9 appetizers to have on the coffee table by kickoff

One pound of raw wings cooks in the air fryer at 400°F, with no preheating, and comes out crisp without a pot of oil. A sauce of Frank's RedHot, melted butter, and garlic powder coats them right before serving. Small baskets mean cooking in batches, so start early for a crowd. Put out ranch or blue cheese with celery and carrots.

Get the recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Only three ingredients go into the slow cooker, grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and a big bag of frozen meatballs. The sauce turns sweet, tangy, and glossy as the meatballs heat through, and the cooker can stay on warm once they reach 165°F. A stovetop version takes about 30 minutes when the slow cooker is busy. Set out toothpicks and let people help themselves.

A whole slab of Hawaiian sweet rolls gets layered with pizza sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni, then brushed with garlic butter and Italian seasoning. Baking the rolls as one piece at 350°F keeps the cheese tucked inside. The pan can be assembled, covered in foil, and refrigerated up to 24 hours ahead. Sausage or ham can stand in for the pepperoni.

Refrigerated croissant dough, cut into small triangles, wraps around 24 cocktail sausages for a bite-size version of a party favorite. An egg wash and a sprinkle of poppy seeds help them bake up shiny and golden. Ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, and honey mustard all work for dipping. Italian and breakfast versions are easy twists for a second batch.

Three ripe Hass avocados, Roma tomatoes, seeded jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and lime get mashed by hand with a fork. Squeezing the tomatoes before dicing keeps the dip thick instead of watery. A sheet of plastic wrap pressed on the surface, or half an onion set on top, helps slow browning. Serve it with a big bowl of tortilla chips.

Fresh corn gets charred in a cast iron skillet, then layered in the same pan with tortilla chips, red kidney beans, jalapenos, and shredded cheddar. Building the layers in thirds means every chip gets some cheese. A 15 minute bake at 400°F melts everything together. Top with avocado and cilantro and serve tomatillo salsa for dipping.

Cubes of chicken breast or thigh soak up a marinade of olive oil, garlic, Dijon, red wine vinegar, oregano, and smoked paprika before going into the air fryer at 400°F. Cooking them in a single layer gives them browned edges. Spicy, lemon herb, barbecue, and honey garlic versions are easy swaps. The chicken can marinate up to 24 hours ahead, so the work is done before guests arrive.

Chunks of chicken get a paprika, garlic powder, and chili powder rub, then grill at 400° for about 6 minutes per side. The bang bang sauce is a mix of Greek yogurt, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, honey, and hot sauce. Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes so they do not burn. An air fryer or skillet works when the grill is put away for the season.

Get the recipe: Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

A jar of roasted red peppers, feta, onion, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice whirl together in a food processor in about 10 minutes. Using jarred peppers skips the roasting and peeling. Red pepper flakes or extra garlic give it more bite. Serve it with pita or tortilla chips, and spread any leftovers on sandwiches.