25 Make-Ahead Hors d'oeuvres for Stress-Free Entertaining (2024)

The best hors d'oeuvres ideas don't require hours of prep work and sweating away in a kitchen while your guests enjoy each other's company. In fact, our favorite hors d'oeuvres recipes are ones you make ahead, pack away, and bring out just in time to plate and serve.

Make-ahead hors d'oeuvres not only help you plan, strategize, and work in advance, but they let you really enjoy the event you've worked so hard to bring together. Here, we assembled some quick and easy dishes, so you can pick and choose what fits your palate and preferences. Wow your guests and save time with these 25 easy hors d'oeuvres recipes.

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Creamy Smoked Fish Dip

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Make this hors d'oeuvre if you're short on time. In fact, you'll only need around 10 minutes to prepare this satisfying party dip. Serve with bagel chips, potato chips, or crudités.

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Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas

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Skip the last-minute fussing with these ridiculously delicious stuffed pockets that can go from oven to serving platter with no additional day-of prep needed. All you need to do is prepare the empanadas the day before your party and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake.

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Bacon-Wrapped Apricots With Sage

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Talk about convenience―apricots swathed in bacon can be assembled days before and then cooked straight from the freezer. Place toothpicks beside the dish to serve. This savory appetizer is sure to satisfy.

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Caramelized Onion Tarts With Apples

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Want to look like a pro? Here, frozen puff pastry dough is spread with tangy crème fraîche and topped with a sweet and savory mix of onions and apples. There is minimal prep time because the recipe uses a pre-made puff pastry and just the right amount of toppings to make this dish quick and tasty.

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Goat Cheese Spread

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Some spreads (like this goat cheese spread) actually taste better when they've had a few days to sit and "meld." So feel encouraged that you should be making this recipe ahead and not on the day of the party. This herbaceous spread pairs well with salty crackers.

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Rosemary Pecans

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You can cook this nut mix up to a week in advance. Keep it fresh in an airtight container stored at room temperature. Pecans are tossed in melted butter, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt before being roasted, then rosemary is added for an immaculate earthy taste.

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Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney

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Add a surprising twist to a familiar favorite with this gooey grilled cheese that is refreshed with a dollop of fruit chutney. Fortunately, you can make this hors d'oeuvre in minutes during a casual get-together.

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Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart

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Remember, not everything needs to be served hot or cold to be delicious. Room-temp hors d'oeuvres that are baked in advance make the last-minute rush to assemble a non-factor. This tart can be cut into bite-sized pieces and served warm or at room temperature (and still be delicious either way).

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Chimichurri-Yogurt Dip

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Aside from stirring in yogurt, herbs, and a few other ingredients, the magic of this dip is in the chimichurri. There's no need to waste time baking here. Just mix together the ingredients and serve with a side of lettuce and radishes.

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Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze

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Vegetable and cheese trays can be assembled in advance—but try a classic flavor combination on a skewer for a playful twist. You'll only spend five minutes putting these bright and colorful skewers together. Bite-size mozzarella balls and juicy cherry tomatoes make the perfect snack.

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Chickpea and Mint Crostini

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To save time on this recipe, toast baguette slices in advance and store. Then mix the topping ingredients and set aside. The best part about this hors d'oeuvre idea is that you don't need to spend time topping the crostini. Leave the topping in a serving bowl for your guests to serve themselves.

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Crispy Homemade Baked Potato Chips

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You only need a short list of ingredients to pull off these homemade crispy potato chips. Make ahead, and store in an airtight container to keep them from becoming stale before serving. Get creative and add different seasonings to your taste. Here, we've added paprika, but try chili powder, rosemary, or onion powder for a fun twist. Did we mention it's vegan?

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Vegan Ranch Dressing

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Silken tofu replaces regular buttermilk and mayonnaise in this vegan ranch dressing recipe. Serve with a variety of crudités for dipping. No one will even know it's vegan.

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Spicy Parmesan Crackers

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Make a double batch of these spicy parmesan crackers—we promise one just won't be enough. Contain them in an airtight zip-top bag until you're ready to serve. We recommend serving them with something sweet, like some homemade chocolate chip cookies for the perfect contrast.

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Pink Hummus

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This pink hummus will get everyone's attention. Use a cooked magenta beet to achieve the pink color. Serve with an array of crudités for dipping: Think of your favorite vegetables, crackers, pita bread, and more.

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Cowboy Caviar

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This scoopable appetizer went viral on TikTok for a reason: It's delicious and so customizable to your taste. Jalapeño, a variety of bell peppers, onion, corn, canned beans, and sliced olives are the basic ingredients to the mix, however, you can add whatever you like.

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Carrot-Ginger Dip

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A touch of maple syrup is added to this cooked carrot puree for a bit of sweetness. This dip is best served cold and tastes better when the dip has time to marinate in the refrigerator, which makes it a perfect make-ahead hors d'oeuvre option. Serve with rice crackers, pretzels, and crudités.

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Many-Cheese Cheese Ball

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Inspired by the French cheese spreadfromage fort, this cheese ball is made with whatever leftover cheeses you have in your fridge. Preferably, about three to four varieties of different firmness levels. Store pre-made crostini in an airtight container, and the cheese ball in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

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Caramelized Onion Chutney

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A quick and easy chutney recipe can take you far. Chutneys can be used as a sauce alongside grilled meats or as an appetizer. Just add them to a cheese and charcuterie platter or serve alongside grilled or toasted baguette, crackers, and soft cheese.

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Double Tomato Crostini

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When entertaining a large crowd, sometimes simple is better (and faster). Crostini, a co*cktail-party classic, gets an upgrade with a flavorful double tomato combination.

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Pears With Rosemary Sugar

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Sliced pears, oranges, sugar, and rosemary are all you need to whip up this 10-minute appetizer. Use your fingers to sprinkle sugar in an even layer all over the pears. Double the recipe if serving a crowd.

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Glorious Green Dip

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Charred scallions, spinach, chives, mild cannellini beans, lemon juice, and mayonnaise are pureed to make this healthy green dip. Make up to two days in advance, and store in an airtight container. Serve with homemade potato chips, broccoli, carrots, and whatever other dippables your heart desires.

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Orange-Chili Shrimp co*cktail

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Want to let the sauce shine? For an easy make-ahead hors d'oeuvres, thaw a few pounds of cooked peeled and deveined shrimp and partner the crowd-pleasing seafood bites with a stand-out orange-chili topping that can be made earlier in the day.

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Easy Homemade Mild Salsa

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Like hot salsa? Keep the seeds in, but remove them if you like a mild blend. This homemade salsa can be stored for up to five days in advance, but aim for less time for ultimate freshness. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

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Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia

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You'll definitely need to make this hors d'oeuvre ahead of time because a garlic and rosemary focaccia will take about 10 hours to finish—but it only requires about a half hour of active effort. When it's ready, you'll brush it with garlic- and rosemary-infused olive oil. You can serve it in strips alongside some balsamic and olive oil dip or olive tapenade. Whipped feta cheese also pairs nicely with it.

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