The 73 Best Christmas Party Appetizers, Hands Down, No Contest

Sweet, salty and spicy: They're the full package.

Orange cuts through the creaminess of the Brie, so this dish won't weigh you down.

Your favorite cheesy soup, now in bite-size form.

Our go-to vegetable does it again. Plenty of Parmesan cheese takes this humble, healthy starter over the top.

You’ll win with one—or all three. Take your pick from everything bagel-goat cheese, lemon-dill cheddar or pomegranate blue cheese.

Warning: It's practically impossible to stop at one handful. Use any combination of nuts that you'd like, but we used almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews and pistachios.

Caramelized onion dip is a must-have party appetizer. (And acorn squash is the fresh twist you didn't know you needed.)

Dish them up with tangy lemon-Dijon dipping sauce and toothpicks.

So flaky, so savory. They're pretty enough that your guests will think you ordered them from a fancy bakery.

We will eat cheese dip anytime, anywhere. Double up on the crostini.

These dough-wrapped dip bites are almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Sneak in a serving of vegetables with these addictively crunchy chips.

Careful, these will be devoured fast. Might we suggest preparing two batches?

All aboard the umami express.

A quintessential party snack, elevated. This rendition is all about presentation.

No offense to our beloved Kraft mac, but these delectable bites take our forever favorite to a whole new level.

Baked to zesty, cheesy perfection.

A simple way to dress up Brie. Use a grill pan to get char marks on the bread without ever stepping foot outside.

Fact: Guests love dipping stuff in other stuff. Good thing this salty-sweet star is versatile enough to pair with pretzels *and* sliced fruit.

Don’t mind us. We live under the appetizer table now.

Skip the neon nacho cheese dip. These salty gems are stuffed with creamy Brie instead.

How can you go wrong with a skillet dish this decadent? Skip the skewers and serve it with crackers, bread and Granny Smith apple slices.

Make sure your guests don't lose their appetites before dinner with this vegetarian alternative to cocktail weenies.

Because the recipe calls for store-bought dough and prepared cranberry sauce, this starter will only take you 15 minutes to pull together.

Tangy goat cheese is just the match for crispy, cornbread-like baked polenta rounds.

Your local steakhouse will miss you. The dipping sauce will taste amazing on fries, too.

The hardest thing you'll have to do is wait for the onions to caramelize.

Even the coldest December weather is no match for this hug in a bowl.

Pomegranate arils and toasted pepitas give this classic guac a holiday makeover.

It's the most elegant starter you'll ever serve—and one of the best uses for crusty bread we've come across.

Who knew you could make something this dangerously poppable in ten minutes?

Go ahead and prepare a second batch. The first will only last about 30 seconds.

Some call it breakfast, some call it dessert. We think it's a great anytime snack (including before dinner), and once you try that eggnog glaze, we know you'll agree.

Don't worry about making homemade puff pastry. The produce is what makes this starter shine.

Just combine five ingredients and bake until the Brie is soft.

Admit it: You've never seen a casserole this tiny (or adorable).

Do you always have a tough time cutting squash? A few minutes in the microwave will make it soft and a breeze to chop.

A 15-minute appetizer that sounds like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant? Check.

Sure, you could make kale Caesar salad. Or, you can upgrade to baked chickpeas, dried apricots and persimmons (it's a winter fruit that's like a cross between a roasted sweet pepper and a mango, BTW).

Don't let all the good stuff get stuck at the bottom of the serving bowl. A pretty cutting board can fix that.

The only thing easier than baking this half-hour wonder? Devouring it.

Between the pecans, pomegranate arils, orange zest and rosemary, this app simply screams Christmas.

You'll want something light to serve before the glazed ham and mashed potatoes hit the table.

Set it and forget it never sounded this promising.

It's vegan, gluten-free and filled with the nuttiest, spiciest vanilla-ginger cashew cream.

These grown-up lollies are made with frozen puff pastry, prepared cranberry sauce and Brie, so all you'll have to do is assemble and bake.

It's got everything from kumquats to aged cheddar to pistachios. But the best part of this cheese board is that it's no-cook.

This golden-brown loaf is studded with figs, blue cheese, prosciutto and herbs.

A soul-warming soup that costs less than $5 per serving? Don't mind if we do.

You so don't need to settle for the canned stuff, especially when making it from scratch is this simple.

Sure, it sounds delicious already. But just wait until you taste the cranberry-balsamic dressing.

Want to know our secret to making the cutest tiny tartlets you ever did see? Baking them in mason jar lids.

They'll get snatched up in no time during cocktail hour. But they'd also make a killer impression at Christmas brunch.

The homemade jam is as simple as combining cranberries, dried figs and pantry basics on the stove until thick and shimmery.

It's not like this autumn gourd goes out of style come December. In fact, it's striped skin makes these handhelds timeless.

In case your Christmas party could use a hint of Hanukkah.

Five ingredients + 15 minutes = sweet-and-salty bliss.

The dressing couldn't be more basic. It lets the vibrant winter produce speak for itself.

The kids' favorite dinner, only poppable and twice as crunchy.

Scoop it up with cookies, graham crackers, pretzels or fruit. Did we mention it'll only take you five minutes to make?

A seasonal twist on a party classic that everyone can get behind—even picky kids.

Not all hors d'oeuvres have to be fancy. These cute little wraps are as basic as they come, but we’re willing to bet they’ll be gone in ten minutes or less.

Hummus and pita? Boring. Jazz things up with these irresistible, unexpected phyllo rolls with ricotta and Peppadew peppers.

Yep, you’re allowed to use store-bought pizza dough.

The quickest way to make anything fancy for the holidays? Add edible flowers.

How are these sweet-and-savory ribs ready to eat in just 40 minutes, you ask? They're deep-fried instead of smoked or grilled.

Just look at those caramelized cuties. Store-bought puff pastry makes this recipe both fancy looking *and* lightning fast.

Complete with pumpkin seed-pine nut crunch. A swirl of coconut yogurt or heavy cream won't hurt either.

Call it a Christmas miracle: This no-cook appetizer will be ready to serve in just 15 minutes. Bonus points for candying the bacon in maple syrup and brown sugar.

If you're *really* behind schedule, let canned white beans come to the rescue. They're combined with fresh herbs, sliced almonds and a few pantry staples to create the simplest starter of all time.

Sure, we like serving these on a bed of rice with sliced cucumbers, carrots and slaw. But the meatballs can totally hold their own at cocktail hour. Stick them with toothpicks for easy grabbing and serve them with plenty of napkins.

It'll disappear in five minutes if served as an appetizer, but this dish also works as a dessert if you serve it with fruit and wine.

Let us repeat: Honey. Butter. Glaze. These rolls are like a hybrid of a crispy biscuit and a soft bun.