33 Easy Vegan Appetizers for Your Next Dinner Party

Planning a vegan dinner party and need some recipes to inspire you? Here are 33 easy vegan appetizers for your next get-together that are sure to impress.

Appetizers are an absolute thrill and sometimes even better than the main course itself. Below we have compiled some of our favorite easy vegan appetizer recipes to stimulate your guests’ appetite before a meal. Select a few that combine well with your main course or choose a bunch and turn your next dinner into an appetizer party full of flavor. Perhaps you’ll even add a few to your list of go-to recipes.

10 Delicious Appetizer Classics, But Vegan

Some appetizers are popular for a reason, but most classic apps can be tailored to suit a vegan diet. 

1. Crostini: We have compiled not one but ten tantalizing vegan crostini appetizers for you to try out. Any of these variations of the Italian classic are simply delicious.
2. Bruschetta: What’s the difference between crostini and bruschetta, you ask? Find out while learning about the optimal temperature to store tomatoes and trying out our bruschetta recipe.
3. Shrimp Dumplings or Shrimp Cocktail: Juicy shrimp appetizers suitable for vegans or those with seafood allergies: here are 5 vegan shrimp substitutes that you can use for an easy shrimp cocktail, dumplings, and other party favorites.
4. Pigs in a Blanket: For a vegan variation of “pigs in a blanket” pair our veggie sausage recipes with vegan puff pastry.
5. Corn Dogs: Another American classic, the corn dog is a popular snack you don’t have to miss out on after switching to a plant-based diet. Try our vegan corn dog recipe instead!
6. Deviled Eggs: the basic ingredients include tofu, black salt, vegan mayo, and mustard.
7. Cheese Ball: Learn about making your own vegan feta cheese to use in your favorite feta recipes like a cheese ball. It’s also delicious as a topping on crostini, marinated in oil and herbs, and grilled or thrown in a salad.
8. Caprese Salad: Speaking of cheese, how about a fresh tomato mozzarella salad? Check out the best homemade vegan cheese substitutes and our recipe for aquafaba mozzarella for a vegan dish. Mix with tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, salt and pepper, and you’re done.
9. Vegan Cheese Board: Consult the same list of cheese substitutes to put together a delectable vegan cheese board. Add some grapes, dried fruit, or nuts for a nice finish.
10. Wings: one of America’s favorite appetizers is chicken wings, but their vegan counterpart tastes just as good. You can make vegan cauliflower wings that will have guests reaching for more. 

Dips, Spreads and Bread

Dips or spreads are an absolute must when it comes to appetizers. Here are a few ideas:

1. Vegan Pâté is a delicious alternative to the spread most traditionally made with chicken liver, pork, or fish. Best served on toasted bread or crackers.
2. Vegan Pumpkin Dip is the perfect dish to bring along to any festive fall gathering. We’ll share two simple recipes, one sweet and one savory.
3. Greek Eggplant Dip (Melitzanosalata) is a vegan spread prepared in five steps from only six ingredients.
4. Homemade Hummus is an easy crowd-pleaser. Craving hummus but don’t have any tahini on hand? Here’s a hummus-like dip for you to try. 
5. Cashew cream cheese contains no animal products and requires only a few ingredients. Along with the basic recipe we’ll share a few creative tips.
6. Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip is a great option for casual barbecues or game-day get-togethers. You can pair it with cauliflower wings for an extra special treat. 

The perfect dip of course requires some organic veggies or a good loaf of bread. Here are some options:

1. A regular loaf of bread, served with a nice spread or just some olive oil and sea salt, is always an option. Find out if your bread is vegan in our article compiling brands, tips, and recipes, and scroll down to learn how to make a vegan fennel and coriander herb bread.
2. Sourdough bread is much loved for a reason, it pairs well with a variety of dips and spreads. 
3. They say that opposites attract, which at least in some cases is true: this sweet and savory blueberry zucchini bread makes for a moist and flavorful loaf.
4. A healthy cauliflower bread is a low-carb, simple substitute for traditional white bread.

4 Simple Appetizers for Summertime

Here are some fast and easy-to-prepare appetizers you can serve with a range of dishes:

1. Edamame Beans: these protein-rich green soybeans are mild in taste and great to snack on, enjoy before a meal, or eat on the side. Briefly boiled in salted water and topped with a bit of added flavor, Edamame can be prepared in a matter of minutes.
2. Vegan Tzatziki: a tasty tzatziki dip doesn’t need any dairy. All you have to do is to use vegan yogurt, the other ingredients remain the same. Serve with bread, raw vegetables, or other appetizers. How about some zucchini fries?
3. Savory Cantaloupe: while cantaloupe is delicious on its own, it also tastes great in combination with savory foods like vegan feta cheese or seitan, tossed in a salad, or sprinkled with oil and spices and thrown on the grill.
4. Vegan Asparagus Soup: Asparagus soup is a light and delicious appetizer that works well with various main dishes. The best part? You can make it from leftover ingredients like boiled asparagus water or asparagus peels. 

4 Surprising Hors D’Oeuvres

Looking for something out of the ordinary? You can adapt all of these recipes to your own taste and food requirements.

1. Vegan potstickers are easy to customize, with bursts of flavor and the perfect texture.
2. Stuffed mushrooms are a more delicate type of finger food that works well on various occasions (yes, you could also eat it using a fork). You’ll love the nutty and sweet taste of the walnut and sun-dried tomato filling.
3. Cauliflower leaves are the surprising yet tasty parts of cauliflower often discarded. Turn them into easy vegan appetizers by roasting, sautéeing, or blending and cooking them into a soup. 
4. Vegan summer rolls are healthy, vibrant, and easy to make! You can fill the summer rolls with different ingredients to consider dietary restrictions and food allergies, if necessary.

5 Appetizers for the Coldest Months of the Year

Hearty or sweet, all of the following recipes are comforting and remind us of winter.

1. Turn leftover apple peels into dried fruit chips and alcohol-free cinnamon cider for a cold-weather treat. Sweet but not too sweet to spoil your appetite for a nice dinner.
2. Patacones or crispy fried green plantains are sliced, pressed, and fried twice for a crunchy potato-chip-like texture. Enjoy with a dip of your choosing.
3. Homemade mushroom soup is one of those warm and comforting dishes to satisfy your cravings in wintertime. While it can be served as a dish of its own, in smaller amounts it can also be a nice appetizer before dinner.
4. Make a vegan winter squash soup to help warm your guests up while showcasing your talent for seasonal cooking. 
5. Ever heard of acorn butter? Similar in taste to other nut butters, this recipe is a shoutout to all winter foragers who can’t wait for the warmer seasons to get out and see what nature has to offer. Toss with soba noodles and other veggies for a cold salad.  

Read more:

• 7 Must-Try Tomato Puree Substitutes for Every Recipe
• Orange Peel Uses: Why You Shouldn’t Throw The Skin Away
• Homemade Vegan Tiramisu (With Silken Tofu)

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Tags: Cooking Guide Recipes Snacks Vegan