20 of The Best Easy Vegan Appetizers - Options for Everyone

Crowd-pleasing, easy vegan appetizers with dips, finger food & small bites-perfect for your next party or game day.

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Planning a dinner party, New Year get-together, Memorial Day picnic or game day? This hand-picked collection of easy vegan appetizers brings you colourful dips, small bites and finger food that everyone loves-made with fresh ingredients, pantry staples and zero animal products. You'll find creamy dip ideas with vegan cream cheese and cashews, crunchy party snacks for tortilla chips and corn chips, and plant-based appetizers that showcase fresh veggies and herbs. If it's your first time hosting, these recipes are a great way to build a table that looks impressive without taking a lot of time.

About the ingredients

Almost everything here is available in UK supermarkets: tinned black beans and refried beans; jarred roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomatoes; hearts of palm (usually in the world foods aisle); nuts and seeds (cashews, sunflower seeds); and everyday herbs like green onions (spring onions), parsley and dill. Vegan cheese options-vegan cheddar cheese, vegan mayo and vegan sour cream-have come a long way and melt or whip beautifully. From a nutrition angle, beans and seeds go a long way to add protein and fibre, olive oil and nuts deliver satisfying healthy fats, and fresh vegetables pile on vitamins. Most dips keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days; a few are best served warm or at room temperature (notes below).

How To Make Easy Vegan Candied Nuts Recipe (Gluten-Free)

These easy vegan candied nuts are a delicious, healthy, and festive holiday treat. They're perfect for snacking or as a gift.

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Easy Gluten Free Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe

Discover the delectable world of plant-based snacking with our Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip! Quick, easy, and irresistibly creamy, this gluten-free and soy-free delight is perfect for any occasion. Elevate your taste buds with this under 30-minute savory sensation.

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Black Bean Dip Recipe (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Try this easy black bean dip recipe vegan style-a delicious appetizer packed with plant-based protein and robust flavor

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Vegan Homemade Roasted Red Pepper and Paprika Hummus

This vegan roasted red pepper and paprika hummus is a delicious twist on the original hummus recipe. It is just as easy to make, makes a delicious dip and is a really versatile healthy snack made from whole foods. So if you are bored of your traditional hummus, give this a go.

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Vegan Puff Pastry Pinwheels with Spinach and Broccoli

This easy vegan broccoli and spinach pinwheel recipe is a great way to get your kids involved in cooking. Roll up these simple, healthy ingredients for a nutritious and delicious meal.

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Cowboy Caviar (Black Bean & Corn Salsa)

Scoopable, zesty and perfect with tortilla chips; lime or lemon juice brightens everything. Add fresh tomatoes, bell peppers and coriander for a fantastic appetizer that feeds a crowd.

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The Best & Easiest Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ultra-creamy, cashew-based artichoke dip that bakes bubbly without dairy. Stir in a little nutritional yeast for extra "cheesy" depth. Serve warm with fresh veggies or toasted baguette.

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Vegan Seven Layer Dip

Layers of refried beans, guacamole, vegan sour cream, salsa, olives, lettuce and vegan cheddar cheese-the perfect vegan appetizer for game day. Great with corn chips.

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Vegan Jalapeño Popper Dip

Vegan Jalapeño Popper Dip - Crowd-pleasing, creamy dip with cashew base, jalapeños and dairy-free cheese; crunchy crumb top. A great appetizer that disappears fast.

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Fresh Spring Rolls + Dipping Sauce

Crisp fresh spring rolls stuffed with veg and herbs; dip in a delicious sauce. Light first course for a dinner party.

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Homemade Vegan Mozzarella Sticks

Melty inside, crisp outside-serve with marinara. There's also a spicy version with an air fryer option if you want less oil.

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Vegan Cheese Ball

Party-ready blend of cashews, vegan cream cheese, herbs and nutritional yeast-made in the food processor, rolled in nuts and dill. Try a cranberry-pecan crust for holidays.

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Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Baked, saucy florets with cooling vegan ranch; ideal party food for game day.

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Vegan Cocktail Meatballs with Healthy Chili Sauce

Juicy oven-baked meatballs (great warm in a slow cooker with marinara) for hearty finger food.

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Easy Vegan Jalapeno Poppers

Each bite consists of the heat from the tender jalapenos, somewhat tamed by the rich and creamy, 'cheesy' filling, with added crunch from the breadcrumb topping. 

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Hearts-of-Palm "Crab" Cakes

A little different and so good: flaky hearts of palm bound with breadcrumbs and vegan mayo; serve bite-size with lemon or lemon tahini sauce.

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Vegan Mushroom Duxelles Crostini Appetizer

Umami-rich and paté-like, this vegan mushroom duxelles is the perfect topper for golden crostini. Perfect warm or at room temperature, made with 10 ingredients, and it can be prepped up to 5 days ahead of time and kept in the fridge.

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Vegan Bruschetta

This simple yet impressive appetizer recipe takes under 10 mins to make and it's a classic that everyone loves. It's dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free and can be gluten-free (so covers the major allergies if you want to make this for friends or a get-together!)

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Rainbow Lentil Nachos

They are topped with lime-marinated watermelon radishes, colorful heirloom tomatoes, corn, guacamole, and an addicting chipotle nacho cheese.

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Eggplant Pizza

Eggplant pizza is a fun and easy recipe the whole family will love, thanks to their comforting familiar flavor and mouthwatering looks.
The eggplants are cut into discs, oven-roasted, and topped with a tasty tomato sauce and melty mozzarella. This recipe is a sure hit with picky adults and kids alike.

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Variations & substitutions

• Nut-free: Swap cashews for sunflower seeds in cheese ball, queso and creamy dips. Many recipes note this directly.
• Gluten-free: Use GF breadcrumbs for poppers/mozzarella sticks; serve dips with GF corn chips or crudités.
• Air fryer: Mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers crisp well in an air fryer (freeze coated sticks first so they hold).
• Flavour twists: Stir sun-dried tomatoes into the cheese ball; add fresh herbs (dill, chives) to bean dips; finish hummus with lemon juice and olive oil.

Serving suggestions & timing

• Mix hot and cold: put a creamy dip (artichoke, popper or street corn) next to bright options (cowboy caviar, white bean dip).
• Build a crunchy platter: fresh vegetables, carrot sticks, radishes, cucumber, celery and green onions (spring onions), plus toasted pitta and breadsticks.
• For first course service, pair fresh spring rolls or pinwheels with a simple salad and lemon tahini sauce.
• Hosting tips for a good time: plan 3-4 pieces per person per hour; keep one oven dish cycling while the cool dips stay at room temperature.

Whether you fancy vegan mozzarella sticks, vegan pizza pinwheels, or a mountain of vegan seven layer dip with tortilla chips, these easy vegan appetizers prove you can please the whole family with plant-based appetizers that feel classic, abundant and fun. Bookmark this list for your next party-and if you try something, tell me which vegan appetizer recipe was the perfect vegan appetizer for your crowd!

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