Easy Show Stopping Holiday Appetizers for all your entertaining from Thanksgiving and Christmas through New Year’s Eve!
Because sometimes we’re so preoccupied with the main course and the desserts that we forget all about the hungry hoards camping out in our living rooms beforehand! Here are some of my favorite holiday appetizers guaranteed to keep everybody happy.
Festive Olive Wreath Appetizer
Some of the best holiday appetizers are simple, light, grazing platters that allow guests to nibble without filling up before the main event. Plenty of fresh herbs provide the greenery for this cheese and olive wreath.
Baked Brie
Baked Brie has to be the ultimate party appetizer. How convenient that it also happens to be one of the easiest.
Best Bourbon Meatballs Ever
Personally, when I go to a party this is what I’d like to find. Juicy cocktail meatballs in an irresistible bourbon barbecue sauce! Stash these in a crock pot to keep them warm so you can re-fill the plates as needed.
Baked Caramelized Onion Dip
If you caramelize the onions ahead of time, this dip is a snap to make. And everybody, literally everybody, flocks to it.
Mini Cheese Ball Holiday Platter
I absolutely love this appetizer platter! The cheese spreaders for the ‘trunk’ of your tree, and crackers look like presents piled around the base. It’s a show-stopper!
Crispy Crab Balls
If your holiday crowd likes to hang out by the tv with plenty of beer, I suggest these crispy crab balls. You can never, ever, go wrong with something fried. Maybe try my Fried Olives or Beer Battered Fried Mushrooms too 🙂
An Epic Cheese Board
It might look complicated, but it’s mostly a matter of unwrapping store bought items and arranging them on a (ginormous) platter. I even made you a labeled chart so you can’t go wrong! This is the ultimate party appetizer.
Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon
This easy baked cheese is an oldie but goodie from the holiday appetizers archives. People are always amazed at what happens to feta cheese when you bake it!
Jarcuterie!
Ok, if I had to pick a favorite, this is it! How adorable, how delicious, how sanitary is this?! Every jar is a little bit different because I randomly pack them with all the best charcuterie basics. Don’t think of this as just a holiday appetizer, it works year round.
Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe
As holiday appetizers go, this is one of the easiest. And truth be told, this is what we serve in our house most of the time. We can make it ahead, and people go crazy for it.
Sweet Hot Red Pepper Jam
Hot pepper jam, cheese, and crackers. It doesn’t get any better. The cheery red color makes it a festive holiday appetizer.
7 Layer Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe
The salmon lovers in your crowd will be in heaven! With 7 colorful layers including Boursin cheese and cranberry horseradish spread, this is one memorable holiday appetizer.
Grand Aioli
Grab your biggest platter for this classic French appetizer. It’s healthy grazing at its best. No one’s going to care of the holiday turkey or ham is late, trust me.
Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail
When you really want to make a splash, serve this ultra creative shrimp cocktail. It’s an elegant not-too-filling starter.
Easy RITZ Cracker Canapés
This classic holiday appetizer favorite is always welcome because it’s actually true ~ everything does taste better on a Ritz 🙂 Make these as simple or as elaborate as you like.
Rainbow Crudités with Fire Feta
All the veggies in this colorful platter are available year round, so you can totally do crudité in the dead of winter, why not? The fire feta turns up the thermostat on this healthy appetizer!
Olive Cocktail Penguins
An army of cheesy olive penguins is guaranteed to start your holiday party off on the right foot! I’ll show you how to make them, step by step, they’re easy!
These ideas are fantastic, refreshing, and a great variety of appetizers to hit every style of taster! Your site has amazing, delicious, and beautiful foods. I’ve made a few in the short time I’m following you! All worked out well and your insights, tips, and techniques are most welcome! Thank you!
Thanks so much Sheryl, and welcome in to the ‘family’ 🙂
Stunning, creative and each looks delicious. Sue, you are very talented!