61 Fancy Appetizers Perfect for a Holiday Party (2024)

Home Recipes Meal Types Appetizers

If this year's holiday bash is an upscale affair, don't sweat it. It's easy to impress with these festive finger foods.

1/60

Easy Smoked Salmon

A magazine featured this recipe years ago, and it’s still my favorite salmon. Just add crackers for a super simple yet elegant appetizer. —Norma Fell, Boyne City, Michigan

Go to Recipe

2/60

Mini Beef Tourtieres

Here's a twist on the traditional tourtiere recipe. Ground beef replaces pork, and cream cheese pastry takes the place of pie pastry. The filled mini cups make a melt-in-your-mouth addition to a buffet. —Cheryl Bruneau, Winnipeg, Manitoba

3/60

Ham 'n' Cheese Biscuit Stacks

These finger sandwiches are filling enough to satisfy hearty appetites. I've served the fun little stacks at every event, including holiday gatherings, showers and tailgate parties. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey

4/60

Honey-Mint Lamb Skewers

My hearty lamb bites are delicious and convenient. Assemble them the day before, then pop them under the broiler when the party starts. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

5/60

Shrimp Tartlets

Fill mini tart shells with a cream cheese mixture, then top with seafood sauce and shrimp for a picture-perfect look and delightful taste. This recipe makes a fantastic appetizer, and several make a fast, light meal. —Gina Hutchison, Smithville, Missouri

6/60

An appetizer bursting with flavor from bleu cheese, caramelized onion, jam and balsamic vinegar—tasty bites that vanish in a hurry. —Debbie Reid, Clearwater, Florida

7/60

We love to make meals into celebrations, and antipasto always kicks off the party for Italian dinners. This one is almost too pretty to eat, especially when sprinkled with pimientos, fresh basil and parsley. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

8/60

Spicy Crab Salad Tapas

I served these at a party and everyone went wild! These delicious morsels have a crispy flaky outside filled with creamy sweet crab that has a little kick. I used scalloped-edge cookie cutters to cut my pastry, but you can use a small biscuit cutter. —Vanessa Mason, Summerdale, Alabama

9/60

Snow Pea Holiday Wreath

Santa himself might stop to sample this pretty-as-a-picture finger food! Crunchy green pea pods and juicy red tomatoes add a natural, fresh and festive holiday note to my buffet table. —Carol Schneck, Lodi, California

10/60

11/60

Savory Party Bread

It's impossible to stop nibbling on warm pieces of this cheesy, oniony bread. The sliced loaf fans out for a fun presentation. It's one of the best savory appetizers I've found. —Kay Daly, Raleigh, North Carolina

12/60

Chocolate-Covered Cheese with Black Sea Salt

Every time I make these for guests or for a cooking demo about real food made simply, people rave about them. They're surprising as an addition to an appetizer table—or even served after dinner paired with a nice cabernet or port. —Dorothy McNett, Pacific Grove, California

13/60

Fruit and Cheese Board

Who says cheese and sausage get to have all the fun? Make this fruit charcuterie board a party go-to with any that are in season. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

14/60

Oysters Rockefeller

My husband and I are oyster farmers, and this classic Oysters Rockefeller dish always delights our guests. It's deliciously simple! —Beth Walton, Eastham, Massachusetts

15/60

Cheese/Grape Appetizers

These small bites are well worth the time they take. Serve them as part of an antipasto platter or as a cheese course alongside your favorite wine. —Eleanor Grofvert, Kalamazoo, Michigan

16/60

Chicken Pot Stickers

Chicken and mushrooms make up the filling in these pot stickers, a traditional Chinese dumpling. Greasing the steamer rack makes it easier to remove them once they're steamed. —Jacquelynne Stine, Las Vegas, Nevada

17/60

Holiday Appetizer Meatballs

These beefy meatballs are a perennial favorite at our holiday parties. You won’t believe how easy these holiday appetizers are to make. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio

18/60

These fresh skewers and tasty sauce will have guests nibbling all night! —Cacie Biddle, Bridgeport, West Virginia

19/60

Greek Veggie Tartlets

The mixture in this recipe was originally a salad I made after a trip to Greece. When my husband suggested I serve it in phyllo cups, it became my most-requested appetizer!—Radelle Knappenberger, Oviedo, Florida

20/60

Cucumber Party Sandwiches

Cucumber sandwiches are one of my favorite appetizers. We have lots of pig roasts here in Kentucky, and these small sandwiches are perfect to serve while the pig is roasting. —Rebecca Rose, Mount Washington, Kentucky

21/60

Oven-Fried Oysters

I entered this recipe for breaded and baked oysters with a zippy jalapeno mayonnaise in a seafood contest and took first place in the hors d’oeuvres category. These oven-fried oysters make an interesting appetizer for entertaining. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan

22/60

Tuscan Truffles

For holiday potlucks, I make an appetizer truffle out of prosciutto, figs and toasted pine nuts. Mascarpone and goat cheese make them melt-in-your-mouth creamy. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

23/60

Garden-Fresh Seafood co*cktail

For something cool on a hot day, we mix shrimp and crabmeat with crunchy veggies straight from the garden. Look for adobo seasoning in your grocery’s international section. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

24/60

A flaky puff pastry crust holds sweet caramelized onions and creamy goat cheese for an easy yet upscale appetizer. The recipe is a must on all our entertaining menus. —Heidi Ellis, Monument, Colorado

25/60

Smoked Trout Pate

This tasty spread is easy to make in a food processor, and it’s a guaranteed winner at any party. The recipe is versatile, so feel free to substitute other favorite smoked fish.—Judy Walle, Toledo, Ohio

26/60

Caprese Salad Kabobs

Trade in the usual veggie platter for these fun kabobs. In addition to preparing these for get-togethers, I often make these as snacks for my family. And because assembly is so easy, the kids often ask to help. —Christine Mitchell, Glendora, California

27/60

Kalamata Cheesecake Appetizer

It's believed the Greeks served cheesecake at the first Olympics, so why not rewrite history with a Greek cheesecake appetizer? Ingredients in this version "tame" the kalamata olives, so even if you shy away from kalamatas, you'll be glad you tried this one. For a milder flavor, use the more common black or green olives. —Theresa Kreyche, Tustin, California

28/60

Champion Chicken Puffs

My guests peel rubber getting to the table to munch on these chicken puffs. The tender bites are made with hassle-free refrigerated crescent rolls and a flavorful chicken and cream cheese filling. —Amber Kimmich, Powhatan, Virginia

29/60

Stuffed Asiago-Basil Mushrooms

Even if you don't like mushrooms, you will have to try them again with these pretty appetizers, which taste divine. For a main dish, double the filling and use large portobellos. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

30/60

Shrimp co*cktail

During the ’60s, shrimp co*cktail was one of the most popular party foods around. And it is still a crowd favorite. It’s the one appetizer that I serve for every special occasion as well as for munchie meals. —Peggy Allen, Pasadena, California

31/60

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you like spice, you’ll love this slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip. It’s super cheesy, full of rich flavor and really has that Buffalo wing taste! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

32/60

Heirloom Tomato Galette with Pecorino

I found beautiful heirloom tomatoes and had to show them off. In this easy galette, the tomatoes are tangy and the crust is beyond buttery. —Jessica Chang, Playa Vista, California

33/60

Balsamic-Goat Cheese Grilled Plums

Make a bold statement with this simple yet elegant treat. Ripe plums are grilled and then dressed with a balsamic reduction and tangy goat cheese. —Ariana Abelow, Holliston, Massachusetts

34/60

Ricotta Sausage Triangles

Savory pockets filled with cheese, sausage and seasonings...what's not to like? This recipe makes a lot so it's ideal for parties or potlucks. If you don't need the entire amount, they do freeze well. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida

35/60

Appetizer Blue Cheese Logs

Three kinds of cheese and some curry powder make this cheese log a little more lively than most. Swipe it on your favorite cracker with a drizzle of honey for a sensational snack. —Ethel Johnson, North Saanich, British Columbia

36/60

Grilled Zucchini with Peanut Chicken

Zucchini slices make perfect finger food. It’s fun to make a topping for zucchini and a good solution for a never-ending crop. — Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grv, Utah

37/60

Beef Spiedini

An Italian favorite, spiedini are great for holidays and other special occasions. The hearty skewers hold marinated steak pinwheels stuffed with a marinara-and-crumb filling.

38/60

Fried Asparagus

This battered asparagus is a favorite at events. It's fun to eat with a side of ranch dressing for dipping. —Lori Kimble, Montgomery, Alabama

39/60

Shrimp and Cucumber Canapes

These cute stacks really stand out in a holiday appetizer buffet. Tasty, cool and crunchy, they come together in a snap. —Ashley Nochlin, Port St. Lucie, Florida

40/60

Herbed Leek Tarts

This savory, nontraditional tart is a favorite among our family and friends! —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin

41/60

Korean Wontons

Korean wontons (called mandoo) are not hot and spicy like many of the traditional Korean dishes. Filled with inexpensive vegetables and beef, the fried dumplings are very easy to prepare and so tasty!. —Christy Lee, Horsham, Pennsylvania

42/60

Pickled Pepperoncini Deviled Eggs

It's hard to resist these adorable deviled trees on our buffet table. The avocado filling has pepperoncini and cilantro for extra zip. —Carmell Childs, Clawson, Utah

43/60

Crab Cake Stuffed Mushrooms

These tender crab-stuffed mushrooms with their crispy golden topping are always popular at parties! The crab filling is a delicious special occasion treat. Serve them while they're warm. —Nancy Aiello, Bloomery, West Virginia

44/60

Bacon-Wrapped Apricot Bites

I love bacon-wrapped recipes, and these sweet-smoky snacks are easy to make and fun to eat, so be prepared with an extra batch. For a change, sprinkle them with a bit of blue cheese or toasted almonds. —Tammie Floyd, Plano, Texas

45/60

Pork Satay

Cilantro layers on the freshness, while the sesame oil and Thai chili sauce add Asian flavors that pair perfectly with peanut butter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

46/60

Cucumber-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada

47/60

Shrimp Salad Appetizers

This refreshing hors d'oeuvre has gained a big following since a friend shared her family recipe with me. My son says it best: The celery and shrimp are so good together. —Solie Kimble, Kanata, Ontario

48/60

Sausage Cream Cheese Dip

This scrumptious snack will go fast! The sausage cream cheese dip recipe is so easy to make and fits Southwestern flavor to a T. My pot is always scraped clean! —Kaye Christiansen, Freistatt, Missouri

49/60

Baked Oysters with Tasso Cream

I love nothing more than a cold beer and a shucked oyster, so when my partners and I opened Saw’s Juke Joint in Birmingham, Alabama, we wanted to add them to the menu. We love making them, we love serving them and our guests love eating them. —Taylor Hicks, Las Vegas, Nevada

50/60

Polenta Mushroom Appetizers

Simple ingredients—in fact you probably have most if not all in your kitchen— are used to create a fantastic, but different appetizer.—Meta West, Abilene, Kansas

51/60

Cold Chicken-Cheese Kabobs

These appealing kabobs will add pizazz to any party—and you don't even have to get out the grill! —Sherine Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York

52/60

Almond-Bacon Cheese Crostini

For a change from the usual toasted tomato appetizer, try this baked crostini recipe. If you like, slice the baguette at an angle instead of making a straight cut. —Leondre Hermann, Stuart, Florida

53/60

Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese Shrimp

Blue cheese, bacon and basil pack big flavor into a couple of bites. To save time, you can assemble the skewers the night before and then serve them hot from the broiler on the day. —Vivi Taylor, Middleburg, Florida

54/60

Cranberry Meatballs and Sausage

Years ago, I found a version of this sausage and meatballs recipe in a cookbook. At first taste, my family judged it a keeper. The tangy, saucy meatballs are requested by our friends whenever I host card night. We also take the yummy dish on camping trips. —Marybell Lintott, Vernon, British Columbia

55/60

Ricotta Puffs

Roasted red peppers and ricotta cheese give these pastry puffs delicious flavor, while parsley and oregano add a little spark. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts

56/60

57/60

Chive Crab Cakes

These tasty crab cakes are perfect for appetizers, or try them with a salad for a light meal. —Cindy Worth, Lapwai, Idaho

58/60

Fresh Shrimp and Avocado Nachos

I'm a fan of shrimp, and my family loves nachos. When I combined those favorites and added fresh avocado, the result was a cool yet satisfying snack. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

59/60

60/60

Apricot Wraps

I accumulated a large recipe collection from around the world while my husband served in the Air Force for 25 years. This mouthwatering appetizer is one of our favorites, and we enjoy sharing it with friends. —Jane Ashworth, Beavercreek, Ohio

Amy is a book editor at Taste of Home where she gets to pour her passions for food and storytelling into trade and series cookbooks. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find her antiquing, cooking and baking from her favorite vintage cookbooks and exploring Milwaukee’s urban beauty with her digital SLR in hand.