18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (2025)

Just a few short weeks ago we hosted a Tapas night. Each couple, we invited two couples besides ourselves, made 5 dishes plus a magnificent sangria! That was a total of 15 dishes, sounds like a lot but we managed to get through them without an issue. Some were small pintxos (just a bite), while others a bit larger! They did have one thing in common though, all were delicious. That is why I wanted to bring you this collection of 18 Terrific Tapas Recipes.

I can’t share with you all that we made as some were from cookbooks but this collection I put together for you has many wonderful options for your next tapas night.

Maybe some of you aren’t familiar with tapas. Basically it is Spanish appetizers that are usually served at a bar in Spain. One after another is served and this comprises your meal. I hope you enjoy our collection of Spanish Tapas Recipes!! I wish for you to “comer bien” or eat well!

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Table of Contents

Spanish Tapas Recipes

Spanish Tapas are canapes, snacks or tiny plates of a variety of different dishes that originated in Spain. In fact, Spanish tapas come in many different varieties and forms and can vary depending on where in Spain you are visiting.

How to Make Tapas

There are several different ways to make Tapas. Considering the variety of ingredients that can be used to create delicious small plates, there is a Tapas recipes for everyone.

From Patatas Bravas, Catalan-Style Spinach, Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon to Marinated Roasted Red Peppers and Shrimp in Romesco Sauce. The list continues with Queso Fresco Cheese and Apples, Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms and Mascarpone Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate and Honey.

The possibilities are just as endless as the tapas will seem.

Easy Tapas Recipes

From potatoes to other veggies, to cheese or seafood and more, Spanish cuisine is one that is full of flavor! Every bite will pack a punch of delicious tastes to share with family or friends!

Tapas dishes can be served hot or cold and some can be servedeither way or at room temperature. Eating tapas evokes conversation and friendship. There will always be something wonderful to talk about as dish after dish comes out to tempt all your senses.

Olives and Spanish olive oil are very essential in tapas and almost always some dishes will include those ingredients at some point in the meal. You can start off with simple marinated oliveswith lots of crusty bread to dunk. I made something very similar to this recipe and we all adored it.

Tapas can be very easy to serve too, don’t get intimidated with the number of dishes. Some like our marinated peppers take only a few minutes to pull together and can be made ahead of time. Serving an excellent inexpensive wine with your meal will add a lot of enjoyment to the dining. We sure have loved the newLiberado with our tapas meals.

Tapas

Tapas recipes are a fantastic addition to your cooking repertoire. They make for such a fun night of noshing and are perfect for get togethers and parties. Rather than serving a big meal to your guests you can opt to serve delicious Spanish tapas. There are such a wide variety of tapas recipes from vegetarian tapas to beef, chicken, chorizo or pork tapas, there is something for everyone.

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Patatas Bravas by Noshing With The Nolands

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Spanish Omelette (Tortilla de Patatas) by Scrummy Lane

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Catalan-Style Spinach by Foolproof Living

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Marinated Roasted Red Peppers by Noshing With The Nolands

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Mascarpone Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate and Honey by Foolproof Living

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Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon by The View From Great Island

Common Questions About Tapas

What are Tapas?

Tapas are essentially tiny plates of food originating from Spanish cuisine. Basically, like bar snacks served alongside beverages.

Tapas are great as a snack or even as a meal when you make a range of different kinds. These small dishes are a great way to try a large variety of different food without overfilling you belly and emptying your wallet.

Serving these recipes are fantastic for entertaining because most are easy to make and with such a large range of recipes they are sure to suit the different tastes if your guests.

What are Three Popular Tapas?

There are cold tapas, like cheeses and mixed olives or warm tapas like chopitos. Chopitos are fried and battered baby squid.

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Shrimp in Romesco Sauce by The View From Great Island

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Spanish Garlic Shrimp by Life Tastes Good

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Patatas Aioli by Manu’s Menu

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Mushrooms in Escabeche by Manu’s Menu

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Sous Vide Octopus Spanish Tapas Recipe by Jeanette’s Healthy Living

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Chorizo Sweet Potato Spanish Tortilla Bites by Cupcakes and Kale Chips

Where Does the Word Tapas Come From?

There are many debates about the origin of tapas. Depending on which part of Spain you are from, you may have differing opinions.

It is said that the first Tapas was simply a large piece of bread that was placed over top of a drink to keep the flies out. It is said, the word “Tapas” was born from this experience.

Tapas serve as an amazing way to entertain and enjoy some delicious food. There are many recipes out there that can be used to create delicious tapas. Try your hand at this Spanish cuisine and enjoy.

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Spicy Tortilla Rollups by Vegan in the Freezer

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Queso Fresco Cheese and Apples by Noshing With The Nolands

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Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms by Culinary Ginger

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Sauteed Mushroom and Rosemary Bruschetta by Culinary Ginger

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Queso en Aceite by Noshing With The Nolands

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Spanish Tapas Party Recipes by Flavor Mosaic

18 Terrific Tapas Recipes will make the perfect night with friends (2025)

FAQs

What does tapas mean in Spanish? ›

Tapas has two meanings in Spanish. As a verb, tapas means “to cover”, revealing its origins as a way for guests to cover their drinks with pieces of food. As a noun, it references small plates of food.

Is tapas Greek or Spanish? ›

Tapas (pronounced 'TAP pass') are Spanish snacks, ranging from very simple, slices of cheese or ham, to exquisite mini dishes like deep-fried anglerfish cheeks or smoked tuna with rosemary oil.

What is tapas night? ›

As Chef José Andrés has said, “Tapas are at the same time a simple way of eating and an entire way of life … they are a commitment to being together, sharing dishes, sharing an experience.” This shared experience is a great way to gather your friends and family – for dinner, for conversation, and for fun.

What kind of food is tapas? ›

This is a list of common tapas dishes. Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid).

What is tapas called in English? ›

A tapa (Spanish: [ˈtapa]) is an appetiser or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas).

What nationality is tapas? ›

The tapas tradition has deep roots throughout Spain, and each region has its own specialties. In the Basque Country, in northern Spain, the bars are filled with appetizing snacks known as "pinchos." The name comes from the way they are served "pinchado" (meaning pierced) on a cocktail stick.

Are tapas just appetizers? ›

Tapas are Spanish appetizers, meant to be eaten in just a few bites. Traditional tapas include mixed olives, fried baby squid, meatballs and chorizo.

Are tapas a Mexican dish? ›

Popular throughout Spain, tapas are festive and delicious appetizers and snacks from bite-size pintxos to shared small plates that make up a meal. Traditional tapas include mixed olives, garlicky shrimp, fried baby squid, meatballs, and chorizo.

Are tapas healthy? ›

Some tapas, as well as meza and dim sum, are high in fat and calories and some have too much sodium. "Interestingly, this is not true of all tapas and most dishes are very good for you," says Harlan. "There are a myriad of recipes that use fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and anchovies.

Are tapas a full meal? ›

Their popularity has grown, and tapas are now often eaten as the main meal. They can be thought of as samplers, or you can make a complete meal by combining two or more tapas to enjoy a variety of flavors. Tapas are a staple of Spanish cuisine, and their popularity has spread to bars and restaurants around the globe.

When should I eat tapas? ›

Pick the right time for tapas

Tapas is traditionally a drink and bite to eat, so when you meet for tapas in Spain, it's usually around 1:30 to 3pm or 8:30 to 10:30pm. If you stick to the traditional Spanish times for tapas, you're guaranteed to get the freshest food and the best atmosphere.

What is the literal translation of tapas? ›

The word tapa, therefore, literally translates as a lid or cover and it was only after that incident – or so the story goes – that the term entered into popular culture and became common parlance for a nibble to accompany your alcoholic beverage.

Why are appetizers called tapas? ›

Originally, tapas were very small plates of food that were placed on the top of a customer's glass. So the word tapa actually means, “lid”. The plate acted like a lid, with food on top, to keep out dust and insects in bars that originally offered provisions, probably as a promotion to attract more customers.

What do Spanish people call tapas? ›

The Spanish dictionarry (REA) defines a tapa as 'a small portion of any food served to accompany a drink'. The Spanish dictionary defines a pincho like 'a portion of food served, sometimes with a cocktail stick, as an aperitif'. The word “pincho” comes from the verb “to pinchar” which means “to pierce”.

What does the name tapas mean? ›

The name Tapas is a Sanskrit word that means "heat" or "to burn.". In Spanish, it refers to a small, savory snack or appetizer.

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