Your Cart is Empty
Party planning takes a lot of work. You’ve got to figure out who’s coming and when they’re arriving, you’ve got to prepare the party venue and arrange for entertainment, and, of course, you need to get some delicious food ready.
No one’s having a good time on an empty stomach, after all.
Looking to keep your party-goers fed without breaking your back (or your budget)? We at Grandma Jones’ Pepper Jelly have decided to a share a list of some our favorite easy appetizer ideas. Try one of these simple but scrumptious recipes and your guests are sure to be impressed.
You can’t beat a classic, especially not when they’re as quick and easy to prepare as chips and dip. Obviously, you could go the store-bought route and just lay out a bag of potato and corn chips alongside a fresh jar of salsa. No muss, no fuss.
Personally, though, we like flexing our creative muscles by baking pita triangles to make our own “chips,” then pairing that with a homemade buffalo wing dip or maybe some sweet ‘n’ spicy Cranberry Habanero Jelly Dip.
Looking for something more sweet than salty? Candied nuts are a great option! All you need is a frying pan, some pecans and walnuts, a few household ingredients: nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut sugar, and a dash of cayenne pepper to provide a nice bite.
In less than fifteen minutes, you’ll have a crunchy, flavorful snack that guests won’t be able to stop scooping up handfuls of. Best of all? They’re surprisingly healthy, low in unhealthy fats and high in protein.
No, we’re not talking about the frozen, breaded, deep-fried jalapeno poppers you can order at any hometown bar. We’re talking aboutreal jalapeno poppers made with fresh ingredients for an out-of-this-world taste.
Simply cut some jalapenos in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and stuff them with a mix of cream cheese and shredded cheddar. Wrap each pepper half up with a little bacon, then sprinkle with brown sugar, and finally bake them in the oven, and when you’re finished, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing appetizer that blends spicy, sweet, and savory together. Hmm, that flavor combo sounds familiar.
Need something small and easy-to-make that nevertheless packs a whole lot of flavor? Homemade meatballs glazed with teriyaki sauce are a must-try for hungry carnivores. Pro-Tip: Try mixing some veal into your ground beef for a tasty punch, or go healthy by using ground turkey instead!
Alternatively, you could dip your meatballs in store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce instead of teriyaki. If you decide to make your own sauce, consider adding a dash of Southwestern Chipotle Pepper Jelly to add some smoky sweetness to the flavor profile.
What could be easier to prepare than a kebab? All you need to do is assemble a bunch of different ingredients: beef cubes, chunks of chicken, shrimp, and a variety of sliced vegetables. Then you can let your party-goers pick their favorites, stick them on a skewer, and roast them over a grill or an open flame.
The cool thing about mini-kebabs is that they’re not just satisfying to eat, they’re also fun to make. In that way, throwing an event with kebabs as an appetizer crosses two things of your party-prep is at the same time: foodand entertainment!
Some people call charcuterie the equivalent of “Lunchables for grown-ups” and while that definitely undersells what charcuterie really is, it does at least capture the ease and straightforward simplicity that makes a charcuterie platter so perfect for parties.
To put together a perfect charcuterie board, it’s important to cater to different tastes. That means offering a wide variety of meats, cheeses, veggies, and dips, which all balance each other out. The tart sweetness of Pomegranate Pepper Jelly, for example, goes great with savory smoked cheddar.
It’s cheesy. It’s garlicky. It’s delicious. And, best of all, it’s the ultimate finger food! It’s pull-apart bread and it’s surprisingly easy to make. Don’t worry, you don’t have to bake your own bread (although if you know how, go for it). All you need is a baguette, a clove of fresh garlic, your favorite seasonings, one stick of melted butter, and some mozzarella and fontina cheese.
Start by cutting the baguette in a crosshatch pattern, then brush the baguette with your mixture of butter and spices. Next, stuff each crosshatch section with equal parts mozzarella and fontina, then wrap the whole thing in tin foil and put it in the oven for about 20 minutes. When it’s done, you’ll have a crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside garlic-bread variation that your party-goers won’t soon forget.
Yes, you read that correctly: raviolipops. What could be better than a plate of crispy ‘n’ crunchy but soft-in-the-middle fried ravioli? How about those same ravioli taken off the plate and put on the end of a stick!
Just like that, a batch of ravioli can go from a couple of plates’ worth of entrees to an entire party’s worth of appetizers. Include multiple heated sauces, from marinara to alfredo, to give your guests a mouth-watering selection, or fire up the ol’ fondue pot for a decadently, cheesy delight.
If you’ve ever tried to keep friends or family members out of the kitchen during a holiday, you know there’s nothing that draws the attention of hungry eaters more than a fresh batch of deviled eggs. You’ll be lucky if you can make them fast enough to meet demand!
To make deviled eggs, first, you need to make hard-boiled eggs. After that, carefully remove the shells, then cut each egg in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the yolks and whip them in a bowl with mayo, mustard, and cayenne pepper. If you really want to emphasize the “devil” part, try mixing a dollop of our spicy Habanero Pepper Jelly. When you’re done, spoon the fluffy mixture back into the eggs and serve.
Sometimes, the best appetizer options are the most customizable ones. The great thing about pinwheels is that you can make them with just about anything. Roll some cold cuts up with lettuce and tomato for a deli-style delight, or try scrambled eggs and hash browns for an anytime-breakfast.
Roll your wrap up nice and tight, then slice them into little sushi-like pieces. The colorful spirals that result aren’t just pretty to look at; they’re delectable, too!
Whether it’s a black-tie dinner party or a game-day potluck, there’s no get-together that can’t be made better with a jar of Pepper Jelly. From appetizers to savory entrees and even desserts, if you’re wondering how to use pepper jelly, know that you’re limited only by your imagination.
Spread it on toast or crackers! Use it as a dip or marinade! Cook with it! Bake with it! Eat it right out of the jar!
Whatever you choose, we’re sure that you’ll love Grandma Jones’ Pepper Jelly. Try it and see!