Applebee's has seven regular appetizers, from $9.99 Mozzarella Sticks to the $18.99 Classic Combo, and they run 590 to 2,200 calories. From 3:00 to 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM to close, dine-in, the core six are half price. The best order of the lot is the Chicken Quesadilla: 49g of protein for $11.99, or $6.00 at happy hour. New this fall are the O-M-Cheese Chicken Nachos.
Applebee's Appetizer Prices and Calories
| Appetizer | Price | Half price | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Wonton Tacos | $11.49 | $5.75 | 590 | n/a | n/a |
| Mozzarella Sticks | $9.99 | $5.00 | 860 | 41g | 2,440mg |
| Spinach & Artichoke Dip | $10.49 | $5.25 | 990 | 21g | 2,340mg |
| Boneless Wings (Classic Hot Buffalo) | $12.99 | $6.50 | 1,080 | 40g | 4,720mg |
| Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip | $10.99 | $5.50 | 1,160 | 34g | 3,540mg |
| Chicken Quesadilla | $11.99 | $6.00 | 1,170 | 49g | 2,590mg |
| Boneless Wings (Garlic Parmesan) | $12.99 | $6.50 | 1,260 | 42g | 2,710mg |
| The Classic Combo | $18.99 | Ask | 2,200 | n/a | n/a |
Prices are reference figures and your restaurant sets its own. Half price is rounded to the cent. Full macros and allergens are in the nutrition guide.
Which Applebee's Appetizer to Order
Order the Chicken Quesadilla. It has the most protein of any appetizer at 49g, more than the Boneless Wings most people pick for protein. At $6.00 during happy hour, that's 8.2g of protein per dollar.
On a budget, get the Mozzarella Sticks. They're the cheapest at $9.99, the lightest of the fried starters at 860 calories, and they tie the quesadilla on protein per dollar at half price.
Want something light? Chicken Wonton Tacos, at 590 calories. Nothing else on the list comes in under 860.
Skip the Spinach & Artichoke Dip if protein is the point. It's 990 calories for 21g, the weakest ratio here. Order it because you like it, not because it's a smart deal.
And choose your wing sauce before you choose wings. Classic Hot Buffalo carries 4,720mg of sodium, more than twice the 2,300mg a day the FDA uses as its Daily Value. Garlic Parmesan has 180 more calories and 2,010mg less sodium.
Every Applebee's Appetizer
Boneless Wings
Breaded chicken pieces tossed in your sauce, with a dip on the side. Sauces include Classic Hot Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile and Garlic Parmesan. Protein sits at 40 to 42g whichever you pick. The sodium doesn't: 4,720mg for Buffalo against 2,710mg for Garlic Parmesan.
- $12.99 · 1,080–1,260 calories · $6.50 at happy hour · contains milk, wheat and soy
Boneless Wings are also one of the three proteins on the $15.99 All You Can Eat, which came back in May 2026 as a summer deal. Call before you go.
Mozzarella Sticks
Breaded mozzarella fried until the outside cracks and the middle pulls, with marinara. Cheapest appetizer, 41g of protein, vegetarian. Not vegan, since both the cheese and the breading contain dairy.
- $9.99 · 860 calories · 41g protein · $5.00 at happy hour · contains milk, wheat and soy
Chicken Quesadilla
Grilled tortillas filled with chipotle lime chicken, pico de gallo and melted Cheddar, with sour cream and salsa. It's the closest thing to a light meal in this section. Watch the saturated fat, though: 34g, the highest of any appetizer.
- $11.99 · 1,170 calories · 49g protein · $6.00 at happy hour · contains milk, wheat and soy
Not to be confused with the Quesadilla Burger, which is a burger.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Creamy spinach and artichoke with Parmesan, served with tortilla chips and salsa. It's the best table starter for four people who want different things, and it has the lowest sodium of the fried-and-cheesy group at 2,340mg, plus the most fiber at 9g.
- $10.49 · 990 calories · 21g protein · vegetarian · contains milk, wheat and soy
Chicken Wonton Tacos
Grilled chicken glazed in sweet Asian chile, packed into crispy wonton shells with coleslaw and cilantro. At 590 calories they're the lightest appetizer by 270 calories. The Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos that ran on the 2 for $25 this summer used the same shell; they ended in August 2026, and these are still here.
- $11.49 · 590 calories · $5.75 at happy hour
Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip
Soft pretzel sticks with beer cheese and honey Dijon mustard. The carb-heaviest appetizer at 146g, with 17g of sugar and 3,540mg of sodium, the second-saltiest after the Buffalo wings. Best as a second starter next to something with chicken in it.
- $10.99 · 1,160 calories · 34g protein · vegetarian · contains milk, wheat and soy
The Classic Combo
Boneless Wings, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Chicken Quesadilla and Mozzarella Sticks on one platter. At 2,200 calories it's the heaviest single order at Applebee's, more than any entrée and more than a Mozzarella Sticks and a Chicken Quesadilla combined (2,030).
It's built for three or four people, and at $18.99 it costs far less than four full appetizers ($45.46). The catch is happy hour. Platters are the item restaurants leave off the half price list, so ask. If it's excluded, two half price apps for $11.00 beat it.
- $18.99 · 2,200 calories
New: O-M-Cheese Chicken Nachos
White corn tortilla chips topped with chipotle lime chicken, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, jalapeños and cilantro, served in a sizzling skillet of queso and melted Cheddar, with extra chips on the side. They launched August 31, 2026 for a limited time, and they're dine-in only. Applebee's hasn't published calories or said whether they count at happy hour, so ask your server both.
Half Price Apps and Late Night Appetizers
Applebee's half price appetizers run 3:00 to 6:00 PM and again from 9:00 PM to close, dine-in only. The late night window is the same deal as the afternoon one, just busier.
The six core appetizers are the ones to count on: Boneless Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, Chicken Quesadilla, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Chicken Wonton Tacos and Brew Pub Pretzels. Two of them for two people cost about $11, less than half a 2 for $25. Franchisees set the exact list, so ask about the Classic Combo and the new nachos.
Times, the best-value math and the six states that ban the drinks half of happy hour are on the happy hour page.
Allergens and Dietary Notes
Every appetizer in our allergen data contains milk, wheat and soy. The Garlic Parmesan wings add eggs. There are no vegan appetizers; a House Salad from the salads menu is the closest option. Three are vegetarian: Mozzarella Sticks, Spinach & Artichoke Dip and Brew Pub Pretzels. The allergen menu lets you filter by allergen.
Takeout and Delivery
Fried appetizers are the worst travelers on the menu. Steam in a closed box softens the breading on the drive. Ask for wing sauce on the side and toss them at home. The Spinach & Artichoke Dip travels best, since there's no coating to lose and the chips come separately.
Half price pricing doesn't apply to Carside To Go or delivery.
What to Know Before You Order Appetizers
Boneless Wings are the safest bet. They're soft inside with a crisp coating, and Classic Buffalo gives you the most flavor for the least sugar. Think of them as big, saucy chicken bites and you won't be disappointed. Ordering To Go? Get the sauce on the side, or they'll steam soft on the drive home.
Mozzarella Sticks are the most consistent. Crisp outside, stretchy inside, and rarely greasy. If you're not sure what your kitchen does well, start here.
Eat the fried stuff right away. Onion Rings and Chicken Wonton Tacos are great in their first few minutes and go soggy fast. They're table food, not takeout food.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip is the gamble. On a good day it's rich and creamy. On a bad one it's runny and the chips come out greasy or stale. If the chips look tired, ask for a fresh basket.
Riblets aren't meaty ribs. The sauce is good, but a lot of the plate is bone. If you want rib meat you can really eat, the Double-Glazed Baby Back Ribs are the better order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What appetizers does Applebee's have?
Seven: Boneless Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, Chicken Quesadilla, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Chicken Wonton Tacos, Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip and The Classic Combo. There's also the limited-time O-M-Cheese Chicken Nachos, added August 31, 2026.
How much are Applebee's appetizers?
$9.99 to $12.99 for single appetizers and $18.99 for The Classic Combo. At happy hour they drop to $5.00 to $6.50.
What time are Applebee's half price appetizers?
3:00 to 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM to close, dine-in only.
Are Applebee's appetizers half price late night?
Yes. The late night window starts at 9:00 PM and runs until the restaurant closes, with the same half price appetizers as the afternoon.
How many calories are in Applebee's Boneless Wings?
1,080 in Classic Hot Buffalo sauce and 1,260 in Garlic Parmesan, with 40 to 42g of protein. Buffalo has 4,720mg of sodium; Garlic Parmesan has 2,710mg.
What are Applebee's Chicken Wonton Tacos?
Sweet Asian chile grilled chicken in crispy wonton shells with coleslaw and cilantro. They're $11.49 and 590 calories, the lightest appetizer on the menu.
Which Applebee's appetizer has the most protein?
The Chicken Quesadilla at 49g. Boneless Wings have 40 to 42g and Mozzarella Sticks 41g.
Is the Classic Combo half price at happy hour?
Ask your server. Restaurants often leave platters off the half price list, and if it's excluded, two half price apps cost less.
Does Applebee's have all you can eat boneless wings?
It did this summer. All You Can Eat came back May 11, 2026 at $15.99 for Boneless Wings, Riblets and Double Crunch Shrimp with endless fries, dine-in only. Call to check it's still running.
Three Appetizers on One Plate, and Today's Deals
Want three appetizers on one plate? The Ultimate Trio lets you pick. Every deal with an end date is on specials and deals, and the full list of prices is on the menu page.