Three Ingredients or Less! Try These Easy Appetizers When You Need to Make the Perfect Party Bite

When it comes to entertaining, there are many ways to do it, from the high-end and intricate to the super-casual potluck. No matter what style you gravitate towards, it pays to be smart about how much creative energy and time you can invest in the preparation. This is where the cleverness of the concept can lead you down a new path. Here, we have a selection of appetizers that prove the rule of less is more: Two or three ingredients have been carefully chosen to create instant harmony; the magic comes from the balance of flavors and textures.

All are amazingly simple to prepare at home. Some—like rhubarb roasted with beets, or avocado cups filled with diced honeydew melon and mint—may seem ground-breaking. Others are classic combinations, but all have a twist. Take inspiration from the world's tables, but add a subtle spin on the familiar, such as the burrata-stuffed tiny tomatoes you see here. It's a flavor combination you (and your guests) know and love, but a format you might not expect. Another essential appetizer, prosciutto and melon, also becomes bite-sized when the pieces are skewered and grilled for easy eating. One surprising idea, which was lifted from Japanese restaurants, is blistered shishito peppers with bonito flakes. And as a nod in the direction of Spain and Portugal, we're also including skewers of rust-colored chorizo with parsnips, which show how spice can be balanced by sweetness.

Sometimes it's a technique that makes the difference, like crisping sliced prosciutto into savory shards or warming olives in a spiced marinade. Slowly drying thin citrus slices in the oven may take a while, but the work is done for you by the oven—and the result is a bright and chewy citrus treat. As you can see, when the concept is this good, the rest practically takes care of itself. With minimal effort you can be ready to host a relaxed—or swanky—gathering in no time. Less to think about, more to enjoy.

Prosciutto Crisps

Two ingredients are all you need for to prepare this salty nibble.

Warm Olives with Cracked Coriander

Heating olives with spices infuses them with flavor and elevates the familiar into something more unique.

Smoked Trout and Cucumber

They're like tea sandwiches or smørrebrød, but hold the bread.

Roasted Beets with Tarragon

Think of this as color-blocking with purpose. This appetizer is a lesson in simple elegance.

Spinach Dip 2.0

The surprising ingredient here? Ricotta, which is naturally creamy and flavorful, makes this a one-two-three.

Fingerling Potatoes with Wild Salmon Roe

Such a simple way of being fancy; all you need to do is steam tiny potatoes—and open a tin of briny caviar.

Chorizo, Parsnip, and Olives

Chorizo, parsnips, and olives are skewered together and heated through for a warming bite that's absolutely perfect with a glass of Rioja.

Shishito Peppers and Bonito Flakes

This two-ingredient appetizer recipe is a good trick to have up your sleeve at any time of year. Bonito flakes are lightly smoked and light as air. Find them at Japanese specialty stores.

Citrus Chips

These make a stellar accompaniment to a cheeseboard and are just as tasty when served with cookies or chocolate desserts.

Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon

Together these two ingredients are sweet-salty harmony. Serve them raw or grilled; lime adds a twist.

Charred Okra and Fresh Thyme

Just wait until the okra haters in your life try these sizzling and savory bites—you may change their minds.

Rhubarb & Beets

This remarkable treatment of rhubarb allows the beets' natural sweetness to do the seasoning. Serve with goat cheese and crackers, or as part of a buffet for a sweet-tart accompaniment to poached or roasted salmon.

Avocado and Honeydew Melon

Juicy melon with mint is palate opener. Taking the cue from the tropics, avocadoes make a perfect serving cup for a finely diced filling.

Apricots and Crème Fraîche

Straddling the savory and sweet line, crème-fraîche-stuffed fruit can be dressed with herbs, such as cilantro here—or sprinkled with nuts, like chopped pistachios and drizzled with honey, if you prefer to cross over to the sweet side.