These make-ahead party appetizers leave you one job when people arrive. Reheat a pastry, toast bread for a topping, garnish a chilled dip, or put out an already assembled platter. Each idea tells you which part to do…
Items 32 The creator’s order
1 Deviled egg Pipe or spoon the yolk filling into the whites at home and refrigerate the filled tray. At serving, dust with paprika or herbs. A fitted egg carrier keeps the halves upright. 0 2 Hummus Blend and refrigerate the hummus in its serving bowl. Finish by drizzling on olive oil. There is one dish to uncover and you don't have to work around the oven. 0 3 Bruschetta Make the tomato topping ahead and keep it chilled. At the party, spoon it over slices you toasted before guests arrived. Only top enough for the first few rounds so the remaining bread stays crisp. 0 4 Stuffed mushrooms Fill the mushroom caps and refrigerate them in a covered baking dish. Bake the tray once guests are on their way. This fits a party where you can spend oven space on one warm appetizer. 0 5 Baba ghanoush Roast the eggplant and make the spread ahead. Refrigerate it in the dish you want to use at the party. A spoonful of herbs or sesame at the table is enough to finish. 0 6 Guacamole Mash the avocado and pack it chilled with a cover pressed against the surface. Finish by folding in the diced tomato just before serving, so you need a spoon and a bowl rather than a cutting board. 0 7 Muhammara Blend the roasted red pepper and walnuts ahead. Leave a small jar of pomegranate molasses beside the serving bowl and drizzle it on once. Label the nuts so guests can choose knowingly. 0 8 Tzatziki Drain the cucumber and mix the yogurt dip in advance. Keep it chilled until serving, then stir once to bring it back together. This saves the practical work of grating and draining for before the party. 0 9 Pimento cheese Mix the cheese spread ahead and chill it in one bowl. Take it to the table with a spreader, where guests can portion the same spread with bread, crackers or crisp vegetables. 0 10 French onion dip Cook the onions and make the dip the day before so the slower steps are finished. Serve it straight from a chilled bowl with chips or vegetable sticks. 0 
Deviled eggPipe or spoon the yolk filling into the whites at home and refrigerate the filled tray. At serving, dust with paprika or herbs. A fitted egg carrier keeps the halves upright.0
HummusBlend and refrigerate the hummus in its serving bowl. Finish by drizzling on olive oil. There is one dish to uncover and you don't have to work around the oven.0
BruschettaMake the tomato topping ahead and keep it chilled. At the party, spoon it over slices you toasted before guests arrived. Only top enough for the first few rounds so the remaining bread stays crisp.0
Stuffed mushroomsFill the mushroom caps and refrigerate them in a covered baking dish. Bake the tray once guests are on their way. This fits a party where you can spend oven space on one warm appetizer.0
Baba ghanoushRoast the eggplant and make the spread ahead. Refrigerate it in the dish you want to use at the party. A spoonful of herbs or sesame at the table is enough to finish.0
GuacamoleMash the avocado and pack it chilled with a cover pressed against the surface. Finish by folding in the diced tomato just before serving, so you need a spoon and a bowl rather than a cutting board.0
MuhammaraBlend the roasted red pepper and walnuts ahead. Leave a small jar of pomegranate molasses beside the serving bowl and drizzle it on once. Label the nuts so guests can choose knowingly.0
TzatzikiDrain the cucumber and mix the yogurt dip in advance. Keep it chilled until serving, then stir once to bring it back together. This saves the practical work of grating and draining for before the party.0
Pimento cheeseMix the cheese spread ahead and chill it in one bowl. Take it to the table with a spreader, where guests can portion the same spread with bread, crackers or crisp vegetables.0
French onion dipCook the onions and make the dip the day before so the slower steps are finished. Serve it straight from a chilled bowl with chips or vegetable sticks.0