19 Salty and Savory Bar Snacks for Your Best Happy Hour Yet You don’t technically need a drink for these classic and innovative bar snacks, but you’re going to want one. By Emily Ziemski Emily Ziemski Emily Ziemski is a recipe developer, editor, and food writer with a focus on sustainability and wellness. Previously a senior food editor at Well+Good and food editor at Food52, she's best known for the creation of the Dirty Martini Salad Dressing (for which she apologizes). Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 16, 2026 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford Bar snacks are fun finger foods with bold flavors that make a cold beverage taste that much more refreshing. Think crunchy baked zucchini fries to balance a lightly chilled, citrusy Albariño or a salty soft pretzel destined to accompany a crisp helles lager. Make some of these small but mighty bites; grab yourself a cocktail, a glass of wine, or a nonalcoholic drink; and get to noshing. Love these recipes? Join MyRecipes — your personal home for recipes — to easily save and organize your favorites, plus thousands more, in one convenient place. 01 of 19 Buffalo Wings Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe These Buffalo wings can be air-fried or fried in oil on the stovetop; either way, the crispy result is perfect tossed in a buttery hot sauce and served with creamy blue cheese dressing. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 19 Toasted St. Louis–Style Ravioli Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford Store-bought ravioli becomes a sort of compact mozzarella stick when fried until golden and crisp and dipped in marinara sauce. While you’re at it, fry some aromatic herbs for topping. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 19 Fried Cheese Curds with Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis Rice flour in the batter makes these cheese morsels extra-crispy, while the inclusion of mustard and lager provides plenty of umami. Serve these deep-fried wonders with a creamy buttermilk ranch. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 19 Hawaiian-Style Hot Dog Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Chelesa Zimmer / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser Two fruity condiments — pineapple relish and mango mustard — are perfect foils for spicy sausages. These dogs are begging to be served with something equally fruity and spicy, like a Mezcal Margarita. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 19 Fried Oysters with Remoulade Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley These crunchy fried oysters shine alongside a lightly spicy dip filled with zesty ingredients like horseradish and Creole mustard. Get the Recipe Save 06 of 19 Honey Mustard Beer Cheese Fondue Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Keoshia McGhee Melted cheese meets beer and sweet mustard in this warming dip that’s perfect for almost any accompaniment — try pretzel bites, tortilla chips, or crudités to start. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 19 Buffalo Pigs in a Blanket Food & Wine / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling Claire Spollen Why should you have to decide between Buffalo wings and pigs in a blanket? Combine them for the ultimate spicy, crispy snack. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 19 Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries Jen Causey These panko-and-Parmesan-crusted zucchini sticks are broiled instead of fried to achieve that crispy and cheesy exterior that goes wonderfully with a homemade marinara. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 19 Fried Pickle Dip Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Tucker Vines This dip is perfect when you want fried pickle chips with a side of ranch but can’t be bothered with the “fried” part — toasted panko provides the crunchy texture instead. Pair with your favorite chips or pretzels. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 19 Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Ali Ramee Crisp up these shrimp in the air fryer and dip them in Thai sweet chile sauce with fresh cilantro for a bright, crunchy bite. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 19 Suya-Spiced Mixed Nuts Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Thom Driver A toasted mix of chicken bouillon cube, paprika, ginger, cayenne, black pepper, and other warm seasonings takes this snack mix in a delightfully Nigerian direction. The salty, sweet, and spicy nuts will disappear by the fistful. Get the Recipe Save 12 of 19 Soft Pretzels Julia Hartbeck Chef Grant Achatz’s soft pretzel recipe utilizes baking soda for a process that’s less fussy but still yields the same snappy exterior you’d expect. Serve with your favorite mustard or other dip. Get the Recipe Save 13 of 19 Cacio e Pepe Potato Chips Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser If you’ve ever thought you could season potato chips better than the packaged brands, here’s your chance to prove it. Make sure to use kettle-cooked chips, which are sturdy enough to toss with the cheesy, peppery flavors of the classic Italian pasta. Get the Recipe Save 14 of 19 Korean-Style Fried Cauliflower Food & Wine / Photo by Jacob Fox / Food Styling by Kelsey Moylan / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali The Hong Kong restaurant Yardbird helped popularize this vegetarian alternative to Korean fried chicken; a key to the shatteringly crisp coating is a combo of potato starch and tempura batter mix. The sweet-spicy sauce demands a sip of cold beer between bites. Get the Recipe Save 15 of 19 Air Fryer French Fries Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensaring / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless You might forget about frozen french fries once you make your own in the air fryer, especially since you can customize the cut depending on how thick you like them. Get the Recipe Save 16 of 19 Buffalo and Blue Cheese Popcorn Sarah Crowder Less messy than Buffalo wings but no less delicious, this popcorn comes together quickly with all the right flavors, blue cheese included. Get the Recipe Save 17 of 19 Hot Honey Halloumi Sliders Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Squeaky halloumi is coated with hot honey, topped with peppers and arugula, and squashed between pillowy Hawaiian rolls for this satisfying vegetarian slider. Get the Recipe Save 18 of 19 Pork Belly, Shrimp, and Pickled Tomato Pintxos Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen These quick-cooking snacks can be prepped in advance and bring a bit of welcome variety to the party. Tender bites of pork belly and shrimp are interwoven with pickled tomatoes and peaches. Get the Recipe Save 19 of 19 Pimiento Cheese Jalapeño Poppers Food & Wine / Photo by Sara Haas Stuffed with pimiento cheese and coated in panko breadcrumbs, these gooey, spicy jalapeño poppers will crisp up gorgeously in the air fryer, deep fryer, or oven. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Recipes Snacks Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit