71 Easy Christmas Appetizer Recipes (and Hors d’Oeuvres Too)
Sometimes Christmas appetizers are the first bites of an epic meal—the snacks that keep you going as you roast a goose or baste a pork roast. But this year there's a case to be made for a festive dinner made solely of easy Christmas hors d'oeuvres—the snacky things you want to fill up on anyway. These are a few of our favorite options, including creamy dips, deviled eggs, savory toasts, well-dressed oysters, homemade snack mix, sweet and tender shrimp, and many more.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog1/71Pickled Shrimp
We love Christmas appetizers that balance richness with fresh, bright flavors, like these easy pickled shrimp, made with cider vinegar, English-style dry mustard, coriander seeds, and just-cooked shrimp.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell2/71Relish Tray
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott4/71Cheesy Sesame Phyllo Bites
You can use purchased frozen phyllo dough for these easy, seedy crackers, and serve with cheese—or make any of our favorite dip recipes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton6/71Pigs-in-a-Blanket With Sauerkraut and Mustard
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/71Roasted Oysters With Warm Butter Mignonette
Shucking oysters is a little intimidating. But you can skip that effort with this easy technique: Quickly roasting oysters in the oven pops the shells open a bit, so you can easily get them the rest of the way by hand. Top your warmed oysters with our rich, butter-based mignonette for the full festive bite.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/71Warmed Spiced Olives
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell10/71Bacon and Cheddar Toasts
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini11/71Crudités With Chile-Lime Salt
Maybe you had a big Christmas brunch. Maybe you're planning a big Christmas dinner. Then maybe you don't actually need much in the way of Christmas appetizers. How about some crispy, crunchy, well-seasoned vegetables?
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog12/71Polenta Bites With Wild Mushrooms and Fontina
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li14/71Lemon-Pepper Salami Bites
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow16/71Crab Louie Salad Lettuce Cups
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog17/71Homemade Cheese Spread With Garlic and Herbs
If you like Boursin, you'll love this homemade take on the spreadable cheese. It's the perfect nibble to go with drinks—maybe this slightly savory Campari option?
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow19/71Smoked Salmon Tartare
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog21/71Jammy Eggs With Smoked Paprika Aioli
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou22/71Pine Nut and White Bean Dip
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li23/71Onion-Dip Potato Chips
Photo by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Victoria Granof, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka24/71Classic Cheese Ball
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow26/71Vanilla Butter Anchovy Toasts
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou27/71Lumpia
Wondering how to make lumpia truly an easy holiday snack? Stuff and wrap ‘em ahead, freeze, and just fry as many as you want when you’re ready to eat.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi32/71Creamy Pinto Bean Dip
This lightly spiced bean dip is perfect for chips—or carrot sticks. You can make it 3 days ahead and store in the fridge.
Photo by Ditte Isager33/71Salmon Tartare
This elegant seafood starter is ideal if you're planning to sip some bubbly before Christmas dinner. Chilling the fish in the freezer for 20 minutes makes it easier to dice. (A sharp knife helps, too.)
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li35/71Spicy Lightly Pickled Cucumbers
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone37/71Classic Spinach-Artichoke Dip With Mozzarella and Parmesan
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow40/71Oysters With Balsamic
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Lillian Chou41/71Soy-Braised Chicken Wings
Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell44/71Creamy Cauliflower Dip
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott47/71Baked Three-Cheese Onion Dip With Chive and Pepperoncini
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime55/71Hand Salad With Buttermilk, Grapefruit, and Mixed Seeds
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Brian Heiser, food styling by Rhoda Boone57/71Radishes With Herbed Salt and Olive Oil
Photo by Peter Frank Edwards59/71Bacon Crackers
Magic happens when a cracker slowly sops up the fat from smoky, crisping bacon; it transforms into something more akin to pie crust. The addition of a little bundle of rosemary makes for a fancified version, while topping the "belt" of bacon with a bit of brown sugar adds a hint of sweet to the smoke.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou61/71Radishes With Crème Fraîche and Furikake
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou65/71Flatbread With Avocado and Scallion Salsa
Photo by Andrew Purcell, food styling by Carrie Purcell67/71Pigs-in-a-Blanket With Chorizo, Membrillo, and Manchego
