Easy Holiday Appetizers for Relaxed Entertaining

April Harris making easy appetizers - smoked salmon on bread - in her kitchen at home

These easy holiday appetizers are perfect for any occasion—whether you’re enjoying a cosy evening for two or hosting a festive gathering with family and friends. There are both last-minute and make-ahead options, all designed to bring extra flavour to your celebrations.

Healthy and Easy Holiday Appetizers

I’m making Salmon and Cream Cheese Slices in the photograph above. They are so easy, it does not even feel like a recipe. Just cut some good whole wheat or rye bread into squares (or you can use store-bought blinis if you prefer), spread with cream cheese (low-fat is fine if you prefer it) and top with ribbons of smoked salmon. Garnish with a dill sprig and you are ready to go!

I almost always start with a vegetable tray as part of my appetizer selection. Even when there are only a few of you, it’s lovely to have some cut up veggies to enjoy with dips or hummus.

The veggies can be prepared ahead and refrigerated until serving time. Sliced vegetables are a healthy choice, plus they look so colourful and go perfectly with just about any dip, especially this Easy Nacho Dip.

Easy Holiday Appetizers

Served with tortilla chips as well as a veggie tray, My Easy Nacho Dip is definitely the easiest of easy holiday appetizers. It takes less than ten minutes to put together and everyone loves it.

You can make my Red Pepper Crostini Topping ahead of time. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used for canapés, crostini or even to top mini pizzas. It also makes a great meze dish.

My Easy Crab Paté is a versatile starter or appetizer, an easy lunch, the perfect canapé topper and a great entertaining all rounder.

Easy Crab Pate served on cucumber slices

More Easy Holiday Appetizers

Cut my Easy Crab Melts into slices to make easy holiday appetizers that will disappear before your eyes! Or try my Crab and Shrimp Melts instead.

Try an Easy Bacon and Cream Cheese Appetizer for a real show-stopper. Cut open the deliciously easy crust (made from ready made croissant dough) to reveal melted cream cheese laced with bacon, onions and parsley. Guests can cut pieces off to enjoy or dip crackers into the creamy cheesy goodness. There’s a vegetarian option as well.

Shrimp and Crab Appetizer Salad served in crystal dishes

My late Mom always used to serve shrimp on New Year’s Eve, so I was inspired to create this Shrimp and Crab Appetizer Salad. It is also perfect for a light lunch or as a starter for a special dinner anytime.

You can’t go wrong with a simple cheese tray – or two if you are hosting lots of people. Remember to add grapes, crackers and maybe some nuts or dried fruit for garnish.

A selection of cheeses on a wooden board with grapes and crackers.

More Holiday Entertaining Tips

I sometimes serve cookies or bar cookies with coffee to round out the evening. A fruit plate can also work well. It offers an alternative for those who are trying to eat more healthily and it can be a little taste of summer in the cooler months.

The great thing about these easy holiday appetizers is that you can keep the ingredients for many of them on hand. This makes them perfect for serving to last minute guests as well as at parties planned in advance. I generally keep a bowl of Red Pepper Crostini Topping on hand in the fridge over the holidays and I always have the ingredients for the Easy Nacho Dip on hand. And although I like to use fresh crab meat for my Crab Pate, you can also use canned, so this is a great appetiser or starter for last minute guests.

Easy holiday appetizers are definitely the key to relaxed holiday entertaining – so you can have just as much fun as your guests! Happy Holidays!