Need more easy recipes for the holiday season? My Christmas Breakfast Ideas, Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas, and Christmas Desserts will help you plan the perfect Christmas Day filled with tons of memories and great food! A big, beautiful Christmas dinner is great and all, but one of our favorite ways to entertain is to put out a big spread of small bites! These Christmas Appetizers are easy to mix and match so you can have a variety of foods for every taste. They look impressive but are simple to prepare! Here, you’ll find appetizers for every palate and skill level, from no-cook, low-effort snacks to elegant, put-together appetizers.
What are the best Christmas appetizers for a holiday party?
The best appetizers for a holiday party are ones that include seasonal ingredients, such as cranberries, or are warm and cozy, like Crockpot Smokies. If you’re serving them before dinner, you want lighter, smaller bites that are just enough to keep your guests from becoming hangry. If your Christmas Appetizers are the meal, then you want a selection of lighter and heartier bites with a little more variety. Some of my favorites for serving at holiday parties include Baked Brie Bites, Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini, and the iconic Cheese Ball. They’re easy to make, have that warm holiday feel, and are the perfect size for munching!
How many Christmas appetizers do I need per person for a party?
A general rule of thumb I like to follow is to allow for 3-5 bites per person if they are accompanying a meal, or 15-20 appetizer bites per person if you are serving a meal of finger foods. I know that might sound like a lot, but you’d rather have too many than not enough! Plus, you can always make a double or triple batch of many of these recipes to allow for larger crowds, such as the Cheese Ball Recipe or Bacon-Wrapped Dates.
Which appetizers can I prep ahead of time?
You can prep many of the following appetizers ahead of time. Here are some simple ways to cut down on your prep time:
Snowman White Chocolate Toffee Cheese Ball and Cheese Ball Recipe: You can prep this entire appetizer beforehand and keep it in the freezer for up to 1 month! Crockpot Little Smokies: You can freeze these for up to 2 months or refrigerate for 3-4 days. Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini and Cranberry and Bacon Cream Cheese Appetizer: You can make the cranberry jam up to one week ahead of time and store it in the fridge! You will need to reheat it before spreading on the crostini. Christmas Tree Veggie Tray: You can chop up the veggies and store them in the fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 days. Store the buttermilk ranch (if homemade) for up to two weeks in the fridge. Baked Brie Bites: You can cut up the phyllo dough ahead of time or purchase phyllo shells. Or, you can make the recipe as directed and freeze for up to one week. Tortilla Roll-Ups: Make the recipe as directed and refrigerate for up to 3 days and freeze for up to 3 months! Bacon Spinach Dip: Make the bacon 1-2 days in advance and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to the dip. Brie Wreath: You can prep the brie and dough before baking and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Candied Nuts: These can be stored at room temperature for up to one week and frozen for up to 3 months! Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs: Form the meatballs a day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Or, you can make the recipe, freeze the meatballs in their sauce for up to 2 months. Bacon-Wrapped Smokies: These can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or freezer for up to 3 months.
Tips for making these Christmas Appetizers
Use store-bought where you can and make the rest from scratch! Unless you really want to make homemade phyllo dough or bread, you can totally buy store-bought. Many of the above appetizers require similar ingredients, so try to make a few different appetizers and use up all the ingredients you can!
