50 Easy Christmas Appetizers That Will Have Everyone Reaching for Seconds
Christmas is the ultimate celebration. From the family gatherings to the presents and of course the food, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year. And when it comes to Christmas food, while the main meal is expected to be the big event, Christmas appetizers deserve a starring role in the festivities as well.
Christmas appetizer recipes, from gluten-free favorites, like a bright and refreshing escarole salad, to easy appetizers that take no time at all to prepare (hello seasoned potato chips!), we've collected the best recipes to start your meal off on the right foot. Fan of the classics? We've pulled together some of our favorite traditional Christmas appetizers, like a showstopping cheeseboard that doubles as decor (because it's dressed up just like a snowman!). And if you're looking for some original ideas, try creative finger foods that will really impress, like salty oysters with a vibrant vinaigrette, succulent shrimp potstickers and crispy potato croquettes.
Hosting a big bash this year? Some make-ahead apps are great to keep in your back pocket, so you're not rushing to prepare the feast plus a whole plate of pigs in a blanket at the last minute. Plus, no matter if you're expecting a mix-and-mingling Christmas party with snacks (best paired with a big batch of Christmas punch!) or a more formal sit-down spread that calls for big bowls of soup or sharp salads, these Christmas appetizer ideas cross off every box. And don't forget the Christmas desserts, holiday cookies and festive shots to round out the evening, too!
Gingery Shrimp Toasts
Warning: Guests might fill up on these addictive crostinis before you even serve the roast.
Get the Gingery Shrimp Toasts recipe.
Cranberry Baked Brie
Pass the baguette! This melty, cranberry-covered Brie will be the star of your hors d'oeuvres spread.
Get the Cranberry Baked Brie recipe.
Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko
Celebrate Christmas Eve with Feast of the Seven Fishes? Start your meal with these delicious bivalves, topped with garlicky bread crumbs. Plus, they take less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
Get the Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko recipe.
Snowman Cheese Board
To recreate this adorable holiday app, you'll need three cheese wheels, prosciutto for the scarf, sugared cranberry buttons, raisin eyes and a chile pepper nose. So easy, and so cute!
Goat Cheese Log with Cranberries, Chives and Black Pepper
Nothing tops a tray of cheese and crackers... well, unless it's a whole log of cheese.
Get the Goat Cheese Log with Cranberries, Chives and Black Pepper recipe.
Parmesan Seeded Crackers
While all your guests will be super impressed that you made your own crackers, only you will know the simple secret — pie dough. Pair these savory snacks with your favorite Christmas cocktail!
Get the Parmesan Seeded Crackers recipe.
Creamy Potato Soup
A cozy bowl of soup topped with potato chips will be a real crowd-pleaser this holiday season.
Get the Creamy Potato Soup recipe.
Beef Empanadas
Delicious at any holiday event, but especially a Nochebuena celebration, these flaky empanadas are filled with ground beef, spices and briny olives.
Get the Beef Empanadas recipe.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Still have Thanksgiving leftovers? Turn cranberry sauce into a glaze to sweeten up frozen cocktail meatballs.
Get the Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe.
RELATED: 51 Juicy Meatball Recipes That Are Simple Enough for Any Weeknight Dinner
Parmesan-Chive Chips
Behold the easiest appetizer ever: Just sprinkle on some parmesan and fresh chives onto store-bought potato chips.
Get the Parmesan-Chive Chips recipe.
Marinated Feta
Get the party started with briny, flavorful feta cheese marinated with chili, lemon and rosemary. Serve them with bread, veggies or crackers.
Get the Marinated Feta recipe.
Roasted Pepper Dip
This chunky dip features roasted almonds for a rich, nutty flavor that's delicious on veggies.
Get the Roasted Pepper Dip recipe.
Ranch Croquettes
If mashed potatoes are a must for Christmas dinner, we suggest making an extra batch to turn into these cheesy, herby bites.
Get the Ranch Croquettes recipe.
RELATED: 46 Easy Mashed Potatoes To Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side
Apple Sausage Rolls
Don't skip the sauce — it's a simple but delicious combo of apple butter and Dijon mustard.
Get the Apple Sausage Rolls recipe.
Baked Ricotta
Pile a spoonful of jammy roasted vegetables and creamy ricotta on some crusty bread and you have a winning appetizer worthy of any gathering.
Get the Baked Ricotta recipe.
Wild Mushroom Toasts
Avocado toast, who?! This toast is dressed in festive hues thanks to red chili and fresh parsley.
Get the Wild Mushroom Toasts recipe.
Chorizo-and-Manchego Crostini
You've got spiked eggnog and spice cake, now keep to the spicy theme with this chorizo-topped appetizer.
Get the Chorizo-and-Manchego Crostini recipe.
Escarole Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Add a bracing bite to any wintery feast with this seasonal salad, full of crisp, slightly bitter escarole, blue cheese and bright red pomegranate seeds.
Get the Escarole Salad With Red Wine Vinaigrette recipe.
RELATED: 22 Christmas Salads to Complete Any Holiday Dinner Menu
Whipped Ricotta Three Ways
The topping possibilities are endless for this dreamy cheese dip. Try maple figs, garlicky lemon zest or peppery apricot glaze. There's a flavor for everyone!
Get the Whipped Ricotta Three Ways recipe.
Sriracha Mixed Nuts
Want to start your Christmas meal off light? This sweet and slightly spicy nut mix will certainly whet your appetite.
Get the Sriracha Mixed Nuts recipe.
Salmon Rillette
This elegant appetizer brings together smoked salmon and salmon poached with white wine and shallots. Go fast, because this won't last long at any party.
Get the Salmon Rillette recipe.
Crispy Skillet Carrot Latkes
These crispy, delicious carrot cakes come together in mini cast-iron skillets, which might be the perfect way to serve everything.
Get the Crispy Skillet Carrot Latkes recipe.
Brie and Apple Tart
If you're all about looking fancy with zero effort, this sweet and savory tart is for you.
Get the Brie and Apple Tart recipe.
Good Housekeeping's Famous Popovers
It doesn't get easier than this classic starter that comes together with just five ingredients. You can serve these with butter for a simple Christmas appetizer.
Get the Famous Popovers recipe.
Pigs in a Blanket
Forget game day — pigs in a blanket deserve a spot on your holiday table. Arrange the dogs in a circle formation for a more striking display.
Get the Pigs in a Blanket recipe.
French Onion Dip
If you really want to impress your guests, tell 'em that you made this homemade dip without soup mix. It's true!
Get the French Onion Dip recipe.
RELATED: 80 Best Party Dip Recipes That Are Easy to Serve a Crowd
Dill Dip
Freshly-cut veggies are way more exciting after they're dunked in a bowl of creamy dip. Or skip the veggies altogether and go straight for the good stuff: salty chips and seedy crackers.
Get the Dill Dip recipe.
Oysters with Mustard-Horseradish Relish
Balance out the oyster's salty flavor with a bite of mustard, horseradish and lemon zest.
Get the Oysters with Mustard-Horseradish Relish recipe.
Beet Tapenade
Beets are a staple in the winter months — and this recipe really makes them shine. In a bowl, toss 6 oz cooked beets (cut into 1/4-inch pieces), 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp orange zest and 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper. Fold in 1/4 cup green olives (chopped), then spoon onto endive leaves and sprinkle with chopped basil.
Cherry Tomato Confit
Add a spoonful of this four-ingredient confit onto crusty bread slices for a tasty bruschetta.
Get the Cherry Tomato Confit recipe.
Roasted Olives with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs
These roasted olives are basically made for Christmas — look at the colors!
Get the Roasted Olives with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs recipe.
20-Minute Cauliflower Soup
If you're looking to add more veggies into your Christmas diet (we blame the cookies!), then give this creamy soup a try.
Get the 20-Minute Cauliflower Soup recipe.
Cucumber Roasted-Beet and Pistachio Salad
Beets, cucumber and salted pistachios come together to make a tasty (and healthy!) light salad.
Get the Cucumber Roasted-Beet and Pistachio Salad recipe.
French Onion Soup
Because you'll definitely be craving this cold-weather classic all Christmas evening.
Get the French Onion Soup recipe.
Crispy Beet and Mozzarella Salad
Roasted beets add the perfect amount of crunch to this beautiful medley of arugula, radishes and mozzarella.
Get the Crispy Beet and Mozzarella Salad recipe.
Best Ever Spinach and Artichoke Dip
'Tis the season to feast on some savory, herby dips!
Get the Best Ever Spinach and Artichoke Dip recipe.
Jammy Brie Cups
Create cute cups by pressing puff pastry into muffin tins and dolloping jam (apricot, raspberry and fig are tasty!) and cubes of gooey Brie on top.
Get the Jammy Brie Cups recipe.
Frico Cups
This delicate, baked Parmesan cheese cups are deceptively easy to make. You can fill them with whatever you want, but grape tomato, olive and feta make for a light and refreshing snack.
Get the Frico Cups recipe.
Pecorino & Everything Spice Straws
Twist everything bagel seasoning and grated cheese into store-bought puff pastry for the easiest appetizer ever!
Get the Pecorino & Everything Spice Straws recipe.
Spicy Deviled Walnuts
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire are great and all, but your guests will also love these flavorful, protein-filled nuts.
Get the Spicy Deviled Walnuts recipe.
Prosciutto & Mustard Pinwheels
Think of these three-ingredient bites as fancy ham and cheese sandwiches, and watch them disappear at your Christmas party this year.
Get the Prosciutto & Mustard Pinwheels recipe.
Shrimp Curry Potstickers
This tasty potstickers won't fill you up before the main course. Serve with a Thai Lime Dipping Sauce for even more flavor.
Get the Shrimp Curry Potstickers recipe.
Parsnip Potato Latkes with Sautéed Apples
Because potatoes are at the top of your Christmas list.
Get the Parsnip Potato Latkes with Sautéed Apples recipe.
Romaine Salad with Lemon-Pecorino Vinaigrette
If you fill up on your greens now, that means you can eat as many cookies as you'd like after dinner. It's the unspoken rule of Christmas, trust us.
Get the Romaine Salad with Lemon-Pecorino Vinaigrette recipe.
Butternut Squash and Feta Tartlets
These loaded tarts are a no-mess, no-fuss way to enjoy winter's favorite squash.
Get the Butternut Squash and Feta Tartlets recipe.
ELATED: 32 Easy Butternut Squash Recipes Perfect for Cozy Fall Dinners
Bruschetta with Mushrooms and Fontina
Mushroom fans will devour these warm, cheesy apps in seconds — wait and see.
Get the Bruschetta with Mushrooms and Fontina recipe.
Tomato and Mozzarella Bites
If you need an excuse to serve the classic Caprese combo, just think how it will match your Christmas color scheme.
Get the Tomato and Mozzarella Bites recipe.
Three-Ingredient Pretzel Bites
Psst: The first ingredient is store-bought pizza dough, so this recipe is even easier than it sounds.
Get the Three-Ingredient Pretzel Bites recipe.
Grilled Onion Dip and Naan Chips
Onion dip's already a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Step up your hostess game by serving it with oven-roasted flatbreads that hold their own.
Get the Naan Chips recipe.
Get the Grilled Onion Dip recipe.
Sweet Potato Croquettes
They're basically like mashed sweet potatoes, but fried and crispy. You want these.
Get the Sweet Potato Croquettes recipe.
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