10 Simple 5-Ingredient Appetizers for Easy Entertaining

Five ingredients, zero stress — these simple appetizers prove that easy entertaining is the best entertaining. Minimal shopping, maximum compliments.

Below you’ll find 10 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Brie & Fig Jam Crostini

Creamy brie and sweet fig jam on crispy crostini.

Ingredients

• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1 lb brie, sliced
• 1/2 cup fig jam
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet.
3. Top each with brie and a dollop of fig jam.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes until brie melts.
5. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle thyme.

2. Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese Dates

Sweet, salty, and utterly addictive.

Ingredients

• 1 lb bacon
• 20 Medjool dates, pitted
• 4 oz blue cheese
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• toothpicks

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Stuff each date with blue cheese.
3. Wrap in half a bacon slice; secure with a toothpick.
4. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes until bacon is crisp.

3. Pepperoni Pizza Bites

Flaky, cheesy pizza bites in minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 can (8 oz) crescent dough
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup mini pepperoni
• 1/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Unroll crescent dough; cut into 12 squares.
3. Top each with marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
4. Pinch edges to seal.
5. Bake 12-14 minutes; sprinkle with seasoning.

4. 5-Ingredient Guacamole Dip

Creamy guac with a zesty salsa shortcut.

Ingredients

• 2 avocados
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 lime, juiced
• tortilla chips to serve

Instructions

1. Mash avocados in a bowl.
2. Stir in salsa, sour cream, and lime juice.
3. Season to taste.
4. Chill 15 minutes for flavors to meld.
5. Serve with tortilla chips.

5. Sweet & Tangy Cocktail Sausages

The retro party classic everyone secretly loves.

Ingredients

• 1 lb cocktail sausages
• 1/2 cup grape jelly
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Combine jelly, BBQ sauce, mustard, and brown sugar in a skillet.
2. Add sausages and stir to coat.
3. Simmer 15 minutes until glazed.
4. Keep warm in a slow cooker.
5. Serve with toothpicks.

6. Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball

A crowd-pleasing cheese ball with smoky bacon.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup bacon bits
• 1/4 cup green onions
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers

Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese until smooth.
2. Mix in cheddar, half the bacon, and green onions.
3. Shape into a ball; wrap and chill 1 hour.
4. Roll in remaining bacon bits.
5. Serve with Ritz crackers.

7. Garlic Shrimp al Ajillo

Sizzling garlic shrimp in olive oil.

Ingredients

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• crusty bread to serve

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high.
2. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute.
3. Add shrimp; cook 2-3 minutes until pink.
4. Serve immediately with crusty bread for sopping up the oil.

8. Creamy White Bean Hummus

Silky 5-ingredient hummus in 5 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) white beans
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove
• pita chips to serve

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse the beans.
2. Blend beans, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic until silky.
3. Add water 1 tbsp at a time if needed.
4. Season to taste.
5. Drizzle with olive oil; serve with pita chips.

9. Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

Gooey baked brie wrapped in golden pastry.

Ingredients

• 1 wheel brie (8 oz)
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1/4 cup apricot jam
• 1 egg, beaten
• crackers to serve

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Spread jam on the brie.
3. Wrap in puff pastry; seal edges.
4. Brush with beaten egg.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes until deep golden.

10. Caprese Skewers

Fresh, colorful, and ready in 10 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh mozzarella balls
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup basil leaves
• 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
• skewers

Instructions

1. Thread mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil onto skewers.
2. Arrange on a platter.
3. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5. Serve immediately.