25 Holiday Appetizers To Wow At Any Event

If you are going on vacation and are thinking of staying at home with some of your favorite foods, then we would certainly recommend that you pick up one of these delicious appetizers for you and your family.

These recipes are cheap and cheerful, meaning that you can spend very little money on a platter of foods for you and lots and lots of guests.

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• 25 Holiday Appetizer Recipes
• Our Final Say
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25 Holiday Appetizer Recipes

So where exactly can you find these great recipes? How many appetizers should you make for the number of guests that you are planning on entertaining?

What ingredients should you have if you are thinking about entertaining vegetarians? What are the best meat dishes? What combination of flavors will suit you and your guests?

Well, if you want answers to these questions and a whole lot more, then keep reading, as we’ve got a list of some of the best foods that you can find on the market.

We cover the whole gamut of appetizers from meats to vegetables and cheese, giving you an in-depth breakdown of how the flavors work together.

Need even more menu inspiration for the holidays? Check out these lists below!

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• 25 Make Ahead Holiday Breakfasts
• 21 Christmas Recieps for a Festive Feast

Sweet Potato Crostini with Honey Roasted Figs and Balsamic Glaze

If you want something to wow a crowd, this is the appetizer that does the trick. The layering of textures with sweet and savory flavors creates the perfect umami in every bite.

No-Bake Jalapeno Popper Cheese Balls

This is a fun version of a classic snack or appetizer. Rolled flavored cream cheese balls are a delightful bite of creaminess with a bit of salt and spice to create the ultimate "popper" for your menu.

Cucumber Smoked Salmon Rolls

A fun spin on sushi, this is a nice lighter option for those who want a wide variety of appetizers at their holiday events. I love the idea of using everything but the bagel seasoning instead of the sesame seeds alone for a little more elevated flavor profile.

Baked Chicken Samosa

This tasty bite of Indian cuisine is a much easier version of the traditionally deep-fried appetizer. They are ideal for a nice meat dish on the appetizer tray and bring a lot of unique flavor to any menu.

Mozzarella & Thyme Savory Pull Apart Bread

This is such a tasty addition that works perfectly as an appetizer or a side to your holiday meal. Soft bread with bits of cheese and tons of herbs make it an ideal savory addition to your holiday menu.

Crispy Baked Parmesan Mushrooms

Mushrooms always end up on our appetizer menu, and this recipe is a great idea. It has that tasty crispy parmesan coating but isn't deep fried so easier to serve everyone, even those on diets!

Homemade Bruschetta with Fresh Tomato and Basil

If you can find quality tomatoes around the holidays, this is a perfect easy to prepare and always popular dish. I love the tasty flavors of garlic and herbs!

Lemon Herb Zucchini Fries

This is a fun snack for those who want to add a bit more veggies to the menu. I love the crispy flavor and the light lemon and herb flavor keeps the "fry" from feeling too heavy.

Crunchy Pita Chips Recipe

A simple homemade pita chip is ideal for dipping into everything from a bowl of classic hummus to your favorite spinach dip or even a tapenade.

Cheesy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

This is a classic on many appetizer menus - for good reason! It's easy to make, loaded with creamy cheese, and plenty of veggies so you don't feel so guilty eating it. The parmesan adds a bit of saltiness, and it creates the ideal option for any chip to dip!

Cranberry Brie Bites

This is ideal if you like something a little bit more unique in terms of flavor. Not only are these dishes very tasty, they are very easy to make. This is great as a little snack before the main course arrives.

Goats Cheese Stuffed Figs with Pancetta

This is a great addition to your spread, giving you a lovely blend of sharp flavors with creamy cheese. This pancetta is perfect if you want that extra crunch to go with some sparkling champagne or wine.

Cucumber Rounds with Salmon Mousse 

If you are looking for something low budget that will come packed with flavour, then we would suggest dicing up some cucumber.

This will cost you hardly any money at all, not only do they look good, but they have very few calories in them.

Phyllo Baked Brie With Figs and Walnuts

This combines the wonderful flavor of your brie with the fruitiness of the figs and walnuts.

This will not only be good for your digestion, but it will help you keep any weight off. You can eat as many of these as you like without it impacting too much on your diet.

Savory Sables

If you have never had a sable before, now is the time to try it. These savory delights are very easy on the belly and will not ruin your food if you’ve eaten too many. We would recommend these to any cheese fan.

Cranberry And Pestachio Baked Brie

This is perfect for anyone who wants that fruity and savory combination of treats.

Not only is this great for anyone who wants a cheese snack in their mouth, but it will save you a few calories and not cause anyone to put on weight.

Warm Goats Cheese Toasts

This is great if you fancy roasting your food with walnuts and honey. It will give you that sweet flavor with the earthiness of the walnuts. You can eat around 10 of these without ruining your appetizers.

This is great for vegetarians also, as they contain very few calories. The warmed up ghost cheese will give you everything that you need for a full stomach without leaving you too bloated for your main course.

Smoked Salmon And Avocado Mousse

These are not only amazing to look at, but they have a great taste too. You can be sure that these pastry cups will go down a treat but will not spoil any cravings that you might have for your main meal.

The salmon is not only good for your appetite, but it contains many delicious fish oils, which will contribute to the overall health of your brain and your joints.

We would recommend that you get this if you are trying to plan a large meal but are on a budget.

Cranberry pecan Cheese Ball

This is one for the fans of nuts and cheese, coming with a cheese ball that you can certainly use for you and your family. This is great for vegetarians too, giving you plenty of warm and creamy cheese to keep you full enough to last until the main course.

We would certainly recommend that you pair this one up with something sharper if you want an interesting contrast. However, you can just prepare this one on its own.

This is another great method of keeping the calories light and your tastebuds dancing.

Baked Brie, Pear and Pecan Bites

This is an award-winning combination of ingredients. The pears and brie merge seamlessly together to create a flavor that will have you and your party guests gasping for more. You can eat lots of these without getting full.

We would recommend serving this before a pork or turkey main meal, as the fruitiness from the pear will still be lingering on the tongue as you tuck into the salty pork.

The pecan is also delicious and will give you everything that you need for a decent pre-filler before the main event.

Bacon Wrapped Dates With Blue Cheese

These are quite simply incredible, the salty, meaty bacon acting as a wonderful contrast to the fruity dates inside.

Add to that the blue cheese, and you have a wonderful blend of flavors and textures that any guest at your party will be talking about for years to come.

Homemade Cheese Straws

We’ve all sampled cheese straws from the supermarket, well, why not be adventurous and make your own? These are very simple to cook and will give you all the delights of cheese and hard dough.

We would recommend that you make a lot of these, as they are light and airy and will be a top notch appetizer.

These cheese strings are ideal for vegetarians also, the delightful cheddar will warm up your tastebuds for the main meal.

We would recommend serving this before a chicken dish as the cheese will complement it wonderfully.

Roasted Honey Pear Crostini

This is great for anyone who is a fan of pear flavors. All you need to do is pop these in the oven with some herbs and you’ve got yourselves a very delicious meal opener.

We would recommend that you serve this before chicken or pork, as the flavors involved will complement each other well.

This will leave you feeling nice and full, being one of the simplest meals to make on this list.

This is cheap to make and is suitable for large families who want all the finery of appetizer dining without having to fork out a small fortune.

Baked Brie Bites

These bites are baked with brie, making them the perfect option for cheese aficionados.

We would recommend that you serve this one with wine or champagne. You can easily devour plenty of these without it filling up your stomach too quickly.

Cockpot Grape Jelly and BBQ Meatballs

This final recipe is one for those who really want to push the boat out when it comes to flavors.

The fruitiness of the grape jelly will perfectly complement the meatball texture and flavor, giving you something that is very citrusy and earthy.

This is one for the carnivores and expert chefs who want to create something wonderful.

Our Final Say

We hope that our list of holiday appetizers has helped whet your appetite for making them.

It will be up to you to decide what you serve these foods with. Although remember to make sure that you buy all the ingredients before making some of these appetizers.

There’s nothing worse than getting halfway through a meal before realizing that you have forgotten a crucial ingredient. Even though these dishes are very simple to make, if you do not have one important component of the recipe, then the whole thing might not work.

Also, make sure that you have the cooking area prepared. Just because these dishes are simple to make, you’ll still need enough room to have them spaced out.

We would recommend that you have at least a few square feet of space to get all your ingredients laid out and enough prep area.