Low-Calorie Appetizers and Party Foods

Get a healthy take on party foods with our low-calorie appetizers like crostini, chips, dips, potstickers and more.

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Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Photo By: Tara Donne

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Spinach and Cannellini Bean Dip

Giada does away with the cream in her easy-to-make dip, using cannellini beans to help thicken the chips-ready mix so you can indulge without the guilt.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Cannellini Bean Dip

Prawn and Chive Potstickers

Ching's chive, shrimp and water chestnut-filled dumplings are best when dunked in her delicious homemade soy dipping sauce.

Get the Recipe: Prawn and Chive Potstickers

Cracked Pepper Potato Chips

Potato chips are the epitome of crave-worthy snacks — but they also happen to be one of the most caloric. Make Ellie Krieger's, however, and you can enjoy crispy, pepper-speckled potatoes with a fraction of the fat.

Get the Recipe: Cracked Pepper Potato Chips with Onion Dip

Lighter Brownies

Earn major brownie points with these sweet treats that are light on calories.

Get the Recipe: Lighter Brownies

Five-Layer Mexican Dip

By scaling back on each layer and subbing out caloric refried beans for a homemade chipotle-lime black bean dip, Ellie Krieger proves that Mexican doesn't have to mean unhealthy.

Get the Recipe: Five Layer Mexican Dip

Sweet Pepper Crostini

Giada's sweet pepper crostini is a simple and light appetizer that's perfect for any party. Smoked mozzarella has a strong, nutty flavor — a little goes a long way.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Pepper Crostini

Exploding Chicken Taquitos

Great as an appetizer or a light dinner recipe, these baked taquitos possess all the flavor of the favorite fried dish thanks to taco seasoning and fragrant salsa, but they are only 100 calories per wrap.

Get the Recipe: Exploding Chicken Taquitos

Sweet and Sassy Nuts

Turn heart-healthy nuts into an irresistible snack by coating them in a simple mix of brown sugar, cinnamon and ground chipotle.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sassy Nuts

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Most artichoke dips can be a killer when it comes to calories, but not Ellie Krieger's version. With reduced-fat sour cream, part-skim mozzarella and light cream cheese, she slims down the classic dish so you can indulge.

Get the Recipe: Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Chuck's Crab Cakes

Spiked with Dijon mustard and sriracha, Chucks spicy mayo is so flavorful, you'll only need a tiny dollop to go with this iconic seafood appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Chuck's Crab Cakes

Lettuce Cups With Tofu and Beef

Though lettuce wraps may seem like a healthy menu option, the fillings are often made with high-calorie, high-sodium sauces. Ellie uses a moderate amount of sweet hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce and powerful chili-garlic paste to flavor her lettuce cups, and she saves calories by mixing lean ground beef with tofu.

Get the Recipe: Lettuce Cups with Tofu and Beef

Grilled Polenta Crackers With Roasted Pepper Salsa

Rachael Ray's thinly sliced polenta crackers come out lightly charred and topped with a refreshing mixture of red pepper, parsley, black olives, capers and white onion.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Polenta Crackers with Roasted Pepper Salsa

Baked Kale

Give greasy potato chips the boot and bake this addictively crunchy snack instead.

Get the Recipe: Baked Kale

Hummus with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Spanish paprika, lemon juice and sun-dried tomatoes help spruce up Mark Bittman's take on the Middle-Eastern favorite made from mashed heart-healthy chickpeas.

Get the Recipe: Hummus with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Grilled Corn Salsa

Simplicity is the secret in Michael Chiarello's fresh corn salsa. The sweet yellow kernels are mixed with red onion and vine-ripe tomatoes, then topped with extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Salsa

Healthy Seven Layer Dip

Dips are notorious diet killers –– but not this lower-calorie version, which contains fresh vegetables and and low-fat dairy.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Seven Layer Dip

Fish Tacos With Chipotle Cream

Ellie's chipotle cream — made with yogurt, mayo and chipotles in adobo — is so flavorful, you only need to dress these lean fish tacos in a tablespoon of the sauce.

Get the Recipe: Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

Spicy Ginger Chicken in Lettuce Cups

It only takes half an hour to whip up this refreshing and versatile meal. Simply mix browned chicken with diced vegetables, then dress the lot in a spicy ginger sauce.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Ginger Chicken in Lettuce Cups

Schiacciata Con l'Uva: Focaccia Topped With Grapes

This sweeter, lighter take on pizza — a marker of the Italian grape harvest — calls for the dough to be topped with fresh grapes, rosemary and a sprinkling of sugar.

Get the Recipe: Schiacciata Con l'Uva: Focaccia Topped with Grapes

Three Bean and Beef Chili

Extra-lean beef and three types of fiber-filled beans assure maximum heartiness in Ellie Krieger's healthier chili.

Get the Recipe: Three Bean and Beef Chili

Sweet Potato Wedges With Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Simply skewered and grilled sweet potatoes make a perfect side dish or party app. With a little bit of curry powder and cayenne pepper, they have a little kick and are nicely complemented by a cooling yogurt-mint-citrus dipping sauce.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Wedges with Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce

De-Pudged Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs in a Blanket lovers rarely can have just one, so do your guests a favor and help them snack guilt-free with Hungry Girl's leaner take on this favorite app.

Get the Recipe: De-Pudged Pigs in a Blanket

Beef Tacos: Tacos de Carne Asada

The beef in these tacos needs little more flavoring than a spicy, briny marinade of pickled jalapeños. Grilled to your liking, they are packaged with onion, cilantro and potent salsa de arbol.

Get the Recipe: Beef Tacos: Tacos de Carne Asada

Holy Moly Guacamole

Hungry Girl lightens her guac with grape tomatoes, Greek yogurt and peas so you won't overload on high-fat avocadoes (though nutrient-rich, they can be dangerous).

Get the Recipe: Holy Moly Guacamole

Humble Home-Cooked Beans

High in protein and low in fat, cannellini beans are ideal for snacking. Try Jamie Oliver's, speckled with parsley and served with sliced sourdough toast.

Get the Recipe: Humble Home-Cooked Beans

Tofu and Edamame Falafel With Tofu Tahini

High-protein tofu and edamame are heavily seasoned and lightly fried, making them bite-sized indulgences with nutritional benefits.

Get the Recipe: Tofu Edamame Falafel, Tofu Tahini

Lord of the Onion Rings

Seasoned with garlic and onion powder, coated in high-fiber bran cereal and baked until golden brown, Hungry Girl's lighter onion rings are the perfect alternative to otherwise greasy fried fare.

Get the Recipe: Lord of the Onion Rings

Spiced Pita Chips

Count on cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper to give Ellie Krieger's baked whole wheat pita chips a tasty zing.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Pita Chips

Broccoli and Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins

Potato skins don't usually fall under the "low calorie" header, but Ellie Krieger goes heavy on the broccoli and light on the cheese and bacon so you can munch on more than just a few.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins with Avocado Cream

Crab and Avocado Duet

Flavored by lemon juice, Dijon mustard, chives and zingy white pepper, this anything-but-mild crab and avocado makes a perfect cracker topping.

Get the Recipe: Crab and Avocado Duet

Steamed Artichokes With Almond Saffron Dip

If steamed artichokes sound a little boring, Ellie's light almond saffron dip, made with yogurt, lemon juice, parsley and onion, will elevate the vegetable.

Get the Recipe: Steamed Artichokes with Almond Saffron Dip