25 Irresistible Pizza Appetizers for Your Next Party

Updated on Sep. 26, 2024

Pizza appetizers are the ticket to getting your dinner, barbecue, game day or work party started. These cheesy, loaded apps are always a winning choice.

Pizza appetizers feature bold pizza-inspired dishes full of your favorite ingredients and flavors. When the celebrations call for saucy, cheesy bites but you don’t necessarily want to serve full ‘zas, opt for appetizers instead. In this roundup, you’ll find fun recipes that make the most of seasonal ingredients. They follow the basic tricks for making homemade pizza, just in various shapes and sizes.

Serve these fun appetizers at an office potluck, an anniversary party, a backyard party grillout or even a fancy Oscars party. And may we suggest a few must-have pizza tools—you’ll end up using them more than you think!

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Fresh Veggie Pizza

There’s no need to bring confetti to your next snack-time gathering. Just carry in this colorful pizza appetizer that’s topped with a rainbow of crunchy vegetables! Guests usually don’t even guess this delicious pizza is low-fat. —Brooke Wiley, Halifax, Virginia
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Pizza Muffins

These mini pizza muffins packed with cheese, sauce and an unlimited choice of toppings will be a new favorite snack for kids and adults alike.
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Arugula Pizza

This arugula pizza is a great pizza appetizer for get-togethers with family or friends. My girlfriends and I love it because it has that sophisticated gourmet touch, and it’s healthy, too! This also serves four as a main course. —Annette Riva, Naperville, Illinois
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Garlic Pizza Wedges

Our pastor made this for a get-together, and my husband and i just couldn't stay away from the hors d'oeuvres table. The cheesy slices taste great served warm, but they're still wonderful when they've cooled slightly. —Krysten Johnson, Simi Valley, California
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Italian-Style Pizzas

With prepared pesto and pizza crusts, this recipe comes together in a flash. It makes two, and we love that we each get our own Italian style pizza! I like to complete the meal with a salad and fresh fruit. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Brie & Caramelized Onion Flatbread

Saute the onions and garlic for this pizza appetizer a day ahead so it’s easy to put together on the day of the party. Prepared pizza dough makes this recipe a snap. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Peppery Pizza Loaves

I often take these French bread pizzas to church picnics or potluck suppers and there are never any left. When I fix them for the two of us, I freeze two halves in foil to enjoy later. —Lou Stasny, Poplarville, Mississippi
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Shrimp and Pineapple Party Pizza

This flavor-packed appetizer is a sweet, smoky, savory sensation! If you are traveling with this pizza, parbake the crust and assemble the pizza at home, then finish the baking on-site. When that's not possible, it is still delicious at room temperature! If you're not a seafood fan, substitute chicken for the shrimp. —Jamie Miller, Maple Grove, Minnesota
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Speedy Shrimp Flatbreads

My husband and I are hooked on pizza appetizers, especially this shrimp flatbread pizza recipe. I make at least one a week just to have something tasty around as a snack. This one came together easily because I had all the ingredients on hand. —Cheryl Woodson, Liberty, Missouri
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Zucchini Pizza Bites

Zucchini pizza bites are the ideal low-carb snack when the pizza craving strikes, or the delicious way to get more vegetables into diets of all ages.
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Mini Pizza Cups

Served hot or cold, these little pizza appetizers are wonderful. Their small size makes them ideal for an after-school snack or a kid-friendly party. Plus, they’re so easy to make that little ones can help you in the kitchen! —Jane Jones, Cedar, Minnesota
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Brat & Bacon Appetizer Pizza

Chopped bratwurst and maple bacon are a fabulous way to start a pizza. I jazz up this treat even more with apricot preserves and honey mustard. The snack-sized slices win over even the toughest critics. —Colleen Vrooman, Waukesha, Wisconsin
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Moroccan Flatbreads

My family loves these tacos with Middle Eastern seasoning lots of vegetables. Ground turkey or beef may be substituted for the lamb. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
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Grilled Chicken, Mango & Blue Cheese Tortillas

Here’s a fantastic pizza appetizer to kick-start your summer get-togethers. We double or triple the ingredients when we host parties. —Josee Lanzi, New Port Richey, Florida
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Pizza Roll-Ups

Since getting this recipe from our 4-H club, it's been a regular after-school snack. We like to dunk these bite-sized pizza treats, made with refrigerated crescent rolls, in spaghetti sauce. —Donna Klettke, Wheatland, Missouri
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Breadstick Pizza

Not only do refrigerated breadsticks lend a fun twist to pizza, but they make this dish a weeknight staple at my house. Feeding kids? Slice pieces into small strips and let the kids dip each strip into marinara sauce. They’ll love it! —Mary Hankins, Kansas City, Missouri
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Pizza Egg Rolls

Love pizza rolls but wish they were a little bigger? This recipe for pizza egg rolls is for you. Make a big batch of these to store in the freezer for later.
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Grilled Elote Flatbread

Here's a fun twist on a classic Mexican dish! Keep your kitchen cooled down during the summer by grilling this fresh flatbread outdoors. —Amanda Phillips, Portland, Oregon
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Chicken & Blue Cheese Pizza

The blue cheese in place of the expected mozzarella gives this pizza a surprising and sophisticated taste. It's excellent as an entree or appetizer—it can be prepared in a round pizza pan as well. —Beverly Lynch, Sugar Grove, Illinois
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Herbed Pizza Sticks

We love the pizza appetizer we get hot from the oven at our local pizza parlor. Now I can serve that same wonderful goodness at home. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
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Garlic Bread Pizza

Our Test Kitchen-approved garlic bread pizza recipe needs four ingredients and 15 minutes. The results are a cheesy and oh-so-savory appetizer that can feed a crowd in a pinch!
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Low-Carb Pizza Rolls

I came up with a lower carb version of my stuffed pizza rolls recipe when I decided to try more of a keto/paleo lifestyle and needed something satisfying to heat up at work for lunches. This is quick, easy, and lower in carbs! Mix and match toppings to suit your tastes like a vegetarian version, Hawaiian or meat lovers. —Sarah Gilbert-Roberts, Beaverton, Oregon
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Lunch Box Pizzas

When you have these fun-to-make pizza appetizers, it’s no challenge finding lunch fare that the kids enjoy. Plus they pack nicely in sandwich bags and travel well, so there’s no mess. —Rhonda Cliett, Belton, Texas
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Pizza on a Stick

My daughter and her friends had fun turning sausage, pepperoni, veggies and pizza dough into these cute kabobs. Give our version a try or make your own using you favorite light pizza toppings. —Charlene Woods, Norfolk, Virginia
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Grilled Cheese & Tomato Flatbreads

This is a combination of grilled pizza and a cheesy flatbread recipe I discovered years ago. It's a great appetizer or main dish. —Tina Repak Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Pizza Appetizers FAQ

What’s the best way to make appetizer pizza or mini pizza?

The best appetizer pizza or mini pizza has concentrated colors and bold flavors in every bite. Your appetizer is made to make an impression on the guests and get them excited for the next course, after all. So go big on bold flavors and vibrant colors. Our arugula pizza is an excellent example. This gorgeous pizza is speckled with sweet red pizza sauce, salty prosciutto, nutty Parmesan and peppery arugula. Every bite delivers multiple colors, textures and flavors.

How do I keep pizza appetizers warm?

To keep your pizza appetizers warm, keep them on standby in a low oven (around 200°F) until ready to serve. Don’t top your pizza with any fresh toppings like herbs, raw vegetables or leafy greens until service time. Finally, don’t keep your apps out at room temperature longer than two hours, or you’ll risk harmful bacterial growth.

What should I serve to drink with pizza appetizers?

Since pizza apps (and all apps!) tend to be rich and bold, they’re paired well with crisp or bubbly drinks. Champagne, beer and fizzy cocktails will go quite nicely with your pizzas. For alcohol-free drinks, try sparkling water, punch recipes, aguas frescas (Mexican fresh fruit drinks) and clear sodas like lemon-lime.