It’s the most wonderful time of the year again—especially for those who love entertaining and eating. No matter how you celebrate the holidays, nibbling on festive foods with friends and family is a must. And what better way to start the celebrations than with an appetizer spread that wows guests and sets the tone for a festive atmosphere? But before you start pulling out complicated recipes, the key to serving the perfect holiday starters is choosing bites that are easy to put together but impress guests. That way, you can focus on pulling together the meal without worrying about getting the starters out. And how do you do this? With just a few ingredients and some creative touches to make each bite special. We pulled together some of our favorite holiday appetizers that come together quickly and work equally well for casual daytime get-togethers, cocktail parties, or before the big meal.
Holiday Cheese Trees
Ornament the appetizer table with colorful Christmas trees that look as good as the real thing. Fresh herbs and Italian seasoning transform wedges of spreadable cheese into a festive forest. Each tree is adorned with a pretzel “trunk” and “holiday lights” made from pomegranate seeds. Bonus: This is a great project to give to little ones itching to help in the kitchen.
Get the recipe: Holiday Cheese Trees
Raspberry Brie Bites
Savory, sweet, creamy, crunchy—this 15-minute appetizer has it all. Raspberry preserves, walnuts, and fresh rosemary make a tangy glaze over cubes of melted brie. Served inside miniature phyllo cups, it’s a finger-friendly party starter that lets you skip the effort and expense of a full cheese board.
Get the recipe: Raspberry Brie Bites
Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms
When it comes to holiday entertaining, you can’t go wrong with a classic, especially when it’s upgraded with a double dose of cheese. Our take on stuffed mushrooms stars a filling made with Parmesan and spreadable garlic-and-herb cheese for a boost of flavor with little effort. Finish them off with a sprinkle of panko breadcrumbs for a bit of crunch, and chopped parsley for color and freshness.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms
Air-Fried Feta Bites with Honey
Round out any appetizer platter with these tasty, cheesy snacks that pack tons of flavor into each bite and don’t take up any oven space. Everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, and breadcrumbs form the coating for morsels of tangy feta that turn golden-brown and crispy-melty in the air fryer. A drizzle of honey adds a sweet finish.
Get the recipe: Air-Fried Feta Bites with Honey
Shrimp with Easy Romesco Sauce
Add some Spanish inspiration to your holiday table with this deliciously simple roasted red pepper sauce. It comes together in minutes using just four ingredients and the food processor. Serve it with chilled prawns for a tasty new spin on shrimp cocktail.
Get the recipe: Shrimp with Easy Romesco Sauce
Cranberry and Herb Cheese Ball
This homemade cheese ball decked out in holiday colors looks as good as it tastes. A food processor is all you need to turn sharp white cheddar, cream cheese, and spices into luscious, savory spread. A coating of dried cranberries and two kinds of fresh herbs bring the zing and make this green and red jewel-toned ball resemble a glittering ornament.
Get the recipe: Cranberry and Herb Cheese Ball
Spinach Artichoke Wreath
This tear-and-share appetizer doubles as a festive centerpiece for the snack table. A pre-made container of spinach and artichoke dip and some shredded mozzarella make up the superfast cheesy filling inside a tender, flaky wreath made from refrigerated crescent dough. The finishing touch is a bright red bow made from roasted pepper strips.
Get the recipe: Spinach Artichoke Wreath
Spinach Balls
These budget-friendly snack balls are perfect for vegetarian guests. Seasoned stuffing mix is the store-bought time-saver that forms the base. The remaining ingredients are kitchen standbys that you likely have on hand, like frozen spinach, shredded Parmesan, and dried herbs.
Get the recipe: Spinach Balls
Holiday Grazing Board
This gorgeous grazing board lets everyone enjoy their favorite sweet and savory snacks while playing party games or trimming the tree. It’s make-ahead friendly and comes together without any cooking. Whimsical details, like cut-out stars and a topping of fruit preserves in the shape of a snowflake, make this spread of munchies extra merry.
Get the recipe: Holiday Grazing Board
Blue Cheese Tartlets
This elegant, two-bite appetizer will have everyone feeling festive in just 10 minutes. Blue cheese crumbles and candied nuts give a one-two punch of flavor stuffed inside flaky phyllo cups. Not a fan of blue cheese? Swap in crumbled feta or your favorite goat cheese instead.
Get the recipe: Blue Cheese Tartlets
Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Don’t be surprised if guests break into spontaneous caroling when they see this holiday showstopper. Homemade cheese spread becomes extra festive molded into the shape of a Christmas tree complete with a “trunk” made of crackers. Antipasti favorites, like prosciutto, mozzarella pearls, and pepperoni, serve as the colorful ornaments with a cut-out cheese star on top.
Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Mini Crab and Shrimp Cakes
Treat your guests to two kinds of shellfish without breaking the bank by serving it as an appetizer rather than a main course. Crabmeat and shrimp get a touch of heat from Cajun seasoning in these mini seafood cakes that are baked, not pan-fried. Get a jump on party prep by assembling and freezing the cakes between layers of parchment, then bake just before serving.
Get the recipe: Mini Crab and Shrimp Cakes
Hummus Christmas Trees
A go-to afternoon snack gets dressed up for the holidays in this anytime appetizer that kids can help assemble. Wedges of oven-crisped pita turn into tiny Christmas trees topped with a schmear of hummus, fresh green herbs, and pomegranate arils.
Get the recipe: Hummus Christmas Trees
Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Cups
This palm-sized take on spaghetti and meatballs is a comforting, crowd-pleasing appetizer, especially for your junior guests (and anyone else who is young at heart). Spaghetti baked in a muffin pan becomes an edible vessel for store-bought mini meatballs with marinara and Parmesan. The pasta cups can be prepped up to a day in advance, just reheat before serving.
Get the recipe: Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Cups
Crab Spinach Pull-Apart Tree
Two shortcut ingredients make this edible tree a gift for any busy holiday host. It starts with store-bought crab and spinach dip amped up with mozzarella and fresh garlic. Baked inside rounds of refrigerated biscuit dough arranged like a Christmas tree, it becomes a flaky, tear-and-share appetizer that doubles as a festive centerpiece.
Get the recipe: Crab Spinach Pull-Apart Tree
Pepperoni and Cheese “Candy Cane”
Little elves will love to make and devour this stocking stuffer-inspired snack that is ready to party in 15 minutes. Layered American cheese, pepperoni, and crackers form this savory “candy cane” that’s sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Get the recipe: Pepperoni and Cheese “Candy Cane”
Caprese Wreath
This eye-catching, 10-minute appetizer goes from the fridge to the table without any cooking required. Grape tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and Castelvetrano olives stack up into seasonal skewers in holiday colors. Arrange skewers in a circle to create a “wreath” with store-bought pesto in the center for dipping.
Get the recipe: Caprese Wreath
Baked Brie with Mango Chutney
Ooey-gooey brie baked inside a flaky crust holds a place in the holiday appetizer hall of fame. We added even more flavor and crunch with a layer of tangy mango chutney and chopped, roasted cashews. Serve it alone or alongside your favorite crackers and crudites.
Get the recipe: Baked Brie with Mango Chutney
Slow Cooker Thai Sweet Meatballs
This “set it and forget it” appetizer comes together hands-free in the slow cooker with five minutes of prep. Frozen turkey meatballs cook in a sticky-sweet glaze made with Thai chili sauce and teriyaki marinade before a finishing sprinkle of sesame seeds and scallions. For extra holiday flair, serve meatballs on colorful, frilled toothpicks.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Thai Sweet Meatballs
