12 Quick Pantry Snacks

Unexpected guests? Transform simple pantry and fridge ingredients into quick appetizers for company.

Ingredient: canned olives

Appetizer: Marinated olives

Heat in olive oil with spices of your choice – try red pepper flakes, fennel and coriander seeds, or orange zest and rosemary.

Ingredient: plain yogurt

Appetizer: Yogurt Dip

Flavor this vegetable dip with lemon zest and minced garlic or horseradish.

Ingredient: popcorn

Appetizer: Spicy Popcorn

Instead of regular salt, drizzle this versatile snack with melted butter and season with a few spices. Try Old Bay seafood seasoning, 5-spice blend, smoked paprika, or herbes de Provence.

Ingredient: pita with pockets

Appetizer: Pita Chips

Cut into triangles, toss with olive oil and grated Parmesan, then fry for homemade chips.

Ingredient: hummus pack

Appetizer: Spiced Hummus

Elevate your everyday hummus by serving it in a pretty bowl, drizzling it with olive oil and seasoning it with paprika or cayenne pepper.

Ingredient: baguette or country bread

Appetizer: Garlic Crostini

Cut into slices, rub with garlic and olive oil, fry – and crostini are ready!

Ingredient: a block of goat cheese

Appetizer: Goat cheese with herbs

Roll in chopped herbs—like parsley, cilantro, chives, or a combination—for a quick cheese and cracker appetizer.

Ingredient: tortilla

Appetizer: Quick Quesadilla

Layer cheese—Swiss, mozzarella, Havarti (almost any melting cheese will do)—between the tortillas and broil. Serve these simple quesadilla triangles. Pickled jalapeños, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or shredded chicken are great accompaniments.

Ingredient: Jarred roasted sweet peppers

Appetizer: Roasted Pepper Crostini

Cut into strips and toss with olive oil and something green—like chopped parsley, cilantro, capers, or green onions. It makes a hearty topping for toast.