10 Christmas Appetizers Easy to Make for Your Holiday Party

Christmas entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. These ten easy appetizers come together quickly and look impressive, even if you don’t have fancy cooking skills or a big budget.

Whether you’re throwing a big holiday party or just making a few snacks for family, these recipes give you plenty of options. Some you can prep ahead, some travel well, and there’s a little something for different diets.

Caprese Skewers with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella

These little skewers pack classic Italian flavors—fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and basil—into a bite. You’ll have a tray ready in 15 minutes, no stove required.

Creamy mozzarella and juicy tomatoes hit that perfect flavor balance. Toss in fresh basil and you’ve got something that smells and tastes like summer, even in December.

They look elegant on a holiday table but honestly couldn’t be easier to put together. Guests just grab and go—no mess, no fuss.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
• 20-25 fresh basil leaves
• 20-25 wooden skewers or toothpicks
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper to taste

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Wash and dry the cherry tomatoes and basil leaves.
2. Take the mozzarella balls out of their liquid and pat them dry.
3. Thread a cherry tomato onto each skewer.
4. Fold a basil leaf and add it next.
5. Top each skewer with a mozzarella ball.
6. Arrange the skewers on a platter.
7. Drizzle with olive oil.
8. Add a little balsamic glaze.
9. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
10. Serve right away or keep in the fridge for up to two hours.

Stuffed Mini Peppers with Cream Cheese and Herbs

These stuffed mini peppers are colorful, crunchy, and always disappear fast. Sweet peppers and creamy, herby filling? Yes, please.

You’ll whip these up in no time. They’re simple, yet they look and taste like you went all out.

Cream cheese, fresh herbs, and garlic make a savory filling that really pops with the sweet peppers. They’re gluten-free too, so everyone can enjoy.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 12-15 mini sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeds removed
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Slice peppers in half, remove seeds, and pat dry.
3. Mix cream cheese, mozzarella, garlic, and all the herbs in a bowl.
4. Add salt and pepper, then stir until everything’s combined.
5. Brush pepper halves with olive oil.
6. Fill each half with a spoonful of cheese mixture.
7. Lay them filling-side up on the baking sheet.
8. Bake 12-15 minutes until the peppers soften and filling turns golden.
9. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
10. Add extra herbs on top if you like and serve warm.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

Tender asparagus and salty prosciutto—what’s not to love? You only need a few ingredients to pull off this showy appetizer in under 20 minutes.

The crispy prosciutto and fresh asparagus make a great pair. These always go fast at parties.

You can wrap the asparagus ahead of time and just bake them when you’re ready. Super handy.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
• 8-10 thin slices prosciutto
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Fresh black pepper to taste
• Lemon zest (optional)

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Wash asparagus and trim off the tough ends.
3. Pat asparagus dry.
4. Wrap each prosciutto slice around 2-3 spears, starting at the bottom.
5. Place bundles on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle black pepper.
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes until prosciutto crisps and asparagus softens.
8. Add lemon zest if you want.
9. Serve hot while they’re still crispy.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This spinach and artichoke dip is creamy, cheesy, and just the right kind of rich. You’ll have it ready to bake in minutes.

It’s bubbly and warm, perfect for scooping with bread, crackers, or veggies. People never leave any behind.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Squeeze out extra water from thawed spinach.
3. Mix cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream in a bowl.
4. Add Parmesan, 3/4 cup mozzarella, and garlic.
5. Stir in spinach and artichoke hearts.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Spread into the baking dish.
8. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella on top.
9. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
10. Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve with your favorite dippers.

Cranberry Brie Bites

Cranberry brie bites are festive, gooey, and come together so fast. You get creamy cheese, sweet-tart cranberry, and flaky pastry in every bite.

They’re sweet and savory at the same time, which is just so good during the holidays.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 8 oz brie cheese, rind removed and cubed
• 1/3 cup cranberry sauce
• 24 mini muffin cups or pastry shells
• 1 egg, beaten (optional for egg wash)

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a mini muffin tin.
2. Roll out puff pastry and cut into 24 squares.
3. Press each square into a muffin cup to make little shells.
4. Put a cube of brie in each shell.
5. Add about half a teaspoon of cranberry sauce on top.
6. Brush pastry edges with egg if you want them extra golden.
7. Bake 12-15 minutes until the pastry’s golden and cheese melts.
8. Cool for a couple of minutes, then pop them out.
9. Serve warm and enjoy that melty cheese.

Cocktail Meatballs in Cranberry BBQ Sauce

Cocktail meatballs with cranberry BBQ sauce are always a hit at Christmas parties. The glossy, sweet-tangy glaze looks festive and tastes even better.

Serve them with toothpicks—people just can’t stop eating them.

Cranberry and BBQ sauce together? It’s a little unexpected, but it works. You get sweet, tangy, and savory all at once.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 2 pounds frozen meatballs (or homemade)
• 1 cup cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F or set your slow cooker to low.
2. Put meatballs in a baking dish or slow cooker.
3. In a bowl, mix cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar.
4. Whisk in Dijon mustard and ginger.
5. Add salt and pepper.
6. Pour sauce over meatballs and stir to coat.
7. Bake 25-30 minutes or cook in the slow cooker for 2-3 hours, stirring now and then.
8. Serve hot with toothpicks.

Deviled Eggs with a Twist

If you want to jazz up classic deviled eggs for the holidays, try adding some fun decorative touches. These little bites keep that creamy texture everyone craves, but they look way more festive.

Shaping deviled eggs like Christmas trees? It’s surprisingly easy. Just use your hands or a small spoon to mold the filling—no fancy tools required.

Colorful toppings really make the eggs pop on your table. Pomegranate seeds, dill, and a sprinkle of paprika give you that red and green holiday vibe.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 6 large hard-boiled eggs
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pomegranate seeds for garnish
• Fresh dill sprigs
• Paprika for dusting
• Optional: cream cheese for binding

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Slice the hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise and gently pop out the yolks.
2. Mash the yolks with mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper until you get a creamy mix.
3. If you want tree shapes, add a tablespoon of cream cheese to help the filling hold up.
4. Spoon or pipe the yolk mixture back into the egg whites, piling it up a bit.
5. Shape the filling into little triangles to look like trees. Use your fingers or a spoon—whatever works.
6. Stick some fresh dill on top to make “branches” and add texture.
7. Scatter pomegranate seeds for ornaments.
8. Finish with a light dusting of paprika for a golden glow.
9. Chill the eggs in the fridge for about 30 minutes so they keep their shape.
10. Arrange them on a festive plate and serve them cold.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Bacon-wrapped dates hit that perfect sweet-and-salty spot. You can make this three-ingredient appetizer in under half an hour, and people always seem to love them.

Medjool dates and crispy bacon are a match made in appetizer heaven. You can keep them simple, or stuff them with cheese or nuts if you want to get fancy.

These work for Christmas, holiday parties, or honestly any time you need something easy but impressive. Even if you’re new to cooking, you’ll pull these off.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 12 Medjool dates, pitted
• 6 strips bacon, cut in half
• 12 toothpicks
• Optional: goat cheese, cream cheese, or chopped walnuts for stuffing

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. If the dates aren’t pitted, remove the pits. Cut a small slit in each date.
3. Stuff each date with a bit of cheese or nuts if you like.
4. Wrap each date with half a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick.
5. Place all the wrapped dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the bacon turns crispy and golden.
7. Take them out and let them cool for a couple of minutes.
8. Serve them warm while the bacon is still crunchy.

Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Buttery, cheesy pull-apart bread is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast. You get soft bread stuffed with gooey cheese, all brushed with garlicky butter—what’s not to love?

This bread is perfect for sharing at any holiday get-together. People just reach in and grab a warm, cheesy piece.

If you’re feeling festive, shape the bread into a Christmas tree. The golden crust and herby butter make it look as good as it tastes.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough (16 oz)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Set your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Pull apart the biscuit dough and flatten each piece a bit.
3. Put some mozzarella in the center of each dough piece.
4. Wrap the dough around the cheese, pinching the seams closed.
5. Arrange the dough balls on the baking sheet in a tree shape.
6. Mix melted butter, garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning in a bowl.
7. Brush every dough ball with the garlic butter.
8. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese all over the top.
9. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the bread turns golden and the cheese melts.
10. Take it out and brush on any leftover garlic butter. Serve it warm—it’s best that way.

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce

Shrimp cocktail just brings this effortless elegance to any Christmas table, doesn’t it? There’s something about those tender shrimp and that zippy homemade sauce—honestly, it puts the store-bought kind to shame.

You can whip up this dish in about 15-20 minutes. It’s pretty simple and doesn’t ask much in the way of cooking skills.

Complete List of Ingredients:

For the shrimp:

• 1 pound large shrimp (31-40 count), peeled and deveined
• 4 cups water
• 1 lemon, halved
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Ice cubes for cooling

For the cocktail sauce:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour water into a large pot. Toss in the lemon halves, bay leaf, and salt. Crank up the heat and bring it all to a rolling boil.
2. Drop the shrimp into the boiling water. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes, just until they turn pink and curl up a bit.
3. Scoop the shrimp out right away and throw them into a bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking and keeps them nice and tender.
4. Let the shrimp chill in the ice water for about 5 minutes. Drain them and pat dry with some paper towels.
5. In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and garlic powder. Whisk until it looks smooth.
6. Give the sauce a taste. If you want more kick, add a bit more horseradish or lemon juice. It should be tangy with just enough heat.
7. Arrange the shrimp on a platter around a bowl of the cocktail sauce. If you want, throw in some lemon wedges for garnish.
8. Pop both the shrimp and the sauce in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Cold is definitely the way to go here.

You can make the cocktail sauce up to three days ahead and stash it in the fridge, covered, until party time.

People really notice the freshness and that restaurant vibe when you serve this. Honestly, it goes great with a glass of champagne or a crisp white wine.