15 quick and easy gameday appetizers

It's quick to shop for and easy to put on a plate! For those who are new to the "meat and cheese plate scene," this isn't as stuffy or difficult to construct as you think. Pick two kinds of cheese — go simple with sharp cheddar and either a gouda or a brie — a meat — salami or prosciutto — some bread and a jar of assorted olives/mini pickles.

Inspired by a "Martha Stewart Living" recipe, this is perfect for that first bag of avocados you buy at the store this year. Simply half and pit, then leave out a couple of options for your guests to fill them with. (Nothing too crazy — think salsa, beans, cheese, or bacon bits.)

Slice your bacon strips in half. Then wrap each around a jumbo shrimp, secure with a toothpick, and stick in the oven for about 15 minutes. They look fancy but are super easy to put together.

A quick and easy carb-less appetizer! Slice the top 1/4 off the tomato and stick a piece of crispy bacon and a leaf of lettuce in it. (The longest part of this process? Heating up that tasty bacon.)

Great for those of us who have barbecue access on game day, but these also work in the oven or on an indoor grill. Put cubed chicken on long skewers and cover each skewer with a different marinade — BBQ, sesame, etc. — so your guests have a variety to choose from.

Skip the premade platter! Buy your own veggies — carrots, celery, tomatoes, cauliflower, pepper, whatever — and either a ranch or avocado dip. You can even use any leftover veggies and guac that you used to make quesadillas.

A healthy dessert option after all those meat and cheese options. Use melon cubes, grapes, and whatever berries you have access to this season with whipped cream for dipping.

Forget the bag of store-bought meatballs in the freezer selection. Make your own by mixing an egg with ground beef — this also works with ground turkey — seasoning with a bit of salt and pepper and stick these in the oven until they are cooked through. Serve on toothpicks with a couple of mustards and dipping sauces on hand.

All you need is a vat of hot oil, cut-up tenderloin, and long forks, and then everyone can make his or her own meat bites while you watch the commercials — er, I mean the game! Have a variety of dipping sauces for your guests to choose from — spicy mustard, ranch, etc.

Mix together your self-assembled veggie plate and your chicken skewers. Serve on a platter with pita chips and hummus/Greek yogurt dip.

Take your grilled cheese game to the next level! Use a couple of varieties of bread — dark rye, honey-oat, etc. — and melt a couple of fancy grilled cheese combos — ham and Swiss, bacon and blue cheese, mushroom, and cheddar. Cut each sandwich into four pieces so everyone can share the goodness.

Cut up a block of mozzarella into slabs and roll them in bread crumbs — or crushed-up crackers also work. Heat up cooking oil in a saucepan on the stove and use tongs to place the covered slabs into the oil. In a couple of minutes, you have homemade mozzarella sticks!

Put that delivery number down! Buy your own flatbread crusts and some pasta sauce. After that, the sky's the limit as to what quick-and-easy pies you want to make for your guests. Try BBQ pizza with chicken and red onion, with the pasta sauce replaced with BBQ sauce.

The mother of all quick-and-easy appetizers! Much like with the grilled cheeses, create a couple of different varieties — think adding salsa to one, maybe some shredded chicken to another — and slice up so everyone can share.

A game day favorite. Mix a block of cream cheese with 1/4 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and black pepper to your liking. Dig in with crackers or bread pieces. Feeling ambitious? Add bacon bits, like in the pictured recipe from STLCooks.com