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10 best Holiday appetizers

The Holidays are just around the corner and I’m here to provide you with easy and delicious recipes that won’t have you in the kitchen for hours. If you’re having guests over or have been tasked to bring an appetizer to a family or friend’s house, I have you covered in my 10 best Holiday appetizer guide. Many of these recipes use pantry staples and ingredients that you may already have in your fridge. Many of these recipes can be made ahead which will allow you to spend more time with family and friends. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite easy appetizers to make during the Holidays which will make hosting a breeze!

The recipes I’ve included contain variations of crostini which is simply toasted bread with a topping. Crostini are low effort, and the toppings are versatile, depending on what’s in season and based on what you have in your kitchen. I love to make a variety of dips during the Holidays, and I have included two of my favorite dips in this appetizer guide.

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1. Olive Tapenade & Whipped Ricotta Crostini

I’m always looking for quick, effortless and delicious appetizers to serve at get togethers. This Olive Tapenade & Whipped Ricotta Crostini checks all the boxes. It comes together in under 10 minutes and it’s a flavor bomb! This appetizer has been on constant rotation in my house. It’s one of those appetizers that takes about 10-15 minutes to put together and the flavors are just incredible. If you’re an olive lover I highly recommend making this appetizer. It’s perfect as a snack or great to make as an appetizer if you’re hosting a dinner party. It’s easy and uses pantry and refrigerator staples. 

2. Caramelized Onion Dip

Caramelized Onion Dip is one of my favorite things to make for a Holiday party. It’s very easy to make and gets better as it sits in the fridge. This dip is highly addictive, and I like to serve it with crostini or crackers. I usually make a double batch because it’s just that good. The key component to this dip is caramelized onions. I love that this dip can be made a few days in advance.

3. Creamy Artichoke Dip

The only time I make Spinach & Artichoke Dip is during the Holidays. It’s decadent, creamy and highly addictive. This Creamy Artichoke Dip is the perfect appetizer to bring to a Holiday party! It can be made in advance, and it takes under 20 minutes to make. This is another great dip that can be made in advance. Just pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve.

4. Ricotta & Prosciutto Crostini

 I always serve crostini as an appetizer because they are so easy to make and you can change up the toppings based on what you have in your pantry and fridge. I particularly love these Ricotta & Prosciutto Crostini because it uses three ingredients and requires no cooking (unless you count toasting the bread). As this appetizer uses only three ingredients, you want to make sure that you are using high quality ricotta and Prosciutto di Parma. If you can find fresh ricotta, I would highly recommend using fresh ricotta for these crostini. These crostini take about 15 minutes to put together and your guests will love them!

5. Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Cheese

Here is another tasty three ingredient appetizer! These Bacon Wrapped Dates are stuffed with cheese and drizzled with honey and flakey salt. You can use any cheese you like for these; mozzerella, gruyere or a softer cheese like goat cheese would be great. These take about five minutes to put together. All you need to do is cook the bacon which I like to do on a sheet pan in the oven. If you love a salty and sweet combo, this is the appetizer for you!

6. Baked Brie Bites with Red Pepper Jelly

These Baked Brie Bites with Red Pepper Jelly are made using four simple ingredients that you may have in your pantry. They are so easy to whip up and they taste incredible. The creamy, melted brie paired with the red pepper jelly is a highly addictive and delicious combination. Red pepper jelly has always been one of my favorite jams and I make my own every summer. You could substitute red pepper jelly with a fruit jam if you prefer. These brie crostini are very versatile and super easy to make.

7. Vegetable Fritters with Yogurt Dip

These Vegetable Fritters are a quick and easy snack and they use up vegetables in your fridge that may be getting past their expiry date. You can use any veggies you like for this but I love using zucchini, carrots and potatoes. These are always such a huge hit in my house and they take no time to make! They’re also great to throw in the freezer for when you want a snack or a quick appetizer.

8. Stromboli Wreath with Hot Cherry Peppers & Sundried Tomato Spread

This festive Stromboli Wreath is an impressive and easy appetizer to serve at your next Holiday gathering. All you need is store bought pizza dough, mozzarella cheese and your favorite cured meats. I like to use mortadella and mild Genoa salami. The only thing you need to make is the hot cherry pepper and sundried tomato spread which takes seconds to make in a food processor. Everything gets rolled into the pizza dough and shaped into a wreath. The stromboli gets brushed with egg wash and gets baked in the oven for 45-50 minutes. This stromboli can be made in advance and warmed in the oven for when your guests arrive.

9. Pyhllo Wrapped Feta Bites

Phyllo Wrapped Feta Bites use only two ingredients, feta and phyllo dough. I like to top them with a generous drizzle of honey, sesame seeds and fresh thyme which is optional but encouraged. These feta bites are inspired by feta wrapped filo that I had while travelling in Greece. It’s a simple dish but it’s one of the best appetizers you can make. The feta becomes warm and melted, and it’s held together in a crispy light filo wrapper. The honey compliments the salty feta making it the perfect bite. These are one of the easiest appetizers you could make this Holiday season!

10. French Onion Soup Crostini

I had the idea to turn classic French onion soup into French onion soup crostini. These are a low cost and delicious recipe to make during the Holidays. It’s a great Holiday recipe that you will make time and time again. I guarantee your guests will devour these at your next Holiday party. These French Onion Soup Crostini are extremally economical to make because the main ingredients are onions, baguette and cheese. I used raclette cheese for these crostini but you can switch it up and use any cheese that melts beautifully, like Gruyere, Comte or Fontina cheese.