50 Fun Finger Food Ideas, No Fork or Knife Required
It's time to get the party started.
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A good party requires some tasty snacks! Sure, there will be refreshing big-batch drinks, groovy music, and good company. However, no get-together is complete without a few small bites. And by small, that means easy appetizers that don't require a fork and knife. While a formal sit-down dinner may require fancy hors d'oeuvres, casual gatherings like backyard cookouts and potlucks work best with finger foods that you can eat with your hands.
Many of these finger food ideas are crunchy, cheesy, or wrapped in bacon, but there are a few healthy appetizers as well. Just look at the shrimp cocktail, buffalo cauliflower bites, and air fryer appetizers like falafel. You'll also find some creative ideas that will have everyone at your party raving like fried ravioli, reuben egg rolls, fried mac and cheese balls, and spinach-artichoke dip served in wonton cups. There are even homemade potato chips to pair with your favorite party dips.
Then again, you can't go wrong with other make-ahead appetizers like pinwheel snacks, pigs in a blanket, and different kinds of deviled eggs—they make a welcome addition to any potluck spread. If you do want to keep things completely fingerless, you can offer toothpicks to make serving fast and disposable. Either way, these finger food ideas are guaranteed to win over any crowd.
Fried Green Tomatoes
They're a Southern classic for a reason! Ree calls them "the best summer indulgence" so grab some firm green tomatoes from your garden and get fryin'.
Get the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
Leftovers never tasted so good! Use last night's mashed potatoes and turn them into golden nuggets of deliciousness sprinkled with salt, parmesan, and fresh parsley.
Get Ree's Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.
Air Fryer Ravioli
Skip the deep fryer and still make this classic, thanks to your handy dandy air fryer. Just grab some store-bought ravioli and you'll be done in no time. Don't forget the marinara for dipping!
Get Ree's Air Fryer Ravioli recipe.
Homemade Potato Chips
Chips are the ultimate finger food, and the feel so special when you make them from scratch. Fry up super thin slices of potatoes to get them nice and crunchy and then sprinkle on a spicy-sweet seasoning.
Get Ree's Homemade Potato Chips recipe.
Little Smokies
Okay, so you may want a toothpick between your fingers and these little snacks. That's only because they've been bathing in a homemade tangy-sweet sauce in your slow cooker.
Get Ree's Little Smokies recipe.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These flaky pinwheels are swirled with salty ham and melty cheese, and ranch-flavored cream cheese mixture. Good thing you can keep them stashed in the freezer for whenever a craving hits!
Get the Ham and Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
Crab Rangoon
With its creamy, spicy filling and signature crunch, it's no wonder this classic appetizer is always a hit. You can pan fry it or make it in the air fryer. Just be sure to serve it up with sweet chili sauce.
Get the Crab Rangoon recipe.
Fried Zucchini
Give your veggies the French fry treatment and no one will complain. These zucchini sticks are crispy and golden with a cheesy breadcrumb coating that's a cinch to make.
Get the Fried Zucchini recipe.
Coconut Shrimp
The combination of crunchy coconut and succulent shrimp will make you feel like your on a beach vacation. It would be perfect for a pool party, a cookout, or any time you want a taste of the tropics.
Get the Coconut Shrimp recipe.
Air Fryer Taquitos
Skip the freezer aisle and try making your own crispy beef taquitos at home instead. It's easy thanks to the air fryer, so you don't even need to fuss with a pot of oil.
Get the Air Fryer Taquitos recipe.
Potato Skins
Ree's been making these crispy potato skins for years and she admits, "they never, ever go out of style." You can fill them up with whatever your heart desires like cheese, bacon, and sour cream.
Get Ree's Potato Skins recipe.
Reuben Egg Rolls
This party food is everything you love about a Reuben sandwich in one crunchy bite: corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. There's even a side of Russian dressing for dipping.
Get the Reuben Egg Rolls recipe.
Pot Stickers
This recipe keeps things simple by using store-bought dumpling wrappers. Then, each one is filled with crunchy veggies and hearty ground pork. It's all finished with a sweet and savory dipping sauce.
Get the Pot Stickers recipe.
Air Fryer Falafel
This Middle Eastern favorite is made with a flavorful mixture of herbs, spices, and chickpeas. Then, it's crisped up in the air fryer. Serve it with tahini yogurt sauce for dipping.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
Corn Fritters
There's just something about fried anything that's so irresistible. To make it even better, this variation is loaded with sweet corn. You can even top it with sifted powdered sugar for extra sweetness.
Get Ree's Corn Fritters recipe.
Everything-Cucumber Smoked Salmon Bites
Hosting a tea party or weekend brunch? This hand-held snack is the perfect bite. It's light and refreshing with a pop of everything bagel seasoning.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
It doesn't even need to be a party to make these scrumptious chicken tenders. They're just as delicious as an after-school snack. What's more, they're healthier than your typical fried tender.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.
Festive Goat Cheese Balls
This pretty appetizer only requires four ingredients and it comes together in a matter of minutes. It might just be one the easiest finger foods you could make.
Get Ree's Festive Goat Cheese Balls recipe.
Air Fryer Okra
Even those who are skeptical about okra will love this method for preparing the Southern favorite. The okra pods are cut in half lengthwise so there's even more surface area to be breaded and fried. And all that means is that there's extra crunch.
Get the Air Fryer Okra recipe.
Beef Empanadas
The tender golden dough and warm beef filling make this meat pocket extra-special. If you're in a pinch, you can look for store-bought frozen empanada discs or even pie dough as a substitute.
Get the Beef Empanadas recipe.
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