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This round up includes all the best Christmas appetizers – ones that are easy to make ahead, healthy, made in the crock pot, and appetizers that are always crowd favorites!
More Collections: Christmas Dinner, Christmas Side Dishes, Mexican Christmas Food
We Love Christmas Party Appetizers
With so much entertaining that happens around the holidays, a list of go-to Christmas appetizers is never a bad idea.
Why we love them:
- Pick your favorites. You can’t go wrong with picking appetizer recipes that your family loves.
- Adds variety. Offer a mix of warm and cold, heavy and light, proteins and produce.
- Various cooking methods. Incorporate dishes made in different ways – oven, slow cooker, instant pot, and stove – so that they’re easier to prepare at the same time. 😉
- Go charcuterie! For an easy cheese board simply add some of your favorite cheeses, pecans, prosciutto, crackers, and garnish with fresh herbs!
Planning Tips
When hosting a party, it’s nice to have a clear plan of how much you will need. I’ve included some helpful tips when planning appetizers for Christmas.
- Preparation. Don’t forget to include cooking and reheating time in your cooking schedule.
- How many appetizers to make:
- For fewer than 10 guests – offer 2-3 different types of appetizers.
- For more than 10 guests – add another dish for every 5-8 more people.
- How much of each appetizer to make:
- Christmas dinner appetizers – 3-5 pieces per person.
- Appetizers as the main dish – 10-12 pieces per person for a two-hour party. Add about 5 more pieces per person for every hour after.
- Asking for help. Assign chips and dip, cheese and crackers, bread or rolls (remember butter or a dip), or a Party Platter that doesn’t intrude on kitchen areas being used or create additional chaos in the kitchen.
Serving Tips
Relax this holiday season by planning and prepping as much ahead of time as you can. Keep your guests fed, and your party running smoothly.
- Several stations.
- Divide the appetizers onto several plates or tiers and have them placed in various areas around the room.
- Include plates, napkins, and utensils at each station.
- The right temperature. Keep appetizers at the right temperature before and throughout the party.
- Utilize coolers, one for warm items and one for cold items.
- Use chafing dishes and crock pots to keep some dishes warm.
- Keep dishes cool by placing ice in a bowl or platter and then setting the cold dish right on top.
- In either case, only set out enough of the appetizer to be eaten within 30 minutes. Refill platters and bowls as needed.
Best Christmas Appetizers
These recipes are all appetizers that are long-standing favorites. We’ve made them for all kinds of holidays, game days, parties, and get-togethers; and every time they are winners.
1 Christmas Charcuterie Board Recipe
2 Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Recipe
3 Christmas Veggie Tray Recipe
4 Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe5 Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe
6 Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
7 Deviled Eggs Recipe
8 Sausage Balls Recipe
9 Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
10 Cranberry Salsa Recipe
Easy Christmas Appetizers
Some of these Christmas appetizer recipes are traditionally made in the oven or on the stovetop, but can also be made in the crockpot, and several are just easy recipes to keep things stress-free!
11 Dill Veggie Dip Recipe
12 Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes
13 Brie and Pear Tarts Recipe
14 Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe15 Cheese Fondue
16 Beanie Weenies Recipe
17 Crockpot Meatballs Recipe
18 Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
19 Pizza Dip Recipe
20 Pull Apart Bread Recipe
Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers
I know holidays – and especially preparing for holiday gatherings – can be hectic and busy! Ease the stress by making some of your appetizers ahead of time. Any of these recipes are great options.
21 Burrata Board Recipe
22 Knorr Spinach Dip Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe23 Ham and Cheese Sliders Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe24 BLT Dip Recipe
25 Easy Bruschetta Recipe
26 Veggie Cups Appetizer
27 Cheese Ball Bites Recipe
28 Tortellini Skewers Recipe
29 Caprese Kabobs Recipe
30 Fruit Dip Recipe
31 Salsa Recipe
32 Salsa Verde Recipe
More Christmas Appetizer Ideas – Fried Favs
How about some more?! Rest assured, your guests will enjoy these Christmas appetizer ideas at your next party!
33 Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
34 Fried Zucchini Recipe
35 Fried Green Beans Recipe
36 Fried Mac and Cheese Recipe
37 Fried Ravioli Recipe
38 Cream Cheese Wontons Recipe
39 Egg Roll Recipe
40 Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Start the Party Right!
You’re sure to find the perfect delectable dishes to get your Christmas get togethers off to a great start!
More Collections: New Years Appetizers, Thanksgiving Appetizers, Finger Food Appetizers
I made a huge batch of the bacon wrapped smokies for a Christmas party earlier this month. I froze a couple of dozen to make on Christmas morning. I thawed them in the fridge overnight, added the brown sugar and baked them. Perfect addition to our Christmas morning breakfast.
Love all the different ideas for appetizers. You cant go wrong with any of these. Trying to decide which one will be the hardest.
Love this list!! We make your bruschetta & spinach artichoke dip every year, multiple times a year!! The appetizers are the best part of the meal!!
this is amazing and those spinach puffs are everything! thank you so much for sharing all these amazing recipes!
Okay the only hard part is choosing what to make!! Everything looks amazing!
This is the best collection yet! We love those sausage balls and we are making a bunch more for Christmas!