Ingredients

You thought you were doing great. You cleaned the house, got yourself ready and prepped all the food for your party with extra time to spare -- or so you thought. But that's when you realize that -- GASP! -- you forgot the appetizers!!

If you've ever been in this stressful scenario, or if you just simply don't have the time and/or energy to whip up any elaborate apps, whether it is for a potluck or even just for a relaxing afternoon at home, you can breathe easy.

Here are some incredibly simple appetizers you can make that have three essential ingredients or fewer. You might need to add some seasoning or oil here or there, but I'm assuming you already have that stuff, ok?

1. Super-Easy Mozzarella Sticks

Yep, all you need to do is fry some string cheese folded into egg roll wrappers. P.S. If you happen to not have an egg within reach, you can skip the egg wash and just brush the final fold with water so that it seals better.

2. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Two ingredients! So simple! You can also grill these, if you want. If you're taking this route, I recommend tossing the asparagus in olive oil and pre-grilling it for around five minutes if you like your asparagus more tender (if you like it more al dente, skip this step). Then wrap in the bacon and put back on the grill for five or so more minutes, until it is nice and crisp.

3. Apricots and Creme Fraiche

​

Summer is definitely the wrong time to sleep on fresh fruit appetizers, especially if you have access to some good stuff. Don't have apricots? You can sub for a similar stone fruit like peaches if you'd like. The fresh, sweet flavors with that tiny pop of savory pepper is just perfectly balanced goodness that's sure to be a hit.

4. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Wrap anything in bacon and it instantly becomes tasty, especially if that thing happens to be a cheese-stuffed jalapeno. By the way, if you want to cut down on cooking time, you can cook the bacon in the microwave, crumble it and mix it into the cream cheese instead of wrapping it.

5. Three-Ingredient Creamy Sweet and Sour Wonton Dip

This one is honestly so easy, especially if you have extra wonton skins on hand from making #1. An excellent reason to keep sweet and sour sauce on hand.

6. Citrus Crisps

You might think you don't have anything lying around that you can make into a quick appetizer, but if you've got any type of citrus fruit, you're good to go. Martha recommends using sweeter stuff like Meyer lemons and grapefruit, but you can absolutely play around with lemons or limes, though you might want to really smother them in sugar to keep them from tasting too sour.

7. Easy Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

These are fast, semi-healthy and stunningly tasty. Feel free to switch it up and mix in anything you want, like crab meat, crumbled Italian sausage or leftover chicken. P.S. Here's how to make pesto from scratch, if you're into that.

8. Three-Ingredient Five Minute Crab Dip

The secret is that particular Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy blend. If you can't find it, however, you can probably get away with some Old Bay, cayenne pepper and salt. I won't tell anyone.

9. Cheesy Pesto Crescents

Pesto. Crescent rolls. Cheese. It's that simple! If you don't have string cheese, you can use absolutely anything else you want. Shredded mozzarella, ricotta, blue, jack … it's all good.

10. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings

You know those ranch powder packets that you keep around for no known reason? Yeah, that's the secret ingredient that makes these chicken wings so good. If you like them a little crispier and have a few extra minutes to spare, you can bake them like so and simply toss them in the sauce right before serving.

Instructions

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You thought you were doing great. You cleaned the house, got yourself ready and prepped all the food for your party with extra time to spare -- or so you thought. But that's when you realize that -- GASP! -- you forgot the appetizers!!

If you've ever been in this stressful scenario, or if you just simply don't have the time and/or energy to whip up any elaborate apps, whether it is for a potluck or even just for a relaxing afternoon at home, you can breathe easy.

Here are some incredibly simple appetizers you can make that have three essential ingredients or fewer. You might need to add some seasoning or oil here or there, but I'm assuming you already have that stuff, ok?

1. Super-Easy Mozzarella Sticks

Yep, all you need to do is fry some string cheese folded into egg roll wrappers. P.S. If you happen to not have an egg within reach, you can skip the egg wash and just brush the final fold with water so that it seals better.

2. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Two ingredients! So simple! You can also grill these, if you want. If you're taking this route, I recommend tossing the asparagus in olive oil and pre-grilling it for around five minutes if you like your asparagus more tender (if you like it more al dente, skip this step). Then wrap in the bacon and put back on the grill for five or so more minutes, until it is nice and crisp.

3. Apricots and Creme Fraiche

​

Summer is definitely the wrong time to sleep on fresh fruit appetizers, especially if you have access to some good stuff. Don't have apricots? You can sub for a similar stone fruit like peaches if you'd like. The fresh, sweet flavors with that tiny pop of savory pepper is just perfectly balanced goodness that's sure to be a hit.

4. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Wrap anything in bacon and it instantly becomes tasty, especially if that thing happens to be a cheese-stuffed jalapeno. By the way, if you want to cut down on cooking time, you can cook the bacon in the microwave, crumble it and mix it into the cream cheese instead of wrapping it.

5. Three-Ingredient Creamy Sweet and Sour Wonton Dip

This one is honestly so easy, especially if you have extra wonton skins on hand from making #1. An excellent reason to keep sweet and sour sauce on hand.

6. Citrus Crisps

You might think you don't have anything lying around that you can make into a quick appetizer, but if you've got any type of citrus fruit, you're good to go. Martha recommends using sweeter stuff like Meyer lemons and grapefruit, but you can absolutely play around with lemons or limes, though you might want to really smother them in sugar to keep them from tasting too sour.

7. Easy Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

These are fast, semi-healthy and stunningly tasty. Feel free to switch it up and mix in anything you want, like crab meat, crumbled Italian sausage or leftover chicken. P.S. Here's how to make pesto from scratch, if you're into that.

8. Three-Ingredient Five Minute Crab Dip

The secret is that particular Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy blend. If you can't find it, however, you can probably get away with some Old Bay, cayenne pepper and salt. I won't tell anyone.

9. Cheesy Pesto Crescents

Pesto. Crescent rolls. Cheese. It's that simple! If you don't have string cheese, you can use absolutely anything else you want. Shredded mozzarella, ricotta, blue, jack … it's all good.

10. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings

You know those ranch powder packets that you keep around for no known reason? Yeah, that's the secret ingredient that makes these chicken wings so good. If you like them a little crispier and have a few extra minutes to spare, you can bake them like so and simply toss them in the sauce right before serving.

10 Amazingly Easy 3-Ingredient Appetizers (Recipes)

You thought you were doing great. You cleaned the house, got yourself ready and prepped all the food for your party with extra time to spare -- or so you thought. But that's when you realize that -- GASP! -- you forgot the appetizers!!

If you've ever been in this stressful scenario, or if you just simply don't have the time and/or energy to whip up any elaborate apps, whether it is for a potluck or even just for a relaxing afternoon at home, you can breathe easy.

Here are some incredibly simple appetizers you can make that have three essential ingredients or fewer. You might need to add some seasoning or oil here or there, but I'm assuming you already have that stuff, ok?

1. Super-Easy Mozzarella Sticks

Yep, all you need to do is fry some string cheese folded into egg roll wrappers. P.S. If you happen to not have an egg within reach, you can skip the egg wash and just brush the final fold with water so that it seals better.

2. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Two ingredients! So simple! You can also grill these, if you want. If you're taking this route, I recommend tossing the asparagus in olive oil and pre-grilling it for around five minutes if you like your asparagus more tender (if you like it more al dente, skip this step). Then wrap in the bacon and put back on the grill for five or so more minutes, until it is nice and crisp.

3. Apricots and Creme Fraiche

​

Summer is definitely the wrong time to sleep on fresh fruit appetizers, especially if you have access to some good stuff. Don't have apricots? You can sub for a similar stone fruit like peaches if you'd like. The fresh, sweet flavors with that tiny pop of savory pepper is just perfectly balanced goodness that's sure to be a hit.

4. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Wrap anything in bacon and it instantly becomes tasty, especially if that thing happens to be a cheese-stuffed jalapeno. By the way, if you want to cut down on cooking time, you can cook the bacon in the microwave, crumble it and mix it into the cream cheese instead of wrapping it.

5. Three-Ingredient Creamy Sweet and Sour Wonton Dip

This one is honestly so easy, especially if you have extra wonton skins on hand from making #1. An excellent reason to keep sweet and sour sauce on hand.

6. Citrus Crisps

You might think you don't have anything lying around that you can make into a quick appetizer, but if you've got any type of citrus fruit, you're good to go. Martha recommends using sweeter stuff like Meyer lemons and grapefruit, but you can absolutely play around with lemons or limes, though you might want to really smother them in sugar to keep them from tasting too sour.

7. Easy Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

These are fast, semi-healthy and stunningly tasty. Feel free to switch it up and mix in anything you want, like crab meat, crumbled Italian sausage or leftover chicken. P.S. Here's how to make pesto from scratch, if you're into that.

8. Three-Ingredient Five Minute Crab Dip

The secret is that particular Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy blend. If you can't find it, however, you can probably get away with some Old Bay, cayenne pepper and salt. I won't tell anyone.

9. Cheesy Pesto Crescents

Pesto. Crescent rolls. Cheese. It's that simple! If you don't have string cheese, you can use absolutely anything else you want. Shredded mozzarella, ricotta, blue, jack … it's all good.

10. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings

You know those ranch powder packets that you keep around for no known reason? Yeah, that's the secret ingredient that makes these chicken wings so good. If you like them a little crispier and have a few extra minutes to spare, you can bake them like so and simply toss them in the sauce right before serving.