10+ Appetizer Recipes for Christmas Party to Delight Your Guests

The holiday season is a time for celebration, and a Christmas party wouldn’t be complete without delicious appetizers. These tasty bites set the perfect tone for your gathering and keep your guests satisfied while they await the main meal.

With a variety of flavors and styles to choose from, you can easily impress your family and friends. Whether you prefer something classic or a bit more adventurous, there’s an appetizer recipe that will fit your festive needs.

1) Crispy Baked Goat Cheese

Crispy baked goat cheese is a delightful appetizer perfect for your Christmas party. The outside is crispy, while the inside remains creamy and tangy. It pairs well with various dips and toppings.

To get started, you will need some basic ingredients. These include goat cheese, walnuts, Italian panko breadcrumbs, and eggs. The combination gives it a crunchy and tasty coating.

You can serve these bites with a drizzle of honey or your favorite dip. They are easy to make and sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup walnuts
• ¾ cup Italian panko breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 2 (8 oz) goat cheese logs

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Chop the walnuts finely.
3. In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs and walnuts.
4. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
5. Slice the goat cheese into rounds.
6. Dip each round in the egg, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
7. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.

2) Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Bacon-wrapped dates are a tasty appetizer for your Christmas party. They bring together sweet and salty flavors that everyone loves. Plus, they’re easy to make!

To prepare these treats, you’ll need dates and bacon. You can also add cheese for extra flavor. Creamy goat cheese or blue cheese works well.

Ingredients

• 20 Medjool dates
• 10 slices of bacon
• 4 ounces of goat cheese or blue cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Stuff each date with cheese.
3. Wrap the date with a slice of bacon.
4. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
5. Arrange on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until bacon is crispy.

Enjoy these delicious bites at your party!

3) Caramelized Onion Dip

Caramelized onion dip is a tasty addition to your Christmas party. It’s creamy, savory, and perfect for dipping. You can serve it with chips or fresh veggies.

To make this dip, start by slowly cooking onions until they are golden brown and sweet. This process can take about 25-30 minutes. You can mix the caramelized onions with sour cream and cream cheese for a rich texture.

Add garlic powder and some seasoning for extra flavor. Serve it warm or at room temperature. This dip will surely be a hit with your guests!

Ingredients

• 2 large onions, sliced thinly
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes.
3. In a bowl, mix sour cream, cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir in the caramelized onions.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

4) Herbed Salmon Tartare

Herbed salmon tartare is a delightful appetizer that brings a fresh taste to your Christmas party. This dish combines flavors from both fresh and hot-smoked salmon, making it perfect for those who may be unsure about trying raw fish.

To prepare, you’ll want to mix in fresh herbs, capers, and some citrus to brighten the flavors. Serve it with crispy chips for a crunchy contrast.

This recipe is not only simple but also elegant enough to impress your guests.

Ingredients

• 1 lb salmon filet, skinless and diced
• 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tbsp chives, chopped
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the diced salmon, herbs, and green onions.
2. Add in the lemon juice and red onion, mixing gently.
3. Chill for about 30 minutes before serving.
4. Serve with chips on the side.

5) Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread is a fun and festive appetizer that will wow your guests. It’s cheesy, warm, and perfect for sharing. You can quickly make it using simple ingredients.

To create this delightful dish, you can use refrigerated pizza dough. Layer it with mozzarella cheese and some herby garlic butter for a tasty pull-apart treat.

Dipping options like marinara or pesto add extra flavor and keep everyone coming back for more. This bread looks great on your holiday table and is easy to assemble.

Ingredients

• 1 can of refrigerated pizza dough
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup garlic butter (melted)
• Marinara or pesto for dipping

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Roll out the pizza dough and cut it into triangles.
3. Layer cheese on each triangle, then fold them into a tree shape.
4. Brush with garlic butter.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
6. Serve with marinara or pesto on the side.

6) Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeño poppers are a tasty and fun appetizer for your Christmas party. These spicy snacks are easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. You’ll enjoy a mix of cream cheese and cheddar inside fresh jalapeños.

Start by preparing your jalapeños by cutting them in half and removing the seeds. Next, mix cream cheese with shredded cheddar and a bit of seasoning. Stuff the mixture into the jalapeño halves.

You can wrap them in bacon for extra flavor. Bake them at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes until they are golden and bubbly. Serve them hot and watch them disappear!

Ingredients:

• 12 fresh jalapeño peppers
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon bacon bits (optional)
• Spices (like garlic powder and onion powder)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut jalapeños in half and remove seeds.
3. Mix cream cheese and cheddar in a bowl.
4. Stuff the jalapeños with the cheese mixture.
5. (Optional) Wrap with bacon.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

7) Festive Olive Wreath Appetizer

The Festive Olive Wreath Appetizer is a beautiful and tasty addition to your Christmas party. It’s simple to make and sure to impress your guests.

Start by arranging various olives and cherry tomatoes in a circular pattern. Add mini mozzarella balls for extra flavor.

To enhance the wreath, sprinkle with fresh rosemary. A drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of flake sea salt bring all the flavors together.

This colorful display not only looks great but also tastes delicious. Your guests will love picking their favorites from this festive platter.

Ingredients

• Mixed olives
• Cherry tomatoes
• Mini mozzarella balls
• Fresh rosemary
• Olive oil
• Flake sea salt
• Freshly cracked pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Arrange olives, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella balls in a circular pattern.
2. Add fresh rosemary sprigs to create the wreath shape.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

8) Baked Brie

Baked brie is a warm and delicious appetizer that’s perfect for your Christmas party. It’s easy to make and always impresses your guests. You can choose to top it with various ingredients, like cranberry sauce, honey, or nuts.

For a festive twist, consider making cranberry-pecan baked brie. The sweet and tart flavors pair wonderfully with the creaminess of the cheese.

To prepare, simply wrap the brie in puff pastry, add your favorite toppings, and bake until golden brown.

Ingredients

• 1 wheel of brie cheese
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Roll out the puff pastry and place the brie in the center.
3. Spread cranberry sauce on top and sprinkle with pecans.
4. Fold the pastry over the cheese and seal it.
5. Brush the pastry with beaten egg.
6. Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden and bubbly.
7. Serve warm with crackers or bread.

9) Paula Deen’s Hot and Spicy Refried Bean Dip

Paula Deen’s Hot and Spicy Refried Bean Dip is a perfect appetizer for your Christmas party. It’s warm, cheesy, and has just the right kick to please your guests.

To make this dip, you will need refried black beans and Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeños. The addition of Paula Deen Hot Sauce and ground cumin adds flavor.

Serve this dip with tortilla chips or fresh veggies for dipping. You can easily make it ahead of time and warm it up just before serving.

Ingredients

• 2 (15 oz) cans refried black beans
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeños
• 3 tablespoons Paula Deen Hot Sauce
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a mixing bowl, combine refried beans, cheese, hot sauce, and cumin.
3. Spread the mixture in a baking dish.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
5. Serve warm with chips or veggies.

10) Gyro Meatballs in Phyllo Cups

Gyro meatballs in phyllo cups are a fun and tasty appetizer for your Christmas party. They are easy to make and will impress your guests. The flaky phyllo cups hold flavorful meatballs, creating a perfect bite.

To start, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. Mixing ground meat with spices gives these meatballs that classic gyro taste. You can top them with a dollop of tzatziki sauce for added flavor.

These appetizers are baked until golden brown. The phyllo cups become crispy, and the meatballs stay juicy and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 package phyllo dough cups
• Tzatziki sauce for serving

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a bowl, mix ground meat, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper.
3. Form small meatballs and place them in phyllo cups.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
5. Serve warm with tzatziki sauce.