entertaining.

GET THIS RECIPE: Easy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms 

Smoked Gouda & Ricotta Fritters 

Several golden-brown fried cheese balls, with one broken open to show a gooey, cheesy interior flecked with herbs.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Smoked Gouda & Ricotta Fritters are crispy, smoky, cheesy bites of party perfection—serve them at room temp with beer or punch, and watch them disappear fast.

GET THIS RECIPE: Smoked Gouda & Ricotta Fritters

Best EVER Chicken Wings

Crispy chicken wings.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

The Best EVER Chicken Wings are crispy, sticky, and full of sweet-tangy flavor—easy to bake, grill, or air-fry, and guaranteed to be the hit of any party.

GET THIS RECIPE: Best EVER Chicken Wings

Chive & Cheese Cocktail Swirls

Golden, cheesy pastries with a flaky crust, topped with a slice of green onion, arranged on a decorative green-patterned plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Chive & Cheese Cocktail Swirls are flaky, cheesy bites of puff pastry layered with Boursin, herbs, and melty cheddar—easy to make and impossible to stop at just one.

GET THIS RECIPE: Chive & Cheese Cocktail Swirls

Sausage Rolls Recipe with Hot Pepper Jelly (Hogs in a Blanket)

Sausage Rolls with Pepper Jelly
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Mini Sausage Rolls are a spicy, savory twist on pigs in a blanket—wrapped in crescent dough and served with pepper jelly, they’re the perfect party bite you’ll want to double up on.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Rolls Recipe with Hot Pepper Jelly (Hogs in a Blanket)

Southern Pecan Cheddar Wafers

Cheese straw wafers withe cheddar and a single pecan half.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Pecan Cheddar Wafers are a Southern snack dream—sharp cheddar, crispy cereal, sweet pecans, and a hint of cayenne baked into golden, crave-worthy bites that come together in minutes.

GET THIS RECIPE: Southern Pecan Cheddar Wafers

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

sundried tomato pesto.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

This 5-ingredient sun-dried tomato pesto is bold, quick, and gluten-free—perfect for pastas, sandwiches, or anytime you need a fast flavor boost.
Get the Recipe: Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

Peach Salsa

Peach salsa
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

This sweet and spicy peach salsa comes together in 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with chips or tacos—vegan, gluten-free, and ideal for any summer get-together.
Get the Recipe: Peach Salsa

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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