:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/new-headshot-212x300-a8ad159c66fb4a018846111f335034d2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tomato-peach-mozzarella-bresaola-tartine-447cd891-0619_-b6eccd033941471eaf83b847f7799164-horiz-f901590f75b745cc96e1b59a3e2276f6.jpg)
Dana Gallagher
Whether you want a quick, no-fuss dish or simply don't want to turn the oven on, we have plenty of no-cook appetizers to choose from. Some are just right for warm weather entertaining, like open-faced tartines or chilled soups. Others are well suited to holiday entertaining, and some work for last-minute guests as they're made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. All are no-bake, no-cook appetizers that don't even require a turn in the microwave or time on the grill. You may be surprised (and inspired!) to see how many delicious appetizers you can make without turning on the heat.
Tomato Burrata Bites
For the quickest, most delicious, no-cook appetizer, hollow out cocktail tomatoes and stuff them with creamy burrata cheese. Drizzle each with olive oil and top with fresh basil—and watch them disappear.
Citrus and Green Olives With Goat Cheese
Bright and briny, this eye-catching appetizer encourages guests to mix and match ingredients atop thick slices of rustic Italian bread. Layer segmented mixed oranges with green olives, goat cheese, and good-quality olive oil for an appetizer that will instantly transport you to Sicily.
Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho
This colorful dish will make a stunning addition to your entertaining spread. Let the ingredients—ripe peaches, bell pepper, English cucumber, and fresh herbs—marinate overnight, then add them to a blender right before you're ready to serve.
Hearts of Palm Dip
Creamy, zesty, and just a little tangy, this is no ordinary dip. In fact, it's better. The secret to that green hue is plenty of herbs, including cilantro and chives, plus (you guessed it!) hearts of palm, which taste kind of like artichoke hearts.
Smoked Trout and Avocado Mousse in Endive
This impressive no-cook appetizer uses endive leaves as a "plate" for a mousse that's made simply by pureeing ripe avocado. We piped it into the endive, but you could spoon it in if you prefer. A small piece of smoked trout tops each, along with sliced scallion.
Arctic Char Carpaccio with Beets and Citrus
"Cook" fish in minutes by using lemon juice or vinegar to firm the flesh in the same way heating it up does. Then mix with orange slices and beets for a starter that's as colorful as it is delicious.
Quick-Pickled Crudités
Upgrade a basic crudité board by quick-pickling a selection of colorful mixed vegetables such as radishes, carrots, celery, turnips, and beets. This easy technique preserves their flavor and color and is an inspired way to serve fresh vegetables.
Chickpea and Tuna Dip
Chickpeas and tuna come together to make a delicious protein-packed dip. Add the canned fish and beans to a food processor, along with anchovies, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Before serving, mix with onion and fresh parsley and serve with crackers.
Spanish Gazpacho
Serve this soup on a hot summer day, and everyone will savor its cool, flavorful taste. And the gazpacho couldn't be easier to make—combine all of the ingredients (heirloom tomatoes, red bell pepper, vinegar, and aromatics) in a blender and purée until silky, then chill and serve to a deserving crowd.
Shucked Oysters With Three Sauces
All the equipment you need for this luxe raw appetizer is a sharp oyster knife and a careful hand for shucking. Serve the fresh oysters alongside three sauces—fresh horseradish, jalapeño mignonette, and red wine mignonette—for a crowd-pleasing starter.
Creamy Artichoke Ranch
Simply purée marinated artichoke hearts, anchovy fillets, parsley, plain Greek yogurt, and extra-virgin olive oil for a salty, savory scoop everyone will adore.
Zucchini, Avocado, and Jalapeño Tartine
For a verdant, no-cook start to your party, combine four very different green ingredients—crisp zucchini, creamy avocado, spicy chile peppers, and fragrant cilantro—atop toast.
Greek Taverna Salad
If you're hosting a dinner with picky eaters or want an appetizer that's a bit more interactive, make this DIY salad so everyone can choose exactly what they want—and don't want. It's made with bite-sized vegetables, including cocktail tomatoes, mini cucumbers, bell peppers, and crumbled feta cheese.
Spring Pesto Dip
Our easiest ever, three-ingredient dip is made for spring. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and prepared pesto in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and serve alongside fresh, seasonal crudités.
Ceviche With Tropical Fruit and Habanero
Turn seasonal fruit into a luscious appetizer by mixing fresh mango and pineapple with red snapper fish. The dish is given even more texture and depth thanks to the addition of jalapeños, red onion, and tomatoes for your pop of spicy, earthy, and acidic flavors.
Beet Muhammara
Instead of red peppers, which are often used in this dip, we're using vibrant red beets, which add an earthy flavor and stunning purple color. When combined with walnuts, spicy Aleppo pepper, and pomegranate molasses, they create a dip that everyone will be going back for more of.
Steak Tartare
Be sure to use high-quality, organic ingredients for this French bistro classic that's made with raw beef tenderloin and raw eggs. Chopped shallots, capers, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard round out the ingredient list.
Vegan Green Goddess Dip
Start the party with this simple, six-ingredient dip. It gets its bright green color and seasonal flavor from avocado, lime zest, and fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley.
Marinated Peppers With Mint and Sesame
Sliced roasted peppers tossed with olive oil, lemon, mint, and toasted sesame seeds are delicious spooned over toast. Don't leave behind any of the delicious juices that settle at the bottom—they have lots of flavor.
Smoked Salmon Lettuce Rolls With Avocado and Tahini
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/smoked-salmon-rolls-246-d112659_vert-2d14fd6a15044a25a100d4d06f202142.jpg)
Smoked salmon and sliced avocado are wrapped in tender lettuce leaves and served with a lively tahini sauce in this light and refreshing appetizer.
Dates and Blue Cheese
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/dates-blue-cheese-238-lighter-d112542_vert-1cad4a05f0b5461fa25e5bcf03156c75.jpg)
You only need four ingredients—dried dates, Gorgonzola piccante, toasted almonds, and honey—to make these sweet-and-savory hors d'oeuvres.
Salsa Fresca
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/med105604_0610_salsafresca_vert-b5366d3db40544fcbd6abe327cadb280.jpg)
Don't be tempted by pre-made salsa at the store! You can make your own in a flash. Here, tomatoes and onions are amped up with jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro. Serve with plenty of chips!
Radishes and Peanut Butter
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/radish-salt-perfect-bite-184-d111738_vert-430be13c11af4baf80407c8ace31f580.jpg)
PB and...R? Trust us, they make a surprisingly delicious pairing, especially when you add a sprinkling of flaky sea salt. If you want to go a tried-and-true route, serve radishes with seasoned olive oil or chive butter.
Marinated Mozzarella
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mla103248_0508_antipasto_vert_0-feb30e5146f140eabf1f622be3cbd129.jpg)
Take your cheese-and-charcuterie platter to new heights by bathing fresh mozzarella in olive oil, fresh herbs, and red pepper flakes. Make it the star, then bring in salami and olives as supporting players.
Avocado and Honeydew Melon
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/the-perfect-bite-with-avocado-and-melon-0185-d112099_vert-9dd9a85180bc444eb48d86d865c3808e.jpg)
Ripe avocados and sweet summer melon need nothing more than a sprinkling of fresh mint and sea salt to shine.
Yogurt Dip
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/yogurt-dip-with-crudites-and-chips-102797947_vert-3f5e9a55c27c4d9f8ce911eadc5da8b8.jpg)
Choose unexpected crudites for this za'atar-laced yogurt dip, such as endive, fennel, cauliflower, and broccolini. It pairs well with just about any vegetable.
Grape Pico de Gallo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/grape-trio-salsa-190-d112159_vert-776c9bdf07724249b573fadeb158276b.jpg)
Don't let tomatoes have all the salsa fun. Swap them out for seedless green grapes, then add the usual jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
Tofu With Tomatoes, Basil, and Mint
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tomato-016-md108876_vert-84c447010d9741ca8e9d8f75913b8f16.jpg)
Upend your summer Caprese salad routine with this version starring soft tofu, ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs, and toasted sesame seeds in a soy sauce-sherry vinaigrette.
Smoked Salmon Dip with Bagel Chips
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/med105536_0510_salmon_dip_vert-a7ba02908ed74e6b8a16e4863d8d46be.jpg)
We've transformed our favorite bagel toppings into a sensational cream cheese-based dip.
Antipasto Skewers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/antipasto-skewers-2-med107845_vert-12998127b3ea4484baea9f4089db1ad9.jpg)
Finger food doesn't get easier than this! All you need to do is thread store-bought ingredients like giardiniera, olives, bocconcino (small mozzarella balls), and prosciutto onto skewers.
Nori Guacamole
Upgrade a basic guacamole recipe with scallions in place of the usual white onion and crushed nori sheets as a garnish. The salty flavor of dried seaweed sprinkled over the top is totally next-level.
Tomato, Peach, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Bresaola Tartine
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tomato-peach-mozzarella-bresaola-tartine-447cd891-0619_horiz-0823-55c5d077212e4088a18f57fe77373961.jpg)
Dana Gallagher
A next-level Caprese salad, with peaches and the air-dried, salted beef known as bresaola, tops this tartine. The meat is smoky, the mozzarella smooth and cool, and the tomatoes and peaches round everything out with their natural sweetness.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/store-bought-ingredients-for-no-cook-meals-lead-getty-0723-4489c04a2d024aa4b72807851e7a5a5f.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/poached-chicken-cups-with-ginger-scallion-oil-0717-102980763-a6e266d5f5a44dc282d74b797d671cae.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kale-apple-salad-bcd20ff4-1020-onecms-4b16557aac69466cb2fabdff1602920b-rotated-819c5cc2deb94cc098ffa3e0669f84d6.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/summer-veggie-melts-caper-sauce-7yq25zqlkhz84jh6h9kqfm-0621-horiz-2000-cb84da778cdb478399d29c50e4027950.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/grilled-vegetarian-stuffed-peppers-102941331-1f4f232a057e47d29b5be6d89f566ee2-horiz-95dcbece72ff495aa3ced2d2c33d80fe.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/creamy-corn-spinach-pasta-5mkKrB_uqm7B1hK2S0oNki-0622-295afbaf9b3d4281b6a4d15a2120bbad-horiz-159154245aa94420be95e5df83a843ab.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gazpacho-salad-with-croutons-103020880-0a669a947dd44f9daebf98d88d090588.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ham-and-spinach-dip-wide-102817862_vert-78f5725e14cf459382cb6cc91cd42360-1023-8cf6d475a5d14fb596d75c1984b83026.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tomatoes-with-lightly-whipped-cream-103044774-492b3e7c6c8642dfab88890209811783-crop-0623-971b3b423ecb4f9e9b37276bb4621b90.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/various-bell-peppers-8mH-jCCg4HzAHBt6VYhmfr-1021-8f3260fd547946c09207cf61a493eae7-horiz-c32b13ab3db34331875e8ef84f6801e3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/marinated-peppers-with-mint-and-sesame-8133-e40a2b33-horiz-1022-2000-10cf57a744ff478fa25dc01b031ffb28.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pigs-in-blankets-mld110654_vert-2000-horiz-24e66bf0696d45b0b2d9ee0de807e67e.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/artic-char-sesame-tuna-9337-ff9eee1d-horiz-0723-0cd53d021a114b0c9272517ea0e0efca.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/spaghetti-and-no-cook-tomato-tuna-sauce-95ac0e6b-0820-onecms-e802f73ecfeb4947ae7e72679c40c320.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/greek-shrimp-skewers-with-chopped-zucchini-salad-0519-9939_cs_589-horiz-0622-53bbd81e0b974a7281716041b72793f9.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/watermellon-0711med107220-jul001bcopy_vert-33131ba839b0409fbef00eaef11dfca5.jpg)