Every Labor Day, I make the same optimistic promise to save room for dinner. Then someone passes the appetizers, I go back for the dip, and whatever self-control I brought to the party quietly disappears.
Honestly, I think that's part of the fun. These 15 appetizers are made for lingering around the table, sneaking another bite, and accepting that arriving at dinner completely hungry was probably never going to happen.
Creamy Homemade Restaurant Style Queso Dip
My favorite trick for a long weekend is keeping a warm crock of melted cheese, Mexican spices, and green chiles right in the center of the patio table. I always warn my friends that dipping crisp tortilla chips into this bowl makes saving room for actual Labor Day dinner a losing battle.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Homemade Restaurant Style Queso Dip
Vintage Southern Pimento Cheese Dip
Sharp cheddar whipped with tangy cream cheese and sweet pimentos is the cool ten-minute spread I rely on when afternoon temperatures rise. I love setting this chilled bowl out for guests because we end up scooping so much onto crackers that dinner gets totally forgotten.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Southern Pimento Cheese Dip
Pinchos (Puerto Rican Chicken Skewers)
Juicy chicken thighs soaked in a savory adobo marinade grill up tender with a smoky char right on wooden skewers. You can hand these chicken sticks straight off the grates to your crew, though two skewers per person will completely ruin their appetite for main courses.
Get the Recipe: Pinchos (Puerto Rican Chicken Skewers)
Everything Bagel Pretzel Bites
Chewy pretzel bites stuffed with warm cream cheese and coated in bagel seasoning are my favorite treat for early afternoon party snacks. I like setting a big tray out early on Labor Day because my friends eat so many that they politely pass on the main meal later.
Get the Recipe: Everything Bagel Pretzel Bites
Southern Cream Cheese Ball
Rolled in crunchy toasted pecans and smoky bacon bits, this rich cream cheese ball is the classic snack my family hovers over all day. These savory spreads pair so well with crisp wheat crackers that everyone fills up long before the sun goes down.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cream Cheese Ball
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
In just ten quick minutes, fresh jalapeños packed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon turn perfectly crisp inside my air fryer. Sometimes I watch a plate of these spicy bites disappear so fast that nobody even remembers we have steaks waiting for the grill.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Potato Skins
Roasted potato halves loaded with melted cheddar, bacon bits, and green onions are what I make when we want sports bar food in our lawn chairs. I serve these whenever friends come over, though eating two makes it impossible to save room for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins
Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Crisp corn tortillas rolled around seasoned shredded chicken, refried beans, and melted cheese are what I make when I need something golden and crunchy in minutes. You will notice your guests dipping these handheld rolls into salsa and sour cream until their plates are far too full for anything else.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Crispy Sheet Pan Ground Beef Tochos (Tater Tot Nachos)
Golden tater tots smothered in warm queso, taco-seasoned beef, and melted cheese make the heaviest, most comforting holiday tray I know how to build. If you set this bubbling pan on your deck table, your crew will grab forks and crush any chance of saving room for a late evening meal.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Sheet Pan Ground Beef Tochos (Tater Tot Nachos)
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Crisp chicken wings tossed in rich garlic butter and freshly grated parmesan are my personal favorite thing to pull out of the basket on party days. I find that a big bowl of these savory wings leaves my friends way too satisfied to care about what else is on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
With tender rotisserie chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and melted cheese bubbling in my slow cooker, this warm dip becomes the main event on our back deck. You will realize after three loaded chips that saving room for a formal plate was never going to happen anyway.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Fried Pickles
Tart pickle slices coated in seasoned breading fry up into golden, crunchy bites with a salty kick that I can never resist. Sometimes a big basket of these tangy appetizers is all my crew needs to completely fill up while relaxing outdoors on a lazy holiday.
Get the Recipe: Fried Pickles
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Soft pizza dough wrapped around spicy pepperoni and gooey mozzarella is my absolute favorite handheld snack to pull hot out of the oven. I always bake a double batch on Labor Day because my group treats them like the actual feast.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Jalapeño Popper Loaded Cheese Fries
If I pile crispy golden fries with creamy ranch, smoky bacon, and spicy jalapeño slices, my family instantly abandons all plans for a balanced meal. These loaded fries are so hearty that we usually give up on firing up the grill altogether on holiday afternoons.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Loaded Cheese Fries
Family's Favorite Ground Beef Nachos in the Oven
A single baking sheet layered with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and melted cheese over crisp chips is my ultimate lazy hosting shortcut. This hot pan gives your whole crew such a full, shareable feast that saving room for dinner is officially a losing battle.
Get the Recipe: Family's Favorite Ground Beef Nachos in the Oven
Everyone has an appetizer they'll ruin their appetite for. What's yours?
Comments
No Comments