Planning a Christmas get-together? Find inspiration and easy recipes for the best appetizers to share this holiday season.
In our family, Christmas dinner is all about appetizers! Years ago, we traded in the traditional Christmas dinner for a family appetizer pitch-in, and it’s always a blast to enjoy different tastes from the smorgasbord.
We’ve pulled together our favorite Christmas classic appetizers for you to try in your family, and we’re sure you’ll love them! Some of these recipes have been making an appearance on our Christmas dinner table for decades. Merry Christmas and enjoy!
What are some easy Christmas Day appetizers?
We love a good appetizer—so much so, we have over two dozen holiday appetizer recipes listed below! If you’re going to be serving a big main course like a Christmas ham or turkey, you don’t want appetizers to be taking up your oven space, so we have plenty of dips and finger foods that can be prepped in advance, don’t require cooking, or do well in the slow cooker (looking at you, cocktail meatballs).
If you’re planning to serve appetizers all day like we do, we recommend putting out at least 4-5 appetizer options—more if your gathering is larger. Look to offer appetizers with a variety of flavors and textures, so that you have something to appeal to everyone’s tastes.
And don’t forget about your guests’ potential dietary needs! Our vegan spinach artichoke dip or spinach quinoa patties should keep any vegan guests happy, while our cold veggie pizza squares and cheese ball will appeal to meatless friends who are okay with some dairy.
What would be a great appetizer for my Christmas dinner guests?
While everyone is waiting for the Christmas dinner main, people are going to want something to nibble on while they mingle. Lucky for you, we have lots of Christmas appetizer recipes that can help tide people over until the main dinner event. Setting out bowls of nuts or snack mix for people to grab a handful of here and there is the simplest route to take—you can prep these kinds of things well in advance. Then on Christmas, just pour them into bowls around the room!
This is also a great situation to pull out a cheese board or cheese ball . A platter filled with cheese, crackers, and a few sweet or salty items looks fancy, but takes just minutes to prepare. You can make it as simple or intricate as you’d like.
If you’d like to go the more traditional appetizer route, we also have several finger foods listed below. Small savory bites like stuffed mushrooms and deviled eggs are easy for people to nibble on without needing a plate or utensils.
What should I bring to a Christmas party?
If you’ve been invited to a fun Christmas pitch-in, appetizers are an easy choice to bring. We recommend bringing something that doesn’t need to be reheated once you’re at the party—that’ll save you and your host or hostess some stress. Instead, choose something that can be served room temperature like a cheese ball, caprese sticks, or deviled eggs.
The 27+ Best Christmas Appetizers
Planning a Christmas get-together? Find inspiration and easy recipes for the best appetizers to share this holiday season.
Finger Foods and Small Plate Christmas Appetizers
Christmas Charcuterie Board
This Christmas charcuterie board is always a hit at a holiday party. This charcuterie wreath is simple to make and will impress all your guests!
Fried Goat Cheese Recipe
Crispy exterior, creamy interior—fried goat cheese delights with a perfect blend of textures and a rich, tangy flavor.
Toasted Ravioli
Discover the delight of toasted ravioli – a crunchy, Italian-inspired treat that's oozing with flavor and warmth.
Cold Veggie Pizza Appetizers
The best part about making these for your holiday party? You can prepare all the components ahead of time and assemble them right before your guests arrive!
Sweet Potato Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate
These beautiful bites are ready for primetime, and are sure to be snatched up at your next holiday gathering.
Sausage Balls
Sausage balls are a cinch to make, packed with flavor, and a popular party food. This quick and easy recipe will soon become a holiday favorite.
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
These savory stuffed mushrooms are easy to prepare. Serve them as appetizers during the holidays to be the star of the party.
Spinach and Feta Mini Quiche
Mini quiche are a holiday appetizer favorite—they never disappoint and can be prepped ahead. They are rich, flavorful, and adorable!
Maple Rosemary Bar Nuts
Maple Rosemary Bar Nuts pull double duty as both the perfect holiday snack and an easy food gift. They are a little salty, a little sweet, a little savory, and totally easy to make.
Spinach Quinoa Patties
Perfect for topping and dipping, these quinoa patties make an elegant vegetarian appetizer.
Hummus Deviled Eggs
Our Christmas appetizer spread isn't complete without these Hummus Deviled Eggs! Try this twist on a classic at your next holiday party.
Rosemary Bacon Wrapped Dates
Holiday appetizers don't get much easier than these Rosemary Bacon Wrapped Dates!
Spicy Sticky Thai Meatballs
Everyone loves a cocktail meatball. Serve these slow cooker Spicy Sticky Thai Meatballs at your next holiday party!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Another cocktail meatball favorite—these Sweet and Sour Meatballs are perfect for holiday parties!
Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
Last but not least in our cocktail meatball trio, these Italian meatballs are packed with flavor and stuffed with ooey, gooey mozzarella cheese.
Bacon and Sriracha Deviled Eggs
Kick up your holiday appetizer game with Bacon and Sriracha Deviled Eggs. A little spicy, a little salty, and a lot flavorful, these deviled eggs will make you a star!
Smokehouse Cheddar Cheese Straws
These savory cheddar cheese straws are made even tastier with a crunchy, smokehouse almond coating. Perfect for your holiday appetizer spread!
Chicago Mix Popcorn
Chicago popcorn makes the most of the classic sweet-and-salty combo! Rich, sweet caramel corn is mixed with cheddar popcorn for a fun and irresistible appetizer.
Parmesan Whole Wheat Crackers
You'll never go back to the box after making these whole grain Parmesan Whole Wheat Crackers! Perfect for your holiday cheese board or alongside dips and spreads.
Dips and Spreads
Baked Brie with Jam
This appetizer is delicious and simple! This Baked Brie With Jam is the perfect party appetizer. It is so good, you won’t be able to stop eating it!
Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip
Great Northern Beans give this vegan white bean dip next-level creaminess! This party favorite comes together in just a few minutes in your food processor.
Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
You'd never guess this creamy and rich Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip is made without dairy! Serve it hot off the stove for a decadent dairy-free holiday appetizer.
Split Pea Hummus
Look at that gorgeous green hue, perfect for the holiday season! Pair this hummus with breads, veggies, and other yummy crudité for a fun and festive party platter.
Bacon Sriracha Queso
Add some kick to your holiday party with this cheesy, spicy, and smoky Bacon Sriracha Queso. You'll be shocked how easy queso is to make at home!
Caramelized Onion Dip
Caramelized Onion Dip is your favorite chip dip taken to the next level with sweet, nutty caramelized onions. Serve it at your next holiday gathering!
Salmon Spinach Artichoke Dip
Salmon Spinach Artichoke Dip is a rich and hearty twist on the classic appetizer. Serve it warm with crackers or veggies for dipping.
Mango Guacamole
Mango Guacamole is a sweet and fruity twist on the traditional party dip. Serve it with red and green bell pepper strips for a festive holiday presentation!
Vegan Cashew Queso
This dairy-free, vegan cashew queso is a quick plant-based appetizer that's loaded with flavor. Whenever we serve this delicious dipper, it's always one of the first things to go!
Cheese Ball
This holiday cheese ball recipe is a delicious, no-fuss appetizer that tastes great with crackers or crudités.
