21 Christmas Appetizers That Everyone Will Love
Updated: Jun. 20, 2022
So you've decked out your house with homemade Christmas decorations and piled your hand-crafted Christmas gifts under the tree. Now, complete your DIY holiday party with these Christmas appetizers you can whip up yourself.
Crispy Lime Chips with Crab
Follow the star right to your table of Christmas appetizers. A star-shaped cookie cutter helps make these appetizers for Christmas extra festive, but they’d be just as tasty in any form when dolloped with a creamy seafood topping.
Chicken Crescent Wreath
This dish looks impressive but is deceptively easy to make. Plus, red pepper and green broccoli add a subtle festive touch.
Almond-Bacon Cheese Crostini
Sharp cheddar cheese, slivered almonds, and bacon are combined with mayonnaise for a tangy, savory topping for crostini.
Barbecued Meatballs
This tasty meatball recipe has a kick of Worcestershire and chili sauce, but it’s balanced by the sweetness of grape jelly. Once you see how easy it is to throw together ahead of time, it will become one of your go-to Christmas appetizers.
Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip
Anyone with a sweet tooth will flip if you put add this dippable dessert to your spread. Taste of Home’s cookies are great on their own, but a creamy dip takes them to the next level.
Holiday Salsa
Bet you’ve never had anything like this festive salsa. Cranberries take the place of tomatoes for a sweet spin, but cilantro and jalapeno keep that kick you crave. If you’d rather stick with classic salsa, check out these 31 Mexican appetizers anyone can make.
Shrimp Appetizer Spread
When shrimp cocktail starts getting ho-hum, get your seafood craving from this instead. Let guests load crackers up with the creamy spread, but don’t be surprised if it’s the first one gone.
German Beer Cheese Spread
Kick your cheese platter up a notch by boosting sharp cheddar with Worcestershire sauce and mustard (and of course your favorite beer). Don’t forget the pretzels! You can even jar some as a great homemade gift for foodies, like these other 15 healthy holiday food gifts.
Bacon Cheese Wreath
This cream cheese- and Parmesan-based cheese dip is delicious, but the presentation makes it one of the more particularly impressive appetizers for Christmas. The “holly” on top is actually made of parsley and pimentos.
Inside-Out Veggie Dip
This will be your new favorite way to eat your vegetables. The creamy dip is versatile, and the red tomatoes and green cucumbers make these Christmas appetizers a little extra festive. Keep your eyes out for these 10 big grocery sales going on between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade
Olives can be love-it-or-hate-it, but this tapenade uses roasted red peppers instead for a crowd-pleasing twist.
Onion and Brie Palmiers
Store-bought puff pastry makes quick work of these fancy-sounding Christmas appetizers. Simply wrap the pastry around caramelized onions and Brie and bake until they’re golden and sizzling.
Steak and Scallion Rolls
Inspired by the Japanese dish Beef Negimaki, bloggers at I Breathe…I’m Hungry coat thin slices of juicy steak in salty-sweet marinade and wrap them around crunchy scallions.
Mini Christmas Quiches
These mini Christmas appetizers from the blog Wholefully are versatile when it comes to the fillings, and their small size satisfies without being too filling.
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Caramelized Pecans and Apples
This decadent Christmas appetizer from blogger Jenny Steffens is rich, with caramelized pecans melting into hot, gooey Brie wrapped in a buttery, flaky puff pastry. Pair with seasonal crisp apples and pears.
Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Dipping Sauce
Forget traditional shrimp cocktail as a Christmas appetizer and try these decadent bites from the blog The Girl Who Ate Everything. You’ll feel the sand between your toes instead of snow gathering outside.
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos
These peppers from the blog I Breathe…I’m Hungry are oven-roasted and wrapped with a slice of crisp bacon, a more sophisticated choice than that classic bar food, deep-fried poppers. This is what you should be eating before a holiday party.
Puff Pastry Christmas Palmiers
These mouthwatering puff pastry Christmas palmiers are the perfect appetizer for everyone to enjoy. Palmiers are typically sweet, but by adding some pesto, feta, and sundried tomatoes you get a great savory taste.
Roasted Beet, Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Honey Crostini
Tangy goat cheese is cut by a drizzle of honey, sweet beets, and peppery arugula in this recipe from blog Gimme Some Oven.
Sausage Wonton Cups
These delicate little cups only look like you spent hours shaping them—while in reality, all you have to do is put store-bought wonton wrappers in muffin tins, stuff with sausage, and bake. Just make sure you steer clear of these cooking mistakes that will ruin your food.
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Toasted Hazelnuts
Seasonal Brussels sprouts are lightly caramelized with sweet maple syrup and savory bacon, then paired with the rich nutty flavor of the toasted hazelnuts in this recipe from the blog Ambitious Kitchen. Now that the Christmas appetizers are chosen, check out the best Christmas cookie from every state.
