Healthy Recipes Appetizers 16 Winter Appetizers So Cozy, You'll Want to Eat Them for Dinner By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 25, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player These appetizers are the ultimate comfort food. From tasty bites made with seasonal veggies like beets, broccoli and sweet potatoes to loaded, cheesy dips that are too delicious to put down, these recipes are so good, you’ll want to eat them for dinner. Make our Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts or Baked Spaghetti Squash Fritters for a flavorful appetizer you’ll want to make again and again. 01 of 16 Easy Stuffed Mushrooms This healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright decadent, but these easy stuffed mushrooms are actually good for you. View Recipe 02 of 16 Yogurt with Beets (Borani Chogondar) Borani, a Middle Eastern yogurt dip, can be made with anything from spinach to eggplant to carrots. This recipe gets its shockingly pink color from grated beets. Make it ahead--the longer it sits, the better it tastes. Read more about this recipe. View Recipe 03 of 16 Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This festive whipped feta dip is the perfect appetizer for any gathering. If the feta seems too thick, add 1 teaspoon water at a time until loosened. Walnuts provide a nice crunchiness, but you could easily swap in another nut like pecans or pistachios. If you have leftover cranberry sauce, try a dollop in some yogurt or oatmeal for an easy breakfast. View Recipe 04 of 16 Baked Spaghetti Squash Fritters These crispy loaded fritters are perfect for parties. Baking them instead of frying cuts down on labor (and oil splatters). Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid out of the spaghetti squash and onion mixture as possible--moisture is the enemy of crispiness. View Recipe 05 of 16 Baked Broccoli-Cheddar Quinoa Bites Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Jennifer Wendorf / Kay Clarke These savory muffin-like quinoa bites are low in carbs and a good source of protein--plus we love their cheesy flavor. View Recipe 06 of 16 Pumpkin Kibbeh (Kebbet Laa'tin) "Kibbeh" describes dishes made with bulgur, onions and spices. That mixture is combined with everything from tomatoes to goat. It's layered and baked, shaped into balls or footballs, stuffed, deep-fried or eaten raw. This vegetarian kibbeh recipe is made with pumpkin and stuffed with seasoned greens. Sorrel adds a lemony flavor, but you can use chard or kale and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the filling. Use fine bulgur or the texture of the dough will be gritty. View Recipe 07 of 16 Copycat Trader Joe's Caramelized Onion Dip Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This savory caramelized onion dip features fresh sweet onion, cooked until sweet and golden and combined with Greek-style yogurt, sour cream and cream cheese for added body. Serve this copycat dip with fresh, crispy veggies, pretzel chips or classic potato chips to please a crowd. View Recipe 08 of 16 Loaded Sweet Potato Nacho Fries Bump up the vitamin A and fiber when you swap tortilla chips for sweet potatoes in this healthy recipe. Serve as an appetizer at your next party or turn it into dinner by adding chicken, tofu, shrimp or more beans for protein. View Recipe 09 of 16 Slow-Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip This creamy, crowd-pleasing dip comes together with ease in your crock pot. Leave it in the slow cooker all party long to keep it warm for serving with perfect, melty cheese in every bite. View Recipe 10 of 16 Pomegranate, Cranberry & Brie Bruschetta Make this simple festive appetizer for your holiday guests. Toasted baguette slices with creamy, melted brie are topped with an orange-cranberry-pomegranate mixture--each bite delivers an explosion of flavor and texture! View Recipe 11 of 16 Crispy Smashed Loaded Potatoes Victor Protasio These crispy smashed loaded potatoes have all the features of your favorite baked potatoes but with an extra-crispy texture. Serve this easy appetizer at your next potluck or game-day gathering. View Recipe 12 of 16 Butternut Squash Queso Fundido This cheesy dip recipe is lightened up by subbing mashed butternut squash for some of the melted cheese. We also loaded it with chili-spiced caramelized onions. Serve this healthy makeover with tortilla chips or sliced jicama for dipping. View Recipe 13 of 16 Winter Charcuterie Board A cheeseboard is an ideal stationary hors d'oeuvre for holiday entertaining. Select a variety of cheeses, making sure to include an aged variety, a creamy cheese, a blue cheese and perhaps a smoked cheese. Round out the platter with cold cuts, bread, an abundance of seasonal fruits, dried fruit, crudité, nuts and olives. We even included some dark chocolate to cap it off! View Recipe 14 of 16 Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry 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. View Recipe 15 of 16 Sweet Potato Hummus Casey Barber Roasted sweet potato adds earthy sweetness to hummus and gives it an even creamier, smoother texture. Use pimentón, or Spanish smoked paprika, for a hint of fire-grilled flavor, or use sweet paprika for a more subtle spice. View Recipe 16 of 16 Baked Brie with Jam in Puff Pastry This best baked Brie recipe is also the easiest. Serve this simple appetizer with apple wedges and crackers and watch it disappear in seconds! It's bound to be your new party go-to. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit