25 Seafood Appetizers We Can’t Resist

Start your meal with something light but full of flavor with these seafood appetizers!

If you’re looking to add nutrition to your diet, you can’t go wrong with seafood.

These gifts from the sea are packed with vitamins and nutrients, and they’re delicious, too. 

Whether you’re a seafood lover or on a Mediterranean diet, these recipes have you covered.

I have a wide range of starters for you, ranging from dips to patties to bisques.

You’ll find recipes for salmon, tuna, shrimp, crab, clams, and more. You won’t run out of options. 

They’re technically appetizers, but many of these are ideal entrees, as well. They’re simple and can be added to your weekly meal rotation.

Seafood Appetizer Recipes For Every Occasion

1. Smoked Salmon Mousse

Hosting a party anytime soon? Impress your guests with this fancy smoked salmon mousse! This elegant appetizer only takes 5 minutes to prepare.

This light and fluffy mousse is made of smoked salmon lox, cream cheese, dill, and a spritz of lemon juice. Yum!

You can pipe the mousse onto sliced cucumbers and crackers, or serve them as a dip. They’ll be a hit, either way.

2. Crabbies

Crabbies were such a big hit back in the day, but their popularity fizzled down over time. I have no idea why because I love these appetizers!

How can you not? They’re these crisp, bite-sized toasts smothered with a cheesy, crabmeat filling. 

If you, like me, want to bring crabbies back, here’s the recipe for you. 

3. Shrimp Dip

This shrimp dip is the perfect accompaniment to crackers and crudites!

With a sweet, savory, and creamy flavor profile, don’t be surprised if it’s all gone within minutes.

With just a few ingredients, you’ll be able to create this lip-smacking treat. 

Canned shrimp, cream cheese, mayo, green onions – these are things you already probably have in your pantry.

It’s an ideal party appetizer, but I won’t be surprised if you decide to make it on any given day.

4. Crab Rangoon

Do you have an air fryer that’s just collecting dust in a cupboard? Time to take it out!

This crab rangoon recipe will make you want to use that air fryer all the time.

Crab rangoon dumplings are ultra-crunchy on the outside and oozing with a creamy mix of sweet crabmeat and cream cheese.

You’ll surely devour one dumpling after another. Good thing they’re air-fried!

5. Bagels and Lox 

I’m such a sucker for smoked salmon. Oh, how I love smoky and tender this meat is! I love it on bread, pizza, pasta, salads, you name it.

But of course, nothing beats the classic combination of everything bagel, lox, and cream cheese. This breakfast dish is king.

Besides the salmon and the cream cheese, feel free to add your favorite toppings. Capers, dill, cucumber – you choose.

6. Salmon Patties

Here’s another recipe that’ll make use of that nifty air fryer of yours!

If you’re craving a juicy hamburger but trying to cut back on the calories, these salmon patties make a superb alternative.

These patties are nutritious, and because they’re air-fried, oil-free. More importantly, they’re ridiculously tasty.

They’re crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, and scrumptious all the way through.

7. Fish Taco Bites

Just the idea of fish tacos for lunch or dinner excites me. These Tex-Mex treats are way too delicious! 

These bite-sized versions are just as good. With a crunchy tortilla base, flaky fish as the protein, and a rich, cream cheese salsa on top, these bites are pure perfection.

Plus, you can even use the cream cheese salsa on other Tex-Mex treats, as well.

8. Crab Cakes

Crab cakes are crunchy on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside.

Sure, they’re appetizers, but I don’t mind eating them for lunch or dinner, especially with bread or rice. 

They’re a snatch to make, and they turn out perfect all the time. That’s regardless of whether you broil, bake, or fry them.

9. Shrimp Cocktail

Sometimes, the simplest things are the greatest. This is the case for the classic shrimp cocktail.

It’s a platter of sweet and plump shrimp with a sweet and tangy dip made with ketchup, lemon juice, and horseradish.

That’s it! But as basic as it seems, we all know just how scrumptious shrimp is, even on its own. Throw dip into the picture, and your mind will be blown.

10. Clam Dip

If clam is your jam, this dip will get you hooked.

With a blend of minced clams, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and lemon juice, this dip is the stuff of seafood legends.

Serve this with potato chips, baguettes, crackers, or crudites. It’ll be beyond amazing, no matter what.

11. Crab and Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

Crab and cream cheese mixing is stuffed inside crescent rolls and baked to golden perfection.

The cousin of the crab rangoon, this appetizer gives you a buttery and flaky exterior, as opposed to crispy wontons.

Are they better than the original? I say they’re equally fantastic. Try them and let me know what you think down below!

12. Bang Bang Shrimp

What a name, huh? It alone will make you want to try it! And you definitely should.

Plump and juicy fried shrimp are coated in a sweet and creamy chili sauce. 

The shrimp is battered and deep-fried, so they have that delectable crispy coating going on. 

But what makes this dish a huge hit is the sauce. Called bang bang, it’s a sweet and spicy cream sauce made of mayo, Sriracha, and sweet chili.

13. Crab Dip

Nothing compares to fresh crab meat, but imitation crab shouldn’t be underestimated, either. If you don’t believe me, let this crab dip prove my point.

With just imitation crab, mayo, cream cheese, lemon juice, and spices, you’ll create a dip so good, you’ll want it around all the time.

Fortunately, it’s a breeze to make.

14. Lobster Bisque

Whether it’s date night, a party, or just a simple dinner at home with the family, this lobster bisque will not disappoint.

With a ridiculously rich and creamy soup and lumps of sweet and butter lobster tails, this bisque is definitely a show-stopper. 

The best part? It only takes 20 minutes to make! How awesome is that?

15. Shrimp Surprise Spread

This Canadian layered spread of cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, cocktail sauce, shrimp, veggies, and cheese is the ultimate dream.

It’s undeniably rich, but the sweetness from the shrimp and the sauce, as well as the crunch from the vegetables, provide a wonderful balance.

16. Smoked Salmon Dip

A dip with smoked salmon in it? I’m on board!

This dip has the classic combo of lox and cream cheese, and then some. 

Mixed with sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, hot sauce, capers, chives, and dill, this dip will be a huge hit at any party.

Serve it with your chips, crackers, and crudites. Or, you know, just grab a spoon!

17. Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels

How adorable are these puff pastry pinwheels, am I right? They’re insanely addictive, too.

Store-bought puff pastry is rolled with a tuna filling made of tuna, cheese, onions, and spices, and baked until golden.

The combination of rich and creamy filling and buttery puff pastry is irresistible.

It makes for a great party appetizer, breakfast, and afternoon (or midnight) snack.

18. Shrimp and Cream Cheese Firecrackers

These firecrackers are similar to crab rangoon, but instead of crab, they contain shrimp.

The filling is a mix of shrimp and cream cheese, which is wrapped in wontons. Once fried, they turn into these crispy and crunchy golden beauties.

The dumplings are shaped into a firecracker for aesthetics (hence the name), but feel free to form them however you want to.

19. Tuna Salad Deviled Eggs

These deviled eggs contain tuna salad, making them unbelievably heavenly.

Just imagine your favorite tuna salad bread filling, and then put it on deviled eggs. This is the mash-up you didn’t think you needed.

The added tuna to the filling gives the appetizer more substance and flavor.

Make this once, and you’ll never want deviled eggs the same way again.

20. Breaded Shrimp

This air fryer breaded shrimp is the answer to hectic weeknights. If you’re way too busy to cook something elaborate for the family, don’t worry.

A bag of frozen shrimp will always be there for you.

As long as you know how to cook it properly, you’ll still get scrumptious breaded shrimp that tastes as if it came straight out of a restaurant.

The air fryer is all you’ll need.

21. Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Scallops are terrific on their own. But you know what will make them 10 times better? Wrap them in bacon. Bacon is always the solution!

But don’t stop there. Sprinkle those bad boys with a mix of brown sugar and ginger.

Once fried, the sugar will create a sweet and sticky glaze surrounding the bacon and scallops.

22. Shrimp Salsa

This shrimp salsa is bursting with goodness from shrimp, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and a spritz of lime juice. 

Bring this to any party and it’ll be a certified hit. I suggest you leave a whole batch to yourself, though. It’s so good, you’ll want to put it on everything.

And here’s the kicker: this salsa is low-fat, low-carb, and gluten-free! What more can you ask for?

23. Clam Chowder

This New England clam chowder has a delectably creamy base that’s filled with clams, potatoes, and bacon. It’s comfort food from the sea.

This appetizer is hearty enough to be served as a complete meal.

It only takes 45 minutes to make, too, so feel free to add it to your weekly meal rotation.

24. Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Stuffed Avocados

Creamy and buttery avocados are stuffed with a salsa of shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, onions, and a spicy sauce.

Where have you been all my life?!

These avocados make for an awesome, low-carb lunch or dinner. And more importantly, it’s delicious.

25. Tuna Dip

In this recipe, you’ll transform the bland canned tuna into a heavenly dip in only 10 minutes.

Mixed with mayo, cayenne, parsley, green onions, and lemon juice, this dip is creamy, savory, and refreshing. 

Serve it with chips and crackers or use it as a bread spread.