46 Memorial Day Appetizers To Feed A Crowd

These snacks will keep your guests occupied while the meats are on the grill.

By

Updated on May 22, 2024

Southern Living Tomato-Sandwich Toasts — Photo:
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

These Memorial Day appetizers will keep your guests occupied while the meats are on the grill. From veggie kabobs to tarts, dips, and bites, we have you covered with plenty of appetizer recipes for your Memorial Day get-together. These recipes are so good, your guests may even forget about the rest of the meal. (That is, until they smell the barbecue on the grill. One whiff of that, and they're sure to be hungry again.)

We have Memorial Day snacks for everyone, even kids, picky eaters, and those with allergies, so take a look and start planning your menu today. You can feed a crowd with these delicious app ideas, all of which are easy enough to whip up the morning before the party.

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Cucumber-And-Onion Dip

Southern Living Cucumber-And-Onion Dip in a bowl to serve with chips beside — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

A cucumber and onion salad is a summer staple, so we decided to take those same flavors and turn them into a delectable dip bound to get the party started.

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Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges

Southern Living Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges on a blue platter to serve — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Dress up wedges of juicy melon with one of the South's favorite condiments: pepper sauce!

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Pimiento Cheese Flatbread

Southern Living Pimento Cheese Flatbread on a board to serve with extra pimento cheese — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This recipe transforms store-bought pizza dough into a delectable pimiento cheese-flavored flatbread that your guests will not be able to get enough of.

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Baked Brie With Jezebel Peaches

Bake Brie With Jezebel Peaches — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Just as peaches begin to arrive at the grocery store and farmers' markets, snag a few to make the jammy topping on this gorgeous baked Brie.

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Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar Recipe — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

We love a good dip, especially a no-cook one like Texas Caviar. It requires a little bit of chopping, but it's well worth it.

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Caesar Salad Bites

Caesar Salad Bites — Photo: Jennifer Davick/Prop Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell/Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Caesar salad is more of a sit-down dinner dish rather than backyard barbecue kind of thing, but prepared like this, the salad becomes the perfect finger food for a wide variety of occasions.

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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Recipe — HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: LYDIA PURSELL; FOOD STYLING: TONI BROGAN

Basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella is a match made in heaven. In this caprese salad, we use sweet cherry tomatoes in a wide range of shapes and colors for a prettier presentation.

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Charred-Vegetable Guacamole

Southern Living Charred-Vegetable Guacamole in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

For added flame-grilled flavor and texture, we load this guacamole with a bunch of charred veggies.

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Old Bay Rémoulade with Crudités and Shrimp

Old Bay RÃ©moulade with CruditÃ©s and Shrimp — Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Old Bay is the magic ingredient that takes a classic remoulade to the next level. (And happens to go wonderfully with shrimp.)

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Sweet And Fiery Pepper Bruschetta

Southern Living Sweet and Fiery Pepper Bruschetta on a platter to serve with a glass of beer — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning

Not all bruschetta have tomatoes. Here, we use sweet and spicy peppers as the star of the show instead.

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Deviled Crab Dip

Southern Living Deviled Crab Dip in serving bowl — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Loaded with 8 ounces of fresh jumbo lump crabmeat, this dip doesn't skimp on the good stuff.

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Veggie Tray

veggie tray — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A classic Veggie Tray is a hit at any party, any time of year.

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Conecuh Sausage Pigs In Blankets

Southern Living Fancy Pigs in Blankets on a plate to serve with sauce — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

Our Southern spin on this beloved appetizer uses Conecuh Sausage instead of plain old hot dogs.

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Pesto Deviled Eggs

Southern Living Pesto Deviled Eggs on a platter to serve garnished with more basil — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

For a pop of fresh flavor, we use pesto in these lovely green deviled eggs.

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Think of these mini sandwiches as baby BLTs. Just make sure to use the ripest of tomatoes.

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Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken Wings

Southern Living Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken Wings — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Sweet, spicy, and sticky, we can't think of a better way to dress wings than with pepper jelly.

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Taco Dip

Southern Living Taco Dip adding the lettuce and pico de gallo layers — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe is everything you love about tacos rolled into a loaded dip perfect for scooping up on warm tortilla chips.

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Jalapeño Popper Dip

jalapeno popper dip — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Skip individually stuffing peppers and make this large format dip loaded with all the same flavor instead.

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Copycat Publix Buffalo Chicken Dip

Southern Living Cold Buffalo Chicken Dip in a bowl to serve with carrot and celery sticks, chips, crackers, and glasses of beer — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Sure, you could always buy this dip from our favorite Southern grocery store, but we think our homemade version is just as delicious (if not more!).

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Mango-Black Bean Salsa

Southern Living Mango Black Bean Salsa in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips on the side — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Brighten up the barbecue with this sweet and spicy salsa featuring a pop of color from fresh, ripe mango.

21 of 46

Creamy Corn Jalapeño Poppers

Southern Living Creamy Corn JalapeÃ±o Poppers on a blue platter to serve — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning

These are not your traditional jalapeño poppers. Filled with fresh corn, miso, and lots of scallions, these poppers are bursting with fresh flavor.

22 of 46

Creamy Avocado Dip

Creamy Avocado Dip — Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

If you want take a break from making your famous guacamole, try this creamy avocado dip instead. It's made with sour cream, cilantro, and an entire jalapeño.

23 of 46

Peach Salsa

Peach Salsa — Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Make the most of peach season by whipping up a fresh salsa with sweet, freshly cut produce. It can be served alongside chips or on its own.

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Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce

Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

While the grill is firing up, throw on some peppers for a quick snack before the main meal. Your guests won't be able to get enough of this dijon dipping sauce.

25 of 46

Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini

Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Crostini is an easy-to-serve appetizer, and this recipe is a go-to for any summer celebration. Think of it as a bite of spicy sweet goodness with a crunch!

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Creamy Crab Dip

Creamy Crab Dip Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Nothing says the beach like a creamy crab dip. Pair this favorite dish with celery and crackers.

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Spinach-Artichoke Dips — Caitlin Bensel

When in doubt, go with a tried-and-true spinach and artichoke dip. It's a classic for a reason.

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Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese

Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Pepper jelly and cream cheese are a match made in Southern heaven. Add shrimp and seasoned crackers for a summer appetizer that is easy to serve.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Depending on the size of your crowd, you may want to double this recipe (which can be done easily) because we guarantee they'll disappear quickly.

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Roasted Artichokes With Creamy Garlic Dipping Sauce

Southern Living Roasted Artichokes with Creamy Garlic Dipping Sauce — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Roasted artichokes are a light, refreshing appetizer that won't take away from the main meal. Plus, this creamy garlic sauce has all the flavor you need.

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Tomato-Sandwich Toasts

Southern Living Tomato-Sandwich Toasts — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

This recipe has everything you love about a good Southern tomato sandwich packaged into a bite-size appetizer.

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Party Cheese Ball

party cheese ball — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

What is a party without a cheese ball? Copy this crowd-favorite and display alongside fresh veggies and your favorite crackers.

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Cucumber Salsa

cucumber salsa — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

For a light take on traditional salsa, consider this cucumber variation. It is perfect for snacking in warm weather!

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Five-Alarm Firecracker Saltines

Five-Alarm Firecracker Saltines — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

This is an appetizer crowds love no matter the occasion. Leave out a fresh batch before dinner, and even whip up some extra for snacking all weekend if you plan on having house guests.

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Pizza Pepper Poppers

Pizza Pepper Poppers — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Think of this as a pizza without the dough. The pepper base makes these extra flavorful—plus, they come together in just 30 minutes.

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Cheddar Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Cheddar cheese straws are a welcome addition to any holiday table, trust us.

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Party Poppers

Party Poppers — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Your guests will be snacking on these stuffed, bacon-wrapped poppers all afternoon (and requesting them at every other get-together this summer).

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Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip — Photo: Greg Dupree

When feeding a crowd, go for vibrant, party-pleasing dips.

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Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs

Southern Living Tex Mex Deviled Eggs on a blue surface — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Memorial Day and deviled eggs go together like peas and carrots.

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Herbed Tomato Tart

Herbed Tomato Tart — Becky Luigart Stayner

Slices of tomatoes and a scattering of herbs make this tart a lovely seasonal addition to your appetizer spread.

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Mini Caprese Bites

Mini Caprese Bites — William Dickey

Bursting grape tomatoes make a perfect app for a backyard party.

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Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers — Jennifer Davick

Keep your apps fresh and flavorful with juicy melon, delicious prosciutto, and creamy mozzarella.

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Chunky Guacamole

Chunky Guacamole — Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

It’s the ultimate summertime dip. Serve alongside salsa and chips for a no-fail app.

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Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

smoky black eyed pea hummus — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Gather your favorite seasonal veggies for a flavorful spread.

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Classic Pimiento Cheese

Southern Living Basic Pimento Cheese in a bowl to serve with crackers and vegetables — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

You can’t go wrong with classic Southern pimiento cheese and toasts.

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Deviled Potatoes

Deviled Potatoes — Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

If you love deviled eggs, meet the deviled potato. This recipe tastes exactly what it sounds like—deviled egg mixed with potato salad. Yum!

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