While doing research for my free book, A Real Food Holiday Party, I found so many great recipes around the web. The appetizers featured here are great to make for your holiday party, dinner or potluck. Really, these are great for any occasion where you want to feed a crowd with some fun nibbles and eat something nourishing as well. What I love about these real food appetizers is that you can make them, and friends and family that are not into real food won’t have a clue. These are just unprocessed versions of many well loved dishes. They key is great ingredients and a bit of time. Instead you will just be getting you compliments on how tasty the dish is and how they can’t believe you made it in your own kitchen! No you don’t have to decide do I bring a dish I like and that is healthy or something for everyone else!
Real Food Appetizers
Roasted Toasted Hazelnuts- A simple and well loved dish by all from Wardee at GNOWFGLINS
From the Elliot Homestead is a great Spiced Sweet Potato Souffles with Roasted Walnuts– This is great to make in a large dish to serve family style. I would bring this to a potluck as a hearty side for the table!
A family and friend favorite around my house is Hummus. A Real Food Girl Unmodified shares a great recipe that can be easily made ahead or in double batches to serve any size crowd! Look at those pita chips! Yum!
From Cheeseslave is bacon wrapped dates. You can’t have a party without bacon. Fact. Why not be the person who brings the party to the next potluck?! Another recipe that is easy to scale up in size depending on your needs.
If you really want to class it up, try Mussels and Sausage in White Wine, Garlic and Parsley from The Healthy Home Economist. Mussels are full of nutrients, which is great for people eating real food, but even people still eating a SAD diet will love them. Classic flavors like parsley and garlic, which is great this time of year to help fight colds, appeal to just about everyone. Plus since they are in shells, a little goes a long way as people eat them fairly slowly.
If you downloaded my book, you will see I have a recipe for meatballs too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE meatballs for parties. Recipes for meatballs are easy to scale up and down and pretty fast to make. Plus you can make them ahead and re-heat. You can serve them on a platter with a bunch of toothpicks, or keep them warm in your crockpot for serving. This recipe from Nom Nom Paleo for Asian Meatballs is a great paleo version that’s just as yummy and easy as mine!
From Carol at Ditch the Wheat, I included 2 recipes, because I just couldn’t choose. Since I married into a polish family, I have a special place in my heart for Perogies. I think Carol’s Grain Free Perogies would even impress my mother in law!
Also at Ditch the Wheat is a fantastically creative take on turkey. Just looking at the Teriyaki Turkey Wings makes my mouth water!
Last, but certainly not least is grain and gluten free Jalapeno Poppers. Everyone will loves these and you can feel great knowing that they are healthy and nourishing real food! I was super excited to run across this recipe at Homemade Mommy.
What are your go to real food appetizers for parties and big dinners in your family. Leave a comment letting me know or a link to a recipe! I am always on the hunt for more great party recipes!
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