When you’re feeding a crowd, I get that you don’t want to spend half your day making appetizers.
That’s why I love using chicken!
Chicken appetizers are super easy to make in big batches and there are tons of ways you can dress them up to create different flavors.
And trust me when I say that you can never have too many chicken bites on the table.
Sometimes I’ll make two or three different appetizers so there’s some variety.
It’s easy because I’m using the same base ingredient.
I just have to switch up the flavor, like doing something with maple and bacon or going with a spicy buffalo chicken taste.
There’s so much you can do!
So if you have a big gathering coming up and you’re looking for a simple way to feed a bunch of people, check out these delicious chicken appetizers:
1. Jalapeno Ranch Chicken Poppers
Start with cooked, ground chicken and mix it up with cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and a spoonful of ranch dressing.
Slice fresh jalapeños in half, scoop out the seeds, and stuff them with the creamy chicken mixture.
Top with extra cheese and bake at 375°F until the peppers are tender and the tops are golden.
Sometimes I wrap mine in half a strip of bacon before baking for an extra kick!
You can also swap the cheddar for pepper jack if you want them even spicier.
2. Chicken Zucchini Poppers
Grate a couple of zucchinis, squeeze out the liquid (seriously, don’t skip that part), and combine with ground chicken, breadcrumbs, garlic, and an egg.
And you can add a little parmesan into the mix for extra flavor.
Roll into little balls and bake at 400°F until they’re browned and cooked through.
These are great dipped in marinara or tzatziki.
3. Spicy Chicken Cheese Balls
Mix some shredded chicken with cream cheese, hot sauce, and shredded mozzarella.
Shape into balls and roll each one in seasoned breadcrumbs.
Fry them until they’re golden and crisp or bake them if you want less mess.
I once added chopped green onions and it gave the perfect little punch and crunch!
Serve with ranch or blue cheese for dipping.
4. Chicken Cheese Balls
This version is a little milder and a bit cheesier.
Mix up some shredded chicken with cream cheese, garlic powder, and shredded cheddar.
Form into balls, coat with flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs, then fry until crispy.
Kids usually go for these over the spicy ones, so I like to make both and set them out together.
You can also switch the cheddar for mozzarella if you want them gooey and stretchy inside.
5. Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls
Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks, dip in a light batter (flour, cornstarch, egg, and water), and fry until golden.
Toss the hot chicken in sweet and sour sauce right before serving.
I’ve cheated and used bottled sauce more than once, but a quick homemade version with ketchup, vinegar, and pineapple juice tastes amazing!
If you’re serving a crowd, keep them in a slow cooker on warm with the sauce so they don’t dry out.
6. Maple Bacon Chicken Bites
This one never lasts long at a gathering!
Cube chicken breasts and wrap each piece with half a slice of bacon.
Secure everything with a toothpick, brush with maple syrup, and bake at 400°F until the bacon is crisp and the chicken is cooked through.
Sometimes I mix maple syrup with a bit of Dijon mustard for a sweet and savory glaze.
7. Buffalo Chicken Bites
Mix up some shredded chicken with cream cheese, cheddar, and buffalo sauce.
Scoop it into small mounds, roll them in breadcrumbs, and bake until golden.
If you want to make these one-bite appetizers, make them a little smaller than golf balls.
Serve with celery sticks and a little ranch on the side.
8. Spicy Honey Chicken Bites
Toss chicken chunks in flour seasoned with paprika, garlic, and chili powder.
Fry the bites until they’re crispy, then coat in a sauce made with honey, hot sauce, and a splash of soy sauce.
These get sticky and sweet with just enough heat.
A sprinkle of sesame seeds makes them look party-ready.
9. Thai Chicken Bites
These taste like an appetizer right from a restaurant!
Marinate chicken pieces in soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and ginger.
Skewer them or just bake on a sheet pan until browned then toss with a quick peanut sauce made with peanut butter, soy, and lime for serving.
Add some chopped cilantro if you want to brighten them up.
10. Chicken Parmesan Bites
Bread chicken chunks in seasoned breadcrumbs, bake until golden, then spoon a little marinara and sprinkle mozzarella on top.
Pop back in the oven until the cheese melts.
These taste like mini chicken parms and disappear fast!
If you want, set out extra marinara on the side for dipping.
11. Chicken Caesar Bites
Cube cooked chicken and toss it in Caesar dressing and bacon bits until it’s all coated.
Then take toasted baguette slices and layer with chopped romaine, the chicken mix, and a sprinkle of parm cheese.
I like to drizzle a little extra dressing over the top to keep them juicy.
If you want something lighter, you can swap out the baguette slices for mini lettuce cups.
Although you will miss out on the crouton-ish crunch!
12. Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites
These sound fancy but they’re super easy to make!
Wrap small chicken pieces with ham and Swiss cheese, then secure with toothpicks.
Dip in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and bake until golden.
A quick Dijon cream sauce on the side makes them feel extra special.
If you don’t have Swiss (not everyone does), mozzarella works just fine.
13. Chicken and Waffle Bites
Cut frozen mini waffles in half (or full sized waffles in quarters) and sandwich them with a crispy chicken nugget.
Drizzle with some warm maple syrup right before serving.
I once used spicy chicken strips and the sweet-salty combo was amazing!
If you’re prepping ahead, keep the waffles warm in the oven so they don’t go soggy.
14. Grilled Chicken Bites with Creamy Garlic Sauce
Season some chicken chunks with salt, pepper, and paprika, then grill until juicy with a little char.
Blend up sour cream, mayo, garlic, and lemon for a dipping sauce.
You can add a sprinkle of parsley on top to make them look party ready.
And these are great for anyone who doesn’t want fried appetizers.
15. Sweet Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Bake some chicken wings at 400°F until crispy, then toss with a sauce made from honey, soy sauce, and garlic.
I like to broil them for a minute at the end so the glaze gets sticky.
If you want, add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
They taste just as good made in the air fryer.
16. Cowboy Butter Chicken Wings
Whisk together some melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, and fresh herbs for the sauce.
Bake or fry wings until crisp, then toss them in the cowboy butter while still hot.
I sometimes throw in a pinch of cayenne for an extra kick.
These are rich, messy, and worth every napkin!
17. Crispy Buffalo Wings
Coat chicken wings in flour, baking powder, and spices, then bake until golden and crunchy.
Toss in classic buffalo sauce made with hot sauce and butter.
You can air fry them and they come out just as good.
Ranch or blue cheese on the side is a must…and a little celery balances all the heat.
18. Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Bake or fry wings until crispy, then toss with bottled sweet chili sauce and a squeeze of lime.
You can top them with sesame seeds for crunch.
And if you want them spicier, stir a spoonful of sriracha into the sauce.
These are great because they’re sweet first, then the heat sneaks in.
19. Chicken Salad Cups
Scoop some chicken salad (chicken, mayo, celery, grapes, and a little Dijon) into mini phyllo cups or wonton shells.
If you want a little extra crunch, add in some chopped pecans.
I love these because they can be made ahead and chilled, then filled right before serving.
Oh, and you can swap grapes for dried cranberries if you want more tang.
20. BBQ Chicken Cups
Press small biscuit dough rounds or wonton cups into a muffin tin to make little cups.
Fill with shredded BBQ chicken and top with shredded cheddar.
Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the biscuit edges are golden.
I once added a bit of coleslaw on top of each and it gave the perfect zing!
Serve warm so the cups stay soft inside.
21. Bang Bang Chicken Sliders
Cook bite-sized chicken pieces, toss them in bang bang sauce (mayo, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha), and pile onto slider buns.
Add some shredded lettuce for crunch and drizzle extra sauce on top.
You can lightly toast the buns so they hold up better.
These get a little messy but that’s half the fun!
22. Crack Chicken Sliders
Mix shredded chicken with cream cheese, ranch seasoning, cheddar, and crumbled bacon.
Spoon into slider buns, top with more cheese, and bake until melty.
Make sure to brush the tops with butter and garlic powder before baking.
So good!
23. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
Spread tortillas with a mix of cream cheese, shredded chicken, ranch dressing, and crumbled bacon.
Sprinkle in shredded cheddar so they’re extra cheesy.
Roll the tortillas up tightly, chill for about 30 minutes, then slice into bite-sized pinwheels.
Sometimes I toss in a little chopped green onion for extra flavor.
These addictive chicken pinwheels are simple to prep ahead and always disappear fast at parties.
24. Buffalo Chicken Crescent Rolls
Roll out some crescent dough and fill each triangle with shredded chicken mixed with buffalo sauce and cream cheese.
Sprinkle a little cheddar inside for extra gooeyness!
Roll them up, bake until golden, and drizzle with ranch or blue cheese.
These smell amazing while they bake.
25. BBQ Chicken Taquitos
Another super easy one to make that tastes like a restaurant appetizer.
Mix some shredded chicken with BBQ sauce and cheese, then roll into small tortillas.
Bake them seam-side down until crisp and golden.
Serve them with ranch or sour cream for dipping.
And tip: If you’re making a lot, keep them warm in the oven until ready to serve!
26. Mini Chicken Quesadillas
Layer tortillas with some chicken, cheese, and a little salsa, then fold and cook on a skillet until crisp.
Use a round cutter or pizza slicer to make them bite-sized.
I always sneak one while cutting them because they’re so good hot off the pan.
A little sour cream and guac on the side makes them irresistible.
27. Buffalo Chicken Rangoons
Mix shredded chicken with cream cheese, cheddar, and buffalo sauce.
Spoon a little into wonton wrappers, seal with water, and fry until golden.
You can even make a batch ahead of time and freeze them!
Then you just have to fry them straight from frozen when needed.
Oh, and ranch dip is the perfect sidekick for these.
28. Cheesy Chicken Fritters
Combine chopped chicken with shredded mozzarella, egg, flour, and herbs.
I always chop the chicken super fine because it holds together better.
Spoon small mounds into a skillet and pan-fry until golden on both sides.
These are delicious served with marinara but you can also use ranch.
29. Chicken Kebabs
Marinate chicken chunks in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs for at least 30 minutes.
Thread the chunks onto skewers then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Grill or bake until the chicken is juicy and lightly charred.
These can be prepped ahead and cooked right before serving so they stay hot and fresh.
And if you want to mix it up, there’s so many kebab marinades you can try!
Because Chicken Never Lets You Down
Chicken appetizers really do cover all the bases: crispy, saucy, cheesy, and everything in between!
They’re easy to mix and match so there’s something for everyone, and they hold up well for parties big or small.
With so many flavors to play with, you can keep things classic or surprise your guests with something new.
