33 Easy Fall Appetizers

Fall is a wonderful time of the year. It has exciting holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving and marks the start of colder weather and longer nights.

This unique time of the year has its own particular flavors and themes and when serving appetizers to family or friends, you can take advantage of the season to make some delicious dishes.

Whether you’re looking for the best appetizers for a dinner party, Thanksgiving with the family, or watching the big game with friends, there are many fall flavors and foods that you can serve.

In this article, we have 33 easy fall appetizer recipes for you to make. They’re listed in alphabetical order and cover a wide variety of dishes so there’s bound to be something for you.

1. Apple & Cheese Flatbread Pizza

This interesting take on pizza makes for a filling appetizer that will still leave room for more (for more pizza-based appetizers, read here). Instead of pizza dough, the base is naan bread.

This is then layered with several different toppings such as spinach, arugula, gouda, and apple. The ingredients in the recipe combine for a delicious fall-themed pizza but you can adjust and change them to suit your tastes.

2. Bacon Brie Apple Crostini

Brie is a common ingredient in several recipes on this list as it is perfect for fall appetizers. Crostinis are an easy appetizer to make and they’re delicious too so this recipe is sure to be a big hit.

All you need are some crusty baguettes, brie, apples, and sliced bacon. Once cooked, you can drizzle maple syrup on top for that finishing touch.

3. Baked Brie with Apples and Salted Caramel

Our next brie recipe makes brie the main ingredient. You will need an eight-ounce wheel of brie that is baked and then topped with sauteed apples and salted caramel sauce.

It can then be served as a dip for salted pita chips to make a delicious appetizer that mixes sweet and salty flavors. 

4. Bacon-Cheddar Skillet Cornbread

Cornbread is a popular dish in many states across the country so why not add a fall version to your list of appetizers?

This recipe uses yellow cornmeal, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese and the mixture is prepared in a skillet first before being transferred to the oven for the final baking.

This recipe combines old-fashioned southern cooking and adds a unique fall twist.

5. Beef and Raisin Empanadas

These empanadas make for excellent finger food for any party in the fall. They do take some prep and cooking time but you will no doubt agree that the end results are worth it.

The filling of the empanadas is made with beef, onion, garlic, paprika, tomato paste, and raisins. The recipe calls for ready made pie crusts but you can make your own if you have the time.

6. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Having a dip, or even a selection of dips, is always a great idea when catering for a party. Whether it’s a family party or friends together for the big football game, a buffalo chicken dip is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

It gets its name from the combination of ingredients used, which are buffalo sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing, cheese, and chicken.

7. Butternut Hummus with Feta & Pomegranates

Another flavor that will crop up several times on this list is butternut squash. The orange, red, and green colors of the hummus make this dish look like fall as well as taste like fall.

As well as the butternut squash, feta cheese, and pomegranates, the recipe also uses chickpeas and tahini.

8. Butternut Squash Fritters

Our second butternut squash recipe takes the form of some crispy fritters. With only five ingredients the fritters are easy to make but are sure to be popular with even those that tend to avoid vegetables.

The fritters are made from mixing shredded butternut squash, flour, eggs, minced sage, and vegetable oil.

9. Butternut Squash Soup

There’s even more butternut squash to be found in this recipe. Soups are a great fall appetizer as they’re warm and filling but won’t prevent your guests from enjoying their main course (see also ‘30 Fall Soups To Get You Into The Cozy Spirit‘).

This butternut squash soup is thick, smooth, and creamy. The base of the soup is chicken stock and the flavor comes from the butternut squash and carrots.

10. Candied Walnut Brussels Sprout Bites

Brussels sprouts aren’t the first vegetable that most people think of when it comes to making appetizers and that makes this recipe a unique choice that will make an impression on anyone who tries them.

They work well as finger food at a party as well as formally served appetizers.  As well as brussel sprouts, this recipe uses brie cheese, California walnuts, and honey.

11. Caramel Apple Dip

Here’s another delicious fall-flavored dip for your parties and family nights. It’s quick and easy to make as it only takes six minutes in total to prepare and cook.

This sweet dip is made from just cream cheese, sugar, caramel dip, and toffee bits. It’s ideal for dipping apple slices into on a cool night.

12. Cheddar Popovers

Cheddar popovers are a very versatile dish. As well as being appetizers, they can be served as snacks, for breakfast and brunch, or as a side for dinner.

You don’t need to worry about making too many as they can be eaten at any time. The popovers are simple to make as the mixture requires only flour, eggs, milk, salt, and grated cheese.

They’re especially delicious when served warm with some butter on the side.

13. Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread

Any type of pull apart bread makes for a great appetizer to share with friends and family. Add in that this pull apart bread is cheese and garlic and it’s certain to be a favorite of everyone who gets to try it.

You can use any type of crusty bread but it’s best with either crusty sourdough or other types of bread that have a denser texture. Slice the crust into small squares and fill the cuts with garlic butter and cheese.

Serve it warm while the cheese is still melted for the best results.

14. Cranberry Brie Bites

This is the first of two recipes that use cranberry and brie but despite the similar flavors, the recipes are very different. This recipe uses crescent dough sheets cut into squares and placed in muffin tins.

The center of each square is then filled with a chunk of brie and a spoonful of cranberry sauce. Bake for around 15 minutes for some delicious appetizers. 

15. Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread

The second pull apart bread recipe on this list has a Thanksgiving twist with the addition of cranberry. The method is the same although the recipe suggests using a boule for your bread.

Other breads that have a similar chewy crust and soft interior would also work, however. After slicing into the top, stuff the slices with brie and some cranberry sauce.

16. Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are fun to make and when set on a platter and surrounded by crackers, they also make a fun looking appetizer platter.

To make the cheese ball, combine cream cheese, gorgonzola, and cheddar cheese with cranberries, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and cayenne.

This mixture should be blended until it is almost smooth, but not completely there. You will need to refrigerate the ball for at least one hour before serving.

17. Crispy Baked Vegetable Chips

A great way to make use of seasonal vegetables is to make baked vegetable chips. You can make virtually any vegetable into a crispy chip and the vegetables most commonly associated with Halloween are no exception.

If the veggies have a high water content, you will need to add a little salt to draw that water out. To make them especially crispy, coat them in some avocado oil as you bake them. The chips can be eaten plain or with a dip.

18. Green Bean Casserole Bundles

Casseroles are too heavy and filling to be considered as appetizers but this recipe takes the ingredients and the idea behind a green bean casserole to create the perfect fall appetizer.

They’re green beans coated in a casserole style sauce and then wrapped in bacon. These unusual appetizers can be baked in either an oven or an air fryer.

19. Gruyère and Sesame Twists

It’s never been easier to make your own breadsticks at home than with this recipe. Breadsticks are a great appetizer to serve and they’re suitable for any occasion, from family get-togethers to fall parties.

The salty but sweet taste of the Gruyère cheese coupled with sesame seeds makes these breadsticks a step above your standard breadstick, too.

They’re also easy to make and you’ll soon have picture perfect twists for your guests to eat.

20. Ham Biscuit Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard

Ham sandwiches might not sound like the most exciting of fall appetizers but this recipe uses homemade biscuits instead of bread to turn them into something completely different.

Biscuits are pretty straightforward to make but they look great as an alternative to bread. This recipe also includes instructions for making an apricot mustard from apricot jam, Dijon mustard, and whole-grain mustard.

The mustard complements the ham biscuits perfectly.

21. Jalapeño Poppers

You can easily add some spice to your platter of fall appetizers with these jalapeño poppers.

The recipe calls for most of the ribs and seeds to be removed so when made as instructed, it shouldn’t be too spicy for sensitive stomachs.

However, you can easily increase the spice level by adding some pepper into your filling or by not completely removing the ribs from your jalapeños peppers.

The filling of the peppers is mainly a mix of shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese, with some pimientos and seasonings.

22. Lemon-Herb Cheese Bites

Earlier in this list we included a recipe for a cheese ball that took the more traditional form of a singular, large ball that everyone would scrape smaller chunks from.

This cheese ball recipe, however, makes a platter full of smaller balls so that your guests can have their own individual cheese ball instead.

The cheese is flavored by being rolled in a mix of herbs and seasonings such as mint, chives, parsley, dill, lemon zest, and peppercorns.

As the balls are smaller, they don’t need as much time to set and can be served as soon as you’ve finished preparing them if you wish. They especially pair well with pretzel sticks.

23. Mashed Potato and Wild Rice Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are a common appetizer that you’ll find in restaurants as well as at home. This recipe uses portabella caps of around two and a half to three inches in diameter to make perfect bite-sized appetizers.

They’re stuffed with wild rice, mashed potatoes, garlic, and onion and topped with both white cheddar and Parmesan cheese.

You will need to cook the rice and mash your potatoes before filling the mushrooms so this appetizer will take a little longer to prepare than some others on this list. It’s easy to make, however, just be aware of the added time.

24. Pumpkin Deviled Eggs

Now it’s time for the first in a series of several consecutive pumpkin themed recipes.

Unlike the other recipes featuring pumpkin in the name, these deviled eggs don’t actually include any pumpkin. Instead, the name comes from how the yolk filling is made to look like a pumpkin.

Deviled eggs are a common and popular appetizer and no list is complete without them.

25. Pumpkin & Pesto Crostini

The combination of the orange pumpkin, lightly colored cheese, and dark rye bread makes these crostinis as eye-catching as they are delicious.

The combination of colors is sure to grab the attention and make these stand out of any appetizer platter. They’re also topped with pesto and pecans for a balance of flavors that works so well together.

26. Pumpkin Ravioli

Let’s keep those pumpkin recipes rolling with this recipe for pumpkin ravioli. Although suitable as an appetizer, you could easily serve this ravioli for dinner with the right side dishes.

The recipe uses wonton wrappers instead of pasta but you can easily change this if you prefer. The filling is mainly pumpkin with a few other ingredients there as seasoning.

27. Pumpkin Soup

Nothing says fall like a pumpkin soup! Like all good pumpkin soups, this recipe produces a soup that is creamy and smooth that is also rich in pumpkin flavor.

When you serve the soup, you can add some extra cream and toasted pumpkin seeds on top for that picture perfect finishing touch.

28. Roasted Garlic & Rosemary Pumpkin Hummus

The last of our pumpkin recipes also includes roasted garlic and rosemary to make a delicious hummus. You can use raw garlic if you prefer, but if so, reduce the amounts as it can easily overpower the other flavors in the hummus.

The hummus is best served with warm naan or pita bread, but also matches well with roasted vegetables and apple slices.

29. Spinach Artichoke Dip

The last dip on our list makes for a hearty dish that is thick and just as delicious eaten on its own as it is when eaten with tortilla chips.

If the dip is a little too thick for your tastes, you can always make it creamer by adding more heavy cream than the recipe originally calls for.

Whether you like your dip thick or cream, you’ll find that the real star of the dip is the unexpected rashers of bacon.

30. Spinach Puffs

Best served warm, these spinach puffs make excellent appetizers and finger food. They’re made by lining a muffin tin with puff pastry and then spooning out the filling of spinach, cream cheese, onion, and garlic.

The melted cream cheese and spinach come together perfectly to make these delicious puffs.

31. Steamed Artichokes with Smoked Paprika Aioli

These steamed artichokes will look unique as part of any platter of appetizers and they taste unique too. You will need to steam the artichokes in lemon water for around 30 to 35 minutes so that they are tender.

They’re then served with an aioli sauce made from egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and paprika.

32. Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels

Pinwheels are easy appetizers to make and can also work as finger food, snacks for football games, or an easy lunch.

The combination of turkey and cranberry immediately conjure up images of Thanksgiving but you can eat these pinwheels throughout the fall season.

Like all pinwheels they’re simple to assemble and you can alter the recipe if you wish.

33. Zucchini Fritters with Chipotle-Lime Crema

Our last recipe for this list is another vegetable fritter recipe. Zucchinis are common ingredients for fritters as they make the perfect combination of crispy edges but tender insides.

As well as the fritters, this recipe also instructs you on how to make a delicious accompanying dip made from sour cream, chipotle chili powder, hot sauce, and lime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about easy fall appetizers.

What Dishes Are Good for Fall?

Fall is the time of year when it starts to become colder and the nights become longer. This makes it the perfect time of year to start switching to heartier and more filling foods that are typically served hot.

Whether it’s appetizers, main courses, or desserts, look for foods that will keep your friends and family full and warm.

However, it’s not yet as cold as the darkest winter so you can still opt for lighter meals, too. Consider making soups, dips, and baked goods as your guests are sure to love these.

What Are Typical Fall Foods?

Fall has its own particular group of foods and flavors that are associated with it. Fall contains Halloween of course, so pumpkin is one of the more popular fall flavors.

As Thanksgiving is with the season too, you can add a touch of cranberry to your recipes as well.

Fall is also the season for warming spices such as cinnamon and chai and these especially taste great when matched with apples.

During fall, you’ll see many dishes made from autumnal vegetables such as turnips, radishes, and carrots. These plants can be planted and harvested in fall so they’re a popular choice for fall recipes.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we listed 33 easy fall appetizer recipes for you to make at home. We covered a wide variety of dishes including soups, dips, pull apart bread, pastry puffs, and crostinis.

Many of the recipes made use of fall flavors and vegetables such as pumpkin, cranberry, apples, and butternut squash. 

We hope that these recipes come in handy whenever you make appetizers during the fall season.