22 Party-Perfect Potato Appetizers

By

Mary Shannon Wells

Updated on November 1, 2023

Plate of mini potato skins on blue fabric — Photo:
Greg Dupree

We enjoy potatoes any time of day in any number of ways. Breakfast—hash browns and tater tots. Lunch and dinner—mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, potatoes tossed in a casserole or soup, French-fried, roasted, and so much more. Lucky for us, these amazing potato appetizers prove the humble potato's versatility even further. Whether you're hosting a dressy dinner party or a casual cookout, these potato appetizers will look the part. We've got recipes for sweet potatoes—like our Mini Sweet Potato Latkes—and classic russets. Old classics like potato skins and potato latkes meet up with new twists like Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries and Fried Mashed Potato Balls for all kinds of potato goodness. As if we needed another one, these incredible potato appetizers are reason enough to love the potato. These spuds are ready to party.

01 of 22

Homemade Potato Chips with Fried Herbs

Homemade Potato Chips with Fried Herbs — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

You may have never thought of potato chips as "elegant" before, but this recipe will make you reconsider. These chips fry up super thin and crispy with the essential help of a mandolin. Pair them with your favorite homemade dip for a party-time winner.

02 of 22

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Sweet potato crostinis offer more complex flavor than bread slices. The mix of tangy goat cheese, sweet honey, and chopped toasted pecans is the ideal blend of sweet and savory. Parboil the potatoes first for tenderness, then stick them under the broiler to develop a golden brown hue.

03 of 22

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

fried mashed potato balls — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

If you love mashed potatoes at dinnertime, just wait until you see them transformed into a poppable appetizer. Full of Cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives, these crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside balls will delight everyone who eats them.

04 of 22

Smashed Potatoes

Southern Living Smashed Potatoes on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Technically a side dish, these smashed potatoes will get snapped up if you serve them at a party. You can leave keep it simple and season with salt and pepper, or add a sprinkle of herbs. If you want to go all out, add a drizzle of sauce and a sprinkle of cheese.

05 of 22

Sweet Potato And Chorizo Sausage Bites

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Sausage balls are a favorite appetizer at Southern events, and this recipe takes them to the next (incredibly delicious) level. Mixing mashed sweet potato into the dough adds a bit of sweetness alongside the peppery bite of chorizo. Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, a dash of cinnamon, and a few scoops of plum jelly give this sausage ball recipe multiple layers of savory flavor.

06 of 22

Mini Sweet Potato Latkes

Mini Sweet Potato Latkes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

We put a twist on the traditional Hannukah appetizer that's so good, we wouldn't blame you for serving these latkes all year round. Good-for-you sweet potatoes stand in for classic russets in this mini appetizer that's served with sour cream or crème fraiche and scallions.

07 of 22

Deviled Potatoes

Deviled Potatoes — Hector Sanchez

Combine two Southern classics—deviled eggs and potato salad—in these mini wonders. Petite red potatoes serve as the base of the dish. The adorable taters are filled with a mixture of potato, sour cream, capers, parsley, dill, mustard, and lemon zest.

08 of 22

Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes With Queso Blanco Dip

Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip — Iain Bagwell

Crispy potatoes, bacon, and creamy cheese dip—this appetizer has the trifecta of crowd-pleasing ingredients that could be a winner at your next tailgate party. Keep the queso blanco warm in a fondue pot or small slow cooker.

09 of 22

Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits With Pulled Pork And Slaw

Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This recipe takes humble barbecue ingredients and elevates them to fancy finger food territory. Make our Sweet Potato Biscuits in the morning, baking a double batch so you can enjoy some with breakfast. The mini biscuits freeze beautifully, so you can also make them ahead.

10 of 22

Potato Latkes

Potato Latkes — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

This classic latke recipe is as good as it gets. Stick to this basic recipe from Atlanta chef Todd Ginsberg to start and offer guests fun topping options—sour cream and applesauce included, of course.

11 of 22

Sweet Potato Chips

Sweet Potato Chips — Photo: Jennifer Davick

For a personal touch, make homemade sweet potato chips to serve with your favorite dips. The secret to crisp sweet potato chips is to fry them in small batches, in peanut oil, at a low temperature. Store in an airtight container after they cool completely.

12 of 22

Potato-Crusted Pizza

Potato-Crusted Pizza Recipe — Photo: Hector Sanchez

Frozen shredded potatoes make a delicious crust for this easy, five-ingredient flatbread pizza recipe. Slice the pizza into three-bite pieces for guests. Make several with various toppings for a fun presentation.

13 of 22

Salt-And-Pepper Oven Fries

Salt-and-Pepper Oven Fries — Jennifer Davick

For a casual cookout or tailgate, there's no appetizer more kid-friendly than good ole French fries. We've also provided several variations to make things fun for the grownups: Italian Oven Fries, Barbecue Oven Fries, Jerk Oven Fries, and Southwest Oven Fries.

14 of 22

Cheesy Potato Croquettes

Cheesy Potato Croquettes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Potatoes and cheese are two of our favorite things, especially when they're fried. With three types of cheese melted into every bite, these croquettes are the appetizer that will have your guests requesting seconds.

15 of 22

From-Scratch Oven Fries

From-Scratch Oven Fries — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Your guests will be so impressed when they find out these perfectly crisp fries didn't come from a bag. The secret? Arrange them on a wire rack so they cook to golden brown on all sides.

16 of 22

Crispy Sweet Potato-Green Onion Cakes

Cast-Iron Salsa Recipe — Hector Sanchez

These spicy potato cakes are a delicious appetizer for fiesta night at your house. Serve them with a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of lime as a crunchy appetizer or a dish to accompany a main dish from the grill.

17 of 22

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries — Photography, and Food Styling: Karen Rankin

The air fryer is the key to crispy sweet potato fries without an oily mess—and they're healthier, too. Sprinkle them with flaky sea salt after frying. Our Test Kitchen recommends pairing these with a curry powder-mayo sauce.

18 of 22

Andrew's Potato Latkes

Andrew’s Potato Latkes — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

If you've never made homemade latkes yourself, this recipe from writer Kelly Alexander's husband Andrew is the no-fuss place to start. He uses a spiralizer to make these curly and crispy latkes. You need just a few ingredients you probably have on hand already.

19 of 22

Herbed Potato Stacks

Herbed Potato Stacks - Southern Living — HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER; FOOD STYLING: WILLIAM SMITH

Just like our Test Kitchen, your guests will rave when they see and taste this mini appetizer that's easier to make than you'd think. A mandoline is key for getting extra thin, consistent slices from russet potatoes. They are coated in a butter-herb mixture, then stacked in muffin cups.

20 of 22

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapés

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Who knew the humble potato chip could look like this? Set out this easy appetizer at your next dinner party for a fun surprise. Store-bought smoked salmon is layered onto crisp kettle-cooked potato chips and topped with creme fraiche, capers, lemon zest, and chives.

21 of 22

Sweet Potato Muffins

Sweet Potato Muffins — Micah A. Leal

These sweet and spicy muffins make a delicious appetizer for brunch or a tasty mid-afternoon snack. They would be a hit at a holiday potluck, too. Use your mini muffin pan if you want to make them bite-size.

22 of 22

Mini Potato Skins

Plate of mini potato skins on blue fabric — Greg Dupree

These crispy potato skins are party-perfect with bacon, cheddar, sour cream, and green onions. They're great for any cool weather event from football season to New Year's Eve. While we use the traditional toppings, you can customize your toppings however you like.

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