36 Crowd-Pleasing Make-Ahead Appetizers for Any Event

Warm Goat Cheese in Marinara

• Author/Contributor: Jan Valdez (Chicago, Illinois)

• Total Time: 30 min

• Servings: 1-½ cups

• Nutrition (per 3 tbsp, without baguette): 42 calories, 2g fat (1g sat fat), 9mg cholesterol, 112mg sodium, 4g carbs (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Bacon-Cheddar Potato Croquettes

• Author/Contributor: Pamela Shank (Parkersburg, West Virginia)

• Total Time: 40 min

• Servings: About 5 dozen

• Nutrition (per appetizer): 46 calories, 3g fat (1g sat fat), 12mg cholesterol, 112mg sodium, 4g carbs (0g sugars, 0g fiber), 1g protein.

Chicken Ring

• Author/Contributor: Marlene Denissen (St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin)

• Total Time: 35 min

• Servings: 16

• Nutrition (per piece): 151 calories, 8g fat (2g sat fat), 11mg cholesterol, 357mg sodium, 14g carbs (3g sugars, 0g fiber), 6g protein.

Potato Chip Chicken Strips

• Author/Contributor: Sister Judith LaBrozzi (Canton, Ohio)

• Total Time: 40 min

• Servings: 10

• Nutrition (per serving): 625 calories, 37g fat (15g sat fat), 129mg cholesterol, 664mg sodium, 31g carbs (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 36g protein.

Hearty Pork & Black Bean Nachos

• Author/Contributor: Faith Stokes (Chickamauga, Georgia)

• Total Time: 6 hours 15 min

• Servings: 10

• Nutrition (per ¾ cup meat mixture, without chips/toppings): 469 calories, 24g fat (9g sat fat), 87mg cholesterol, 1055mg sodium, 27g carbs (3g sugars, 7g fiber), 33g protein.

Baked Egg Rolls

• Author/Contributor: Barbara Lierman (Lyons, Nebraska)

• Total Time: 40 min

• Servings: 16

• Nutrition (per egg roll): 146 calories, 2g fat (0g sat fat), 18mg cholesterol, 250mg sodium, 22g carbs (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings

• Author/Contributor: Ida Tuey (South Lyon, Michigan)

• Total Time: 3 hours 35 min

• Servings: 2 dozen

• Nutrition (per piece): 74 calories, 3g fat (1g sat fat), 14mg cholesterol, 282mg sodium, 7g carbs (6g sugars, 0g fiber), 5g protein.

Crispy Goat Cheese Appetizers

• Author/Contributor: Julia TenHoeve (Richmond, Virginia)

• Total Time: 40 min

• Servings: About 2-½ dozen

• Nutrition (per appetizer): 97 calories, 7g fat (2g sat fat), 23mg cholesterol, 91mg sodium, 3g carbs (1g sugars, 0g fiber), 3g protein.

Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry

• Author/Contributor: Jenn Tidwell (Fair Oaks, California)

• Total Time: 30 min

• Servings: 16 pastries

• Nutrition (per appetizer): 144 calories, 8g fat (3g sat fat), 17mg cholesterol, 192mg sodium, 13g carbs (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.

Almond Cheddar Appetizers

• Author/Contributor: Linda Thompson (Southampton, Ontario)

• Total Time: 25 min

• Servings: About 4 dozen

• Nutrition (per piece): 81 calories, 6g fat (1g sat fat), 4mg cholesterol, 116mg sodium, 6g carbs (1g sugars, 0g fiber), 2g protein.

Dilled Mushroom Turnovers

• Author/Contributor: Isabella Michel-Clark (Sparks, Nevada)

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 min

• Servings: About 5 dozen

• Nutrition (per turnover): 87 calories, 7g fat (4g sat fat), 22mg cholesterol, 98mg sodium, 6g carbs (0g sugars, 0g fiber), 1g protein.

Spanakopita Bites

• Author/Contributor: Barbara Smith (Chipley, Florida)

• Total Time: 55 min

• Servings: 10-½ dozen

• Nutrition (per appetizer): 21 calories, 2g fat (1g sat fat), 6mg cholesterol, 40mg sodium, 1g carbs (0g sugars, 0g fiber), 1g protein.

Onion Brie Bowl

• Author/Contributor: Taste of Home Test Kitchen

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 min

• Servings: 18

• Nutrition (per piece): 140 calories, 6g fat (2g sat fat), 13mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium, 17g carbs (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.

Sausage Wonton Cups

• Author/Contributor: Shirley Van Allen (High Point, North Carolina)

• Total Time: 30 min

• Servings: 24 cups

• Nutrition (per wonton cup): 68 calories, 3g fat (1g sat fat), 15mg cholesterol, 270mg sodium, 6g carbs (0g sugars, 0g fiber), 5g protein.

Baked Wontons

• Author/Contributor: Brianna Shade (Beaverton, Oregon)

• Total Time: 40 min

• Servings: About 4 dozen

• Nutrition (per piece): 38 calories, 1g fat (0g sat fat), 5mg cholesterol, 103mg sodium, 5g carbs (0g sugars, 0g fiber), 3g protein.