• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Appetizers
  • Pasta
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Vegan
  • Oven baked
  • Sweets
  • Recipe collections
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    The clever meal
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
      • Appetizers
      • Pasta & Grains
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Vegan
      • Oven-baked
      • Sweets
      • Collections
    • About

    FOR FREE WEEKLY RECIPES!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    20 Yummy Vegetarian Appetizers

    Mar 15, 2023 by Katia · Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

    Top view of four different vegetarian appetizers.

    These scrumptious vegetarian appetizers will wow your guests! They are absolutely delicious, easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd.

    Grab your drink… and get ready to enjoy the party!

    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 not only delicious, but also 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.

    Veggies, artisanal bread, canned legumes, fresh cheese are turned into vegetarian finger food that is colourful, fun, and delicious.

    And my family and friends just love them!

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

    Next, we have focaccia, an amazing savory flatbread that can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven. Top with herbs and sea salt, olives, cherry tomatoes, or get creative with these amazing focaccia toppings. This fluffy bread is economical and so easy to serve.

    Finally, no party is complete without dips! Whip up a batch of creamy hummus or tzatziki to serve with pita chips and crudités. Or, try scrumptious sun dried tomato paste, olive tapenade, or go for more indulgent whipped ricotta and delicious cream cheese dips.

    And then we have caprese skewers, marinated mozzarella, and spicy olives ready in minutes and perfect if you are short on time!

    No matter which vegetarian appetizer recipe you choose, these options are sure to please your guests, economical, but without compromising on flavor and nutrition.

    I LOVE them, and I hope you will too!

    Vegetarian Appetizers

    1

    5-INGREDIENT CARROT FRITTERS

    It’s impossible to tire of crispy patties fresh from the oven, they're so crispy and delicious. We also love this appetizer recipe because it uses only 5 inexpensive ingredients, it's easy to whip up in 30 minutes, and great to use up plenty of carrots. How clever is that?

    2

    Focaccia with Tomatoes

    I know everyone is going to love this focaccia with cherry tomatoes. It's the ultimate comfort food, perfectly soft and chewy and full of juicy tomatoes and fruity olive oil. It's also economical and easy, make a double batch, cut it into bite-size pieces, and share with a happy crowd!

    3

    Beet Hummus

    You’re going to be dipping everything into this creamy delightful beet hummus. It makes a quick vegetarian appetizer ready in 10 minutes, and it looks and tastes fabulous. It’s also healthy, packed with nutriets, and its vivid colours will bring life to any dining table.

    4

    Whipped Ricotta Crostini

    Everyone will love the oh-so creamy and fluffy ricotta on crispy bread drizzled with honey and aromatic thyme. Best part? These vegetarian crostini are ready in 15 minutes and make a wonderful appetizer that’s elegant, indulgent and so easy to make.

    5

    Spicy Olives

    What about juicy olives? In these recipe, the amazing, savory olives are flavoured with garlic, herbs and chili. They are a terrific make-ahead appetizer or finger food sure to please a crowd and economical too.

    6

    Crostini with Ricotta & Peas

    These delicious slices of bread are toasted until crispy and piled with creamy ricotta, tender peas, lemon zest and mint. They are full of fresh flavor and make a simple yet wonderful vegetarian appetizer ready in minutes!

    7

    Jalapeño Cream Cheese

    Soft, creamy and loaded with terrific flavours, this jalapeño cream cheese is always a huge hit and an absolute breeze to make in just 5 minutes. Serve it up with breadsticks, veggies, crackers or any of your favorite dippers. It's also economical and can be made in advance. Win win.

    8

    Breadsticks (grissini)

    These Italian breadsticks are not chewy and soft, but they’re long, thin, rustic, crispy AND truly delicious. Serve them with your cheese board, dips or olives, they make a fantastic addition to your appetizer platter and look so fancy. And they’re addictive too!

    9

    Sun Dried Tomato Paste

    This deicious sun dried tomato paste with its rich, piquant flavor is quick to make and a big crowd pleaser! Best of all, this easy recipe requires less than 10 minutes, 1 food processor (or a blender), and a handful of ingredients.

    10

    Smoky Beans on Toast

    Crunchy, smoky, garliky, these amazing scrumptious beans make a vegetarian bruschetta topping that is so easy to make and so delicious. It's also packed with plant-based protein.

    11

    Green Olive Tapenade

    Juicy green olives, sun dried tomatoes, herbs, garlic and extra virgin olive oil are blended together to create this delicious olive dip at a moment’s notice. It's absolutely a no-brainer, full of fresh flavor and terrific with crackers and toasted bread!

    12

    Bruschetta with Mozzarella

    Everyone will love this quick bruschetta with mozzarella that’s crispy, juicy and full of fresh flavor. It comes together in no time with a handful of good-quality ingredients, and it’s simple and oh-so delicious!

    13

    Super easy focaccia recipe

    It’s hard to resist the AMAZING smell of freshly baked focaccia! It's moist, chewy and packed with delicious hints of olive oil. It’s absolutely perfect for sharing and pairs beautifully with cheese and various vegetarian appetizers. Added bonus? The no-kead recipe is super easy!

    14

    Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese

    With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish is perfect for any party or gathering. It tastes delicious, wonderfully creamy, and it's great with tortilla chips and crispy pita bread. Make it ahead of time, it keeps very well in the fridge.

    15

    Marinated Mozzarella Balls

    Garlic, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, pepper and a little chilli combined with these baby mozzarella taste make a delightful vegetarian appetizer. It's so easy to make and full of flavor!

    16

    Chickpea Bruschetta with Sun Dried Tomatoes

    For this quick bruschetta recipe, rub your toasted bread with a garlic clove and top with smashed chickpeas, yummy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh parsley, and good extra virgin olive oil. Trust me, this flavor-packed easy appetizer is sure to be a hit!

    17

    Mint Yogurt Sauce

    Dips are always a hit at parties and this easy yogurt mint sauce is a no brainer, especially if you have fresh mint to use up. It's zippy, packed with bright flavor and tastes great with veggies, crackers and all your dippable favorites.

    18

    Caprese Salad Skewers

    This is one the easiest vegetarian appetizer recipes in my repertoire. Made with soft mozzarella cheese, ripe cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, these skewers are delightful, a breeze to put together, and they will be devoured in no time!

    19

    Roasted Carrot Hummus

    Another vibrant and creamy hummus recipe! The roasted carrots and the chickpeas bring color and an incredibly smooth texture that makes this hummus terrific for dipping. And it also happens to be healthy, gluten-free and vegetarian for you to enjoy!

    20

    Fried Mozzarella in Carrozza

    What about delicious gooey mozzarella cheese in every byte? This fried mozzarella sandwich, crisp on the outside and melted on the inside, is the kind of comfort food you eat with your hands, licking your fingertips. A gloriously cheesy treat perfect for sharing.

    21

    Herbed Whipped Ricotta

    This whipped ricotta is every ricotta lover’s dream come trues and ready in less than 5 minutes! It’s an easy breezy dip that is fluffy, creamy, full of flavor and great for entertaining.

    22

    Focaccia with Olives (Easy | No-Knead)

    Another great no-knead focaccia with golden oil-scented crust that is moist, packed with juicy olives, and delicious. It’s so good that you just can’t stop eating it, one of my favorite vegetarian appetizer recipes when we have friends over!

    23

    10-Minute Tzatziki

    This garlicky vegan tzatziki sauce calls for simple ingredients and it’s so versatile. It’s perfect for dipping or served with pita bread, falafels, olives, crudites, grilled vegetables, or canapés. It's so easy to make and keeps well in the fridge.

    Loved these vegetarian appetizers?

    Great! I have more recipes to share and perfect for a party and special occasions, including big fancy salads or pizza recipes perfect to make a veggie pizza appetizer that works so well when you feed also children.

    Here are more of my favs:

    • 50+ Vegan appetizers
    • 40 + Italian appetizers
    • 25 Dairy-free appetizers
    • 40+ Party food ideas

    Whether you plan an epic holiday gathering, potlucks or any other special reunion, I hope that some of these easy vegetarian appetiser 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. 

    And for more recipe updates, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

    Top view of several ricotta crostini drizzled with honey and sprinkled with pine nuts.
    Print Recipe

    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 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    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
    « Vegan Split Pea Soup
    Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese »

    JOIN MY NEWSLETTER FOR FREE WEEKLY RECIPES!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Katia! Welcome to my blog where I share easy, delicious, and budget-friendly recipes. I love cooking mainly vegetarian meals in no time at all. Minimum effort, maximum result. Read more…

    Keep in touch

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    JOIN MY NEWSLETTER FOR FREE WEEKLY RECIPES!

    search

    Trending now

    Creamy lemon ricotta pasta with spinach on a white plate.

    EASY LEMON RICOTTA PASTA & SPINACH

    Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil on a grey plate.

    SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL

    Five bowls of colorful weight loss soups over a white marble background.

    15+ HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS SOUPS (UNDER 200 CALORIES)

    Delicious cream cheese pasta served on a blue bowl with a fork.

    10-MINUTE CREAM CHEESE PASTA

    A top view of a white bowl full of white bean soup over a wooden background.

    THE BEST WHITE BEAN SOUP

    Four images showing four different healthy cakes.

    20 WHOLESOME & HEALTHY CAKE RECIPES

    Assortment of vegan appetizers on a black round tray.

    50 DELICIOUS AND EASY VEGAN APPETIZERS

    A knife cutting a healthy yogurt cake into slices over a white background.

    YOGURT CAKE (one-bowl)

    BROWSE RECIPES

    PASTA & GRAIN RECIPES

    SOUP RECIPES

    SALAD RECIPES

    VEGAN RECIPES

    OVEN-BAKED RECIPES

    SWEET RECIPES

    MEAL PREP RECIPES

    Copyright © 2018–2023 The clever Meal · All Right Reserved
    PRIVACY POLICY · FAQ · CONTACT ME