Canapé Ideas: 40 Easy Bites for Parties

Canapés should be eaten in one or two bites, with no cutlery needed.

Here are 40 ideas, from five-minute assembly jobs to show-offs.

Meat

  • Mini Yorkshire puddings with beef and horseradish
  • Pigs in blankets with honey and mustard
  • Chorizo and manchego skewers
  • Duck pancakes
  • Prosciutto-wrapped melon
  • Chicken satay skewers
  • Mini burgers

Fish

  • Smoked salmon blinis
  • Prawn cocktail cups
  • Crab on cucumber rounds
  • Mini fish cakes
  • Tuna tartare on crackers

Vegetarian and vegan

  • Caprese skewers
  • Goat's cheese and caramelised onion tartlets
  • Arancini
  • Bruschetta
  • Stuffed mushrooms
  • Vegetable spring rolls
  • Beetroot and feta bites
  • Falafel bites

Sweet

  • Chocolate-dipped strawberries
  • Mini brownies
  • Lemon tartlets
  • Mini pavlovas
  • Mini cheesecakes

Key things to remember

  • Plan around 6–8 canapés per person for a pre-dinner hour, 10–12 if they replace a meal.
  • Mix hot and cold so the oven isn't overloaded.

Frequently asked questions

How many canapés per person?

Around 6–8 before a meal, 10–12 if they're the main food.

What are easy canapés?

Smoked salmon blinis, caprese skewers and prosciutto-wrapped melon.

What is a good example of canapé ideas?

"Mini Yorkshire puddings with beef and horseradish" is one of 25 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

Can I copy these messages word for word?

Yes. Everything on this page is free to copy, print and read out - no permission or credit needed. Changing one detail so it fits the person is all we would suggest.

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