If you're looking for a super-versatile appetizer that you can change up and depend on no matter the occasion or season, look no further than crostini. co*cktail parties, game day hangs, baby showers, New Year’s… you name it, crostini will be perfect for it. The best part? The little Italian toasts can be topped with anything and everything you can think of—check out our 25 topping ideas and recipes for inspiration, then get creative.
Crostini means “little crusts” in Italian, so it only makes sense to start with the bread. To keep these bite-size, it’s best to start with a French baguette or other similarly long loaf, but you could also cut down deli rolls, ciabatta, or sourdough. For the most basic crostini base, you’ll want to slice your bread, drizzle both sides with olive oil, and bake at 350° until crispy and toasted, about 10 minutes. You could also take a note from bruschetta and rub your toasts with garlic cloves to impart extra flavor.
Once you’ve got your foundation ready, it’s time for the fun part—figuring out what to top them with! We’ve included a number of simple topping ideas perfect for riffing on, everything from Buffalo cauliflower to BLT-inspired options. If you do want more of a recipe, check out our black-eyed pea bruschetta, our brown butter radish crostini, or our brûléed brie crostini. They take a bit more planning, but are SO worth it.
Want even more easy appetizer inspiration? Check out our favorite crescent roll appetizers, our top puff pastry appetizers, and our best bite-size appetizers too.
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1
Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta
With leafy dark greens that flop around like cash, collard greens represent wealth and money, while black-eyed peas represent coins and luck, particularly around New Year's. Combine both with bacon and goat cheese on toast to ensure a prosperous (and delicious) year ahead.
Get the Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.
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2
Bruschetta
Nothing screams summer quite like bruschetta, but you CAN make these year-round too. Start by rubbing the toasted bread with garlic for an extra kick of flavor, then top them with simple marinated tomatoes or roasted tomatoes for the ultimate anytime snack.
Get the Bruschetta recipe.
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3
Brûléed Brie Crostini
Caramelizing the tops of your crostini is a great party trick. Assemble the toasts and wait to brûlée the top for when you’re ready to serve them. The crunchy sugar topping will then give way to an warm and oozy slice of brie and sweet jam. Yum!
Get the Brûléed Brie Crostini recipe.
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4
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
Shredded Brussels sprouts sautéed in a mixture of garlic and crushed red pepper, then topped on toasts with white cheddar will be beloved by all (even sprout haters!).
Get the Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Mini Toasts recipe.
5
Potato Skin Bites
These cheesy bites are like a combo between loaded potato skins and crostini, but they're SO much easier than both. They also are fancy enough for a dinner party, but laid back enough for game day. The best of both worlds!
Get the Potato Skin Bites recipe.
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6
Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese & Dill
Top toasted or fresh baguette slices with cream cheese, thinly sliced smoked salmon, and fresh dill for everything you love about a bagel with lox, in one poppable bite-size app.
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7
Brown Butter Radish Crostini
As is customary in France, we went the butter and salt route for these crostini, but took it a step further. Cue sweet, caramelized brown butter, whipped into an unctuous cloud: the perfect foil for paper-thin radish rounds.
Get the Brown Butter Radish Crostini recipe.
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8
Cheesy Buffalo Cauliflower
If you haven't gotten on the Buffalo cauliflower train yet, climb aboard. Here, we took the insanely delicious vegetarian app and put it atop white cheddar toasts for a fancy take on the game day classic.
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9
Pizza
Mini pizzas topped with mini pepperoni = MAJOR WIN. Spoon marinara onto bread, top with shredded mozzarella and mini pepperoni (or go big if you like), sprinkle with dried parsley, and bake until bubbly.
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10
Pimiento Cheese
We LOVE pimento cheese, but if you want your party to have more passed hors d'oeuvres than chips and dip, we can see why you might not think to include it in your spread. Enter: these mini toasts, topped with everyone's fave warm, melty peppery cheese.
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11
Bacon-Caramelized Onion
We all know caramelized onions are amazing, but what if you want to make them even more so? Caramelizing them in bacon fat makes them insanely irresistible, particularly when you serve them atop mini toasts.
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12
Blue Cheese, Pear, & Honey
Blue cheese, thinly sliced pear, honey, and chopped walnuts is a classy-ass combo that's always a crowd-pleaser. Not a fan of blue cheese? Try this with feta or goat cheese instead.
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13
Shrimp Toasts
Thought to have been created in Guangzhou (or Shandong, depending on whom you ask), China about a century ago, shrimp toast combines traditional Chinese shrimp paste with Western white bread to create one of the earliest fusion foods. Once you try it, you'll see why it has stood the test of time.
Get the Shrimp Toasts recipe.
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14
BLT
Everyone LOVES a BLT sandwich, so why not turn the best flavor combo ever into a passable app? Want to take it even more over the top? Add some avocado to turn it into a BLAT. Whatever you do, just don't forget that ranch drizzle.
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15
Roasted Butternut Squash, Ricotta, & Sage
This one takes a bit more time to prep because you've got to roast the butternut squash, but it's totally worth it. Topped with sweet and savory squash, ricotta, and fresh sage, these are a total winner.
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16
Bloody Mary Bruschetta
Everything you love about a classic Bloody Mary is present in these poppable little toasts (yep, including vodka!). Carbs and booze, what more could you want?
Get the Bloody Mary Bruschetta recipe.
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17
Pesto-Ricotta
This Italian fave will always be a hit. Simply slather baguette slices with ricotta, top with fresh pesto (use store-bought for a shortcut), and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes.
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18
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta
Though these little ricotta toasts are incredible in the summer when strawberries are at their peak, you can make them year-round. Try roasting strawberries that are less-than-perfect to bring out their sweetness and make them winter-worthy.
Get the Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta recipe.
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19
Cranberry Brie
Trust us, no one says no to brie at a party, particularly when it's topped with whole berry cranberry sauce. Not a cran fan? Try these with your favorite jam or preserve instead... raspberry, cherry, or even something like apple butter would work!
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20
Roasted Tomato-Ricotta
Fresh tomatoes are fine, but roasted tomatoes with a splash of balsamic vinegar is a sweet party trick. Slather toast with ricotta (homemade will really blow everyone away), top with roasted tomatoes, and bake until warm.
