My Favorite 2-Ingredient Southern Appetizer Disappears In Seconds

For many, this recipe is old news. It has been around for a long time—generations of hosts and partygoers have served this dish to hungry guests. However, I didn’t get a chance to try it until my early 20s. And when I did, it instantly became my new favorite appetizer. It’s creamy, piquant, zippy, inexpensive, and nearly universally beloved. So in case you haven’t tried it, I want to introduce you to your new go-to appetizer: the Hot Pepper Jelly Appetizer.

The 2-Ingredient Appetizer

Hot Pepper Jelly is a jelly made with bell peppers, hot peppers (think jalapeños or fresnos) and sugar—turning it into a sticky, hot and sweet, absolutely delicious jam that can be used in a hundred different ways. For this appetizer, it’s served alongside cream cheese and crackers. It’s incredibly easy to make and, in my experience, will disappear in an instant. 

“What an easy appetizer,” shared one Allrecipes reviewer. “I used locally made pepper jelly with some serious kick. The cream cheese balanced it out beautifully. Put a few fancy crackers around the bowl, and voila!”

How to Make My Favorite Hot Pepper Jelly Appetizer

You would be hard-pressed to find an appetizer easier than this one. You simply take the block of cream cheese out of the wrapper, put it on a plate, and pour pepper jelly over top. If you want to make it a little fancier, spread the room temperature cream cheese on a pretty plate or platter, then top with the pepper jelly. Serve alongside a variety of crackers (I opt for Club Crackers or multi-seed rice crackers).

“Well, I had my doubts about this simple appetizer, but I made it anyway for Thanksgiving last year,” shared another Allrecipes community member. “It was HUGELY popular. So I had to drop my high-brow notion that appetizers needed to be complicated. Do yourself a favor and try this.”

This recipe shows the power of simple, but delicious, ingredients. There are many hot pepper jellies you can get from Kroger, Walmart, and other grocery retailers, but I try to find a jar at my local farmers’ market when possible. You can even make your own! 

“So simple, so delicious,” shared another. “Definitely keep this on hand for a quick and easy yet delicious appetizer.”

You can also use your hot pepper jelly on a meat and cheese board, as a spread in the best grilled cheese you’ll ever have, as a glaze for a pork loin or pork chops, in a barbecue sauce, atop a toasted bagel with cream cheese spread, or even mixed into your favorite salad dressing for a little kick. 

If you have reservations about such a simple recipe, give it a try at a small gathering before making it for a holiday or large gathering. I’d all but guarantee you’ll get rave reviews—and a clean plate to boot.