occasion: cocktail party

Have you tried a paloma cocktail? This recipe is made with fresh grapefruit and lime juices, grapefruit soda, and tequila. It's fizzy and refreshing for summer!

Paloma Cocktail

tequila blanco

lime juice

fresh grapefruit juice

salt

ice,

grapefruit soda,

pink

lime wedges,

Divide the tequila and lime and grapefruit juices among the 3 glasses. Add a pinch of salt to each glass. Fill three-quarters full of ice, then stir to combine. Top with grapefruit soda, then garnish with a slice of grapefruit and a lime wedge.

Coated in crushed potato chips, these fried mac and cheese balls are the ultimate indulgence. You can bring this appetizer recipe to any kind of party!

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

lb. elbow macaroni

butter

milk

cheddar cheese

shredded pepper-jack cheese

kosher salt

cayenne pepper

eggs

potato chips

Vegetable oil,

Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and rinse the macaroni and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring with a whisk. Whisk in the milk and cook for 3 to&nbsp;4 minutes until the mixture reaches a low boil and thickens. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the cheeses, and mix&nbsp;until melted. Add the pimientos, salt, and cayenne pepper; stir to combine. Fold in the macaroni. (The mixture will be very thick.)

Spread the macaroni mixture evenly into a 13-by-9-inch pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until cold.

Shape the cold macaroni mixture into 2-inch sized balls and place on a parchment-lined sheet tray.&nbsp;

Place the potato chips in a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the bag to finely crush the chips. Pour the crushed chips into a shallow dish. Place the remaining 1 cup of&nbsp;flour in another shallow dish. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Roll each ball in the flour, then dip in the eggs, letting any excess egg drip off. Roll each ball in the crushed&nbsp;potato chips, firmly pressing the chips into the ball to create a solid coating. Return the balls to the baking sheet. Repeat to coat all of the balls.

Fill a Dutch oven or large pot with oil to a depth of 2 inches.&nbsp;Heat the oil until a thermometer registers 350°F. Fry 6 balls at a time for 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and hot in the center. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.

Pop these easy cocktail meatballs in your slow cooker and serve them up at your next party.

Cocktail Meatballs

beef

pork

breadcrumbs

c. grated onion (about 1 small onion)

c. fresh parsley. finely chopped

black pepper

chili sauce

apricot preserves

soy sauce

sriracha

For the meatballs: Combine the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, eggs, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix until combined. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop and roll the meat into about 45 small meatballs.&nbsp;

For the sauce: Whisk the chili sauce, apricot preserves, soy sauce and sriracha in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Remove ½ cup of the sauce and set aside. Nestle the meatballs in the remaining sauce in the slow cooker in 2 layers.&nbsp;

Pour the reserved sauce over the top layer of meatballs. Cover and cook on high until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick, 4 hours, gently stirring the meatballs halfway through to coat with the sauce. Serve from the slow cooker or spoon into a shallow bowl.&nbsp;

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Tex-Mex Layer Dip is the same layer dip I grew up eating in the eighties, with a few modifications.

Tex-Mex Layer Dip

16 oz. can refried beans

Tabasco sauce,

oz. can diced green chiles

cumin,

c. cheddar cheese

sour cream

c. guacamole

c. grated Monterey Jack cheese

oz. can black olives

c. pico de gallo

diced,

Begin by throwing the refried beans into a small pan over medium-low heat. Add several dashes of Tabasco sauce and a small can of (undrained) diced green chilies. Stir well. Next, sprinkle a little bit of ground cumin.

Spread the beans on the bottom of a glass bowl or high-sided dish. Over this sprinkle the sharp cheddar. Next, plop your sour cream and spread it into a single layer, being careful not to disturb the cheese underneath.

The next layer is the guacamole. Spread it over the sour cream. Follow this with a layer of Monterey Jack Cheese and a nice sprinkling of chopped black olives.

Lastly, place a generous layer of pico de gallo. You can also, if you have the gumption for it, sprinkle some diced jalapeños over top.<br>

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The Pioneer Woman's Tex-Mex Layer Dip Recipe

Served with sweet and tangy honey mustard, this easy, cheesy, sausage balls recipe makes a wonderful quick breakfast, snack, or appetizer recipe!

Sausage Balls

c. all-purpose flour

tbsp. baking powder

Creole seasoning

pork sausage

(8-oz.) block cream cheese,

green onions, finely chopped

mayonnaise

tbsp. honey

yellow mustard

mustard

white vinegar

For the sausage balls: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and Creole seasoning until well combined.

In a large bowl, crumble the raw sausage. Add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onion, and flour mixture. Use clean hands to knead the ingredients together.

Scoop and roll the sausage mixture into 1-tablespoon-sized&nbsp;balls and place on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.

For the honey mustard dipping sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, honey, yellow mustard, whole grain mustard, and vinegar until well combined.

Serve the sausage balls warm or at room temperature with the&nbsp;honey mustard dipping sauce.

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Whip up this 3-ingredient sausage dip recipe in 10 minutes! Made with sausage, cream cheese, and salsa, this party appetizer is perfect for the Super Bowl.

Sausage Dip

lb. pork sausage,

cream cheese

c. chunky salsa

green onion and chopped cilantro, to serve

Tortilla chips, to serve

Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat until very hot. Add the sausage and break up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink pieces remain, about 6 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cream cheese and break up into smaller pieces. Add the salsa and stir well to combine. Continue to stir until all of the cream cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.

Top with scallions and cilantro and serve right out of the skillet with tortilla chips.

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Your favorite summer refresher gets a wintery twist in this blood orange spritz recipe. Serve this fruity cocktail at your holiday party this year.

Blood Orange Spritz

blood orange juice

Aperol

Sparkling wine

Blood orange twist,

Fill <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DRSNDZP/ref=s9_acsd_topr_hd_bw_b1DN7_c_x_2_w?" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cocktail shaker</a> with ice. Add blood orange juice&nbsp;and Aperol&nbsp;and shake well, 1 minute.&nbsp;

Strain into champagne coupe and top with&nbsp;sparkling wine. Serve with&nbsp;blood orange twist.

Shake up a round of caramel apple martinis to cheers fall! This cocktail recipe calls for vodka, apple cider, butterscotch schnapps, and a sticky caramel rim.

Caramel Apple Martini

Caramel sauce,

Ice,

apple cider

vodka

butterscotch schnapps

apple,

Place two martini glasses in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes before serving.&nbsp;

Dip the rims of the martini glasses in caramel sauce.

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice. Add the apple cider, vodka, and butterscotch schnapps. Seal and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Divide the mixture between the prepared martini glasses; garnish with apple, if you like.

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Make these easy, flavorful antipasto skewers for your next gathering. Packed with meat, cheeses, and veggies, they’re the perfect make-ahead appetizer recipe!

Antipasto Skewers

olive oil

tbsp. red wine vinegar

Italian seasoning

ciliegine mozzarella balls, drained

red pepper

kalamata olives

salami (about 5 oz.)

basil leaves (about 1/4 c.)

bite-size pieces marinated artichoke hearts (from a jar)

cherry tomatoes

pepperoncini

Balsamic glaze, for drizzling

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, and salt. Add the mozzarella balls to the dressing and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 12 hours. Slice the roasted red pepper into 12 (1-by-1-inch) squares.

Thread the ingredients onto 12 (6-inch) wooden skewers in the following order: roasted red pepper (folded in half), olive, salami slice (folded into quarters), basil leaf, marinated mozzarella ball, artichoke heart, tomato, basil leaf, salami slice (folded into quarters), and pepperoncini. Place the skewers on a platter and drizzle with the balsamic glaze just before serving.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shake up a round of gingerbread martinis for a sweet, boozy finish to Christmas dinner! This cocktail recipe has just four ingredients, plus a few fun toppings.

Gingerbread Martini

creme de cacao

gingerbread syrup

half-and-half

Whipped cream, to serve

Gingerbread cookies, to serve

In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, creme de cacao, gingerbread syrup, half-and-half, and ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 15 to&nbsp;20 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses.

Top each martini with a dollop of whipped cream and gingerbread cookie crumbs. Serve with more gingerbread cookies, if you like.

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This hot, bubbly bean dip recipe is an easy appetizer recipe for football season, or any season! The cheesy snack is baked and served in a cast-iron skillet.

Bean Dip

salted butter

white onion

garlic cloves,

Kosher salt and black pepper

ranch-style beans, pinto beans, or chili beans

c. enchilada sauce

sour cream,

c. grated cheddar jack cheese (about 8 oz.)

Roma tomato, diced

white onion, diced

cilantro leaves

avocado, sliced

c. crumbled cotija cheese

Sour cream (optional)

Tortilla chips

In a small, ovenproof skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beans and enchilada sauce, and let simmer until the flavors are combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Mash the beans with the back of a fork.

Fold in the sour cream and 1/2 cup of the cheddar jack cheese. Mix well and top with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar jack cheese.

Broil the dip until the cheese starts to brown and bubble, 3 to 4 minutes. 

For serving: Garnish with the tomato, onion, cilantro, avocado, cotija, and sour cream, if you like.

Serve hot with tortilla chips on the side.

Make a lemon pizza like the one at Paige Drummond's bridal shower! It has a cheesy, garlicky white base and lemon slices, fresh basil, and hot honey on top.

Lemon Pizza

active dry yeast

granulated sugar

c. warm water (90°F

c. all-purpose flour,

tbsp. olive oil,

cheese

garlic cloves, finely chopped

shallots, thinly sliced

c. mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)

mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)

lemon,

hot honey, for drizzling

c. fresh basil, cut into a chiffonade

For the crust: In the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the warm water. Whisk to combine and then let sit until bubbles have formed on the surface, about 5 minutes. Add the flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and mix with the dough hook on low speed until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bottoms and sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium-low and mix until everything is well incorporated and the dough is sticky, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Drizzle the top of the dough and down the sides of the bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Flip the dough to coat in the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour 30 minutes.&nbsp;

For the pizza: About 30 minutes before you're ready to make the pizzas, place a pizza stone, steel, or an upside-down baking sheet on the upper third rack of the oven and preheat to 500°F. Cover an upside-down baking sheet with a 14-inch piece of heavy-duty foil. Lightly brush the foil with olive oil and dust with flour.

On a lightly floured surface, cut the dough in half and shape into tight balls. (If you're making the dough in advance, stop here and see the tip&nbsp;for dough storage below.) Place the balls about 3 inches apart on a lightly floured surface, cover, and let rest until the dough has relaxed and springs back slowly when gently pressed with a finger, about 10 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, pull and stretch one of the dough balls into a 10-inch round and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet. (Keep the other dough ball covered.)

Brush the crust with olive oil (including the edges). Working in this order, sprinkle the crust with half the parmesan, garlic, shallots, low-moisture mozzarella, and fresh mozzarella. Top with half the lemon slices and brush them with olive oil.

Using the upside-down baking sheet as a pizza peel, slide the pizza with the foil onto the preheated baking stone. Bake until the crust is browned,&nbsp;the cheese is bubbling, and the edges of the lemon are caramelized, 12 to 16 minutes. Drizzle with half the&nbsp;honey and sprinkle with half the basil just before serving. Repeat with the remaining dough and ingredients.

Cheesy, spicy, and just a little sweet, pimento cheese thumbprint crackers are irresistible filled with hot pepper jelly. This recipe makes a tasty appetizer!

Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers

baking powder

tsp. chipotle chile powder

garlic powder

mustard powder

c. (1 stick) cold salted butter, cubed

sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 c.)

tbsp. drained diced pimentos

water

c. pepper jelly

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Pulse the flour, baking powder, chile powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper in a food processor until combined. Pulse in the butter until coarse crumbs form. Add the cheese and pimentos and process until well distributed, about 10 seconds. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pulse in the water until a dough forms.

Top 20 occasion: cocktail party recipes from across the web

The most viewed occasion: cocktail party recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Paloma Cocktail

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

Cocktail Meatballs

Tex-Mex Layer Dip

Sausage Balls

Sausage Dip

Blood Orange Spritz

Caramel Apple Martini

Antipasto Skewers

Gingerbread Martini

Bean Dip

Lemon Pizza

Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers

Sour Cream and Onion Deviled Eggs

Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza

Air Fryer Ravioli

Raspberry Sorbet Spritz

Frosé

Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

Eyeball Martinis

Top 20 occasion: cocktail party recipes from across the web

The most viewed occasion: cocktail party recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Paloma Cocktail

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

Cocktail Meatballs

Tex-Mex Layer Dip

Sausage Balls

Sausage Dip

Blood Orange Spritz

Caramel Apple Martini

Antipasto Skewers

Gingerbread Martini

Bean Dip

Lemon Pizza

Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers

Sour Cream and Onion Deviled Eggs

Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza

Air Fryer Ravioli

Raspberry Sorbet Spritz

Frosé

Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

Eyeball Martinis

The most viewed occasion: cocktail party recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine