This 2-Ingredient Appetizer Was The First To Run Out At My Housewarming Party
And you can buy everything you need to recreate it at a supermarket.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Even though I’ve written about food and entertaining for more than 10 years, it can still feel daunting to host anything larger than an intimate dinner party. Since I live alone and dine out a lot—I consider travel and restaurant spending to be among my best “investments,” well, besides my retirement account—I’m not very well-versed at hosting more than six for a meal.
I sent out invitations to my housewarming party, which occurred on a late summer Saturday night. With everyone's busy schedules, I figured about half of the guests would reply “no.” But in a delightful (albeit daunting) turn of events, nearly everyone RSVP-ed “yes,” meaning I would now be welcoming more than 30 pals onto my patio and into my kitchen.
Related: 45 Quick And Easy Appetizers Built For Hassle-Free Hosting
Planning My Menu
I immediately realized that there would be no way that I could coordinate food for about three dozen, plus drinks, tableware, music, and beyond. I had outshot my single-person hosting coverage. So I decided to delegate and hired a caterer to create a spread of heavy appetizers that would accommodate the various dietary preferences, including gluten-free and vegan.
After reviewing the thoughtful, crowd-pleasing menu of cheese and charcuterie, queso and pretzel bites, a trio of salsas and chips, plant-based dips and crudites, and lettuce wraps, I was delighted. But I was also a bit worried, due to two realizations:
There was only one hot appetizer
There was very little protein
And I was also offering an ample selection of local beers and easy-sipping summer wines. The quantity was sufficient, but the variety needed just a little something extra to ensure everyone would stay satiated—and sober. At this point, I came up with the perfect solution: Channel my inner Sandra Lee, and make it semi-homemade!
The Semi-Homemade Recipe
To round out my catered buffet, I decided to make this easy appetizer:
What You Need
1 jar of marinara (Ina loves Rao’s, and I do, too)
1 bag of Simek’s Classic Turkey Meatballs
How To Make It
In a large saucepan, I simply combined the marinara and meatballs, which hit the mark for the gluten-free, protein-craving crowd.
After stirring to combine, cranking the heat to medium, then bringing it back down to low to keep warm, I gave the 36 tomato-sauced meatballs a final stir.
Since my buffet also included crostini for the cheese and charcuterie selection, people could grab a slice from there to act as the vehicle for their saucy meatballs. Or they could eat it simply with a fork.
Related: 44 Retro Party Appetizers We'll Never, Ever Stop Making
What To Love About This 2-Ingredient Appetizer
It's easy: With one shopping trip to Target* and a mere five minutes of prep time, the spread was all set—no sweat! And 90 minutes into the gathering, this two-ingredient snack was earning rave reviews and was the first item on the buffet to completely disappear.
It's a crowd-pleaser: Much like these beloved Bacon-Wrapped Crackers, this two-ingredient appetizer is ultra-easy, feeds a crowd, and is a terrific party menu idea for any time of year.
Shopping Tip
You can also find marinara and Simek’s products at Walmart and Harris Teeter. Alternatively, swap in your own go-to meatball variety.
The next time you’re unsure of what your appetizer menu is missing, might I recommend that you go ahead and have a ball?
Related: The Embarrassingly Easy 4-Ingredient Appetizer I Must Bring To Every Party
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