If you’re hosting a vegan New Year’s Eve party or planning to attend one as a guest, you’ll want a few go-to appetizer recipes for delicious vegan appetizers. From hummus dip to air-fried veggies and gluten-free zucchini pizza bites, there are plenty of plant-based appetizer recipes to choose from!
Hummus Crostini
If you are looking for vegan appetizers to serve at a party, this is a perfect recipe if you have the right vegan cooking supplies. It’s simple to make, has a great combination of flavors and textures, and will impress your guests.
A standard French baguette is sliced and lightly toasted on both sides to prepare this vegan crostini. This adds a nice crunch and helps the bread stay toasty when topped with ingredients. To save time, the baguette can be sliced and toasted in advance and kept at room temperature until you are ready to assemble. A delicious hummus is spread on each slice, topped with a sliver of grilled artichoke and a sprinkle of parsley. This makes a very light, refreshing appetizer that is also a beautiful presentation.
Another tasty and nutritious vegan appetizer is this avocado dip that’s flavored with Herbes de Provence, mint leaves, and a touch of lemon juice. It’s creamy, tangy, and just the right amount of spice to wake up your taste buds! It’s a great vegan alternative to tuna tartare.
These veggie bites are perfect for game day, family gatherings, and other special occasions. They are very easy to make and will definitely be a crowd-pleaser!
Stuffed mushrooms are a classic party appetizer that is a great addition to any menu. They are delicious and can be made with a variety of fillings. This recipe is for classic mushrooms stuffed with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, but there are other options like this sweet potato grain stuffed version or this pumpkin seed pesto-filled recipe.
Hasselback Potatoes
Imagine the marriage of a baked potato and a potato chip—that’s what these Hasselback potatoes are like! Thinly sliced and roasted until crispy, they’re a simple yet impressive side dish that will impress your guests. Hasselback potatoes look fancy, but they’re actually very easy to make.
This recipe, adapted from one served at Stockholm’s popular old Restaurant Hasselbacken, is a classic that’s perfect for special occasions and dinner parties. It’s also a deliciously comforting, vegetarian-friendly dinner.
The name Hasselback isn’t a reference to a particular type of potato (although some people mistakenly believe it’s named after the Stockholm restaurant). It refers to the technique used to prepare the dish—thinly slicing the potatoes not quite all the way through and then adding seasonings between each slice, which gives them an accordion-like appearance when baked. The slicing makes the potato crispy on the edges and soft and creamy in the middle. This recipe calls for a simple seasoning of butter, rosemary, and salt, but it’s easy to customize the flavors with your favorite herbs or fillings.
Use a sharp knife to slice each potato, not cutting all the way through. Then, brush each potato with cooking oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the potatoes in a baking dish, cover them with Parmesan cheese, and bake until golden.
If you want to save time, pre-slice the potatoes the day before. Keep them in a bowl of water and wrap them to prevent browning. Then, when ready to cook, follow the remainder of the recipe. You can also reheat these potatoes in the microwave, but they won’t have the same crisp texture.
Cauliflower Wings
These cauliflower wings are a vegan spin on traditional buffalo wings that will please any crowd. They’re also easy to make and healthier since they are baked instead of deep-fried.
Start by washing and cutting the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets. This recipe calls for a medium head of cauliflower. This will give you about 20-24 pieces after trimming. Next, you’ll want to mix the batter ingredients in a large mixing bowl. The key is to use gluten-free flour that’s made with all-purpose flour and tapioca flour, which helps with the crispy texture of the breading. A bit of garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper add flavor to the batter. Dairy-free milk blends with the other flours to create a wet batter that’s easy to coat the cauliflower.
Toss the cauliflower florets in the batter until well coated and transfer them to a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. It’s best to line the pan with parchment because it makes for easier cleanup and will keep the cauliflower from sticking. It’s also important to bake the cauliflower at a high temperature in order to get them as crispy as possible.
During baking, it’s important to flip the florets frequently to ensure that they cook evenly on all sides. Once the florets are cooked through, they’ll be super crispy and golden brown on the outside and white in the middle. To serve, simply pair the cauliflower wings with your favorite dipping sauce.
A tasty dipping sauce like this Creamy Ranch Dip is an excellent complement to the battered cauliflower’s tangy Buffalo Sauce and spicy flavors. This dip is dairy free, vegan, and contains no mayonnaise, so it’s a great choice for any meal or occasion.
Avocado Potato Bites
Whether you’re celebrating a special event or having friends over for a relaxing evening, these vegan appetizers will surely impress! With these recipes, you can create the perfect pairing of savory and sweet foods that everyone will enjoy. From hummus and dips to tartare and vegetable bites, these healthy appetizers are sure to please.
These avocado potato bites are a fun and healthy twist on classic fries! To make them, you simply slice sweet potatoes into thick rounds and bake them until tender. Then, top them with a creamy and crunchy avocado sauce. You can also add some herbs or spices to the avocado sauce for even more flavor if desired. These sweet and savory appetizers are perfect for snacking or as a party food, and they’re a healthier alternative to traditional French fries!
This grilled mushroom recipe is a great way to incorporate meatless appetizers into your parties. The recipe is easy and requires only a few ingredients, making it a great option for anyone who wants to avoid consuming animal products. The dish is also made with a tasty lemony oregano vegan meatball filling that is loaded with cooked lentils, walnuts, olives, and herbs for an extra meaty flavor!
Another healthy appetizer option is this vegan sweet potato tartare. It is simple to prepare and makes a beautiful centerpiece for a party table. The ingredients include a delicious homemade avocado dressing that is seasoned with sesame oil, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice for a zesty and tangy taste. You can also add red onion, watermelon radish, and sesame seeds to the tartare for a pop of color and extra crunchiness!
For a vegan take on the classic spinach artichoke dip, try this version that has no cheese but is full of herb-infused roasted vegetables and rich cashew sour cream. The combination of these ingredients is a delicious and nourishing treat that is perfect for dipping with tortilla chips.
Vegan Sausage Rolls
Vegan sausage rolls are an easy appetizer that you can make hours (or even days) in advance. Just be sure to leave them out to cool. This ensures that the filling doesn’t melt the pastry – which can happen when it’s added to warm ingredients. Using a store-bought puff pastry (such as Pepperidge Farm, which is accidentally vegan) means that these bite-sized snacks are a stress-free way to prepare an appetizer for your next party.
These vegetarian sausage rolls can be made with a variety of different fillings. The classic vegetarian sausage mix is fine, but if you’re looking for something healthier, try adding some cooked brown or green lentils and finely chopped mushrooms to the mixture. You can also make them with a more savory plant-based taco meat or use my tempeh sausage crumbles instead of beef for a super meaty option.
To serve, simply top each savory mini sausage with ketchup or your favorite barbecue sauce and enjoy! You could even serve these snacky treats with fries, a salad, coleslaw, or baked beans.
If you’re preparing these savory bite-sized snacks for a large crowd, you can double or triple the recipe and freeze the extra sausage rolls. The frozen bites can be reheated in the oven or air fryer, and you’ll find that they are just as delicious as fresh ones.
Whether you’re hosting a vegan party or you’re a newbie to the plant-based lifestyle, these easy appetizers are a great place to start. They’re sure to impress your guests and keep everyone satisfied until dinnertime!