25 Tasty Vegan Appetizers

At the top of our vegan appetizers: Cowboy Caviar! Texas caviar, as it’s also known, was invented in Texas and has now spread all over the US. The combination of black eyed peas, veggies and a vinaigrette dressing is equal parts zesty and comforting: and you can use it as a dip or healthy side dish. This recipe has loads of colorful veggies, cilantro, and jalapenos, and a simple zingy dressing. Even better: this vegan party dip is full of plant-based protein. Serve with tortilla chips.

Meet vegan spinach artichoke dip, the snack that no one will believe is plant-based! It's easy to whip up and requires no special dairy substitutes, just a few regular ingredients. Creamy and bursting with flavor, it will make a splash at your next gathering (it has at many of ours). It's perfect for entertaining since it's a gluten-free and vegan appetizer. Get ready to wow everyone!

Need a crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack? Let’s make classic bruschetta! This Italian appetizer has become ubiquitous all over the world because of its easy-to-love flavors. Who can say no to crunchy, toasted bread piled with tasty toppings? The most popular way to serve bruschetta in America is with chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil.

When it comes to simple and satisfying appetizers, this one’s at the top of our list. This Olive Tapenade recipe takes just 5 minutes and explodes with pure Mediterranean flavor! This traditional French spread is made with olives and capers, and the salty, briny flavor is otherworldly. Spread a smear on bread or a crunchy crostini, and the savory pop transports you right to the South of France. (Use the vegan variation in the recipe.)

You won’t believe this caramel apple dip recipe until you taste it! Stir just 4 ingredients into a glossy peanut butter caramel that’s vegan and gluten-free. It’s so simple and great for parties!

This vegan appetizer recipe is a huge treat: so much so, you may want to save it all for yourself. Buffalo cauliflower wings! These tasty morsels are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and tossed with spicy, tangy buffalo sauce. You’ll see these in restaurants here in the US these days…and this recipe? It tastes just as good as restaurant-style. Better, in fact! This one requires a bit of time and effort: so we prefer eating them all on our own vs making them for a party. If you’re craving vegan wings: this is your recipe!

Here's our best ideas for a next-level veggie tray party platter! Serve colorful vegetables with with hummus to make a colorful, flavorful tray that will impress everyone. A good tip? Make blanched broccoli so it's easier to eat, tastier, and bright green!

What's a better vegan appetizer than hummus? There many delicious store-bought brands of hummus out there. But why not make this healthy snack at home? It’s loads cheaper and WAY tastier.This is our best homemade hummus recipe that we make on the regular. It takes just 5 minutes to make! Serve with pita chips, flatbread, or pita bread.

Also try: Black Bean Hummus, Beet Hummus, Green Hummus, or Ginger Lime Hummus

Looking for a fun vegan appetizer idea or healthy snack? Try Fruit Skewers! Everything tastes better on a stick, right? This is a simple concept that’s more like an idea than a recipe: but it makes everyone go crazy for pure, fresh fruit. The skewers are perfect for a summer appetizer, snack ideas or even a healthy dessert. 

Here’s a vegan appetizer that we’re head over heels with: caponata! This Sicilian specialty is an appetizer and a side dish, essentially a sweet and sour ratatouille with cooked eggplant, tomatoes and onion. It’s often spread on crusty bread as an appetizer or antipasti (as the Italians would say). It’s so full of tangy, garlicky flavor that once you’ve taken one bite, you’ll likely want to devour the entire serving dish. 

You know love French fries, but have you tried…avocado fries? They’re crispy and crunchy, a little tangy, and full of rich avocado flavor. Ideal for mixing up your vegan appetizers routine! These crispy numbers are absolutely irresistible. They’re high in good fats and a healthy alternative to the standard fry. 

Guacamole is like potato salad and coleslaw: everyone has their family favorite recipe. And this simple guacamole is ours. It’s a home run every time! When we serve it, a chorus of “Wow’s” fill the room. (Really. Not hyperbole!) What makes it so great? It’s classic and has the perfect balanced flavor: perfectly savory, creamy, and tangy. Serve it up with tortilla chips and your guests — and you — won’t be able to stop eating it.

Here’s one of our most deliciously fun vegan experiments yet: vegan crab cakes! Essentially a plant-based patty that tastes like a crab cake, these crispy, crave-worthy bites will wow eaters of any diet. Packed with hearts of palm, artichokes, and chickpeas, serve them up with tartar sauce for a filling appetizer (or even a dinner).

Introducing the perfect focaccia recipe! Make this simple vegan bread once, and we guarantee you’ll find it’s the best focaccia bread you’ve made at home. It’s thick and airy, crispy on the outside with beautiful pillowy air pockets on the interior. The flavor is developed and perfectly seasoned, with the classic notes of salt, rosemary and olive oil notes. 

Here’s a favorite party trick of ours that makes a tasty and versatile vegan appetizer in just 5 minutes of hands on time. It’s Marinated Olives! This dish will make an olive lover out of anyone. Using the right olives here results in smooth, rich flavor: not briny or overly salty. The garlic, lemon and herbs make a symphony of flavor! Every time we make these and set them out on the table, people go crazy for them! They’re also great for an appetizer dinner at home: bread, cheese, marinated olives and wine.

Need a vegan appetizer to impress? Try this Pineapple Salsa! Salsa is an easy appetizer that you might not immediately think of as plant-based. The zing of the lime and heat of the jalapeno are the ideal pairing for this sweet fruit. Grab a juicy, ripe pineapple for this one: scoop it up with chips and each bite is an explosion of sweet, savory, salty and spicy!

You know you’re a salty snack person when your ultimate splurge is a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips. Or a soft pretzel with nacho cheese. Or maybe french fries. OK, you get the idea! Of course, none of these are quite healthy snacks. That’s why we created this roasted chickpeas recipe. They’re crispy, crunchy, perfectly spiced, and they stay crunchy in the pantry for days. Ready to make a batch?

Another great vegan appetizer recipe: queso! This queso sauce tastes so creamy and delicious, no one will believe it’s got no actual cheese. It will have you swearing off processed queso forever (who knows what’s in that stuff!). We think you need to add this one to your repertoire...you’ll thank us later.

Also try: Vegan Nachos

Here’s an easy Italian vegan appetizer that will wow everyone with minimal effort: Marinated Mushrooms! You know those seasoned mushrooms you find at an Italian deli counter or antipasti bar at the grocery? They’re easy to make at home and full of bold, zesty flavor.

Perhaps the ultimate in vegan appetizers is...French fries! And did you know you can make the best fries of your life…homemade? Yes, we’re pretty confident that these seasoned fries will blow you away! Now, they do take a bit of time. But if you have to work for your treat food, it makes it that much more special: right? These are baked in an oven until crispy and coated in the perfect seasoning blend. Serve them with Mayo Aioli (with vegan mayo) or Basil Aioli.

It’s green, it’s healthy, but no joke: everyone we’ve served it to simply raves about it! So much so that we hear the refrain: “Can you make that pea dip again?" It’s one of our favorite party dip recipes because it’s easy, healthy, and delicious. Even self-avowed pea haters love it! Blend up green peas and cilantro with a bit of salse verde and it’s pure magic as a party snack. Serve it with tortilla chips or pita chips and your guests will park themselves in front of the bowl.

This baked falafel with canned chickpeas is a spin on classic falafel that distills the traditional flavors into a shortcut that's simple to whip up as a vegan appetizer! Bake up these tasty balls of savory, herby goodness and dunk them into dips like hummus or cilantro sauce.

Try this fresh, delectable Vegan Sushi! These rolls have got it all, proving that this Japanese dish (or rather, art form!) is perfectly adaptable no matter what the filling. Savory, flavor-popping marinated tofu joins crunchy veggies and tender sushi rice to make a craveable roll filling. Top it off with Japanese BBQ Sauce and it tastes like a dream!

Baba ganoush is a traditional Lebanese eggplant dip made with roasted or grilled eggplant, tahini, olive oil, and lemon. Traditionally baba ganoush is made with eggplant that’s been roasted over a fire or grilled, which infuses a light smoky flavor. The easiest way to make it at home is roasted, so here we’ve added smoked paprika for a hint of the smoke we expect from a baba ganoush recipe!

Want a secret for making tomatoes taste incredible in minutes? Try Marinated Tomatoes! Mix this juicy seasonal produce with olive oil, balsamic, garlic and basil, then let it stand for 30 minutes while you go about your business. The flavor that’s infused is unreal: zingy, garlicky, sweet and salty, with a hint of heat on the finish. 

Here’s a favorite vegan appetizer with a kick: spicy edamame! Eating soy beans in the pod is one of life’s pleasures, pulling the beans out with your teeth with that satisfying pop. To take this healthy veggie to the next level: make it spicy. Yes, adding just a little heat makes this totally irresistible! 

Who loves vegan dip? Want a bean dip with without the dairy? Enter this refried bean dip. It’s seriously delicious but has no cheese. It's so full of flavor and perfect for dipping tortilla chips. For best results, try it with Homemade Tortilla Chips warm from the skillet.

Dark chocolate hummus? It’s a bit unexpected, but oh-so-delicious and a perfect vegan appetizer for parties and gatherings. Instead of vegetables like a traditional hummus, we treat it like a fruit dip and serve it with strawberries, pineapple, green apple slices, and our favorite: salty pretzels.