10 Simple Happy Hour Appetizers

1. Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients
for 16 servings

8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups chicken, shredded
½ cup buffalo hot sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 oz packet of dry ranch dressing mix, 1 packet
2 cups all-purpose flour
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
oil, for frying

Preparation

1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients with a fork until smooth and evenly mixed.
2. Transfer to an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking dish lined with parchment paper. Smooth the mixture out with a spatula so that it’s evenly spread in the dish.
3. Freeze until solid, at least one hour.
4. Working quickly, remove the solid mixture from the sheet and cut into 4-inch x 1-inch (10 cm x 3 cm) rectangles (there should be 16).
5. One by one, bread each stick by coating in flour, then dredging in egg and then bread crumbs. Dip once more in the egg, then once more in the bread crumbs, and transfer to a baking dish.
6. Heat the oil to 375˚F (190˚C).
7. Carefully lower about three or four of the coated sticks into the oil and fry for about 30 seconds, until golden brown. Continue this until all of the sticks are fried.
8. Serve warm with ranch dip.
9. Enjoy!

2. Chicken Poppers

Makes 20-25 pieces

INGREDIENTS

2 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 cup flour

3 eggs, beaten

Oil, for frying

PREPARATION

1. Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks.

2. Combine the chicken with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder, mixing until evenly seasoned.

3. Place the flour and eggs into separate bowls.

4. Dip a piece of chicken into the flour, then the egg, then back into the flour.

5. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.

6. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.

7. Fry the chicken pieces until deep-golden brown and crispy.

8. Set aside on a paper towel to drain.

3. BBQ Chicken Poppers

Makes 10 pieces

INGREDIENTS

10 chicken poppers, above

½ cup BBQ sauce

PREPARATION

1. In a pan over medium heat, cook the BBQ sauce until bubbly.

2. Toss the chicken in the sauce until evenly glazed.

3. Serve!

4. Buffalo Chicken Poppers

Makes 10 pieces

INGREDIENTS

10 chicken poppers, above

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup hot sauce

PREPARATION

1. In a pan over medium heat, cook the butter and the hot sauce until bubbly.

2. Toss the chicken in the sauce until evenly glazed.

3. Serve!

5. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Poppers

Makes 10 pieces

INGREDIENTS

10 chicken poppers, above

2 tablespoons butter

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

¼ cup parsley, chopped

½ cup parmesan

PREPARATION

1. In a pan over medium heat, cook the butter, garlic, and parsley until garlic is barely starting to brown.

2. Toss the chicken in the garlic butter mixture until evenly coated.

3. Turn off the heat, then toss the chicken in the parmesan.

4. Serve!

6. Honey Chipotle Chicken Poppers

Makes 10 pieces

INGREDIENTS

10 chicken poppers, above

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons hot sauce

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder

PREPARATION

1. In a pan over medium heat, mix together the honey, water, hot sauce, ketchup, and chipotle powder. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook for one minute.

2. Toss the chicken in the sauce until evenly glazed.

3. Serve!

7. Cheeseburger Onion Rings

Ingredients
for 6 onion rings

1 lb ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
¼ lb cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch (2 cm) squares
1 large white onion
1 cup flour
5 eggs, beaten
3 cups panko breadcrumb
oil, for frying
ketchup

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a bowl, mix together the ground beef, salt, pepper, and onion powder.
3. Peel and slice the onion into 1-centimeter (½ inch) rings. Detach the rings from each other.
4. Take a spoonful of the beef mixture and press it into the bottom of a ring.
5. Push a cheddar square into the center of the beef.
6. Seal the top with another spoonful of the beef, pressing it flat.
7. Repeat with the rest of the rings.
8. Place the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into three separate bowls.
9. Dip a ring into the flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, the bread crumbs, then back to the eggs, and one last time into the breadcrumbs.
10. Repeat with the remaining rings.
11. Fry the rings for 5-6 minutes, until deep golden-brown.
12. Drain on a paper towel, then serve with ketchup!
13. Enjoy!

8. Quesadillas 4 Ways

BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Spinach & Mushroom Quesadilla

Cheesesteak Quesadilla

Chicken Fajita Quesadilla

9. The Best Crispy Buffalo Wings

Ingredients
for 4 servings

2 lb chicken wings, pat dry
¾ cup cornstarch, divided
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
⅔ cup water
oil, for frying
½ cup buffalo sauce

Preparation

1. In a bowl, toss ¼ cup (30g) of cornstarch and the chicken wings together until fully coated. Transfer the wings to a wire rack and rest for 20 minutes.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining cornstarch, flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Gradually whisk in water, breaking up any lumps, mixing until smooth. The batter should be slightly runny.
4. Coat chicken wings in the batter, shaking off any excess.
5. Heat oil in a pot to 350°F (180°C).
6. Add the wings in batches, cooking for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.
7. Once chicken is cooked, transfer to a on a wire rack set on top of a paper towel-lined sheet pan.
8. Transfer chicken to a clean bowl, and drizzle with top buffalo sauce, tossing to coat wings.
9. Transfer to a serving plate, serve with either ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
10. Enjoy!

10. Cheese-stuffed Sliders

Ingredients
for 16 sliders

2 lb ground beef
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
8 oz cheddar cheese block, 2 blocks
2 packages hawaiian sweet roll
OPTIONAL GARNISH

roma tomato, sliced
red onion, sliced
sriracha mayonnaise

Preparation

1. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Combine until the meat is evenly seasoned.
2. Roll into 16 meatballs and set aside.
3. Cut each cheddar cheese block into 8 cubes (totaling 16 cubes).
4. Press the cheddar cheese cube into the meatball and wrap the meat around it, completely covering the cheese.
5. Preheat a skillet on medium heat for 10 minutes. After preheated, carefully coat with a light layer of oil with a high smoke point (we used canola oil).
6. Add sliders to the pan, frying on the first side until the bottom is browned and crisp and the sides begin to brown (about 2-4 minutes, depending on the desired doneness). Flip and finish cooking on the other side.
7. Serve immediately on Hawaiian sweet rolls with your favorite burger garnishes. (We added Roma tomatoes, red onion, lettuce, and Sriracha mayo.)
8. Enjoy!