13 Cheesy Baked Appetizers for Parties & Game Day

Nothing disappears from a party table faster than something hot, bubbly, and loaded with cheese. These baked appetizers are made for sharing.

From classic dips to pull-apart breads and crispy bites, these 13 cheesy appetizers are guaranteed crowd-pleasers for game day, holidays, and every gathering in between.

Below you’ll find 13 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

The ultimate party dip: creamy, garlicky, and bubbling with three kinds of cheese.

Ingredients

• 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, chopped
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, spinach, and artichokes in a bowl.
3. Fold in mozzarella and Parmesan; spread into a baking dish.
4. Bake 25 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
5. Rest 5 minutes, then serve warm with tortilla chips.

2. Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

A crusty loaf stuffed with garlic butter and mozzarella, baked until gloriously melty.

Ingredients

• 1 large sourdough boule
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Cut the loaf in a crosshatch pattern without cutting through.
2. Stir garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning into the melted butter.
3. Drizzle butter into the cuts and stuff with mozzarella and Parmesan.
4. Wrap in foil and bake 15 minutes.
5. Unwrap and bake 10 more minutes until the cheese is bubbly; serve warm.

3. Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Crispy, oven-baked mozzarella sticks with a golden panko crust and marinara for dunking.

Ingredients

• 12 mozzarella string cheeses
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

Instructions

1. Freeze the string cheeses 1 hour so they hold their shape.
2. Heat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet.
3. Coat each stick in flour, then egg, then seasoned panko; repeat for a double crust.
4. Arrange on the sheet and bake 8-10 minutes until golden.
5. Serve immediately with warm marinara.

4. Hot Crab Dip

Lump crab folded into a rich, Old Bay-spiced cheese dip, baked until golden.

Ingredients

• 8 oz lump crabmeat, picked over
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Baguette slices, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, Old Bay, and lemon juice until smooth.
3. Fold in crab, cheddar, Parmesan, and green onions.
4. Spread into a baking dish and bake 20-25 minutes until bubbly.
5. Serve hot with toasted baguette slices.

5. Baked Brie with Honey & Pecans

A whole brie wheel baked until molten, topped with honey, pecans, and thyme.

Ingredients

• 1 wheel (8 oz) brie
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 1 egg, beaten
• Crackers, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Wrap the brie in puff pastry, sealing the edges.
2. Brush with beaten egg and place seam-side down on a lined sheet.
3. Bake 20-25 minutes until deeply golden.
4. Drizzle with honey and top with pecans and thyme.
5. Serve warm with crackers for spreading.

6. Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushroom caps packed with a savory cream cheese and Parmesan filling, baked until golden.

Ingredients

• 24 large white mushrooms
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove stems and chop them finely.
2. Sauté chopped stems with garlic in olive oil 4 minutes.
3. Mix with cream cheese, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, and pepper flakes.
4. Fill each cap generously and arrange on a baking sheet.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes until golden and bubbling.

7. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Shredded buffalo chicken in a tangy, creamy cheese dip — the game day legend.

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, divided
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Celery sticks and chips, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Stir cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch until smooth.
3. Fold in chicken and 1 cup cheddar; spread into a baking dish.
4. Top with remaining cheddar and bake 20 minutes until bubbly.
5. Sprinkle with green onions and serve with celery and chips.

8. Baked Queso Fundido

Sizzling Mexican melted cheese with chorizo, peppers, and warm flour tortillas.

Ingredients

• 8 oz Mexican chorizo
• 1 lb Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 poblano pepper, diced
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• Warm flour tortillas
• Chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Brown the chorizo in an oven-safe skillet 5 minutes.
2. Add poblano, onion, and cumin; cook 4 minutes more.
3. Top evenly with shredded cheese.
4. Bake 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
5. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with warm tortillas.

9. Cheesy Jalapeño Poppers

Bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with a creamy three-cheese filling.

Ingredients

• 12 large jalapeños
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 12 slices bacon, halved

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Halve jalapeños lengthwise and remove seeds.
2. Mix cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, and garlic powder.
3. Fill each half and wrap with a half-slice of bacon; secure with toothpicks.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until the bacon is crisp.
5. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

10. Baked Pimento Cheese Dip

Southern-style pimento cheese served warm and bubbly with buttery crackers.

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 jar (4 oz) diced pimentos, drained
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• Buttery crackers, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix all ingredients until well combined.
3. Spread into a small baking dish.
4. Bake 20 minutes until hot and bubbly at the edges.
5. Serve warm with buttery crackers.

11. Cheesy Baked Meatballs

Juicy Italian meatballs baked in marinara under a blanket of melted mozzarella.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
• Fresh basil

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Mix beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, and garlic.
2. Roll into 16 meatballs and arrange in a baking dish.
3. Pour marinara around (not over) the meatballs.
4. Bake 20 minutes, then top with mozzarella.
5. Bake 10 more minutes until the cheese melts; garnish with basil.

12. Baked Feta & Tomato Dip

A block of feta baked with burst cherry tomatoes, olives, and olive oil.

Ingredients

• 1 block (8 oz) feta
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1/3 cup Kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Crusty bread, for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Place feta in the center of a baking dish.
2. Surround with tomatoes, olives, and garlic; drizzle with olive oil.
3. Sprinkle with oregano.
4. Bake 25 minutes until the tomatoes burst and feta softens.
5. Mash lightly and serve warm with crusty bread.

13. Cheesy Garlic Knots

Soft baked knots brushed with garlic butter and showered with Parmesan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb pizza dough
• 4 tbsp butter, melted
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 cup marinara, warmed

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Divide dough into 12 ropes and tie each into a knot.
2. Arrange on a greased baking sheet.
3. Bake 14-16 minutes until golden.
4. Toss hot knots with garlic butter, Parmesan, and parsley.
5. Serve with warm marinara for dipping.

Love these 13 cheesy baked appetizers? Pin this roundup for later and explore more easy recipes at simplymealful.us.