What is it about food on a stick that makes it so much better? Seriously. You could serve me chunks of chicken and I’d be happy, but put that same chicken on a skewer and it’s a total game-changer. It’s just instantly more fun.
It’s the kind of food that doesn’t need plates or forks, which is a major win in my book. So whether you’re channeling your favorite street food vendor or just looking for an easy party snack, these 20 stick appetizers have got you covered.
1. Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
These are just as simple to throw together as the shrimp skewers, and oh my gosh, they are so delicious. The chicken turns out perfectly tender and juicy, and that honey-teriyaki glaze brings a delightful sweetness that is just everything.
The sesame seeds are technically optional, but I always add them. That little bit of crunch they add just takes these skewers to a whole new level of yum.
2. Chef Salad on a Stick
At first glance, you might actually mistake these for a regular salad because they are so leafy and green! But then you see they’re all built on kabob skewers. So fun!
You get everything you’d expect from a great chef salad—lettuce or spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and your favorite deli meats.
You can absolutely drizzle dressing over the top, but I find they’re way neater and easier to handle if you just serve the dressing on the side for dipping. A total win-win.
3. Antipasto Skewers
Antipasto skewers are a total classic in Italy. If you’ve never had one, think of them like a kabob, but the ingredients usually aren’t cooked, unless you’ve got some pasta in there.
You can build these with all sorts of things, but this version calls for cooked tortellini, olives, Havarti and mozzarella cheeses, salami, and grape tomatoes.
The tortellini and mozzarella balls get marinated in Italian dressing for a few hours before you put it all together, which makes them so flavorful. You could even marinate the other ingredients, too, if you’re feeling it!
4. Chorizo, Manchego, and Olive Skewers
These might remind you of the Cuban sandwiches on a stick, but the flavor here is definitely more Spanish. Instead of ham, you’ll use chorizo, and you’ll swap the pickle for manzanilla olives and the Swiss for Manchego cheese.
Then, you drizzle the skewers with honey and sprinkle on some slivered almonds. It’s such a wonderful combination of flavors. And for something so small, they are surprisingly filling. So, so good.
5. Pesto Tortellini Skewers
Speaking of easy on-the-go food, these pesto tortellini skewers have to be the simplest way to eat pasta I have ever seen. Seriously!
You’ve got fresh tortellini marinated in pesto, mozzarella balls, pepperoni, and grape tomatoes. It’s basically a full-on Italian meal packed into one little finger-length treat. What’s not to love?
6. Mini-Cheese Balls on a Stick
Why make one giant cheese ball that everyone has to crowd around when you could make a bunch of adorable, single-serving ones that already have a salty pretzel stick right in the middle?
For this recipe, you’ll need cream cheese, bleu cheese (or smoked cheddar!), dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and pretzels. They are this slightly tart, super cheesy delight that pretty much everyone adores.
The best part about mini cheese balls is you can totally make three or four different kinds to make all your guests happy.
7. Watermelon Basil Feta Salad on a Stick
These fantastic appetizers are another option that requires zero cooking, so you can have dozens of them ready in about 5 minutes. All it takes is watermelon chunks, cubed feta cheese, basil leaves, and a little salt and pepper.
You just assemble them on a toothpick with the watermelon on the bottom, then the cheese, and a basil leaf on top. Add salt and pepper to your liking. The combination of sweet and earthy is hard to describe, but it’s so, so yummy.
8. Grilled Shrimp Skewers
If you can marinate shrimp, grill them, and slide them onto a stick, then you are all set to make these tangy little appetizers.
Just remember to let the shrimp soak in that lemon-garlic sauce for at least 15 minutes before they hit the grill. Honestly, two hours is even better because the flavor gets so much stronger. So good!
9. Pizza on a Stick
When pizza is on a stick, you can eat it anytime and anywhere, and it is so much less messy than a regular slice.
These curly, cheesy, garlicky pizza sticks are a massive hit with just about everyone, and you can whip them up in less than 30 minutes with zero hassle. Don’t forget to serve them with marinara or pizza sauce for dipping!
10. Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Bites
These pink-centered tuna bites are just perfect for anyone who loves a good umami flavor. Every piece of tuna gets marinated, rolled in sesame seeds, and then pan-seared.
The outside is so crunchy and packed with flavor, while the inside stays rare and keeps that great tuna taste. It’s a truly phenomenal combination.
11. Cuban Sandwich on a Stick
You can put together dozens of these little four-ingredient appetizers in just a few moments. All you’ll need are ham slices, cubed Swiss cheese, mini-dill pickles, and some whole-grain mustard.
Just spread the mustard on the ham and fold it up. Then, stick a cheese cube on a toothpick, slide on the folded ham, and top it with a pickle. These savory, sour snacks are seriously addictive.
A quick tip: put the cheese on first and slide it to the bottom. It creates a sturdy base so the “sandwiches” can stand up on your tray without falling over.
12. Fish and Chips on a Stick
Crunchy, convenient, and packed with umami flavor, this hash brown-covered cod is one of my absolute favorite ways to eat fish. It’s not exactly traditional fish and chips, but the hash browns are an excellent stand-in for the fries.
Plus, they take less than 30 minutes to make and are so much easier to eat on the go. It’s hard not to love them!
13. Cocktail Beef Kebabs
If you’re on the hunt for real-deal street food, or at least something that looks and tastes like it, you have to try these cocktail beef kabobs. They are so tender, saucy, and full of earthy, herby, spicy flavor.
They taste just like something you could buy while walking the streets of Mumbai. If you’re not big on heat, you can just cut back on the curry powder.
14. Pasta Salad on a Stick
I know, the idea of pasta salad on a stick sounds a little weird, but it makes so much more sense when you think of them as antipasto skewers. And really, that’s pretty much what they are.
The ingredients are a little different—you’ll use pepperoni instead of salami, for example, and there’s no Havarti cheese. But you’ll still have tortellini, olives, tomatoes, and Italian dressing. Plus, you’ll add in some bell pepper slices for extra crunch.
15. Mini-Caprese Skewers
Ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and basil leaves, all drizzled with a sauce of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. I mean, what’s not to love?!
These mini-Caprese skewers are so garden-fresh, cheesy, and just perfectly scrumptious.
16. Greek Appetizers on a Stick
Most people I know are obsessed with Greek food because of how fresh and earthy it is, and these stick appetizers are no different.
You’ll use all raw ingredients—grape tomatoes, fresh oregano leaves, cucumber chunks, and feta cheese cubes—to build these kabob-style skewers. Once they’re all put together, you drizzle them with a mix of olive oil, lemon juice, and dried oregano.
You will absolutely love the tang from the drizzle and the cool, refreshing taste of the herbs and veggies.
17. Fruit and Cheese Kabobs With Croissant Croutons
With berries, cheese, grapes, and bread, these kabobs strike the perfect balance between sweet and tart, with just a little hint of savoriness to tie it all together.
If you’re looking for a sweet, but not too sweet, option for your appetizer spread, these honey-drizzled kabobs are just the ticket.
18. Caramel Apple Skewers
As you’ve probably noticed, there is a serious lack of sweet appetizers on sticks out there. That’s exactly why I had to add these phenomenal caramel apple skewers.
You could say they’re more of a dessert, but I think they are the perfect appetizer for fall, especially at a Halloween party. The apples are crunchy and tartly sweet. And the “caramel” sauce—made from maple syrup, drippy almond butter, vanilla extract, water, and salt—is unbelievably delicious.
Top them off with pieces of walnut, almond, and pecan, plus some mini dark chocolate chips for a snack so decadent you won’t be able to stop eating.
19. Grilled Cheese Sandwich on a Stick
When it comes to the classic grilled cheese, I’m usually a purist. But I have to say, these grilled cheeses on sticks are pretty darn good.
Each skewer gets a triple layer of bite-sized, Italian-seasoned grilled cheese bites, a few spinach leaves, and a cherry tomato on top. If you love that combination of butter, cheese, and garden-fresh veggies, you are going to be obsessed with this flavorful appetizer.
20. Peach Toasted Ravioli Pops
Out of all the recipes on this list, this one is probably the most unique. And maybe that’s why everyone seems to love it so much! Ravioli on a stick—who would have thought?
It takes about 25 minutes to cook a dozen of them, but they’re actually pretty simple to make. Each ravioli is seasoned and toasted to a crispy, golden-brown perfection. Then you’ll slide them and some honey-butter-covered peaches onto a toothpick with a little dash of sea salt.
The result is this crunchy, sweet, and savory delight that—so far—everyone I’ve shared it with has absolutely loved.
