The Best Store-Bought Party Appetizers

Tom Schierlitz

Are your guests feeling peckish? Silence the squawking with these store-bought snacks—Real Simple’s favorites from more than 150 sampled.

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Best Spinach Pie

Tom Schierlitz

Whole Kitchen Spanakopita
Extra-delicate layers of phyllo and a distinct touch of dill set this Greek classic apart. Kudos for the Feta-packed filling.

To buy: $6.50 for 12 pieces, Whole Foods Markets.

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Room-Temperature Snacks

Tom Schierlitz

Best Nut Mix

Sahale Snacks Nut Blend Soledad Almonds
Save the picked-over peanuts and cashews for some other Thursday. Thanksgiving calls for this sophisticated, warmly spiced blend of almonds, dried apples, and flaxseed.

To buy: $5 for a 5-ounce bag, at supermarkets.

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Best Spread

Tom Schierlitz

Va-Va Home Made Lutenica
Allow us to introduce you to this traditional Eastern Mediterranean relish: a sweet-and-spicy combo of red peppers, tomatoes, and carrots that’s delicious on toasted baguette slices.

To buy: $7 for a 19.4-ounce jar, at gourmet stores and some supermarkets.

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Best Stuffed Olives

Tom Schierlitz

Divina Green Olives Stuffed With Feta
Move over, pimientos. Loaded with salty Feta, these meaty oversize Halkidiki olives are perfect for popping in your mouth—or martini glass.

To buy: $7 for a 12-ounce jar, at supermarkets.

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Best Marinated Vegetables

Tom Schierlitz

Williams-Sonoma Hand-Packed Mushrooms in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Gourmet mushrooms in a lively thyme-infused marinade catapult this offering, best served with toothpicks, far ahead of its soggy competition. Worth every penny.

To buy: $29 for a 21-ounce jar, at select Williams-Sonoma stores and williams-sonoma.com.

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Best Cheese Straws

Tom Schierlitz

Stonewall Kitchen Chipotle Cheddar Cheese Straws
Like Grandma’s, but with a spicy blast of chipotle, paprika, and cayenne. Addiction factor: scarily high.

To buy: $6.50 for a 5-ounce box, at gourmet stores and some supermarkets.

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Heat-and-Serve Snacks

Tom Schierlitz

Best Mini Quiches

Nancy’s Petite Quiche
Nancy does well by Lorraine: Think smoky bacon, Swiss cheese, fresh chives, and fluffy eggs, all tucked into a delicate crust.

To buy: $4.50 for 12 pieces, at supermarkets.

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Best Crab Bites

Tom Schierlitz

Goodwives Hors D’Oeuvres Crab Puff Pastry
Pockets of tender pastry filled with a rich mixture of Atlantic crab, cream cheese, and curry. These will be pinched in no time.

To buy: $9 for 10 pieces, at gourmet stores and some supermarkets.

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Best Pigs in a Blanket

Tom Schierlitz

The Perfect Bite Co. Haute Dogs in a Blanket
Tasters went wee, wee, wee all the way back for seconds (and thirds). The bite-size sausages have that quintessential frankfurter snap.

To buy: $12.50 for 10 pieces, at gourmet stores and some supermarkets.

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Best Cheese Bites

Tom Schierlitz

Safeway Select Caramelized Onion & Gorgonzola Pastry Puffs
These flaky tartlets pair luscious blue cheese with sweet golden onions. (Virtuous? No. Delicious? Yesss! ) They’re mess-free, too: They bake in their own oven-safe tray.

To buy: $6 for 12 pieces, Safeway and Vons.

See all Daily Finds from this month

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10 Best Store-Bought Party Appetizers

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Best Spinach Pie

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Room-Temperature Snacks

Best Nut Mix

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Best Spread

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Best Stuffed Olives

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Best Marinated Vegetables

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Best Cheese Straws

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Heat-and-Serve Snacks

Best Mini Quiches

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Best Crab Bites

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Best Pigs in a Blanket

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Best Cheese Bites

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10 Best Store-Bought Party Appetizers

1 of 10

Best Spinach Pie

1 of 10

2 of 10

Room-Temperature Snacks

Best Nut Mix

2 of 10

3 of 10

Best Spread

3 of 10

4 of 10

Best Stuffed Olives

4 of 10

5 of 10

Best Marinated Vegetables

5 of 10

6 of 10

Best Cheese Straws

6 of 10

7 of 10

Heat-and-Serve Snacks

Best Mini Quiches

7 of 10

8 of 10

Best Crab Bites

8 of 10

9 of 10

Best Pigs in a Blanket

9 of 10

10 of 10

Best Cheese Bites

10 of 10

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