How to Figure Out Exactly How Many Appetizers You Need Per Person, According to an Entertaining Expert

‘Tis the season for noshing! And if you have a holiday party planned, it can be tricky to figure out how many appetizers to make. You don’t want guests to fill up on snacks, but you also don’t want there to be fistfights over the canapé tray because people are hangry.

I’m ashamed to admit that even being culinary school-trained and having hosted hundreds of parties, I always seem to over-cater. I blame my ‘hospitable’ Irish roots. I’m always over-feeding (and over-serving) people. However, this year, I think I might finally get it right, thanks to entertaining expert Liz Curtis, the founder of Table & Teaspoon, a party planning and tablescaping company, who also has years of party catering experience. 

We met Curtis when she was working on a holiday collaboration with the iconic Ferrero Rocher chocolate brand, where we chatted about all things parties. Her tips, including how many apps to buy (or make) per person for your holiday (or any!) party, were too good to keep to ourselves, so we’re sharing them with you.

Related: 20 Best Baked Brie Apps

How Many Appetizers Do You Need Per Person?

This seems like a straightforward question, but there are a few factors that go into this delicious calculation. “Typically, I plan for 4 to 8 pieces per guest, with an average of 6 pieces,” says Curtis. Here’s how she breaks things down from there.

• 2 to 4 per guest if serving dinner immediately after apps
• 8 per guest for a longer cocktail party

If you have a crowd that likes to linger, you might also want to plan for a snack nightcap. Curtis’s suggestion? “A late-night pizza order for stragglers who many have over-imbibed.” How fun is that? 

Related: How Many Pounds of Potatoes Do You Need Per Person For Dinner?

How Many Different Appetizers Should You Serve?

Again, this answer depends on your entertaining style. Curtis breaks it into two camps: those who like to follow the rules of formal etiquette and hosts who have a more relaxed approach. Let’s start with the more formal rules.

• Less than 15 people: 5 different appetizers
• Around 25 people: 10 different appetizers
• 50 or more: 15 different appetizers

“For those of us who are less formal, and prefer to focus on other aspects of entertaining, a few different appetizers to choose from is perfect,” says Curtis. “Make sure that you offer one appetizer from each category—sweet, savory (ideally with protein), and vegetarian.” 

Related: 25 Steal-the-Show Christmas Dinner Ideas That Are *Chef’s Kiss*

Appetizer Inspiration for Your Party

Looking for some small bites with a big impact? Start with these great recipes and recipe roundups filled with tons of delicious inspiration.  

• How to Make Your Holiday Charcuterie Board 10x Better
• The Genius Baked Brie Recipe That Fans Call ‘a Huge Hit’
• 25 Party-Perfect Christmas Dips and Spreads
• 20 Baked Brie Appetizer Recipes That Are Total Fromage Goals
• The Viral Holiday Appetizer That Has Us Rushing Out to Buy Laughing Cow Cheese

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