Our Best Labor Day Appetizers

August 23, 2019
Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Christina Daley
Start off your Labor Day feast right with these crowd-pleasing appetizers, including creamy dips, finger foods, and other tasty snacks. 
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Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Skewers with Mint and Lime

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Tomato, Watermelon, and Feta Skewers with Mint and Lime Recipe

No time for skewers? Gently toss the ingredients in a salad bowl, or dice the tomato, watermelon, and cheese into small cubes to serve as a fresh relish for grilled meats.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos Recipe
From the Kitchen of Julie Hutson, Callahan, Florida. "This is surprisingly yummy to have such simple ingredients."

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Grilled Pepper Poppers

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr
Grilled Pepper Poppers Recipe
Stuffed with garlic and herb cheese and topped with bacon, these bite-sized appetizers are sure to be a hit with guests.
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Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta

Iain Bagwell
Rainbow Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Notes: Linda Wisner of Portland, Oregon uses a mix of heirloom tomato varieties from her garden; heirlooms are available in many farmers' markets. Toast the baguette slices up to 1 day ahead; cool, wrap airtight, and store at room temperature. Prepare tomatoes up to 1 hour ahead; cover and let stand at room temperature.

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Grilled Watermelon Pizza

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Grilled Watermelon Pizza Recipe

For a fruity and finger-friendly appetizer, grill watermelon wedges and top with pickled onions, blue chees, and pecans. 

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Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Okra Recipe

A sweet-tangy balsamic glaze makes this summertime appetizer irresistible. Using two skewers for the wrapped okra makes it easier to flip on the grill.

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Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro
Pulled Pork Barbecue Nachos Recipe
Start off your Labor Day meal with fresh and colorful layered nachos made with our famous pulled pork.

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Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Oxmoor House
Crab Cake Hush Puppies Recipe

Serve these Crab Cake Hush Puppies with your favorite rémoulade or cocktail sauce for tasty appetizers. Hush puppies, a Southern classic made by deep-frying a cornmeal batter gets a seafood makeover. Served with a creamy, thick dipping sauce, these salty critters are a great option for a potluck meal or an appetizer that serves to impress. Freeze any leftovers and defrost up to 3 months later.

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Mini Caprese Bites

Mini Caprese Bites

Learn how to make easy and delicious mini caprese bites for a quick, no-cook party appetizer that your guests can't resist.

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Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches

Gooseberry Patch
Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches Recipe
With the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors, these Hawaiian Ham Sandwiches are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart
Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites Recipe

Turn "jacket potatoes" into irresistible potato salad bites. Capers offer a twist on traditional relish; they're actually pickled flower buds and add bright, briny flavor to this appetizer.

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Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey
Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers Recipe

Put out half of the skewers, and keep the remaining chilled until ready to serve. Everyone loves a good melon salad, so we took that idea and "skewer-ed" it. Salty cured ham meets creamy, fresh melon for the ultimate savory/sweet combination. With the addition of smooth mozzarella cheese, these skewers are texturally satisfying and not shy on flavor. Your guests will absolutley the easiness and accessibility of these skewers, and you'd be surprised at how impressed they'll be.

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Pigskins in a Blanket

Photo: Quentin Bacon
Pigskins in a Blanket Recipe

Using puff pastry instead of crescent roll dough to wrap up the sausages adds a great deal of richness and flavor. And replacing the pig in this version of pigs in a blanket is fully-cooked chicken sausage.

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Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip Recipe
Prepare this hearty dip made with chicken, chipotle peppers, jalapenos and chili powder up to a day ahead; cover and chill in an airtight container, and bake just before serving.

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Bruschetta with Peach Salsa and Melted Brie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Bruschetta with Peach Salsa and Melted Brie Recipe
To make this fresh and fruity appetizer in advance, you can prepare and refrigerate the salsa up to a day ahead. Toast bread and assemble just before serving.
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Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip Recipe
Just layer cream cheese, black bean dip and shredded cheese and top with your choice of onions, olives and tomatoes to make this Mexican dip.

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Strawberry Bruschetta

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck and Caroline Cunningham
Strawberry Bruschetta Recipe
Usher in the warm days of spring and summer with Strawberry Bruschetta. This refreshing mixture of  nectarine, grape tomatoes, strawberries, and basil are served over baguette slices with slatherings of goat cheese.

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Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck
Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Recipe
You can keep the queso blanco warm in a fondue pot or 1-qt. slow cooker. These are hearty, and would be a winner for a tailgate too.
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Cheesy Sausage Roll-Ups

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen
Cheesy Sausage Roll-Ups Recipe

These southwestern-style roll-ups require just 5 ingredients. 

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Mini Corn Dogs with Cranberry Mustard

Photo: Aya Brackett; Styling: Emma Star Jensen
Mini Corn Dogs with Cranberry Mustard Recipe
These cute corndogs will please adults and kids alike.

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Hot Crab Dip

Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Combine fresh crabmeat with cream cheese, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese for a rich and creamy seafood dip.For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and light sour cream.
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Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

Photo: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver
Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar nicely contrasts the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This appetizer recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

This easy buffalo chicken dip is addictively delicious, and you’ll never bring it to a party without getting rave reviews. Our buffalo chicken dip recipe delivers bold, three-cheese flavors and a kick of spice from the hot sauce. The creamy, tangy dip is the perfect crowd-friendly comfort food to make as temperatures drop. Serve this 5-ingredient dip with crackers and celery, and keep this appetizer in your collection of easy tailgating or dinner party favorites.

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Baked Pita Chips

Oxmoor House
Baked Pita Chips

These crispy chips will complete any appetizer dip. Double or triple the recipe to serve a large crowd or pack extras for lunchboxes.

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Caramelized Tomato Bruschetta

Photo: Erin Kunkel
Caramelized Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
To prepare this appetizer, top grilled baguette slices with caramelized tomatoes, ricotta, and basil.

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Simple Guacamole

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Simple Guacamole

Two perfectly ripe avocados and a small handful of simple seasonings are all it takes to make the best guacamole you've ever tasted.

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Anne's Hot Sausage Dip

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski
Anne's Hot Sausage Dip Recipe

Whether you're at the game or cheering from home, kick off your tailgating party with our first-string collection of snacks, spreads, and dips. For starters, scoop up this hearty sausage dip and keep it warm at the tailgate party in an insulated casserole dish carrier.

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Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip
This crowd-pleasing appetizer is rich and creamy without excess fat and calories. Assemble up to two days ahead, and bake just before serving.

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Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Dip

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Dip Recipe
Fire up the coals for Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Dip. Chipotle peppers give this dip its zip.

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Happy-Hour Hummus

Oxmoor House
Happy-Hour Hummus Recipe

It's a quick snack to make before dinner. Throw all the ingredients into a food processor, give it a whirl, and presto–you've bought yourself an hour to make a meal. Healthy dippers include baby carrots, radishes, jicama, and sugar snap peas.

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Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip

Photo: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth
Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip Recipe
These kid-friendly skewers are a great solution for cooling down in the summer heat.

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Roasted Corn Salsa

Roasted Corn Salsa Recipe
Fresh corn, tomatoes, onions, and parsley are tossd with a sweet-hot vinaigrette to make this favorite summertime salsa. Pair with tortilla chips for a colorful appetizer or serve alongside grilled burgers, chicken, or ribs.

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Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Loaded Baked Potato Dip
Move that loaded spud from the side dish spread to the appetizer buffet with this easy and addictive Loaded Baked Potato Dip recipe.
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BBQ Chicken Bean Dip

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky
BBQ Chicken Bean Dip Recipe

Step aside, Buffalo chicken. Move it along, basic bean dip. The game day dip to rule all game day dips has arrived. This bold yet balance BBQ Chicken Bean Dip has so much going for it: It’s easy to make, you likely have most of the necessary ingredients on hand, and most importantly—this cheesy chicken appetizer will be a winner with any crowd. The barbecue sauce used in to make the dip couldn’t be easier to mix up, and it’s one you can come back to again and again for all of your BBQ needs; however, if you want to shave a few minutes off the recipe, you can certainly use your favorite bottled sauce instead. We suggest topping the dip with cheese towards the end of baking in order to prevent the dip from becoming too greasy. 

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Cheesy Stuffed Pizza Crust Ring

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky
Cheesy Stuffed Pizza Crust Ring Recipe

 

You know how as soon as you grow into a fully formed adult human, you realize that the best part of a delivery pizza is the part you’ve been foolishly tossing aside (for your parents to eventually graze on)? Well we decided to make up for lost years by making this cheesy stuffed crust ring, no pizza necessary. Of course, we all know the only thing better than a standard hand-tossed pizza crust is a stuffed crust. We flavored this cheesy ring of bready glory with a seasoning blend inspired by the masters—Domino’s—and served it up with a delicious blend of the two most perfect crust dipping sauces: ranch and marinara. Warm from the oven, this cheesy appetizer perfect for a Super Bowl party, or any other game day gathering. 

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Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robby Melvin
Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips Recipe

Olive Garden got this one right, folks—lasagna in dip form is all kinds of wonderful, especially served with freshly fried, crisp pasta chips. Trust us, this meaty, cheesy appetizer will be a welcome addition to any party.

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Chickpea Crackers with Chunky Tapenade

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Elise Mayfield; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke and Laura Evans
Chickpea Crackers with Chunky Tapenade Recipe

These rustic crackers are addictively salty and crunchy, like a snack should be. The creamy hummus and briny tapenade are the perfect complements to create an impressive appetizer spread.

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Pimento Cheese Puffs

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Sarah Epperson
Pimento Cheese Puffs Recipe

Classic French gougères with a Southern remix. These airy pimiento cheese puffs make an impressive addition to virtually any party spread. While the choux pastry dough may seem intimidating to make, trust us—success is just a matter of not walking away from the pan. As long as you can stay put and keep stirring (so that your dough doesn’t burn), you can make gougères. 

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Instant Pot Mango Chutney

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Instant Pot Mango Chutney Recipe

This chutney is slightly sweet and spicy, with a pleasant lingering heat from the Serrano and del arbol chiles. The sharp pops of flavor from the pickling spices mimic the flavors you’d find in North Indian cuisine. The orange juice and lime juice add some acidity and sour flavors to balance the natural sweetness in the mangoes. It’s the perfect cooling accompaniment for curries or fried samosas, but it would also work well on a cheese board. 

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Grilled Garlic Knots

Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
Grilled Garlic Knots Recipe

You can’t beat a garlic and butter roll, especially one that has been grilled. The cheese and parsley give them a nice Fazoli’s feel, while the charred bread adds extra flavor. Plus, they’re a cinch to grill. Prepared pizza dough can easily be found in the deli section of major grocery stores, but you can even buy it directly from a pizza shop if you ask. 

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Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Dates with Brie

Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Dates with Brie Recipe

These yummy little bites are not your normal appetizer. Make sure to use large dates, which are much easier to handle and fill than small ones, and center cut bacon—thick cut bacon will take too long to cook. If a date splits while you’re filling it, just press it back together. These are best warm, right off the grill, but are still good at room temperature. 

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