Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Party Food & Drink 20 Easy Holiday Appetizers You Can Quickly Whip Up Impressive bite-size apps that only look like you cooked for hours By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 06, 2024 Close Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL The anticipation of any holiday meal is palpable, and it starts with the apps! Kick things off strongly with delectable, savory, and sweet bites that welcome guests and prep their appetites for the celebratory feast to come. Most of these appetizers can be prepped in advance, so that day off all you have to do is quickly assemble and plate these finger foods for a fabulous start to every type of holiday party. Busy hosts, these holiday appetizers are for you! 49 Christmas Dinner Ideas for an Elegant Holiday Meal 01 of 20 Pan Roasted Olives and Lemon Victor Protasio Are your guests at a chic cocktail bar or your home kitchen? It’s anyone’s guess once they pop a warm olive in their mouth. Serve with toothpicks or pickle spears for easy pickups. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 20 Crispy Falafel Bites Fred Hardy Get out your food processor and your best skillet for this savory starter. These herby bites come together in under an hour, and the dip can be made ahead so you can spend even less time in the kitchen this holiday. Just wait to drizzle it with oil until just before serving. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 20 Hot Honey Lamb Meatballs Victor Protasio Broiling the meatballs cooks them quickly with minimal mess to clean up (no splatter!)—and the tasty sriracha-and-honey sauce makes them next-level amazing. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 20 Fish Antipasto Board Victor Protasio Say hello to your new favorite grazing board. The rich smoked trout dip is as delicious on crunchy veggies as it is slathered on a cracker or baguette. Plus, the bread makes an ideal foundation for softened butter and anchovies. Any way you take it, we know you'll love it. If you're hosting a Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, consider this as the perfect way to start the feast. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 20 Red Pepper Walnut Knots Victor Protasio Frozen puff pastry and canned roasted peppers make this fancy holiday appetizer super easy to put together. Blend the peppers with walnuts and spices, then spread on the thawed puff pastry. Cut into half-inch strips, twist, and bake for some super-flavorful snacks. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 20 Gorgonzola Cream and Prosciutto Endives Victor Protasio No cooking is necessary for these crunchy flavor bombs—just a little mixing and assembly. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 20 Creamy Smoked Trout Dip Tinned fish is everywhere these days, so show off your food trend knowledge with this easy-to-whip-up dip. Prepare in advance and serve directly out of a mason jar for a shabby chic look. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 20 Smoked Gouda and Pepper Cheese Puffs Victor Protasio Cheese puffs are always a good idea, and smell delectable when they’re all steamy out of the oven. Play around with your favorite cheese in this recipe—you can even mix and match cheeses for a wide selection of puffs. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 20 Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Getty Images Crisp, sweet, and gooey, these bite-size treats are always a crowd-pleaser. Smaller family members can also help prep these three-ingredient appetizers in advance, especially if you set up an assembly line of cheese stuffers and bacon wrappers. GET THE RECIPE 28 Easy Appetizers That Are Ready in 20 Minutes or Less 10 of 20 Steamed Clams With Garlic Toasts CAITLIN BENSEL A big bowl of steamy clams is the perfect appetizer to gather around as guests trickle in. Serve with small slices of toast, so everyone can help themselves to a nice dip in the buttery sauce. A ladle on the side may also be good to include. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 20 Orange Chili Shrimp Cocktail David Prince It sounds and looks sophisticated, but this ceviche-esque shrimp cocktail recipe takes just a few minutes and a handful of ingredients to assemble. Plus, it’s like two appetizers in one, because you can dip tortilla chips or crispy plantains into the sauce GET THE RECIPE 12 of 20 Cowboy Caviar Rus32/Getty Images Throw back to one of 2022’s biggest TikTok food trends with this salad slash dip made almost entirely from canned ingredients. It takes just minutes to assemble and can be broken into smaller servings with different flavor profiles. Add spicy peppers to half and crumbly cheese on the rest. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 20 Fancy Pigs in a Blanket Quentin Bacon Don’t let the “fancy” in the title fool you, these little piggies can be made in a jiffy. Using chicken, turkey, or even plant-based sausages offers an instant upgrade for a bite-size appetizer that you can practically make in your sleep. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 20 Deviled Eggs Aniko Hobel/Getty Images Easy to prep and plate the day before, and always a crowd-pleaser, deviled eggs are a go-to holiday appetizer for good reason. Try adding different herbs to the filling or popping something crispy on top (bacon bits or sesame seeds are a good bet) for a fun twist on the classic. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 20 Smoky Kale Chips Jennifer Causey It’s likely your guests are looking for something green on your appetizer spread—'tis the season for overindulgence. Satiate their salad cravings with smoky homemade kale chips, that will be devoured by the handful and can also be crushed to use as a garnish on many a holiday dish. Making several batches is recommended. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 20 Easy Pork Dumplings Greg DuPree Dumplings are never a bad idea. And while these handmade dumplings do take a little extra legwork (or handwork, technically), they are easy to assemble and can be delegated to kids or house guests who need a project while you focus on other kitchen tasks. GET THE RECIPE 5 Steps for Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday Dinner Party 17 of 20 Many-Cheese Cheese Ball Victor Protasio You can assemble a cheese ball in less time than it takes to prep a charcuterie board, and the results are just as stunning. Ask someone to bring the crackers, to make this appetizer even easier. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 20 Pears With Rosemary Sugar David Prince Sliced fruit is a sophisticated appetizer and palate cleaner, and the perfect snack to nosh on before a big feast. This dish comes together with just some slices, a drizzle of sugar, and a sprinkle of rosemary. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 20 Manchego and Fig Jam Crostini Getty Images A sweet jam and sharp cheese pairs so well with the crusty baguette in this recipe. And while this one is super easy to assemble, you can make it even easier on yourself by serving the crostini deconstructed—just give guests the toast base, jam with a spreading knife, and slices of cheese to DIY it. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 20 Glorious Green Dip Victor Protasio This go-to dip recipe can be whipped up in minutes! It’s visually attractive and healthy, plus it pairs with whatever you want to dip in it. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit