15 Easy Spanish Appetizers

Looking for easy and delicious Spanish Appetizers? From Gazpacho to Spanish meatballs, I’ve compiled a list of authentic Spanish starters that you can make yourself to host your own tapas night at home!

The Mediterranean diet has been said to be one of the healthiest and in 2019, Spain proved this by being voted “Healthiest Country in the World”. The main components of the diet that make it so good for heart health especially are the large amounts of fruits and veggies, the choice of seafood over meat, and the heavy use of olive oil in cooking.

Spanish food generally isn’t too hard to make. Many of these appetizers are quick to put together and the ones that take more time store really well so you can make larger batches in one go. If you’re looking to incorporate more of the Mediterranean diet into your own cooking, why not start with the beginning of the meal and give some of these Spanish Appetizers a try?

What are Classic Spanish Appetizers?

You’ll find any of the dishes listed in this article easily in Spain, but some foods are just staples in the Spanish diet. Bread, cheese, olives and jamon (ham) will usually be incorporated in the start of a meal. But Croquetas, Tortilla and Gambas Al Ajillo, which are all on the list, are pretty standard go-to’s as well.

What are Some Popular Tapas Dishes?

Nearly anything that can be served in a small portion can be a tapa. The word actually comes from the Spanish verb “tapar” which means “to cover”. Years ago, a small slice of bread would be placed over the top of a glass to prevent fruit flies from getting into it. Eventually, bars started adding other small foods on top of the bread and when they realized they could boost their alcohol sales by adding these small snacks, tapas became a standard.

These days, tapas are more commonly served on plates, while small appetizers served on sliced bread, usually with a pick holding them together, are known as “pintxos” (pronounced ‘peen-chos’).

Healthy Spanish Appetizers

1. Spanish Bean Salad

This Spanish Bean salad is a quick, healthy appetizer that’s vegan too. The only fresh ingredient used is onion, meaning you can keep most of the ingredients on hand in your pantry and whip this up whenever you need a last-minute appetizer. The focal points of the salad are white cannellini beans and red peppers (the kind you get jarred in oil) and it’s dressed in a simple and refreshing white wine and olive oil dressing.

2. Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Garlic Shrimp is probably one of the more well-known Spanish dishes and it’s so easy to make. It can be served as part of a main course, but still makes a super quick and delicious appetizer. The main components of this dish are just shrimp, olive oil and garlic, with some extra seasonings used to really make the flavours pop. It’s perfect when served with some bread to absorb all the extra garlicky sauce.

Spanish Tapas Appetizers

3. Patatas Bravas

Who doesn’t love deep-fried potatoes? Patatas Bravas are pretty similar to home fries, but instead of ketchup, you’ll find them served with Bravas sauce, which adds a little spiciness to the dish. This dish is super popular at tapas restaurants, probably because it’s easy and inexpensive to make.

4. Spanish Ham Croquettes

Spanish Croquettes, or Croquetas, are crispy fried bites filled with a creamy Bechamel sauce and chunks of Spanish ham. This is definitely one of the harder recipes on the list, but because refrigeration is required at various steps of the preparation process, you can spread the work out over a couple of days. It will be worth the work when they’re the star appetizer at your dinner.

5. Fried Calamari

Have you ever thought of trying to make your own calamari at home? These battered and fried squid rings are enjoyed in quite a few different cultures and they make a great Spanish appetizer. They’re also not as hard as you would think to make. The main thing you’ll need to find is frozen squid. Some stores will even have it pre-cut into rings, but you can also get it in tube form (try to look for them already cleaned, or you’ll have to do that part yourself).

6. Spanish Meatballs

Albondigas, or “meatballs”, make a great appetizer for even the pickiest eaters. The one thing that really makes this dish different than say, the meatballs you might throw on your spaghetti, is the presentation. While the recipe is for a pretty standard-sized batch of meatballs, serve them in smaller portions on a plate with a piece of crusty bread to really give the vibe of a Spanish appetizer.

7. Shrimp and Chorizo

Here’s a recipe for a one-pan meal that everyone will love scooping out of the dish. Seasoned shrimp and delicious chorizo are cooked in a tomato sauce for the perfect appetizer to be served alongside crusty bread or enjoyed on its own.

Easy Spanish Starters

8. Pisto (Spanish Vegetable Stew)

Pisto is a great way to brighten up your meal and sneak some vegetables into your appetizers. It has a tomato base and includes heartier vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and onions. It takes a little longer to cook than some of the appetizers on here, to really get the vegetables soft and tender. But it does make great leftovers and freezes well if you want to make extra.

9. Gazpacho

Gazpacho is cold tomato soup. And not just soup that’s been cooled down. This recipe requires zero cooking. All you’ll need to do is blend a bunch of veggies and some seasoning together, and that’s it! It’s the perfect refreshing appetizer to serve on a hot day.

10. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

These Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates are the perfect pop-in-your-mouth appetizers. Sweet dates are stuffed with delicious cheese and wrapped in bacon then speared with a toothpick before being baked. The result is the perfect blend of textures and flavors in a single bite of food.

11. Empanada

Empanadas are great on-the-go foods, but they also make convenient handheld appetizers. These mini meat pies are a slightly more ambitious undertaking, but they freeze really well before cooking, so you can devote some time to making them and then cook them from frozen.

Other Spanish Appetizers

12. Spanish Potato Salad

Many countries have their own take on Potato Salad and Spain is no exception. In fact, this “Ensalada Rusa” actually translates to “Russian Salad” because the recipe was brought into the country originally by Russian immigrants. This colourful potato salad also includes peas, pepper and carrots in the mix. It also incorporates both boiled eggs and tuna for some added protein.

13. Marinated Manchego

Spaniards love their Manchego. It’s a pretty mild cheese made from sheep’s milk and you’ll find it everywhere in Spain. This marinated recipe infuses the cheese with the flavors of thyme, rosemary, and a hint of chili. It’s the perfect appetizer to put out with toothpicks, to let your guests pick at it casually.

14. Spanish Tortilla (Spanish Omelet)

Spanish Tortilla is nothing like the flatbread you might associate with the word. It’s kind of like a thick omelet, stuffed with thinly sliced potatoes and onions. It makes great leftovers and is traditionally served cold or room temperature, so it’s something you can easily make ahead of time and pull out before a meal for a hassle-free appetizer.

15. Iberian Ham on Bread

Similar to the more known Italian prosciutto, Spain also has its own cured ham, and you will find it everywhere. In fact, many homes even have a leg that they keep on a special stand to cut it because it’s that much of a staple in the Spanish diet. There are two types you’ll find. Iberico comes from special acorn-fed pigs, making it far more expensive. Serrano is more widely enjoyed and makes the perfect appetizer just thinly sliced on a piece of bread.