90 Best Christmas Appetizers for Your Holiday Party
All that celebrating really works up an appetite!
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The holiday season is here, which means it's time for snacking, dipping, and munching on all your favorite Christmas bites. Whether it's a bowl of party mix or a holiday charcuterie board, you'll want to check out this list of crowd-pleasing Christmas appetizers for all your events in December. After all, you can really work up an appetite while decorating the tree or shopping for last-minute gifts.
Of course, all of these recipes are perfect for a festive Christmas party, too. Try party dips like the herby dip served with red and green crudités or the Christmas deviled eggs that are made with fresh herbs and shaped to look like little trees—they're so dang cute! For more fancy appetizers, try Ree Drummond's twist on pigs in a blanket, ham and cheese pinwheels, or one of the finger foods ahead. They're a perfect way to lead into a bigger Christmas dinner menu.
Some of these are make-ahead Christmas appetizers for even easier entertaining like a Christmas salad made from cabbage that can stay crunch for days! Whichever direction you choose, be sure to serve them up with a round of your favorite Christmas cocktails to keep guests' spirits bright. So, go ahead and put on your favorite Christmas playlist, then put out your fancy platters, and get ready for all the festive snacking ahead.
Little Smokies
Remember these? Well, they're better than you imagine! Ree's recipe calls for a tangy-sweet sauce with a kick of adobo peppers. That smokiness that will have guests coming back for seconds.
Get Ree's Little Smokies recipe.
Bloody Mary Dip
Turn your favorite brunch cocktail into a creamy dip! It's zesty with just the right amount of heat. Top with chopped olives and serve with either veggies, crackers, or chips.
Get the Bloody Mary Dip recipe.
Cabbage Salad
If you're looking for something fresh and healthy before digging into dinner, try this crispy salad! You can make it several days in advance and it will stay crunchy.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Rosemary Garlic Snack Mix
Think Chex Mix but fancy! In 15 minutes, you can make regular snacks into an extraordinary holiday appetizer with just a few simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry.
Get Ree's Rosemary Garlic Snack Mix recipe.
Cheese Straws
Need something quick that'll impress your guests? All you have to do is roll out store-bought puff pastry, cut it into strips, sprinkle it with cheese and sesame seeds, and twist it into pretty spirals.
Get the Cheese Straws recipe.
Green Goddess Chicken Salad Dip
This dip is not only perfectly green for the holiday, but it's a great way to get your veggies in before the big meal begins! It has spinach, cabbage, cucumber, and lots of herbs blended in.
Ultimate Winter Salad
Shredded veggies get all gussied up for the holidays! They're topped with apples, goat cheese, butternut squash, pecans, and pomegranate seeds. A classic vinaigrette blends all the flavors together.
Get the Ultimate Winter Salad recipe.
French Onion Soup
A special holiday deserves a special soup, and French onion soup certainly fits the bill! Ree calls it, "absolutely, positively, undeniably out of this world," as it soaks in the crispy croutons and melty gruyère on top.
Get Ree's French Onion Soup recipe.
Fig and Blue Cheese Bruschetta
Sweet fig jam and tangy blue cheese are a match made in appetizer heaven! Serve them together on slices of baguette and watch them disappear in a matter of minutes.
Get Ree's Fig and Blue Cheese Bruschetta recipe.
Avocado Dip
If you like guacamole, you'll definitely love this creamy cousin. It pairs perfectly with pita chips and crudités, and it comes together in just five minutes in the blender.
Get the Avocado Dip recipe.
Fried Deviled Eggs
If there's any time to indulge, it's Christmas! So why not create an extra fun twist on classic deviled eggs by frying 'em up? The crispy panko exteriors add another level of texture that's out of this world.
Get the Fried Deviled Eggs recipe.
Spinach Puffs
Another puff pastry miracle are these little cups of goodness. They're filled with lots of cheese and spinach and bake up golden and crispy in mini muffin pans to hold their shape.
Get the Spinach Puffs recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
What’s the easiest way to make any food better is to wrap it in bacon! This super easy vintage snack will be a popular pick at the party, especially when dipped in chili sauce.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts recipe.
Dill Dip
Versatile, creamy, and easy to make: Those are the boxes you want to check when finding the right dip for a gathering. It has just the right amount of zesty herbs that no one will have trouble eating their vegetables.
Get the Dill Dip recipe.
Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers
It might look like a thumbprint cookie, but this appetizer is more savory than sweet. In fact, the cheesy pimento crackers even get a spicy kick from the pepper jelly filling.
Whipped Goat Cheese
This is one of those appetizers that's a no-brainer when you have unexpected guests. The creamy whipped cheese is simply topped with crispy pancetta and breadcrumbs, then served with veggies, crackers, or toasted bread for dipping.
Get Ree's Whipped Goat Cheese recipe.
Antipasto Skewers
All your guests will reach for one of these fun holiday skewers! They're layered with meats, veggies, and cheeses just like a charcuterie board.
Get the Antipasto Skewers recipe.
Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Even those who are skeptical about Brussels sprouts will love this crispy snack! The veggie is smashed and baked with cheesy breadcrumbs, then served with a lemony sauce for dipping.
Get the Smashed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini
You can whip up these easy bites in just under 20 minutes. Slices of fresh, seasonal pears top blue cheese crumbles on slices of toasted baguette. A sprinkle of fresh thyme pulls it all together.
Get the Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini recipe.
Spicy Artichoke and Parmesan Dip
This dip is warm and bubbly with a welcome kick from the pickled cherry peppers. Serve it up with crackers or vegetable slices and watch as everyone digs in!
Get Ree's Spicy Artichoke and Parmesan Dip recipe.
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