27 Must-Try Christmas Party Appetizers for a Joyful Gathering
Planning a holiday get-together? The food sets the tone, and nothing kicks off the celebration like a spread of festive appetizers. From bite-sized savory snacks to shareable finger foods, these Christmas party appetizers are perfect for mingling and keeping guests happy before the main meal. Here are 27 delicious ideas to inspire your holiday menu.
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Appetizers
Looking for a cute Christmas appetizer to serve? These Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Appetizers are an easy and quick way to decorate the party table, and they’re delicious too! These bite-sized trees will bring a touch of holiday magic to your table. They are easy to prepare and even easier for your guests to grab and eat. Get the recipe.
Burrata with Cranberries & Pistachios
When it comes to appetizers that are both stunning and effortless, this Burrata with Cranberries & Pistachios is the perfect pick. Creamy, luscious burrata meets the sweet-tart flavors of cranberries, the crunch of pistachios, and a hint of citrus brightness. Paired with toasted baguette slices, it’s a dish that feels like a celebration with every bite. Get the recipe.
Holiday Antipasto Wreath
This Holiday Antipasto Wreath Appetizer is a delicious, visually appealing and perfect for parties. Because of its amazing presentation, this dish is particularly perfect for the holiday season. Made with peppered salami, mozzarella balls, olives, cherry peppers, artichokes and fresh basil. An easy appetizer that’s perfect for the holidays. Get the recipe.
Herb Goat Cheese Christmas Appetizer
Try this Herb Goat Cheese Christmas Appetizer – a fun and festive way to serve dip at a party. The lemony herbaceous topping for the goat cheese adds just the right amount of zing to the creamy goat cheese. The pomegranate seeds give a nice sweet pop of flavor. It makes a fun Christmas appetizer, with its festive herbs that look like branches of a Christmas tree. Get the recipe.
Wreath-Shaped Cheesy Bread
Make this Wreath-Shaped Cheesy Bread with mozzarella sticks, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, pesto, and marinara for an appetizer or potluck party. f you’re in the market for a quick and easy way to impress your guests, this wreath-shaped cheesy bread is just the thing. It’s so easy to make and it’s impressive at the same time. Makes a great centerpiece of your buffet table. Get the recipe.
Festive Christmas Charcuterie Board
This Festive Christmas Charcuterie Board is perfect for your holiday get togethers and parties, where finger food is the best way to please a crowd. The best thing about this Christmas platter is that it can be refilled easily as people graze on it, and you really can include just about any cheese, meats, fruits, and nuts that you like. Get the recipe.
Simple & Tasty Cranberry Brie Bites
These Cranberry Brie Bites are a simple and tasty appetizer with just three ingredients: cranberry sauce, brie, and filo dough. It couldn’t be easier to make and it’s a great finger food. These brie and cranberry canapes are best served fresh from the oven, while the cheese is still melty and hot. Get the recipe.
Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl
This Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl is the ultimate holiday appetizer—warm, gooey brie baked right inside a crusty loaf of bread, topped with sweet-tart cranberry sauce. It’s festive, shareable, and perfect for dipping chunks of bread or crackers. With its creamy, cheesy center and pop of cranberry, it’s a show-stopping addition to any holiday spread. Get the recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Poppers
If you love jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken wings, imagine the combination this will make! We often make buffalo chicken stuffed peppers and recently decided to try stuffing jalapenos instead. The combination of smoky heat and creamy, cheesy buffalo chicken filling makes these Buffalo Chicken Poppers a perfect appetizer! Get the recipe.
Tomato Manchego Tartlets
When you’re wanting something elegant yet easy to make, these Tomato Manchego Tartlets are a guaranteed hit. Flaky, golden puff pastry topped with tangy tomatoes and nutty Manchego cheese creates a perfect balance of flavors. They make the perfect Christmas or New Year’s Eve appetizer. Get the recipe.
Tortilla Shrimp Bites
If you’re looking for an appetizer that’s both quick and bursting with flavor, these Tortilla Shrimp Bites hit the mark! With a creamy avocado base, spicy shrimp, and a crispy tortilla chip for crunch, each bite is a delicious blend of textures and tastes. Get the recipe.
Mini Pizza Bites
If you’re searching for a fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer, these Mini Pizza Bites are perfect! Made in a mini muffin pan with all the classic pizza toppings—sauce, melty mozzarella, and mini pepperoni—each bite is packed with familiar flavors in a cute, snackable form. Get the recipe.
Spanish Patatas Bravas
These crispy, golden potatoes paired with a smoky, spicy tomato sauce (and sometimes a creamy aioli) are the ultimate combination of comforting and bold. Whether you’re hosting a tapas night, holiday party, or just craving a flavorful snack, Patatas Bravas are easy to make and impossible to resist. Get the recipe.
Loaded Tater Tots
Loaded Tater Tots are everything you love about a loaded baked potato packed into a crispy, bite-sized treat. These tater tot cups, baked in a mini muffin pan, are filled with melted cheddar cheese, creamy sour cream, bacon crumbles, and a sprinkle of fresh green onions. They’re the perfect party appetizer or snack for game day, New Year’s Eve, or potluck you’re attending! Get the recipe.
Caprese Tortellini Skewers
Caprese Tortellini Skewers are made by threading seasoned cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella balls onto a skewer. They are the perfect party appetizer! This caprese tortellini skewer is not only easy to make, requiring very little effort, it’s also super easy to pick up and eat while milling around at a party. Get the recipe.
Delicious Baked Brie with Garlic
This Baked Brie With Garlic appetizer is a mild-flavored creamy cheese stuffed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and baked until gooey and delicious. Brie melts in the oven and transforms into this wonderfully creamy, yummy cheese bliss that goes great with crackers and crostini. It’s an excellent appetizer for a dinner party or as part of a cheese board. Get the recipe.
French Onion Bites
French Onion Bites are made with phyllo pastry and filled with sweet caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese just like the famous French onion soup we all love, but in appetizer form. These delicious caramelized onion bites are a game-changer, they look fancy but are so simple and taste great. Get the recipe.
Sweet & Salty Chex Mix
This Sweet & Salty Chex Mix recipe is a perfect blend of flavors that are irresistible. The combination of crunchy Chex cereal, toasted pecans, and peanuts coated in a rich mixture of brown sugar, butter, and dark corn syrup creates a delicious snack. Get the recipe.
Jalapeno Popper Wontons
These Jalapeno Popper Wontons are a delicious appetizer that combines cream cheese, savory bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, spicy jalapenos, and garlic powder in crunchy wonton wrappers. If you’re looking for something a little different for their next party or gathering, these jalapeno popper wontons are a great choice. They are easy to prepare ahead of time and can be reheated before serving, making them perfect for entertaining. Get the recipe.
BLT Crostini Appetizer
BLT Crostini Appetizers feature crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, and mayo that come together on a toasted baguette slice, creating a tasty bite-sized treat. I can’t think of a better appetizer for just about any situation. As they say, bacon makes everything better, right! They are easy to put together and they’re so tasty that your guests will be asking for more. Get the recipe.
Steak Crostini with Horseradish Spread
Steak Crostini with Horseradish Spread appetizers are the perfect appetizers with toasted slices of French baguette, tender slices of steak and a rich and spicy horseradish spread. When the plate hits the table, it’s usually the first thing that attracts a crowd. That’s because the promise of a perfectly cooked slice of steak goes past no one. Get the recipe.
Potato Rosti Canapes
Potato Rosti Canapes make for the perfect appetizer featuring crispy golden rosti topped with creamy creme fraiche and delicate smoked salmon. If you’re a fried potato fan you’ll love these potato rosti canapes. They’re a favorite for everyone who tries them and are a twist on the typical cracker-based canapes. Get the recipe.
Prosciutto & Pear Pizza
This Prosciutto & Pear Pizza is a wonderful mix of textures and flavors, blending caramelized onions, savory prosciutto, blue cheese and sweet pears. If you’re looking for something to serve at your next cocktail party, or just for a quiet night in, this pizza is the perfect thing to serve. Get the recipe.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
These Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are crisped in the oven and tossed in a savory sweet sauce. They are a great appetizer to serve at parties or as a finger food side dish for any occasion. Everyone loves bacon, after all. This recipe is a great appetizer to have in your back pocket when you only have half an hour to cook. You can even prepare them in advance and have them ready to pop in the oven when guests arrive. Get the recipe.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
These Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels make the perfect party appetizer – flour tortillas rolled up with cream cheese, chicken, bacon, and Ranch dressing mix inside. No one can resist pinwheels. Whenever I make them, they’re gone in a matter of minutes. They make a great finger food because their so easy to pick up and eat. Get the recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots with Sriracha Honey Glaze
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots are the perfect finger food for a party or get-together, especially paired with beer. They’re sprinkled with a savory seasoning salt, then glazed with a Sriracha honey glaze. We all know that bacon makes everything better, and that’s definitely the case with these delicious appetizers. Believe me that they’ll be the hit of any spread. Get the recipe.
Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls are a perennial favorite and a must-have appetizer at any gathering. Everyone loves the flaky crunchy crust and rich sausage filling, plus it’s a great food pairing with beer. You can mix up this appetizer in no time and have it baked and ready to eat in just 20 minutes. It’ll definitely become a go-to appetizer once you see how easy it is to prepare. Get the recipe.
