15 Winter Appetizers with 5 Ingredients or Less

Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll
Photo: Jamie Vespa, M.S., R.D.

You’ll want to make these appetizers this winter and every season afterwards. Whether it’s for a holiday get-together or simply for snacking, these dishes are the epitome of simple but flavorful. Plus, they take just five ingredients or less to make (not including oil, salt and pepper), so you can hone in on the taste of delicious, comforting ingredients like puff pastry, cranberries and beets. Recipes like our Sweet Potato Chips and Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll are the perfect bites for keeping you warm and satisfied.

01 of 15

3-Ingredient Blue Cheese & Fig Bites

3-ingredient blue cheese & fig bites

Salty-tangy blue cheese pairs beautifully with sweet fig jam in these easy appetizers, which are perfect for a holiday party. The optional minced chives add a nice pop of color, but these are just as tasty without herbs. Keep the ingredients on hand and you can whip these up for impromptu holiday cocktail parties.

02 of 15

Baked Brie with Jam in Puff Pastry

brie and apples on a plate

This best baked Brie recipe is also the easiest. Serve this decadent yet simple appetizer with apple wedges and crackers and watch it disappear in seconds! It's bound to be your new party go-to.

03 of 15

Sweet Potato Chips

Homemade Sweet Potato Chips

Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch!

04 of 15

Lemon, Mint & White Bean Dip

a recipe photo of the Lemon, Mint & White Bean Dip

CookingLight

This quick, healthy dip is an easy appetizer or snack. If you don't have cannellini beans, chickpeas work just as well. Serve this tasty dip alongside veggies, crackers, pita or pretzels.

05 of 15

3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites

3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites

Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.

06 of 15

Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll

Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll
Jamie Vespa, M.S., R.D.

Buttery puff pastry is a tasty shortcut ingredient that can be used in many delicious ways. Here we roll out a pastry sheet and cover it with fig jam and crumbled goat cheese, then roll it up into a log and bake it. The end result is a sweet-and-savory appetizer that looks and tastes impressive, especially considering it has just three ingredients.

07 of 15

Beet Chips

Beet Chips

Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the beets extra-thin for the optimum crunch!

08 of 15

Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry

a recipe photo of the Cranberry Brie Bites with Puff Pastries served on a platter
Sara Haas

Festive for any holiday gathering, yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner party, these cranberry-Brie bites are the perfect appetizer. Made with just three ingredients, these bites come together quickly and present beautifully.

09 of 15

Roasted Pears with Prosciutto

roasted pears with prosciutto

This 3-ingredient finger food is the perfect classy appetizer for your next party. It's so simple to make yet so elegant and delicious. Finishing with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar makes the flavors pop and takes this easy app to the next level.

10 of 15

Air-Fryer Kale Chips

Air-Fryer Kale Chips

Homemade kale chips are incredibly easy to make. Thanks to the air fryer, fresh kale leaves turn extra crispy in under 15 minutes with much less fat than some store-bought options. Warning: These will go fast!

11 of 15

Smashed Mushrooms with Pesto & Burrata

a recipe photo of the Smashed Mushrooms with Pesto and Burrata
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Skyler Myers, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Smashing the mushrooms increases their surface area, maximizing caramelization under the broiler. Creamy burrata cheese complements the tangy pesto drizzle. Refrigerated pesto, or homemade pesto if you have it, lends the best flavors. For a twist, swap out the basil pesto for sun-dried tomato pesto.

12 of 15

Cheddar-Apple Cracker Bites

a recipe photo of the Cheddar-Apple Cracker Bites

This easy recipe comes together in just 5 minutes, making it a quick snack or appetizer. The sweetness of the Fuji balances well with the cheddar, but you can use another variety of apple if you prefer. This recipe calls for 3 thin apple slices per cracker, but feel free to use just one if you’re craving a more cheesy bite.

13 of 15

Microwave Potato Chips

Microwave Potato Chips

You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilà! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips.

14 of 15

Roasted Pears with Brie & Pistachios

Roasted Pears with Brie & Pistachios

Roasted pears with Brie and pistachios is delicious as a first course or a side with roast pork or lamb. Leave the stems on for the prettiest presentation.

15 of 15

Cream Cheese Dip and Crackers

Cream Cheese Dip and Crackers

Sneaking green peppers into this quick fresh dip supplies added vitamin C.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles