We love a good snack, especially when we need something fast for an impromptu co*cktail party, game day, movie night, or any afternoon that deserves a little something special. You can always make a dip in just minutes, but we have options for even heartier options, from a quick Grilled Shrimp co*cktail to Caviar Waffle Bites. Scroll on for more quick snack recipes you can make for any occasion (or no occasion at all).
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Smoked Salmon Dip
This creamy, smoky dip features flaky smoked salmon two ways: half is finely chopped to add a pleasant texture to the dip alongside briny pops of capers, and the rest is pureed with the mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese, lending its beautiful color and deepening the flavor. Fresh dill and chives keep the dip light while lemon juice adds brightness and keeps the dip perfectly scoopable — no broken chips here.
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Buffalo and Blue Cheese Popcorn
Get the spicy, buttery, cheesy flavor of buffalo wings in this quick and easy popcorn recipe perfect for Super Bowl or other game day parties.
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Masala Mixed Nuts
Maneet Chauhan's mix of fried peanuts, cashews, almonds, and walnuts is seasoned with a mix of spices, including mild Kashmiri chile powder and garam masala.
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Stilton-Stuffed Pickled Peppers
Two high-impact ingredients — funky Stilton cheese and pickled sweet or spicy peppers — come together to form the ultimate one-bite snack. Pickled peppers, like spicy peperoncini and mild Peppadew, are packed with enough flavor to stand up against strong cheeses. You can use most blue cheeses here, including Gorgonzola and Roquefort.
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Chivda
This Diwali favorite is packed with flavor, crunch, and pure snacking pleasure. Enjoyed year-round, it's a next-level snack mix of poha (flattened rice flakes), roasted chickpeas, shredded coconut, seeds and spices, and more tasty tidbits that you can keep in a jar and serve whenever anyone stops by.
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Classic Pimiento Cheese
Serve this classic cheese spread with crackers, crostini, or celery.
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Grilled Shrimp co*cktail with Fresh Tomato co*cktail Sauce
Give shrimp co*cktail a seasonal, smoky upgrade with this recipe, an ideal appetizer for warm weather dinner parties and cookouts.
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Parmesan-Panko-Crusted Baked Zucchini
Mild and tender zucchini are richly flavored with breadcrumbs and cheese for a dish worthy of a party — or just a one-pan weeknight dinner.
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Feta-Stuffed Marinated Olives
These briny olives get kissed with fragrant za'atar and its notes of thyme, marjoram, sumac, and sesame seeds. Lemon, chile, and parsley balance the rich, herbaceous flavors, adding a bright freshness to this easy, bite-sized snack option.
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Caviar Waffle Bites
Instead of serving blini alongside a tin of caviar, Justin Chapple makes these adorable handheld snacks. Waffles are cut into strips, and the pockets are filled with caviar, crème fraîche, and snipped chives to form the perfect pop-in-your-mouth morsel.
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Taiwanese Sesame Cucumbers
This quick pickle was inspired by Japanese cucumbers dressed in sesame oil, salt, and sesame seeds. Pastry chef Joanne Chang and her mother created the recipe together, and it's historically been a customer favorite at Myers + Chang in Boston.
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Crab-and-Avocado Toasts
Chef Gerard Craft grew up in Washington, D.C., eating lots of Maryland blue crab. Here, he creates a very simple, delicious, and quick snack by tossing sweet crabmeat with fresh mint and lime juice, then spooning it over mashed avocado on toast. You can make the toasts or buy store-bought ones to save time.
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Ginger-Miso Sweet Pea Spread
As a dairy-free alternative to creamy dips, the recipe here calls for pureeing sweet peas with scallions, ginger, and jalapeño, then seasoning the mix with yellow miso. Serve the spread with different kinds of crackers and breads or sugar snap peas and celery for dipping.
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’Nduja Toasts with Quick-Pickled Celery
Store-bought ’nduja, the spicy, spreadable sausage, is transformed into a special canapé when served on toasted baguette and topped with a quick-pickled celery.
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Cheese Croustades
A dollop of sweet-tart cranberry relish hides at the center of the goat cheese and ricotta mousse for a burst of flavor. Garnish with fresh, oniony chives or tart lemon zest for some color and brightness.
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