Here you’ll find 33 Appetizers that start with C, organized from “Calamari” to “Cucumber bites”. They span fried, baked, and fresh finger foods suited for party platters, casual snacking, or elegant canapés.

Appetizers that start with C are small savory starters whose names begin with the letter C. Many, like calamari or crostini, reflect global snack traditions and centuries of shared street-food culture.

Below you’ll find the table with Appetizer, Main ingredients, Typical serving, Calories (approx.), and Notes / Region.

Appetizer: The dish name you can scan to identify each starter quickly and jump to recipes or serving ideas.

Main ingredients: Lists two to four key ingredients so you can gauge flavors, allergies, and what to shop for.

Typical serving: States a standard serving and portion size so you can plan quantities for guests or meal prep.

Calories (approx.): Shows rounded calories per listed serving (nearest 10 kcal) so you can compare and plan menus.

Notes / Region: Offers regional names, brief context, or recipe links so you can explore variations and origins.

Appetizers that start with C

Name Cuisine/Region Primary ingredients Calories per serving (serving size) Description
Calamari Italian squid, flour, oil, lemon 250 kcal (100 g) — USDA Lightly battered fried squid rings often served with lemon and a dipping sauce; a crisp, popular seafood starter.
Caprese Italian tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil 300 kcal (1 plate / 150 g) — USDA Simple Italian starter of fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil drizzled with olive oil, bright and refreshing on the palate.
Crostini Italian baguette, olive oil, garlic, topping 180 kcal (2 pieces) — Recipe calculator Toasted thin bread slices topped with spreads or meats; versatile finger food served at parties and antipasti boards.
Crudités Global carrot, cucumber, bell pepper, dip 120 kcal (1 cup + 2 tbsp dip) — USDA Raw cut vegetables served with a creamy or vinaigrette dip; a fresh, crunchy appetizer option.
Ceviche Latin American white fish, lime, onion, cilantro 150 kcal (1 cup) — USDA Raw fish “cooked” in citrus juice with onion and cilantro; bright, acidic, and commonly served as a light starter.
Cheese plate Global assorted cheese, crackers, fruit 400 kcal (1 small plate / 100 g) — USDA Selection of cheeses with crackers and accompaniments; a shareable, savory starter for tasting and pairing.
Charcuterie Global cured meats, cheese, pickles, bread 350 kcal (1 serving / 85 g) — USDA Board of cured meats and accoutrements—salty, savory bites meant for sharing before a meal.
Canapés French/Global cracker/bread, spread, topping 100 kcal (2 pieces) — Recipe calculator Small decorative hors d’oeuvres on bread or crackers topped with spreads, cheeses or smoked fish.
Crab cakes American crab, breadcrumbs, egg, mayo 200 kcal (1 cake / 85 g) — Recipe calculator Pan-fried patties of crab meat and binder, often served with a tangy sauce as a coastal appetizer.
Crab Rangoon American/Chinese-American crab (imitation), cream cheese, wonton wrapper 100 kcal (1 piece) — Recipe calculator Fried wonton parcels filled with creamy crab-and-cream-cheese filling, a crisp, savory starter.
Clam chowder American clams, potatoes, cream, bacon 260 kcal (1 cup) — USDA Thick, creamy soup with clams and potatoes; often served in small bowls as a comforting starter.
Clams Casino American clams, bacon, breadcrumbs, butter 120 kcal (1 stuffed clam) — Recipe calculator Baked clams topped with bacon and breadcrumbs—salty, crunchy, and served as an indulgent starter.
Croquettes European mashed potato, breadcrumbs, meat/cheese 150 kcal (1 piece / 40 g) — Recipe calculator Fried, breadcrumbed cylinders or balls filled with mashed potato and meat or cheese; crispy outside, creamy inside.
Corn fritters Southern/Global corn, flour, egg, oil 120 kcal (1 fritter) — Recipe calculator Small fried patties of corn batter, sweet-savory and commonly served hot as a snack or starter.
Chips and salsa Mexican/Global tortilla chips, tomato, onion, chili 150 kcal (1 oz chips + 2 tbsp salsa) — USDA Crunchy tortilla chips served with fresh tomato salsa; a classic casual appetizer.
Chips and guacamole Mexican/Global tortilla chips, avocado, onion, tomato 220 kcal (1 oz chips + 1/4 cup guac) — Recipe calculator Creamy avocado dip with chips—rich, savory, and a party favorite.
Chaat Indian fried crisps, chickpeas, chutneys, spices 300 kcal (1 plate) — Recipe calculator Tangy, spicy Indian street-food mix of crunchy elements, chickpeas and chutneys, served as a zesty starter.
Chicken satay Southeast Asian chicken, peanut sauce, spices 180 kcal (2 skewers) — Recipe calculator Grilled marinated chicken skewers served with nutty peanut sauce; savory, smoky and great for sharing.
Chicken liver pâté French/Global chicken liver, butter, onion 120 kcal (2 tbsp) — USDA Smooth spread of cooked liver and butter, often served on toast or crackers as an elegant starter.
Cheese straws British/Southern pastry dough, cheese, butter 140 kcal (2 pieces) — Recipe calculator Crisp baked pastry strips loaded with cheese—salty, flaky finger food ideal for nibbling.
Cheese fondue Swiss/Alpine cheese, wine, bread 300 kcal (1 serving: 1/2 cup + bread) — USDA Melted cheese served communal-style for dipping bread and veggies; rich, gooey, and social.
Cucumber bites Global cucumber, cream cheese, smoked salmon 60 kcal (3 bites) — Recipe calculator Refreshing cucumber rounds topped with creamy or smoked-fish toppings—light and elegant finger food.
Carpaccio Italian raw beef, olive oil, Parmesan 160 kcal (3 oz) — USDA Paper-thin slices of raw beef dressed with oil and cheese; delicate, savory, and served as a refined starter.
Crudo Italian raw fish, olive oil, citrus 120 kcal (3 oz) — USDA Raw sliced fish lightly seasoned with citrus and oil—fresh, simple, and served as an appetizer.
Chicken wings American chicken, sauce, oil 430 kcal (6 pieces) — USDA Deep-fried or baked wings tossed in sauce; sticky, spicy or savory—common bar or starter dish.
Cocktail meatballs American/Global beef/pork, breadcrumbs, tomato sauce 80 kcal (1 meatball) — Recipe calculator Small sauced meatballs served with toothpicks and sauce—party-friendly, savory bites.
Cocktail shrimp American shrimp, cocktail sauce, lemon 90 kcal (4 large shrimp + sauce) — USDA Chilled shrimp served with tangy cocktail sauce; classic chilled seafood starter.
Corn salsa Mexican corn, bell pepper, onion, lime 90 kcal (1/2 cup) — USDA Bright, chunky salsa of corn and peppers—served with chips or as a relish for small plates.
Crab dip American crab, cream cheese, mayo, cheddar 200 kcal (1/2 cup) — Recipe calculator Warm or cold creamy dip studded with crab; served with bread or crackers for scooping.
Creamy spinach artichoke dip American spinach, artichoke, cream cheese 200 kcal (1/2 cup) — Recipe calculator Rich, cheesy dip of spinach and artichoke hearts—served hot with bread or chips.
Chile con queso Tex-Mex melted cheese, chiles, tomato 260 kcal (1/2 cup) — Recipe calculator Warm cheesy dip with chile peppers; an indulgent Tex-Mex starter for chips or veggies.
Chicken empanadas Latin American chicken, pastry, onion 220 kcal (1 small empanada) — Recipe calculator Handheld pastries filled with seasoned chicken; portable, savory starters or snacks.
Caponata Sicilian/Italian eggplant, tomato, capers, olive oil 120 kcal (1/2 cup) — Recipe calculator Sweet-sour Sicilian eggplant relish served on bread or alone as a tangy, savory starter.

Descriptions

Calamari
Caprese
Crostini
Crudités
Ceviche
Cheese plate
Charcuterie
Canapés
Crab cakes
Crab Rangoon
Clam chowder
Clams Casino
Croquettes
Corn fritters
Chips and salsa
Chips and guacamole
Chaat
Chicken satay
Chicken liver pâté
Cheese straws
Cheese fondue
Cucumber bites
Carpaccio
Crudo
Chicken wings
Cocktail meatballs
Cocktail shrimp
Corn salsa
Crab dip
Creamy spinach artichoke dip
Chile con queso
Chicken empanadas
Caponata
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