Scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram, you can’t help but feel your mouth watering as endless streams of delectable finger food photos fill your feed. From beautiful bite-sized canapés artfully arranged on wooden boards to dizzyingly tall skewers piled high with grilled meats and colorful veggies, these visually stunning recipes have an irresistible appeal.
You find yourself double-tapping on images of crispy avocado fries with fresh salsa, mini chicken and waffles dripping with maple syrup, and one-bite brownies that look almost too perfect to eat. What begins as a quick scroll inevitably turns into a deep dive into the worlds of foodie influencers and cooking blogs – rabbit holes filled with drool-worthy finger food inspiration.
As you virtually explore these culinary landscapes, you frantically save recipes, making mental notes of which ones to attempt at your next gathering. From elevated takes on childhood classics to creative fusions of global flavors, this collection of 25-finger foods represents the culmination of your Pinterest and Instagram voyages.
1. Deviled Eggs
Bold Flavor: Rich, creamy, savory with a hint of tang.
Ingredients: Hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, salt, pepper.
- Cook eggs until hard boiled, then peel and slice in half lengthwise
- Scoop out yolks into a bowl and mash with fork
- Mix in mayonnaise, mustard, and seasonings until smooth
- Spoon or pipe the yolk mixture back into the egg white halves
- Sprinkle with paprika
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving
Cook Time: 20 minutes
2. Caprese Skewers
Fresh, bright, herbal with creamy mozzarella.
Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, fresh basil leaves, balsamic glaze.
- Thread cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves onto skewers
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze
- Can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated
Cook Time: 10 minutes
3. Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Sweet, salty, smoky, crispy bacon exterior.
Ingredients: Medjool dates, goat cheese or cream cheese, bacon.
- Slice dates lengthwise and remove pits
- Stuff with a teaspoon of goat/cream cheese
- Wrap each stuffed date with 1/2 slice bacon
- Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until bacon is crispy
- Drain on paper towels and let cool slightly before serving
Cook Time: 20 minutes
4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Taste: Warm, creamy, cheesy with tangy artichoke flavor.
Ingredients: Frozen spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, seasonings.
- Thaw and drain frozen spinach, squeezing out excess moisture
- Chop artichoke hearts
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayo until smooth
- Stir in parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, salt, pepper
- Fold in spinach and artichokes
- Spread into a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 20-25 mins until hot and bubbly
- Serve warm with tortilla chips, bread or veggie dippers
Cook Time: 30 minutes
5. Bruschetta
Fresh, bright, herbal with tangy tomato and crispy bread.
Ingredients: Tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, French bread baguette.
- Dice tomatoes and place in a bowl
- Chiffonade the basil and mince the garlic, add to tomatoes
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic, adding salt and pepper to taste
- Allow to marinate for 30 mins for flavors to blend
- Slice the baguette into 1/2″ thick rounds and toast or grill until crispy
- Top each toasted bread with a spoonful of the tomato mixture
Cook Time: 40 minutes
6. Coconut Shrimp
Crispy, sweet coconut exterior with tender shrimp inside.
Ingredients: Shrimp, shredded coconut, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, sweet chili sauce.
- Dredge peeled and deveined shrimp in seasoned flour
- Dip in beaten eggs
- Roll shrimp in combined coconut and panko crumbs to fully coat
- Fry shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown
- Drain on paper towel-lined plate
- Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping
Cook Time: 25 minutes
7. Meatballs (Italian Style)
Hearty, savory, herbed meat with tangy marinara sauce.
Ingredients: Ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, olive oil, marinara sauce.
- In a bowl, mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper until well combined
- Form into 1-inch meatballs
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown meatballs on all sides
- Transfer browned meatballs to a pot with marinara sauce
- Simmer for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to blend
- Serve warm with toothpicks for easy eating, extra marinara on the side
Cook Time: 45 minutes
8. Stuffed Mushrooms
Earthy mushroom caps with savory, cheesy herbed stuffing.
Ingredients: Large mushrooms, cream cheese, parmesan, garlic, parsley, panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, pepper.
- Remove stems from mushroom caps and chop stems finely
- Mix chopped stems with cream cheese, parmesan, garlic, parsley, panko and seasonings
- Stuff caps generously with the cheesy mixture
- Arrange stuffed caps on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil
- Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until tops are golden
Cook Time: 30 minutes
9. Loaded Potato Skins
Bold Flavor: Crispy potato shell with a decadent bacon, cheese, sour cream filling. Ingredients: Russet potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, seasoned salt.
- Bake russet potatoes at 400°F for 1 hour or until fork tender
- Allow to cool slightly, then cut in half lengthwise
- Scoop out potato flesh, leaving a 1/4″ shell
- Brush insides of shells with olive oil and season with salt
- Bake shells again at 400°F for 7 minutes to crisp up
- Cook bacon until crispy, then crumble
- Fill shells with crumbled bacon, cheddar, sour cream, green onions
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
10. Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce
Taste: Crispy exterior with sweet, delicate crab meat interior. Tangy remoulade sauce.
Ingredients: Lump crab meat, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon, Old Bay seasoning, parsley, olive oil. For remoulade – mayo, mustard, capers, lemon juice, hot sauce.
- In a bowl, mix together crab meat, panko, egg, mayo, Dijon, lemon juice, Old Bay, parsley and salt/pepper
- Form into patties, about 3″ wide
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat
- Cook crab cakes for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown
- For remoulade, mix together mayo, mustard, capers, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt/pepper
- Serve crab cakes warm with remoulade sauce on the side
Cook Time: 30 minutes
11. Beef Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce
Savory grilled beef with bright, herbaceous chimichurri sauce.
Ingredients: Sirloin steak, olive oil, salt, pepper. For chimichurri – parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes.
- Cut sirloin into 1-inch cubes and thread onto skewers
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper
- Grill for 2-3 minutes per side for medium-rare
- For chimichurri, finely chop parsley and garlic
- Mix with olive oil, vinegar, oregano, red pepper, salt to make a sauce
- Serve beef skewers with chimichurri sauce for dipping
Cook Time: 25 minutes
12. Arancini (Fried Risotto Balls)
Taste: Creamy risotto center with crispy fried breadcrumb coating.
Ingredients: Cooked risotto, eggs, flour, panko breadcrumbs, mozzarella, marinara for dipping.
- Allow cooked risotto to cool and chill in the fridge
- Use a scoop or hands to form chilled risotto into balls
- Make a well in each ball and stuff with a cube of mozzarella
- Roll the balls first in flour, then eggs, then panko crumbs to coat
- Fry arancini balls for 2-3 minutes until golden brown
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate
- Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping
Cook Time: 40 minutes
13. Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki Sauce
Taste: Crispy, savory fritters with bright, herby tzatziki dipping sauce
Ingredients: Zucchini, eggs, flour, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic, dill. For tzatziki – Greek yogurt, cucumber, lemon, dill, garlic.
- Grate zucchini onto a clean dish towel and squeeze out excess moisture
- In a bowl, mix zucchini with eggs, flour, panko, parmesan, garlic, dill, salt and pepper
- Scoop heaping tablespoons of batter and flatten into patties
- Fry fritters for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown
- For tzatziki, grate cucumber and mix with yogurt, lemon, dill, garlic, salt
- Serve zucchini fritters warm with cool tzatziki sauce for dipping
Cook Time: 30 minutes
14. Chicken or Beef Empanadas
Taste: Flaky pastry crust around seasoned meat filling.
Ingredients: Pie dough, ground chicken or beef, onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, olives, egg wash.
- Cook ground meat with diced onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper
- Stir in sliced green olives
- Roll out pie dough into circles and place a spoonful of filling on one side
- Fold dough over into a half-moon shape and crimp edges with a fork
- Brush empanadas with an egg wash
- Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown
Cook Time: 1 hour
15. Fruit Skewers with Honey Yogurt Dip
Taste: Sweet, juicy fruit with tangy honey yogurt sauce.
Ingredients: Assorted fruit like strawberries, pineapple, melon, grapes, Greek yogurt, honey.
- Cut fruit into 1-inch chunks
- Thread pieces onto skewers, alternating between fruit types
- In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey to taste
- Serve fruit skewers with the honey yogurt dip on the side
Cook Time: 15 minutes
16. Baked Brie with Cranberry Compote
Taste: Warm, gooey, creamy baked brie with sweet-tart cranberry topping.
Ingredients: Wheel of brie cheese, frozen cranberries, orange juice, honey, cinnamon, crackers or baguette slices.
- In a saucepan, combine frozen cranberries, orange juice, honey and cinnamon
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until cranberries burst and sauce thickens
- Let cranberry compote cool slightly
- Place the whole wheel of brie on a baking sheet
- Use a knife to score the top rind of the brie in a diamond pattern
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until slightly softened
- Remove from oven and top with the cranberry compote
- Serve warm with crackers or toasted baguette slices for spreading
Cook Time: 40 minutes
17. Veggie Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Taste: Refreshing, crunchy veggie filling in delicate rice paper wraps. Rich, nutty peanut sauce.
Ingredients: Rice paper wrappers, shredded carrots, cucumber, avocado, lettuce, mint. For sauce – peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic.
- Fill a pie plate or shallow dish with warm water
- Dip one rice paper wrapper in the water to quickly soften it
- Layer shredded veggies, avocado, mint across the lower third of the wrapper
- Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll up the spring roll
- For sauce, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic
- Serve spring rolls with peanut sauce for dipping
Cook Time: 25 minutes
18. Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Taste: Crispy, buttery bread with melty cheese filling. Nostalgic comfort food.
Ingredients: Bread slices, butter, cheddar or other melting cheese.
- Lay bread slices out and butter one side of each
- Top unbuttered sides with cheese slices
- Grill sandwiches butter-side down first until lightly golden
- Flip and grill the second side until cheese is melted
- Slice into quarters or “fingers” for mini size
- Optionally add sliced tomatoes, bacon or pesto between cheese layers
Cook Time: 15 minutes
19. Jalapeño Poppers
Taste: Creamy, cheesy filling with a kick of heat from jalapeños, crispy breadcrumb exterior.
Ingredients: Jalapeños, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, eggs, flour, panko breadcrumbs.
- Slice jalapeños in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds/membranes
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, paprika, salt
- Stuff the jalapeño halves generously with the cheesy mixture
- Set up a dredging station with flour, beaten eggs, and panko crumbs
- Dredge stuffed jalapeños in flour, egg, then panko to fully coat
- Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until golden
Cook Time: 30 minutes
20. Pigs in a Blanket
Taste: Savory pork sausages wrapped in buttery, flaky pastry dough.
Ingredients: Puff pastry or crescent roll dough, lil’ smoked sausages or hot dogs, egg wash, sesame or poppy seeds.
- If using puff pastry, roll out and cut into thin strips
- If crescent rolls, separate into triangles and roll slightly to thin
- Wrap each strip tightly around a sausage, sealing the seam
- Arrange wrapped “pigs” on a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with seeds if desired
- Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until pastry is golden brown
Cook Time: 25 minutes
21. Cheese Straws
Taste: Buttery, flaky, savory straws with sharp cheddar cheese flavor.
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, butter, shredded cheddar, cayenne pepper, salt, ice water.
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour, butter, cheddar, cayenne and salt until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Add ice water a tablespoon at a time and pulse until dough just comes together
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly into a disk
- Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into thin strips
- Twist each strip and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown
- Let cool slightly before serving
Cook Time: 30 minutes
22. Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
Taste: Skewers of tender, chargrilled chicken with a rich, creamy peanut dipping sauce.
Ingredients: Chicken breasts, soy sauce, brown sugar, curry powder, vegetable oil. For sauce – peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, crushed peanuts.
- Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes and thread onto skewers
- Make a marinade of soy sauce, brown sugar, curry powder, oil; coat skewers
- Grill skewers for 3-4 minutes per side until chicken is cooked through
- For sauce, blend peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar
- Transfer sauce to a saucepan and heat until warmed through
- Garnish with crushed peanuts and serve satay skewers with peanut sauce
Cook Time: 40 minutes
23. Bacon-Wrapped Lil’ Smokies
Taste: Smoky, savory, salty little sausages wrapped in crispy bacon.
Ingredients: Lil’ Smokies/mini smoked sausages, bacon slices, brown sugar, chili powder.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
- Cut each bacon slice into thirds.
- Wrap each lil’ smokie tightly with a piece of bacon in a spiral pattern, securing with a toothpick.
- Arrange wrapped sausages on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and chili powder.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar-chili powder mixture evenly over the top of the bacon wrapped smokies.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, turning halfway, until bacon is crispy.
- Serve warm, with toothpicks for easy eating.
Cook Time: 35 minutes
24. Cucumber Bites with Herb Cream Cheese
Taste: Cool, refreshing cucumber with tangy, herbed cream cheese.
Ingredients: English cucumber, cream cheese, sour cream, dill, chives, salt, pepper.
- Slice the cucumber into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
- Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out some of the seeds/flesh from each round to create a little cup shape.
- In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, chopped dill, chives, salt and pepper.
- Use a piping bag or small spoon to fill each cucumber cup with a dollop of the herbed cream cheese mixture.
- Refrigerate 30 mins before serving to allow flavors to blend.
Cook Time: 15 minutes (plus 30 mins chill time)
25. BLT Bites
Taste: All the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich in hand-held bite form.
Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, cooked bacon crumbles, shredded lettuce, mayo, baguette bread.
- Slice a baguette crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
- Use a spoon to gently hollow out a small well on the top of each bread round.
- Spoon a teaspoon of mayo into each bread well.
- Top with shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and bacon crumbles.
- Secure toppings with a toothpick if desired.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Conclusion
With such a diverse array of flavors, textures, and culinary influences represented in this collection, you will surely find finger food favorites to satisfy every craving.
From elegant bites like baked brie and crab cakes to whimsical treats like pigs in a blanket and fruit skewers, these recipes run the gamut of sweet, savory, crispy, creamy, and everything.
So preheat your oven, enlist some helping hands, and prepare to wow your guests with a tempting spread of handheld delights.