Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 13 Make-Ahead Hors d'Oeuvres for Stress-Free Entertaining So you can kick back and enjoy the party along with your guests. By Kate Merker, Kate Merker Kate Merker is the chief food director at Hearst Magazines. She has over two decades of experience producing food content for print and digital publications, including Real Simple. Highlights: * At Real Simple, Kate worked her way up from editorial assistant to senior food editor * Served as food and nutrition director at Woman's Day for seven years * Joined Hearst Magazines as chief food director (2017) Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Sara Quessenberry, Sara Quessenberry Sara Quessenberry is a recipe developer, food stylist, and cookbook author with nearly two decades of experience in the culinary arts. She was a food stylist and recipe developer at Real Simple for five years. She's currently the food director at doitDelicious.com. Highlights: * Food director at doitDelicious.com * Collaborates with Jessica Seinfeld on recipes for her cookbooks and website * Wrote an award-winning cookbook, The Good Neighbor Cookbook Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a highly regarded food editor and content creator, sharing her knowledge on turkey basting, pizza making, and random food facts for dozens of nationally known brands. She has also been a market editor for over 10 years, highlighting exciting and new kitchen and home products. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 5, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Con Poulos The best hors d'oeuvres ideas don't require hours of prep work and sweating away in a kitchen while your guests enjoy each other's company. In fact, our favorite hors d'oeuvres recipes are ones you make ahead, pack away, and bring out just in time to plate and serve. Make-ahead hors d'oeuvres not only help you plan, strategize, and work in advance, they let you really enjoy the event you've worked so hard to bring together. Here, we assembled some quick and easy dishes, so you can pick and choose what fits your palate and preferences. These hors d'oeuvres ideas are centered around very specific entertaining dilemmas, like having no time to decorate or wanting to avoid doing a lot of dishes. (These one-pot recipes can also help you in the dishes department.) Get inspired to save time and wow your guests. 01 of 13 Creamy Smoked Fish Dip Make this hors d'oeuvre if you're short on time. In fact, you'll only need around 10 minutes to prepare this satisfying party dip. get the recipe 02 of 13 Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas Antonis Achilleos Skip the last-minute fussing with these ridiculously addictive stuffed pockets that can go from oven to serving platter with no additional day-of prep needed. All you need to do is prepare the empanadas the day before your party and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake. get the recipe 03 of 13 Bacon-Wrapped Apricots With Sage Con Poulos Talk about convenient―apricots swathed in bacon can be assembled days in advance, then cooked straight from the freezer. get the recipe 04 of 13 Caramelized Onion Tarts With Apples Con Poulos Want to look like a pro? Here, frozen puff pastry dough is spread with tangy crème fraîche and topped with a sweet and savory mix of onions and apples. There is minimal prep time because the recipe uses a pre-made puff pastry and just the right amount of toppings to make this dish quick and tasty. get the recipe 05 of 13 Goat Cheese Spread Dana Gallagher Some spreads (like this goat cheese spread) actually taste better when they've had a few days to sit and "meld." So feel encouraged that you should be making this recipe ahead and not on the day of the party. get the recipe 06 of 13 Rosemary Pecans Beatriz da Costa You can cook this nut mix up to a week in advance and keep it from-the-oven fresh in an airtight container stored at room temperature. get the recipe 07 of 13 Double Tomato Crostini Christopher Baker When entertaining a large crowd, sometimes simple is better (and faster). Crostini, a cocktail-party classic, gets an upgrade with a flavorful double tomato combination. get the recipe 08 of 13 Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney Con Poulos Add a surprising twist to a familiar favorite with this gooey grilled cheese that is refreshed with a dollop of fruit chutney. Fortunately, you can make this hors d'oeuvre in minutes during a casual get together. get the recipe 09 of 13 Orange-Chili Shrimp Cocktail David Prince Want to let the sauce shine? For an easy make-ahead hors d'oeuvres, thaw a few pounds of cooked peeled and deveined shrimp and partner the crowd-pleasing seafood bites with a stand-out orange-chili topping that can be made earlier in the day. get the recipe 10 of 13 Eggplant, Feta, and Lemon Tart Greg DuPree Remember, not everything needs to be served hot or cold to be delicious. Room-temp hors d'oeuvres that are baked in advance make the last-minute rush to assemble a non-factor. This tart can be cut into bite-sized pieces and served warm or at room temperature (and still be delicious either way). get the recipe 11 of 13 Chimichurri-Yogurt Dip Victor Protasio Aside from stirring in yogurt, herbs, and a few other ingredients, the magic of this dip is in the chimichurri. There's no need to waste time baking here. Just mix together the ingredients and serve with a side of lettuce and radishes. get the recipe 12 of 13 Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze Getty Images Vegetable and cheese trays can be assembled in advance—but try a classic flavor combination on a skewer for a playful twist. get the recipe 13 of 13 Chickpea and Mint Crostini Mikkel Vang To save time on this recipe, toast baguette slices in advance and store. Then mix the topping ingredients and set aside. The best part about this hors d'oeuvre idea is that you don't need to spend time topping the crostini. Leave the topping in a serving bowl for your guests to serve themselves. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit