23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (2024)

Make the restaurant appetizer ideas you love and give them a healthy twist with these recipes. Whether it's a riff on the guacamole from your favorite Mexican restaurant or a bowl of ceviche that makes you feel like you're dining by the sea, these healthy recipes aim to please. Plus, each dish is low in sodium and saturated fat, so you can eat in a way that promotes heart health. Recipes like our Cuban Stromboli and Tomato & Avocado Salsa are so tasty, you'll want to eat them for dinner.

01of 23

Cuban Stromboli

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (1)

Inspired by the classic pressed Cuban sandwich, we've taken the pickle-meets-cold-cuts-and-Swiss-cheese combo and rolled it in pizza dough for a fun party snack that's easy to make.

02of 23

Almost Chipotle's Guacamole

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (2)

Make guacamole at home that tastes just like it came from Chipotle--but don't worry, our version won't be extra! This deliciously fresh guac is perfect for topping burrito bowls or tacos, or serve as an appetizer or healthy snack with tortilla chips and veggies.

03of 23

Goat Cheese Crostini with Fig Compote

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (3)

Here, dried figs are simmered in just enough liquid so they soften into a thick jam. Try stirring the leftover compote into your yogurt or oatmeal the next day.

04of 23

Tomato & Avocado Salsa

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (4)

You'll love this quick and delicious salsa so much, you'll want to make it for every Taco Night.

05of 23

Traditional Greek Tahini Dip

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (5)

Super creamy with the nutty flavor of sesame seeds, this homemade tahini sauce recipe is a popular way to begin a meal in Cyprus. Serve with crudités and pita.

06of 23

Peach-Mango Salsa

View Recipe

Tequila Guacamole

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (7)

Margarita lovers will go crazy for this twist on classic guacamole. Spiking your guacamole with tequila adds an extra layer of flavor and blends deliciously with the fresh lime juice and jalapeño. This guacamole is for grown-ups only, but you can omit the tequila if you're serving to kids.

08of 23

Classic Ceviche

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (8)

An acidic combination of citrus juices "cooks" fresh fish to make ceviche. Yuzu looks like a bumpy lemon and is prized in Japanese cuisine for its distinctly aromatic juice and rind. Buy yuzu juice in Asian markets and online, or substitute more lemon juice. Recipe adapted from Chef Greg Harrison, Pacific'O Restaurant.

09of 23

Boneless Buffalo Chicken Wings

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (9)

Don't save these wings for game night--they're easy enough to make that you can feel comfortable preparing them whenever you're having friends over. And since they're made with pieces of boneless chicken breast, you can eat them with a fork and eliminate messy fingers!

10of 23

Thai Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (10)

This appetizer will be a hit at your next party! The wonton cups are filled with chicken, crunchy cabbage and a delicious peanut satay sauce. Make sure to serve them right away as the wonton cups will lose their crispness once refrigerated.

11of 23

Baked Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Chile Dipping Sauce

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (11)

Ready in 30 minutes, these coconut shrimp appetizers will be a hit at your next party.

12of 23

Fresh Tomato Salsa

View Recipe

Caprese Skewers

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (13)

We take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.

14of 23

Farmy Hummus

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (14)

Adding baking soda to the soaking liquid for chickpeas tenderizes their skins, yielding extra-creamy hummus. Recipe by Chef/Farmer Stacey Givens of The Side Yard Farm & Kitchen, Portland, OR.

15of 23

Hasselback Cheesy Garlic Bread

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (15)

Potatoes were first to benefit from the Hasselback techinique--making thin slices crosswise toward the bottom of the vegetable, but not all the way through, so the potato becomes fanned, seasoned and baked until crisp. Here we've adapted the concept to garlic bread and updated it with cheese for an easy and completely mouthwatering cheesy bread side dish.

16of 23

Crab & Pea Cakes with Sesame-Ginger Aioli

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (16)

In this healthy crab cake recipe, the subtle sweetness of crab and peas is complemented with a pop of ginger and sesame oil in the aioli. Crab is available in a range of grades. For a sweeter flavor and more toothsome bite in this appetizer, choose lump or jumbo. Most crabs from the U.S. and Canada are considered good choices for the environment.

17of 23

Garlic Hummus

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (17)

This classic hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

18of 23

Salmon Tartare

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (18)

Rich-tasting salmon is brightened with the addition of Meyer lemon in this healthy appetizer recipe. If Meyer lemons aren't available, use a regular lemon for the zest and sub 2 teaspoons lemon juice plus 1 teaspoon orange juice for the Meyer lemon juice. Serve with cucumber slices, endive leaves and toasted baguette, if desired.

19of 23

Pico de Gallo

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (19)

This easy, fresh tomato salsa is delicious on tacos, tostadas or simply served with tortilla chips. Since the heat of jalapeños varies, start with one, taste, then add more if you want it hotter. For a sweet-tangy variation, add about 1 cup diced fresh fruit, such as pineapple, mango or peach.

20of 23

Watermelon Salsa

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (20)

Sweet, savory and crunchy salsa accompanies grilled pork or chicken rather nicely. Try it with tortilla chips as a refreshing alternative to a tomato salsa.

21of 23

Grilled Pineapple Salsa with Cucumber (Salsa de Pina Asada con Pepino y Habanero)

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (21)

Habanero chile gives this caramelized pineapple salsa recipe a little spice. If you're looking to tame the heat, try fresh jalapeños instead. Serve with grilled chicken or fish, as a dip with tortilla chips or on top of your favorite tacos.

22of 23

Scallop Crudo with Truffle Vinaigrette

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (22)

This scallop crudo recipe gets a flavorful addition with shaved truffles. To make thinly slicing the scallops easier, freeze them until they are firm but not frozen, about 20 minutes, and then slice.

23of 23

Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

View Recipe

23 Restaurant Copycat Appetizers You Can Make Heart-Healthy at Home (23)

This finger food is the perfect healthy appetizer to get your party going. Three ingredients are all it takes to make this elegant hors d'oeuvre—no one will ever guess how easy they were to make! Want to keep things plant-based? Use vegan pesto in the breadcrumb stuffing. You can also swap the whole-wheat breadcrumbs for gluten-free.