40 Yummy Vegetarian Appetizers

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These delicious vegetarian appetizers will wow your guests! They are flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Grab your drink… and get ready to enjoy the party!

Published on March 2023/Updated on November 2024

Top view of crostini with whipped ricotta, pine nuts and honey over a grey background,

If you’re hosting a get-together or looking for a dish to bring to one, these easy veggie appetizers are delicious, easy to make in large batches, and sure to please a hungry crowd.

I love to serve them whenever I’m entertaining also because they are all affordable, super flexible, and short-ingredient-list recipes.

Nothing fancy, nothing too complicated, only simple staples and big flavor.

Fresh vegetables, artisanal bread, canned legumes, and fresh cheese are turned into colourful, fun, and delicious vegetarian finger food.

And my family and friends love them!

We have crispy crostini, bruschetta, and a topping galore. Slice up some baguette or ciabatta and toast in the oven until crispy. And for the scrumptious topping, the options are endless!

Next, we have focaccia, an amazing savoury flatbread flavoured with fruity olive oil and topped with dried or fresh herbs, sea salt, olives, cherry tomatoes and basil. Feel free to get creative with these fantastic focaccia toppings.

I love focaccia because it can be made ahead of time following my super simple no-knead recipe and reheated in the oven when it’s time to serve. It’s economical and perfect for sharing, like these incredible mini pizzas!

Finally, no party is complete without dips! Whip up a batch of colourful hummus made with chickpeas or peas and a lot of spices. Try scrumptious sun-dried tomato paste or olive tapenade, or go for more indulgent, whipped ricotta, fresh mint yogurt, or delicious cream cheese dip. They all are perfect with pita bread, tortilla chips, and crudités.

We also have caprese skewers, marinated mozzarella, and spicy olives ready in minutes, which are the perfect options if you are short on time. You can also enjoy carrot fritters, crispy zucchini bites, or butternut squash fritters.

No matter which vegetarian appetizer recipe you choose, these ideas will surely please your guests. They’re also economical without compromising on flavour and nutrition.

I LOVE them, and I hope you will, too!

Vegetarian Appetizers

Loved these vegetarian appetizer ideas?

Great! I have easier appetizer recipes that are perfect for parties and special occasions. These include big, fancy salads or pizza recipes, perfect for making a veggie pizza appetizer that works well when you have kids.

Here are more of my favs:

Whether you plan an epic holiday gathering, potlucks, or any other special reunion, I hope some of these easy vegetarian appetizer recipes will be on your menu! : )

Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions; I would love to hear from you. 

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40 Vegetarian Appetizers

Ready in about 15 minutes, this whipped ricotta crostini recipe makes a wonderful and easy holiday appetizer that's elegant, indulgent and sweet. 
Recipe yields to 1 cup of whipped ricotta that is enough for about 26 crostini.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: ricotta crostini
Servings: 26 crostini
Calories: 45kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 26 baguette or ciabatta, slices
  • ½ – 1 tablespoon olive oil, for brushing the bread, as needed
  • 1 cup (250 grams)  whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 2-3 tablespoons clear runny honey, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon pine nuts (or 2 Tbsps chopped walnuts or pistachios)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • sea salt flakes, to taste

Instructions

  • Slices the baguette, cut 0.5cm / 1/4-inch thick, ideally on the diagonal.
  • Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F. Alternatively, preheat a grill pan on the stove.
  • Place the bread slices on a baking sheet, and spray or lightly brush them with some olive oil, than bake (or grill) for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden and crispy. Set aside.
  • Whip the ricotta in a food processor until smooth and creamy. It takes 1-2 minutes. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, in airtight container.
  • When it's time to serve, spread the whipped ricotta on crostini, drizzle with a touch of honey, sprinkle with thyme leaves, pine nuts and a pinch of salt. Arrange the crostini on a serving plate and serve straight away. Alternatively, place everything on a serving plate and let the guests make their own crostini.

Notes

How to store ricotta crostini? Firstly, keep in mind that ricotta crostini won’t keep well in the fridge since the ricotta will make the bread soggy. However, if you’re planning to make them ahead, you can make whipped ricotta and keep in the fridge in airtight container for 3 days. Also crostini keep well in airtight container, not in the fridge, for 3 days. Once you have these ingredients ready, you can assemble ricotta crostini when it’s time to serve. 
Baguette or ciabatta: you need approx 6 oz/170 grams overall.
Nutrition facts: the nutrition values are for one serving and they are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate only and it should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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