No-Cooking Appetizers: Quick, Easy, and Delicious Snack Recipes

Use wooden skewers to combine several ingredients for an attractive and convenient appetizer. Try combining ham, olives, and your favorite cheese. Slices or segments of favorite fruits work well too. How about strawberries, pineapple, and banana? You are only limited here by your imagination. (You could also set out the ingredients and let guests have the fun of creating their own combinations).

Don't be deceived by how simple these crackers sound. Trust me they are delicious and loved by almost everyone who tries them. I have eaten several variations but had never made these crackers until recently. Wow! They were super easy to make and were a major hit. You can't beat this for a simple no-cooking snack!

1 1/2 cups canola oil (or other vegetable oil)
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix (like hidden Valley)
2 Tbsp. ground red pepper
Mix together the oil, ranch dressing mix, and red pepper. Using gallon ziplock bag or bowl with tight lid, add 2 sleeves of saltine crackers to oil mixture. Gently toss together in closed bowl or bag until crackers are well-coated. Lay out in single layer on paper towels to dry. Check back in a little while and crackers will be ready to eat. Store in tightly closed container.

Cream cheese is a staple item on my grocery list. At holiday time I really stock up because with the addition of simple ingredients and crackers an appetizer is always at hand. My favorite is cream cheese and pepper jelly. Just spoon pepper jelly (red or green, mild or hot) over the block of cream cheese, surround it with crackers and you are done. (If you've never tried it, just give it a chance).
Another good snack: chop up a can of smoked oysters (you should drain these on paper towels first), and a small jar of drained pimentos. Mix with an 8 ounce block of cream cheese that has been brought to room temperature. Roll into a log in wax paper (you can also roll this log in chopped pecans if you want) and refrigerate. Serve with Triscuits or other snack crackers.
Or, you can top the cream cheese with salsa, or with Pick-a-Peppa Sauce (this may be regional), or with cocktail sauce. You might throw a can of salad shrimp on there before you pour on the cocktail sauce. You get the idea; use your imagination. You can't go wrong with cream cheese. Trust me.

This is delicious and can be varied to suit ingredients you may have on hand.

1 can white chicken meat (about 5 oz)
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix (like Hidden Valley)
1/2 onion diced very small
1/4 -1/2 cup pecan pieces

Mix all ingredients except pecans together. Once ingredients are well mixed, place on plastic wrap and use the wrap to help you shape into a ball. Roll the ball in the pecans to coat and you are done. Refrigerate till ready to serve. Add crackers and you are done. (If you like you can skip the making a ball stage and put it into a nice dish and serve as a spread. Sprinkle a few of the pecans on top, and provide crackers).

There are numerous variations on this recipe, but this one is easy and delicious.

Can diced tomatoes, drained
Can black-eyed peas, drained
1 green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 small bottle zesty Italian dressing
Jalapenos, chopped (to taste) ...Or you can skip this and use Rotel tomatoes (with green peppers) for the diced tomatoes

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Serve with Frito Scoops or other chips or crackers of your choice.

This recipe is similar to the old favorite party mix recipes. However, it has one major difference----no baking required! Note that even though it calls for specific ingredients, you can easily vary the cereals, crackers, etc. to suit your own taste. The secret to this recipe is in the butter-flavored popcorn oil.

2 cups crispy rice cereal squares
10 oz. pkg. oyster crackers
9.5 oz pkg. mini cheese-filled sandwich crackers
6 oz. pkg. fish shaped crackers
16 oz. pkg. mini pretzel twists
16 oz. pkg. peanuts
12 oz. bottle butter-flavored popcorn oil
1 pkg. dry ranch salad dressing mix

Combine oil and salad dressing mix in a small bowl. Combine all other ingredients in a large bowl. Pour oil mixture in and toss with cracker mixture until evenly coated. Store in an air-tight container.

Hummus can be purchased in the deli and is a good and convenient party snack, but it doesn't compare to homemade. If you are not familiar with this, give it a try and you may be pleasantly surprised. Serve with pita bread and add dippers including baby carrots, asparagus, squash, bell peppers, or other fresh veggies. Yum!

1 garlic clove, minced
15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup tahini (this is what gives hummus its unique taste)
2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
Pinch of smoked paprika
Extra-virgin olive oil

Using a food processor, pulse garlic until it is finely minced. Then add chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and salt, processing until mixture forms a smooth paste. Spoon the hummus into a deep dish, sprinkle paprika on top and then drizzle with olive oil. Serve with dippers. (Good at room temperature, but may be covered and refrigerated until ready to serve.)