There is nothing like a good holiday appetizer to set the mood and kick things off to an epic Christmas Dinner. Whether you are looking for a classic cranberry and brie combo, a holiday charcuterie board, festive bite-sized treats for easy single serving, or a smooth and creamy dip that you can't get enough of, I have you covered. So if you are wondering what appetizers to make for Christmas, you are in the right place. We are sharing over 30 of our most popular best Christmas appetizers from all the classic holiday appetizer recipes to a handful of delicious new options that you might be making year after year.
Best Christmas Appetizers
Cranberry baked brie is a sweet and savory appetizer you need to try this holiday season. It's quick and easy, melty and gooey, and so delicious.
This easy charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer to impress with minimal effort— made with cheese, cured meats, crackers, dips, olives, fruit, and nuts.
Pigs in a blanket from scratch are a delicious and easy appetizer or snack to make for your next party or gathering — juicy, cheesy, flaky, and buttery.
Cranberry Brie Bites are quick and easy to make with flaky puff pastry, gooey melty brie, and sweet cranberry sauce. The perfect holiday appetizer.
Enjoy street vendor roasted chestnuts at home in three different ways — roast in the oven, cook over the stove, or in the air fryer.
Easy Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
Tomato bruschetta with balsamic glaze is an easy Italian appetizer topped with tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil and olive oil. Delicious, fresh and simple.
Fried mac and cheese balls are crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside, and have the perfect crunch. Best way to use leftover mac and cheese.
Bacon Wrapped Scallops are the most decadent appetizer to serve at your next part. Tender, fresh scallops are wrapped in bacon slices before baked.
Marinated mozzarella balls is a delicious and simple yet stunning appetizer, made with fresh bocconcini soaked in olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs.
Bacon cheddar cheese ball is an easy to make appetizer and delicious showstopper at holiday parties or game day. It's creamy, cheesy, and nutty.
Antipasto skewers with tortellini are a quick, easy, and delicious appetizer with the best parts of a traditional antipasto platter but easier to eat.
Cranberry Meatballs are sticky, sweet and tangy. These delicious bites are the perfect holiday appetizer, or a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.
Crispy Smashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect side dish for your fall and winter meals — sweet, savory, and so simple to make!
This easy Cheese Board is a popular and classic appetizer arranged with an assortment of cheese, bread and crackers, fresh fruit, and nuts.
This Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip is a festive, creamy appetizer that comes together in minutes with just a handful of simple ingredients.
Vegetarian stuffed mushrooms are a delicious, flavorful, healthy, and nutritious appetizer. Plus, quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes including prep!
Whipped feta crostini with a herby olive topping is quick and easy snack or appetizer that is ready in less than 20 minutes — or 10 minutes if you’re fast.
Smooth and creamy pesto hummus is a healthy, delicious and flavourful dip that is easy to make in just 5 minutes. It's vegan and gluten-free.
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Bacon wrapped brussels sprouts are the sweet, savory, and salty appetizer that you need at your next holiday gathering this fall. Simple and easy to make.
The best quick and easy salted soft pretzels are buttery, salty, and so delicious. They are golden brown and chewy on the outside, yet warm and soft inside.
This homemade veggie tray is a quick easy healthy snack or appetizer to make for your next party, with a variety of colorful vegetables and delicious dips.
Warm, rich, creamy baked spinach dip is a delicious and easy appetizer that is baked until warm and melty. Easy to make ahead and a total crowd pleaser. It's one of my favourite Super Bowl recipes of all time.
Fried Goat Cheese Balls are flavorful, delicious, and easy to make. With creamy, melty cheese oozing out of a crunchy, golden crust in every bite.
Olive tapenade is a delicious, flavorful, easy dip that comes together in minutes, made with the perfect combination of sharp, tangy, salty, and savory.
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy inside, spicy, and wrapped in bacon. Easy to make in the air fryer or oven.
Classic deviled eggs are a simple, easy, and healthy appetizer to make when you need something quick for brunch, picnics, barbecues, potlucks, or Easter.
Mashed potato balls are a delicious appetizer that is crisp on the outside and soft, tender, and cheesy inside. Best way to use leftover mashed potatoes!
Made with homemade pie crust and an earthy, cheesy mushroom filling, this savory Mushroom Galette is an absolute delight. Serve for appetizer or side dish.
This Antipasto Platter is a show-stopping appetizer made with a variety of marinated veggies, olives, cheeses, breads, cured meats, and fresh vegetables.
Whipped ricotta crostini is a fancy easy appetizer to make in just minutes or prepare in advance and assemble before serving. A total crowd pleaser.
Candied pecans are a delicious, crunchy, and sweet snack during the holidays or great topped on salads and more. Made with five pantry staple in 10 minutes.
Whipped feta is light, airy, and fluffy. It's an easy yet impressive recipe that takes only 5 minutes to make in a blender with 3 simple ingredients.
Bacon wrapped chicken bites are one of the best appys ever — well seasoned tender juicy chicken is wrapped in bacon and oven-baked to crisp perfection.
Flaky cornmeal cheddar biscuits are simple, buttery, cheesy, and so delicious. These savoury biscuits with perfect golden tops are quick and easy to make.
Homemade Air Fryer Pizza Rolls are a grown-up version of Totino's pizza rolls and are perfect to serve as an appetizer, snack, or even a quick main dish!
Sweet Potato Croquettes are delicious, flavorful, savory balls of mashed sweet potatoes, cheese, and seasoning — crisp outside and soft and tender inside.
Caramelized onion dip is creamy, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. This easy appetizer is perfect for entertaining, on game day, or for a snack.
Soft garlic breadsticks are fluffy, airy, buttery, and delicious. They're an easy recipe that is perfect for beginners at baking bread.
Flaky Garlic Cheddar Biscuits are a simple but delicious and flavorful no yeast bread that is ready for the oven with less than 15 minutes prep.
More Christmas Recipes
Once you have selected the thanksgiving appetizers that you want to serve on your Christmas Dinner Menu, let's tackle the other items on the menu:
- 25 Best Christmas Mains and Entrees
- 50 Best Christmas Side Dishes
- 25 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes
- 30 Best Christmas Cookies
Christmas Dinner Tips
- Plan your menu ahead of time. It's important to plan your menu ahead of time so that you aren't scrambling for ingredients on the last day. Get your shopping list organized and pick up all the ingredients you need well in advance.
- Prep as much as possible. Once you have decided on the dishes to serve, prepare as much as you can in advance. Although the warm Christmas appetizers are best served fresh out of the oven, you can prepare some of the ingredients ahead time. There are also some appetizers that can be made up to a day or more in advance (such as all the cold dips). Some can stored in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and some can even be frozen (hello mac and cheese balls), according to recipe directions.
- Set the table the night before. Take out the fancy dinnerware, flatware, glasses, placemats, and napkins and set the table the night before. It's one less thing to worry about on Christmas.
Did You Make Any of These Christmas Appetizers?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of Christmas appetizer recipes. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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PrintRecipe
30 Best Christmas Appetizers
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6+ servings
Description
Over 30 popular best Christmas appetizers including classic cranberry and brie combo, holiday charcuterie boards, festive bite-sized treats, dips, and more.
Ingredients
Refer to each recipe post for full ingredient list and instructions.
Instructions
- Plan your menu ahead of time. It's important to plan your menu ahead of time so that you aren't scrambling for ingredients on the last day. Get your shopping list organized and pick up all the ingredients you need well in advance.
- Prep as much as possible. Once you have decided on the dishes to serve, prepare as much as you can in advance. Although the warm Christmas appetizers are best served fresh out of the oven, you can prepare some of the ingredients ahead time. There are also some appetizers that can be made up to a day or more in advance (such as all the cold dips). Some can stored in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and some can even be frozen (hello mac and cheese balls), according to recipe directions.
- Set the table the night before. Take out the fancy dinnerware, flatware, glasses, placemats, and napkins and set the table the night before. It's one less thing to worry about on Christmas.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Various
- Cuisine: Various
Nutrition
- Calories: 100
Jules says
Such a great list of appetizers to choose from. I made the bacon wrapped brussels for thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Trying the pigs in a blanket for christmas
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Jules! Enjoy!