Get the Party Started with These Vegetarian Appetizer Recipes

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.

Although this melted cheese party starter often includes chorizo, it's delicious even 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.

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 for sweetness.

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.

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.

Here's a fun twist on the appetizer everyone loves, calling for kettle chips and melted Gouda and blue cheese instead of the usual tortilla chips and cheddar or Monterey Jack.

Everything we love about a cheese plate is here, but we turned it into a tart. This delightful appetizer stars a creamy, tangy filling studded with sweet Medjool dates, briny Kalamata olives, and fiery pickled serranos.

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-crunchy coating; a zippy dipping sauce of vinegar, garlic, and pickle brine is a great accompaniment.

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.

Serve this zesty spin on traditional seven-layer dip with pita chips for a delightful party starter.

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.

These substantial 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.

Although there are many steps to making them, this take on the favorite 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.

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.