If you’re hosting a Christmas party, it’s always nice to have a few appetizers ready for guests to snack on while they are waiting for dinner. I’m pretty sure you want to keep things simple and manageable by choosing recipes that don’t require you to spend all your time in the kitchen.
Over time, I’ve collected more than 35 recipes that I come back to every few years. There’s a mix of crispy finger foods, dips, sandwiches, and a few sweet options as well.
Hopefully, you’ll find a few recipes here that you’d like to make this Christmas.
Crispy Corn and Cheese Pops
Crunchy on the outside and cheesy in the middle, these corn and cheese pops are easy to add to a Christmas spread. Raw banana, sweet corn, vegetables, and cheese make up the mixture, and you can have them ready in under 30 minutes. Serve them with BBQ sauce, ketchup, or any dip you like.
Creamy Tuna Cucumber Canoes
For something fresh, try these cucumber canoes that are stuffed with a creamy tuna mixture. English cucumbers give them plenty of crunch and freshness. The filling can be made ahead and kept chilled until serving. You can have this appetizer ready in under 20 minutes, and they’re also low in carbs.
Crispy Bread Boats
Kids and adults alike will enjoy these crispy bread boats. The pizza-style filling makes them an easy snack to put out before dinner. The recipe calls for deep-frying, but an air fryer works just as well.
BLT Party Pinwheels
All the familiar BLT flavors come together to make these simple pinwheels. Bacon, tomatoes, avocado, cream cheese, and mayo are spread over tortillas. A little lemon is added for extra flavor. Give them about 30 minutes to prepare, then serve them with a dip and a few pickles.
Cheesy Rice Pops
If you have some leftover rice lying around in your fridge, turn it into these crispy rice pops instead. Cooked rice, cheese, and a few simple ingredients are all you need to have these pops ready in under 30 minutes. The outside gets crisp while the cheese melts in the middle for an ultimate bite.
Baked Zucchini Bites
These zucchini bites are an easy way to serve zucchini in a fun, bite-sized form. Thin zucchini slices are layered with roasted ham and smoky scamorza cheese before being baked until the edges turn golden and crisp. You can serve them alongside dinner, or as a quick snack.
Crispy Potato Roses
Despite looking complicated, these potato roses are surprisingly easy to make. Thin potato slices are coated with butter and Parmesan before going into the oven. Once the edges are golden and crisp, they’re ready to put out on the table. You can serve them alongside dinner or add a few to your appetizer platter.
Salmon Cucumber Delights
Cucumber, feta, smoked salmon, everything bagel seasoning, and fresh dill come together in just a few minutes to make these fresh salmon cucumber bites. No cooking needed. Put these together just before your guests arrive.
Creamy Cucumber Boats
Fresh herbs and a creamy filling make these cucumber boats a light addition to Christmas parties and brunches. The whole recipe takes less than 15 minutes to put together. You can make them shortly before serving for the best texture.
Pepperoni Rose Bites
Pepperoni, mozzarella, and fresh basil are all it takes to make these gorgeous bites. You can have them ready in less than 20 minutes, and their rose shape makes the platter look a little different.
Tuna Finger Sandwiches
Light, creamy, and extremely easy to make, these tuna finger sandwiches are a nice change from the heavier party food. The tuna spread gets its freshness from parsley and lemon, making this appetizer a light but filling addition to your Christmas menu.
Creamy Herb Sandwiches
These creamy herb sandwiches work well as an easy Christmas appetizer because they need no cooking and take less than 20 minutes to prepare. The herby filling keeps them simple and light, and you can cut them into half or quarters for an easy serve.
Creamy Cucumber Sandwiches
Soft bread, crisp cucumber slices, and a creamy filling are all you need for these simple sandwiches. They take less than 20 minutes and work well as a Christmas Eve snack or finger food.
Cinnamon Apple Crescents
Sweet apples and cinnamon are tucked inside puff pastries to create these simple crescent rolls. The recipe needs only three ingredients, so they’re easy to make when you want a quick Christmas treat.
Spicy Cilantro Dip
Keep a bowl of this cilantro dip alongside your other appetizers. Fresh herbs, green chilies, and lemon give it a tangy flavor with a little heat. It tastes heavenly with crackers, vegetables, sandwiches, or any finger food on the table.
Crispy Potato Bites
Boiled potatoes, sandwich bread, and a few spices combine together to make these crunchy little bites. The outside turns crisp and golden while the middle stays soft and chewy. You can put these out with some ketchup, ranch, or any of your favorite store-bought dip.
Crispy Chicken Poppers
Chicken, buttermilk, panko, and zesty spices give these poppers their crunchy coating and plenty of flavor. Make a batch when you’re expecting several guests, as they’re easy to serve straight from the platter.
Bacon-Wrapped Cheesy Jalapeño Bites
These jalapeño bites bring together bacon, cream cheese, cheddar, and a few simple spices. You can take these along to a Christmas BBQ or serve them on Christmas Eve.
Bacon-Wrapped Pickle Bites
You only need two ingredients for these bacon-wrapped pickle bites. The crispy bacon pairs beautifully with the tangy dill pickles, and the whole thing takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. You must serve them hot for the best taste and texture.
Everything Bagel Dip
This creamy dip can be whipped up in just 10 minutes using only four ingredients. Everything bagel seasoning gives it that familiar savory flavor that your guests will love. You can serve it alongside pretzels, chips, crackers, fresh vegetables, sandwiches, or sliders.
Cheesy Pizza Gems
If your family loves pizza, these little gems will fit right into the Christmas menu. They take about 15 minutes to make and pack plenty of cheesy pizza flavor into a small snack.
Crispy Bread Parcels
Golden and crunchy on the outside, these bread parcels have a cheesy pizza-style filling inside. They’re ready in under 30 minutes and make an easy addition to a Christmas party or casual get-together.
Chili-Lime Shrimp Bites
Shrimp, filo shells, mayo, and a few spices come together quickly in these chili-lime bites. The filo shells add crispiness while the shrimp filling gets a little kick from the chili and lime.
Bacon-Crusted Meatball Bites
These bacon-crusted meatball bites are a nice alternative when you’re feeding several people. Meatballs, bacon, BBQ sauce, and fresh parsley mix together to prepare them, and the whole recipe takes about 40 minutes. The BBQ sauce adds a tangy flavor with a little heat to mix up the flavors.
Potato Rice Crunchers
Leftover potatoes and rice can be turned into these crunchy finger foods instead of going to waste. Put them out for Christmas dinner, brunch, or a casual get-together. They’re easy to grab and serve.
Crispy Korean Potato Balls
Spicy seasoning gives these potato balls a little more kick, making it different from your usual potato appetizers. In under 40 minutes, you’ll have plenty of these balls ready to serve as a starter or alongside the main meal.
Baked Broccoli Potato Cups
Boiled potatoes, fresh broccoli, and cheese are layered to create cups that are baked until the tops turn golden and crispy. They’re ready in under 30 minutes and are great to serve alongside the other Christmas appetizers.
Japanese-Style Long Fries
Made with potatoes and Parmesan, these long fries have crisp edges and a soft middle. A little Parmesan is enough to give the fries a savory finish. They take less than 30 minutes and would be fun alongside other Christmas appetizers.
Caramel Apple Pearls
You only need three ingredients to make these caramel apple pearls, and they come together quickly. You get a little sweetness from the caramel and apple, making these suitable for either the appetizer table or dessert. Kids can help with the preparation too, which makes these a nice little project before Christmas dinner.
Fiery Buffalo Chicken Bites
Crispy, tangy, and spicy, these buffalo chicken bites bring plenty of flavor to the appetizer table. They’re baked in the oven, so you can get them cooking while working on the rest of the holiday meal. Serve them hot when your guests arrive. Bake them while you’re getting the rest of the meal ready, then serve them hot when your guests arrive.