47 Easy Christmas Appetizers Ready In 30 Minutes Or Less

These holiday party snacks made the Nice List.

By

Kaitlyn Yarborough

Updated on December 17, 2023

Baked brie with pomegranate and pistachios on a white plate — Photo:
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Christmas time is our favorite season, for sure. But, nonetheless, the constant cooking, entertaining, and planning can feel like a marathon at sprint speed. While we're busy working away in the kitchen, a table full of appetizers can come to our rescue. Whether you're planning the perfect Christmas Eve dinner or a holiday cocktail party, don't forget to set out those trays of finger foods, dips, and spreads to keep hunger at bay. We've rounded up some quick and easy holiday appetizers that will have you covered no matter the occasion (or how down-to-the-wire the prep time is) to get you through the season. These no-fuss Christmas appetizer ideas are simple, delicious, and can be whipped up in under 30 minutes so they won't add too much to your already-full plate.

01 of 47

Cheddar Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Cheese straws are a Southern staple for any time or place, but they are especially appreciated around the holidays. These rich cheese straws include paprika and red pepper for a bit of zip. A cookie press makes preparing them a breeze, but you can also use a pastry bag with a star tip.

02 of 47

No-Stuff Deviled Eggs

No-Stuff Deviled Eggs — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Break out a sleeve of Ritz crackers and forget the piping bags. The hardest part of this recipe is boiling the eggs for 10 minutes and peeling them. Add a dollop of spicy mayonnaise and a slice of hard-boiled egg on each cracker for a fancy finger food that will be the hit of the party.

03 of 47

Bacon Jam

Bacon Jam — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You'll love how easy this smoky-sweet bacon jam is. Serve it with whipped goat cheese, cream cheese, or alone with bread for the ultimate easy but impressive appetizer.

04 of 47

Charcuterie-Board Snack Mix

Southern Living Charcuterie-Board Snack Mix in a bowl to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Forgo the picture-perfect charcuterie board that can be time-consuming to assemble for this snack mix version. The sweet-and-savory snack mix includes gourmet crackers, dried figs, pistachios, Parmesan crisps, and even crispy baked prosciutto chips. And it only takes a moment to refill the bowl.

05 of 47

Two-Layer Pimiento-And-Cheese Dip

Two-Layer Pimiento And Cheese Dip With Smoked Almonds — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

For a spin on pimiento cheese, try this two-layer dip that's topped with a romesco-style sauce.

06 of 47

Million Dollar Dip

million dollar dip on a tray with crudites and crackers — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This indulgent dip lives up to its name. The combination of bacon, chive-and-onion cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayo, almonds, and scallions will have everyone coming back for a second scoop. Serve with assorted crackers and sliced vegetables.

07 of 47

Ranch Oyster Crackers

Southern Living Ranch Snacker Crackers in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

It's an understated appetizer, we'll give you that, but the bowl will be empty by the end of the night. The herby ranch flavor on these petite crackers is just too irresistible to deny.

08 of 47

Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini

Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Appetizers are often the first impression of any party, so why not serve something that looks impressive, yet takes 15 minutes to pull together? The food processor is a big time saver, allowing you to skip mincing garlic and finely chopping herbs. Also, you can prepare the spinach-ricotta mixture up to two days in advance and assemble the crostinis later.

09 of 47

Okra In A Blanket

Okra in a Blanket on decorated plate — James Ransom, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

All you have to do is assemble this no-cook appetizer. Wrap pickled okra with thinly sliced ham and serve with a quick, homemade dip made with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, and dill.

10 of 47

Baked Goat Cheese Spread With Pepper Jelly

Baked Goat Cheese Spread with Pepper Jelly — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

A holiday appetizer roundup wouldn't be complete without the presence of pepper jelly. Though the sweet and spicy jelly is delicious with a block of cream cheese, we might argue it has no better companion than goat cheese—especially when it's warm and soft from the oven.

11 of 47

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapés

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Our elevated, holiday version of "fish and chips" comes together in just 20 minutes for an impressive, bite-sized appetizer. All you need is packaged smoked salmon, crème fraîche, potato chips, and a few fresh ingredients for the garnishes.

12 of 47

Herbed-Goat Cheese Spread

goat cheese spread — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

With just four ingredients and a mixing bowl, you'll have this appetizer ready in five minutes. Serve it on the side with crunchy baguette slices, crostinis, or veggies; or spread it across store-bought focaccia and top with herbs for a wow-worthy presentation. Best of all, you can switch the herbs according to the season—for winter, use rosemary, chives, and sage.

13 of 47

Stuffed Endive With Herbed Goat Cheese

Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese — Laurey W. Glenn

Belgian endive lettuce serves as the vessel for creamy herbed goat cheese in this cool appetizer. You can display it in a festive star-shaped way for the party. If desired, include red Belgian endive leaves along with the green to make your "wreath" look more Christmassy.

14 of 47

Shrimp With Honey-Garlic Sauce

Shrimp With Honey-Garlic Sauce — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

This quick appetizer is ready in just 15 minutes, and the whole party is guaranteed to love these saucy shrimp with honey that adds a surprising richness and hint of sweetness. Serve skewered or in a bowl with toothpicks.

15 of 47

Creamy Crab Dip

Creamy Crab Dip Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Looking for an easy throw-together appetizer? This is just the one. Stir together the seven ingredients, top with chopped chives, and serve with celery sticks and crackers.

16 of 47

Baked Brie Bites

Baked Brie Bites

Make these extra fast and easy by using frozen mini phyllo pastry shells. The melty baked Brie bites, complemented with red pepper jelly and pecans, will be ready in less than 20 minutes. For a bit of holiday greenery, add a parsley leaf to each one.

17 of 47

Feta-Olive-Fresh Herb Cheese Ball

Feta-Olive-Fresh Herb Cheese Ball — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Did someone say cheese ball? We love all the variations, including this one with Mediterranean flair. For a more creative holiday form, roll it into a Yule log and decorate.

18 of 47

Buttery Toasted Pecans

Buttery Toasted Pecans - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Melted butter and simple seasoning is the secret to these easy and flavorful toasted pecans. We recommend toasting them for the full 25 minutes to bring out their nutty aroma and flavor.

19 of 47

Basic Pimiento Cheese

Southern Living Basic Pimento Cheese in a bowl to serve with crackers and vegetables — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

It's not a proper Southern holiday party without pimiento cheese making an appearance. This recipe schools you in the two game-changing steps to perfect pimiento cheese: using diced jarred pimientos instead of sliced and hand-shredding your cheese.

20 of 47

Caesar Salad Bites

Caesar Salad Bites — Photo: Jennifer Davick/Prop Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell/Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

These hand-held salad bites are a fresh, crisp addition to your holiday snack lineup. Grape tomatoes add a bright pop of red for a more festive appetizer. Use your favorite bottled salad dressing to make this simple recipe.

21 of 47

Baked Brie With Pecans

Baked Brie with Pecans — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chinese five spice powder (which typically consists of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and fennel seeds) and honey give the pecans and cherries atop this baked Brie an extra festive flavor. To serve it warm, pop it in the oven 20 minutes before guests arrive.

22 of 47

Afterburners

Afterburners — Stacy k. Allen, Props: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Shrimp, jalapeño peppers, and bacon? You can't go wrong with this three-ingredient recipe, especially if you serve them with some spicy queso dip. The shrimp cook perfectly in 10-12 minutes under the broiler.

23 of 47

Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese And Pear

Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Pear — Ralph Anderson

This pretty appetizer uses slices of Barlett pear as the base instead of crackers. With only a few instructions and a little pep in your step, you'll have the slices topped with baked pancetta, crumbled goat cheese, and a drizzle of honey in no time.

24 of 47

Pickapeppa Snack Mix

Pickapeppa snack mix — JAMES RANSOM

A cocktail party always needs a snack mix, and we have just the one for you. This recipe uses the classic rice-cereal squares (such as Chex), pretzels, and unsalted peanuts with the popular Jamaican hot sauce, brown sugar, and tongue-torching cayenne pepper and chili powder.

25 of 47

Melon, Mozzarella, And Prosciutto Skewers

Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers — Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

We've added smooth and creamy mozzarella to the classic combination of salty prosciutto and sweet melon. If you're short on time, make this no-cook appetizer even faster by getting a package of pre-sliced melon from the produce section.

26 of 47

Beef-And-Asparagus Bundles

Beef-and-Asparagus Bundles — Ralph Lee Anderson

There isn't an abundance of quick appetizers using beef, so this five-ingredient recipe has us pretty excited. All you need to do is blanch the asparagus spears and assemble the bundles. We tested this recipe with Alouette Garlic & Herbs spreadable cheese and Boar's Head Londonport Seasoned Roast Beef.

27 of 47

Mini Caprese Bites

Mini Caprese Bites — William Dickey

These never disappoint at any party—they are just too easy to pick up and pop in your mouth without missing a beat. Arrange the skewers on a platter or in cocktail glasses set around your buffet.

28 of 47

Cranberry Brie Bites

Cranberry Brie Bites — Southern Living

This tart and creamy mini appetizer will make a splash at your holiday brunch or your Christmas Eve cocktail party. Why not make it for both? Including the frozen phyllo shells, the recipe only requires four ingredients—and bakes in just six minutes.

29 of 47

Ham-And-Cheese Skewers

Ham-and-Cheese Skewers — Charles Walton IV

These are almost too easy—just thread blue cheese wedges (or the cheese of your choice), apple slices, cubes of deli ham, and fresh watercress leaves onto wooden skewers. The result is an elegant-looking appetizer with different flavors and textures in every bite.

30 of 47

Cherry-Pecan Brie

Cherry-Pecan Brie — Jim Franco

A sweet blend of cherry preserves, balsamic vinegar, and pepper gives Brie a festive look. "The sauce is wonderful and so easy to make!" one reviewer wrote. "The balsamic and pepper keep it from being too sweet and gives it a nice bite."

31 of 47

Beer-Cheese Fondue

Creamy Feta Phyllo Bites — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This appetizer will keep guests busy around the fondue pot all evening. Once you've mixed up the warm, melty cheese sauce, you can get creative. Soft pretzels, sliced cooked bratwurst, steamed broccoli florets, roasted Brussels sprouts, and roasted fingerling potatoes are all options.

32 of 47

Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Peppers

Southern Living Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Peppers on a blue platter to serve — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

For this three-ingredient recipe, pick up a jar of cherry-red Peppadew peppers. Then pipe in pimiento cheese and garnish with a sprinkle of chives. Make them dressier by serving them on your favorite silver platter.

33 of 47

Crispy Cheese Wafers

Crispy Cheese Wafers

Crispy rice cereal makes these toasted cheese wafers extra crunchy. Use grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese and a pinch of ground cayenne for zestier flavor. Enjoy the wafers on their own or serve with softened cream cheese and pepper jelly.

34 of 47

Smoked-Fish Dip

smoked fish dip with crackers and crudites — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Adam Evans, chef at award-winning Birmingham restaurant Automatic Seafood and Oysters, shared this delicious recipe with us. The dip may have a long list of flavorful ingredients, but all you need to do is mix them together. Serve it with crackers or sliced baguette.

35 of 47

Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups

Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Phyllo cups can do some heavy lifting when it comes to a dinner party. The elegant filling for this appetizer combines gourmet mushrooms, garlic, sherry, and cream. Use the food processor to save prep time, and you'll have this bite-sized delight on the table in under 30 minutes.

36 of 47

Lump Crab Mornay

Lump Crab Mornay

For this recipe, pick up fresh jumbo lump crabmeat if you can. Serve the creamy, rich, and warm crab dip with toast points. Keep it warm under gentle heat in a chafing dish or slow cooker.

37 of 47

Turnip Green Pesto

Turnip Green Pesto — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

This wintery pesto is made with fresh turnip greens, toasted walnuts, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of honey. The greens get a quick blanching in boiling water before you blend the pesto. Cover your dip with wrap if you won't be serving immediately to preserve the bright green color.

38 of 47

Spicy Cheese Twists

Spicy Cheese Twists — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The adorable bow ties are made from frozen puff pastry dough. Layered with thyme and aged Gouda cheese, these cheese twists with a kick are simultaneously crispy and tender. Change up the cheese and herb combinations to suit your fancy—try them with Parmesan and rosemary or Cheddar and bacon.

39 of 47

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These honey-sweetened sweet potato slices are dreamy enough for dessert—that is until you taste the creamy goat cheese and spicy heat. Look for sweet potatoes that are uniform in width so that when you cut them, you will have round slices that cook evenly.

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini

40 of 47

Spinach-And-Artichoke Bites

Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

A can of crescent rolls gets filled with a blend of spinach, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese to make these delicious bites. With some helping hands to fill and pinch the crescent rolls, you'll have these ready to bake in short order, and they only need a few minutes in the oven.

41 of 47

Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls

Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls — Southern Living

A box of Bisquick, ground pork sausage, chopped chives, and pimiento cheese come together in one undeniably satisfying sausage ball. This big-batch recipe also makes enough for a crowd—providing everyone is willing to share.

42 of 47

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Tender, meaty, and garlicky mushrooms are always a hit on the appetizer. A couple of extra hands will make light work of the process, as will Boursin, a garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese you can find at the grocery store.

43 of 47

Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

Cranberry Sauce Meatballs — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

We've made cocktail meatballs more festive with jellied cranberry sauce and hot jalapeño pepper jelly. These little, two-bite appetizers are a nice balance of sweet, sour, savory, and spicy. Flecks of fresh jalapeño add color and a touch of raw heat.

44 of 47

Hot Crab And Shrimp Dip

Hot Crab and Shrimp Dip

Smoked cheese, lemon-pepper seasoning, and whole-grain mustard add more sophisticated flavor than you find in most crab dips. Even better, this warm and cheesy seafood dip takes about five minutes to prepare before you stick it in the oven to bake, leaving you free to relax and visit with your family.

45 of 47

Horseradish Pimiento Cheese

Horseradish Pimiento Cheese — Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Some hosts wouldn't dare mess with the family recipe, but what better time to experiment than a holiday party with friends? Not only do we call for a little horseradish in this recipe, but we also suggest using horseradish-flavored white Cheddar cheese for an extra kick.

My Grandmother Gets Asked for Her Pimiento Cheese Recipe All the Time, And This Is Her Secret Ingredient

46 of 47

Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip

Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip — Hector Sanchez

Flecks of roasted red peppers, jalapeños, and green onions dot this addictive cheese dip. That makes it Christmas-themed in our book, and everyone will agree this rich and gooey party dip is a true gift.

47 of 47

Baked Brie With Pomegranate And Pistachios

Baked brie with pomegranate and pistachios on a white plate — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

For the holidays, dress up warm Brie with jewel-red syrup, green pistachios, and chopped thyme. The most time-consuming part of this recipe is removing the pomegranate seeds (or arils) from the fruit, so you can easily save time by buying the pre-separated arils rather than the whole fruit.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

Stuffed-Pepper Wreath

Stuffed-Pepper Wreath

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapes

Smoked Salmon-Potato Chip Canapés

Baked Brie Bites

Baked Brie Bites

Southern Living Creamed Spinach in a bowl to serve

Creamed Spinach

perfect beef tenderloin

Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Southern Living Ham and Cheese sliders in the baking dish ready to serve

Ham-And-Swiss Sliders

No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

Southern Living Bacon Crackers on a platter to serve

Candied Bacon Crackers

Baked Brie In Puff Pastry

Baked Brie In Puff Pastry

Southern Living Bacon Jam on top of whipped goat cheese with crostini to serve

Whipped Goat Cheese With Smoky Bacon Jam

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Triple B Milk Punch

Triple B Milk Punch

Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies

Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies

egg pie - southern living

Big Mama's Egg Pie

Southern Living Frosted Sugar Cookie Snowflakes on a plate to serve

35 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes To Bake With Kids