Snacks are cost-effective, fun, and filling. Though the health-freaks may fret, snacks can be turned into a great dinner meal too! Here are a few tips to elevate your snacketizers (yes, that’s snacks plus appetizers) to a new level.

Save the Hassle of Cooking

One of the many perks of making a snack meal is that you can have plenty of options without lighting your oven or stove or even switching on the microwave. Marinate feta cubes in a flavorful combination of white wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, drained green peppercorns in brine, crushed red pepper, thyme, and a pinch of kosher salt. Leave the marinade to sit in the fridge for a while. Then just grab some crackers, crostinis, or sliced baguette, and dig in.

Plan Your Next Meal with Leftover Snacks

It's not hard to turn the leftover snacks from the dinner party into a new and tasty meal the next day! Take half a pound of whatever cheese is left from the cheeseboard and blitz them all together with a clove of garlic, black pepper, and a dash of dry white wine. You'll have a flavor-packed, savory, and smooth cheese spread that can be enjoyed just as it is. Or you can spread it on slices of bread and toss it under the broiler until it is nice and browned.

Pull Off Snack Dinners

A snack spread is the easiest way to satiate your guests. You can easily tailor or tweak the menu to accommodate everyone's needs side by side. Pull off an impressive snack dinner by keeping something meaty in the center, and a vegetarian option or a gluten-free treat on the side. Swapping out the pricier fish pieces or roasts for tartines or cocktail meatballs will keep things simple and interesting without breaking the bank. Also, making a snack or three is much easier than putting together a multi-course dinner menu for your house party.

Make the Dips the Centerpieces of the Dinner Table

Dips can be an ideal dinner-time savior as they are low-key yet filling. Pair one or two dips with a few pieces of cooked or roasted meats, pita chips, crackers, nachos, toasted slices of bread, roasted veggies, or crudites, and you’re all set for dinner! There are several lip-smacking dinner dips that you can make like dinner hummus with spiced chicken and cauliflower, sweet potato queso with nachos, queso flameado, caramelized five-onion dip, spinach-artichoke dip, and many more. Choose among them, or experiment with whatever flavor takes your fancy.

Make Your Snack Special for Dinnertime

Whatever snacks, fresh or leftover, you choose for dinner, always try to make it special. Whether you take the fancy route or choose the most low-key items, there's always a way to present them in a way that feels celebratory. You don't need to do much here. Just a clean wooden cheese board, a decorative platter, or an elegant bowl can do the trick if you can arrange the food nicely. A lovely table décor with a flower vase, an artsy table lamp, candles, or a nice cutlery set won't go amiss either!