20 Throwback Appetizers That Prove Grandma Knew What She Was Doing

From classic cheese balls and deviled eggs to glazed ham balls and pimento cheese, every bite will feel like a hug from Nana.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published November 19, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
Overhead view of a white plate of a ham ball appetizer surrounded by various crackers and apple slices

Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

If you’re at a loss for what to serve at your next gathering, then you’ve come to the right place! These grandma-approved recipes are a throwback to those family get-togethers spent at Grandma’s house. You know, that never-ending spread of snacks laid out on the table, like classic cheese balls or deviled eggs, irresistible snack mixes, and retro dips. These are the stained and tattered recipes you would find in her recipe box—the ones she came back to time and again. So, if you’re looking to recreate those warm, nostalgic moments or start new memories and traditions, these timeless appetizers are guaranteed to please.

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  • 3-Ingredient Sausage Balls

    Sausage balls in a bowl at a table with glasses of wine and some table napkins

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    "I like to make sausage balls using spicy sausage for a kick of extra flavor. You can also swap out the cheese—use sharp cheddar for more punch, or even pepper Jack. Just make sure the cheese is a melty variety.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Grandma Rachel’s Curry Dip

    Bowl of curry dip surrounded by fresh vegetables including cucumbers, yellow peppers, snap peas, and tomatoes

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "I love recipes like this, since they’re so easy to put together. You’ll mince some garlic, chop some green onions, then stir everything up in a bowl. That’s it. The dip can be served right away or stored in the fridge for up to five days.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Grandma’s Triscuit Thingies

    Triscuit appetizers topped with melted cheese on a serving plate with flower design

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "My grandmother made a big bowl of the spread but only broiled a dozen or so crackers at a time so that they could be enjoyed warm. It was the move of a great hostess, but also a great way to prevent wasting ingredients. Any extra spread can be refrigerated and used within a few days.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Pimento Cheese

    Pimento Cheese in a Bowl on Platter with Sliced Vegetables and Crackers

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    "In the American South, pimento cheese is personal. More than just a spreadable dip, this Southern snack food holds within it memories of summers at Grandmother’s house, baby showers in a neighbor’s home, and snacks on the beach, handcrafted by beloved family members.” —Stephanie Burt, Recipe Developer

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  • Deviled Eggs

    A hand picking up a Classic Deviled Egg off a small plate.
    Kelly Hamilton

    "When you make deviled eggs, you need hard cooked eggs that are easy to peel! We've found the best way to make easy-to-peel hard boiled eggs is not to boil them, but to steam them. The hot steam penetrates the porous shell of the eggs to create just enough separation between the shells and the eggs to make them easy to peel.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cheese Straws

    Twisted Cheese Straws on a Plate Next to Two Drinks and a Kitchen Towel. One Twisted Cheese Straw Is Broken in Half Next to the Plate.

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "You can make the straws whatever length you want. As long as they are the same thickness, the bake time remains the same. A word to the wise: don’t make them more than 4 inches long, since they are more apt to break after baking.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Cucumber Sandwiches

    Stacked cucumber tea sandwiches on a plate with garnish
    Sally Vargas

    "The best cucumbers for these sandwiches are English cucumbers, also called burpless or European cucumbers. Long and thin, they were bred to create a cucumber with smaller seeds and thinner skin than the common cucumber.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Grandma Jean’s Snack Mix

    overhead view of a bowl of Grandma Jean’s Snack Mix Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    "A few years ago, I was lucky enough to receive two huge boxes stuffed to the brim with my Grandma Jean’s handwritten recipe cards. … Long before the days of online recipe rating, she’d label the ones she loved as ‘goo—ood’ and the ones that were just so-so as ‘fine’. Whenever I want to feel connected to her, I rifle through those recipes for inspiration.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

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  • 5-minute Chutney Cheese

    Platter of cheese chutney appetizer with crackers on the counter next to it

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "You’ll definitely want to use whipped cream cheese for this recipe—the fluffy and scoopable kind that comes in a tub, not a bar. It’s easily spreadable straight out of the tub, and no softening is required. That’s a big part of what makes this recipe so fast and easy to pull off last minute!” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Curried Chicken Salad With Endive

    Curried Chicken Endive Salad
    Elise Bauer

    "Crisp, tender, just slightly bitter endive leaves form the perfect vehicle for a little curried chicken salad. Think of them as fancy lettuce cups, with an even better shape for appetizer bites.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Homemade French Onion Dip

    Caramelized Onion Dip
    Elise Bauer

    "The only thing that takes time is caramelizing the onions, which you can do on a back burner while preparing something else. You can also prepare the onions a couple of days in advance if necessary.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Classic Cheese Ball

    Cheese ball garnished with chopped nuts on a plate surrounded by an assortment of crackers
    Nick Evans

    "Made this for Christmas appies, turned out amazing. This is going in my eat and repeat book! Lol Easy to make, recipe is simple to follow with minimal effort.” —Anne Michielsen, Reader

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  • Cheddar Cheese Puffs

    A plate of cheddar cheese puffs displayed on a decorated plate
    Elise Bauer

    "Pipe and shape and freeze before baking for later use. They will be wonderful, warm, fresh and take less space in freezer. Freeze on pan then put in a freezer bag or container. Extra few min in oven, just pop frozen puffs onto parchment lined baking sheet.” —Michelle, Reader

  • Boursin and Chutney Crackers

    Overhead view of a white plate of Ritz crackers topped with Boursin cheese and mango chutney

    Simply Recipes / Shayma Saadat

    "If you find that assembling it on crackers is too fiddly, you can place the Boursin in a shallow bowl or on a platter and pour the mango chutney over the top. Serve with grissini, potato chips, pita crackers, mini naans, endive leaves, and sliced Granny Smith apples for a beautiful dip. Your guests can swipe or dip as they like.” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • Pineapple Glazed Ham Balls

    Four glazed meatballs arranged in a line on a dark plate resting on a drizzle of sauce
    Elise Bauer

    "I have been using this recipe for the past couple years, found it in a pin. My family loves these and it is hard to have leftovers, even with a double batch. My middle son likes them so much that he will make them on his own.” —Kerry, Reader

  • Shrimp Dip

    Shrimp dip in a bowl next to crackers arranged on a flat surface
    Elise Bauer

    "This recipe is a keeper! The hardest part is having the thawed shrimp on hand. It is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe. My guests gobbled it up!” —Diana, Reader

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  • Retro Ham Ball

    Overhead view of a white plate of a ham ball appetizer surrounded by various crackers and apple slices

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "My mom passed away several years ago. I often think about her holiday dishes and how much meaning they held for us, what they symbolized, and how they meaningfully brought people together. This ham ball will always be among the most nostalgic recipes.” —Kris Osbourne, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Liver Pâté

    Chicken Liver Pate
    Elise Bauer

    "My husband and I love pate and there is only one restaurant in town that serves it for an appetizer. I came across this recipe and decided to try it, my husband said it was the best he has ever had. Thanks for sharing, will be making again for the upcoming holidays.” —Carmen P, Reader

  • Classic Stuffed Mushrooms

    Stuffed mushroom caps on an appetizer tray
    Sally Vargas

    "I just made these stuffed mushrooms. Delicious! I’m having trouble staying away from them. I made them exactly as written and I think they are perfect.” —Patricia, Reader

  • 4-Ingredient Tomato Cheese Dip

    Hand dipping a tortilla chip into a baked tomato and cheese dip

    Frank Tiu / Simply Recipes

    "The key to shredding Velveeta successfully is to freeze it first. Once it’s firm from the freezer, you can hand-shred it using a grater (hold the cheese in a towel as it’s uncomfortably cold), but the real hack is to use your food processor or rotary grater, if you have one. You’ll end up with a nice, even shred that will defrost in minutes.” —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

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