The Feathered Nester

Sourdough + Family-Friendly Recipes

Easy Appetizers (Snacks) and Party Food Favorites

Great parties start with amazing appetizers, and these favorites from The Feathered Nester make hosting feel fun and easy! Our tater tot appetizer cups bring cheesy crispy goodness, Buffalo chicken dip bites deliver bold flavor in a bite sized snack, and charcuterie tree adds a festive touch that makes any table instantly party ready.

If you enjoy a little heat, stuffed jalapeño peppers brings creamy zesty flavor in every bite. Simple sauces like 3 ingredient bbq sauce and béchamel cheese sauce make snacks and mains taste even better, and cajun turkey brine adds incredible flavor to holiday meals. These easy recipes help you entertain with confidence and plenty of delicious flair.

And for fun treats everyone loves, taco wonton cups are crispy and irresistible, chex party mix recipe with M&Ms brings a sweet crunchy finish, and sourdough discard banana bread adds cozy homemade comfort to any spread. With these party food recipes, your appetizer game shines bright and every gathering feels extra memorable.

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Tater Tot Appetizer Cups

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loaded tater tots placed in a wood serving tray.
A jar of Christmas Chex Mix with golden scoop.

Christmas Chex Mix Recipe with M&M’s
bread rolls in a circle around camembert cheese as a Christmas wreath.

Baked Camembert and Bread Appetizer
oven baked wonton cups in a muffin pan.

How to Bake Wonton Cups
buffalo chicken wonton cups placed in a wooden serving tray and white serving plate.

Buffalo Chicken Wontons
a photo collage of appetizer recipes which is jalapeno poppers, mushroom dumplings, spicy meatballs, and jalapeno wonton cups.

20+ Best Appetizers
a white tray of taco wonton cups on top of a red and white napkin with bowls of cilantro, sour cream, and salsa.

Taco Wonton Cups
a cast iron skillet of gravy sausage with a pan of biscuits in the background.

How to Make Gravy for Biscuits
Hand holding filled wonton appetizer in chopsticks.

Mushroom Dumplings
A close up photo of a golden spoon scooping the Balsamic chicken marinade in a glass jar with its lid and a salt cellar in the background.

Balsamic Chicken Marinade
two jars of Chex mix with M&Ms, the other one has a golden scoop, and a striped kitchen towel in the background.

Chex Party Mix Recipe with M&Ms
a hand and tong holding a jalapeno popper wonton cup and a serving tray full of jalapeno wonton popper cups and a striped red cloth in the background.

Jalapeño Popper Wontons
Pesto vinaigrette with Salad, wooden utensils, and a striped red cloth at the back.

Pesto Salad Dressing
a large copper bowl of M and M halloween snack mix with a gold scoop inside and a gold and white napkin in the background.

Halloween Snack Mix
a white serving tray with a baked flatbread with mozzarella and tomato and sprig of fresh basil next to a red and white napkin.

Flatbread Pizza Margherita
a baking sheet with sweet chili meatballs garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds and bowl of chili sauce and a slice of lime on its side with a gray cloth, bowl of green onions slices in the background.

Sweet Chili Meatballs
a hand holding a pita chips dipping it to the Mediterranean-inspired roasted red pepper feta dip on a bowl with a spoon beside it and grapy striped cloth, and a bowl of pita chips and salt in the background.

Feta Roasted Red Pepper Dip
pesto sauce in a white bowl with walnuts, garlic, basil and parsley in the background

Basil Pesto Sauce
a white tray of tortellini skewers with balsamic glaze on top of a red and white napkin.

Tortellini Caprese Skewers
basting chicken with homemade 3 ingredient bbq sauce.

3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce
dipping an appetizer ball into mango sweet chili sauce.

Asian Dipping Sauce
dipping easy sausage balls into a spicy hot mustard sauce in a clear weck jar.

Turkey Sausage Balls
an easy sausage balls being dipped into a sweet hot mustard dipping sauce in a clear weck jar.

Spicy Honey Mustard
appetizer toothpick stuck in a meatball made from palmetto cheese balls with a dipping sauce in the background and a tray of more appetizer balls.

Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls
sliced banana bread recipe with self rising flour ready to serve from a wooden board with a red and white napkin.

Banana Bread with Self Rising Flour
a board with freshly baked jalapeno poppers with cream cheese filling.

Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers Recipe
a circle of soft pretzel bites with cheese.

Pretzel Nuggets
A serving bowl of pretzel cheese dip next to pretzels and a bowl of salt.

Cheese Dipping Sauce for Pretzels
Decorated charcuterie tree standing vertically on a platter with a white background.

Charcuterie Tree
Small white bowl filled with tiny biscuits.

Mini Biscuits
Close-up image of monkey bread with ham and brie.

Ham and Cheese Bread
loaded tater tots placed in a wood serving tray.

Tater Tot Appetizer Cups
Fettuccine with ground beef meat sauce on a white dinner plate.

Pasta with Meat Sauce