Room temperature appetizers that can be made ahead of time are the best kind of appetizers when hosting at home. The idea is to either pull the finished app right out of the fridge and simply let it come to room temp before guests arrive. Easy as 1, 2, 3!
?I recommend setting up a buffet table ahead of time! Here are my best buffet table tips!
Cold appetizers are easy to make ahead. They can be stored in the fridge for at least a day ahead and pulled out cold whenever your guests are ready!
Easy, peasy.
Serving hot appetizers is great but I recommend only 1 or 2 hot ones and the rest, room temperature to save you stress and time.
With that said, the recipes I included below are perfect for serving a crowd at a birthday party, Holiday Party, Wine Tasting Party, Surprise Party or Cocktail Party!
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
These tortilla roll ups are the perfect make ahead appetizer that everyone will LOVE! They can be rolled the day before and kept cold in the fridge before slicing!
Spinach and Feta Phyllo Triangles
These mini triangles are a fun appetizer you can definitely make ahead! You can bake them up the night before or leave your triangles unbaked and then bake or reheat them the next day! These are just as delicious room temperature as hot.
Potato Salad Without Mayo
Potato salad pairs well with different veggies, meats and cheeses so why not serve it as an appetizer? This recipe is a healthy take on the classic mayo heavy potato salad.
Keeping food warm isn't hard but it takes some tricks and the right equipment. Check out some tips for keeping food warm here.
Caramelized Pearl Onion Skewers
These onion skewers are such a fantastic make ahead appetizer that can be served cold! In fact, the longer the onions marinate, the better! Serve these with a few different cheeses, pita bread, crackers, and some good wine!
Prosciutto Melon & Mozzarella Skewers
These skewers are such a delicious skewered appetizer that I like to serve cold and make in advance! Serve this starter before dinner or simply with cocktails.
Cubano Skewers
These cubano skewers are one of my favorite make ahead appetizers! The pickles maintain their crunchiness and they are the best when cold making them ideal for pulling straight out of the fridge!
Cold Healthy Taco Dip
A delicious and super fast taco dip made with cottage cheese instead of cream cheese! Serve with tortilla chips and leave at room temperature for a few hours as your guests snack.
Greek Cucumber Cups
These cucumber cups are stuffed with all the ingredients a Greek salad is known for. Tomatoes, onions, olives, peppers and of course, feta cheese! It is the perfect healthy make ahead finger food that can easily be kept at room temp.
Herb n' Olive Oil Dip for Bread
This truly is The BEST Olive Oil Dip For Bread you will find! It is something I have been making for years and is always a favorite when entertaining! What makes this bread dipping oil better than the others is the FRESH herbs and garlic!
Catering your party? Here is a list of appetizers perfect for catering!
Grilled Pineapple Skewers
Grilling pineapple is a simple way to elevate a popular summer fruit. Plus, they can be served at room temperature hours later and guests love anything served on a stick!
Roasted Eggplant Dip
Melitzanosalata is a Greek appetizer made from roasting whole eggplants, pureeing it, then adding garlic, olive oil and lemon juice! It is a simple yet delicious small plate tapas dish that everyone will love!
Roquefort Cheese And Pear “Bruschetta” With Walnuts
This Roquefort Cheese and Pear “Bruschetta” with Walnuts is a fun twist on your classic bruschetta. This recipe has everything I love in a colder weather salad but made into a bite sized appetizer that’s perfect for entertaining around the holidays!
White Cannellini Bean Dip With Garlic
This White Cannellini Bean Dip With Garlic is like hummus…but 100x BETTER! It is by far, the best cold bean dip recipe I have tried. Super creamy, full of flavor and so healthy, you will become addicted!
Spicy Greek Feta Dip
A delicious last minute 3 ingredient dip you’ll want to make over and over again! This Spicy Greek Feta Cheese Dip also knows as “Tirokafteri” is a traditional Greek spread made with feta cheese and spicy peppers. It is incredibly easy to make and has always been a family favorite!
Greek Lamb Meatballs Appetizer
Like pizza, meatballs are just as good at room temp. They can also be baked the night before and warmed up in a crock pot of in a chafing dish. Serve with a delicious yogurt sauce for dipping.
Sweet N’ Spicy Bacon Palmiers
These sweet and savory palmiers are a super easy appetizer to make when expecting last minute company! Rolled puff pastry dough filled with a creamy Dijon spread, bacon and spicy cheddar cheese finished with maple syrup! Your guests will rave over these!
Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese
A cold creamy spinach dip that is made without mayo and with cream cheese! It is one of my top party dips and so easy to whip up. I like to make it ahead of time and then add it to a freshly cut bread bowl when guests arrive!
Burrata Cheese w/ Roasted Peppers
A delicious twist on a caprese salad, this easy Italian Burrata Appetizer with Roasted Peppers is my new go-to when I have last minute company! Grab your freshest baguette and dig in!
Pan Fried Zucchini Squash Chips (With Tzatziki Sauce)
These Pan Fried Zucchini Squash Chips are made without flour or breading so they are gluten free! They are so simple to make and require less than 4 ingredients! Paired with a good tzatziki sauce you will not be able to stop eating these!
Healthy Imitation Crab Meat Salad
A deliciously healthy and inexpensive crab salad made with yogurt, sour cream and fresh herbs! Serve it on potato bread for a fun open faced crab roll or as a dip with buttery crackers on the side!
Easy Ricotta Roasted Red Pepper Crostini
These Italian Easy Ricotta Roasted Red Pepper Crostini are an easy yet delicious appetizer that can be served hours ahead of time! These crostini are made with only 5 ingredients so you can spend more time enjoying the party and less time in the kitchen!
Ham and Pickle Rolls Ups
These roll ups are made with ham, cream cheese, ranch dressing and pickles! They are perfect to prepare in advance and can be easily stored in the fridge.
Thick Greek Yogurt Tzatziki Dip
This healthy Greek yogurt dip is something we always have out at family parties. It is one of those dips that gets better as it sits so it's an ideal appetizer to make in advance! Serve with warm pita bread and fresh veggies for dipping!
Funeral Sandwiches (Hot Ham n' Cheese Sliders)
These mini ham and cheese sliders are a HUGE hit at parties. They can be assembled the night prior to your party. Then on the day of, pop them in the oven and they're ready in under 15 minutes!
✅Final tips for making appetizers in advance
Room temperature appetizers are appealing because no reheating is necessary. But keep in mind food safety regulations.
You can leave food out for 2 hours before bacteria starts to grow. If you wish to leave your appetizers out longer than that, you should place the food over ice or keep them warm.
The best way to do this is to purchase ice containers like this one. It is specifically for appetizers and will allow you to keep your food cold at a safe temperature for much, much longer! Read about how to keep food warm here.
Unsure of how many appetizers to serve? Check out my appetizer serving recommendations here!
Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!