78 Best Christmas Appetizers to Kick Off Your Holiday Party

Pass the baguette! This melty, cranberry-covered Brie will be the star of your hors d'oeuvres spread.

Get the Cranberry Baked Brie recipe.

Delicious at any holiday event, but especially a Nochebuena celebration, these flaky empanadas are filled with ground beef, spices and briny olives.

Get the Beef Empanadas recipe.

This elegant appetizer brings together smoked salmon and salmon poached with white wine and shallots. Go fast, because this won't last long at any party.

Get the Salmon Rillette recipe.

To recreate this adorable holiday app, you'll need three cheese wheels, prosciutto for the scarf, sugared cranberry buttons, raisin eyes and a chile pepper nose. So easy, and so cute!

With provolone, blue cheese, onion and sliced delicata squash — what's not to love? Cut into shareable slices for guests to munch on before the big dinner.

Get the Delicata Squash Pizza recipe.

While all your guests will be super impressed that you made your own crackers, only you will know the simple secret — pie dough. Pair these savory snacks with your favorite dip recipe!

Get the Parmesan Seeded Crackers recipe.

These crispy, delicious latkes come together in mini cast-iron skillets, which might be the perfect way to serve everything.

Get the Crispy Skillet Carrot Latkes recipe.

If you're all about looking fancy with zero effort, this sweet and savory tart is for you.

Get the Brie and Apple Tart recipe.

It doesn't get easier than this classic starter that comes together with just five ingredients. You can serve these with butter for a simple Christmas appetizer.

Get the Famous Popovers recipe.

Get the party started with briny, flavorful feta cheese marinated with chili, lemon and rosemary. Serve them alone or with bread and crackers.

Get the Marinated Feta recipe.

Nothing tops a tray of cheese and crackers ... well, unless it's a whole log of cheese.

Get the Goat Cheese Log with Cranberries, Chives and Black Pepper recipe.

These tender roasted veggies are the perfect unexpected addition to the snack table. Plus, they come together in just 10 minutes, leaving you free to tend to the rest of the meal.

Get the Roasted Artichokes recipe.

This might be the most flavorful appetizer ever. It brings together fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar and garlic, paired with smoky shishito peppers. Did we mention it comes together in the air fryer?

Get the Garlicky Wings and Shishito Peppers recipe.

RELATED: 23 Easy Chicken Wing Recipes to Make

Gooey, melty cheese + crusty bread = an appetizer everyone will enjoy!

Get the Cheese Fondue recipe.

Forget game day — pigs in a blanket deserve a spot on your holiday table. Arrange the dogs in a circle formation for a more striking display.

Get the Pigs in a Blanket recipe.

This easy appetizer can be prepped ahead of time, leaving your kitchen free for the rest of the meal. It's definitely an upgrade from jarred salsa!

Get the Black Bean Salsa Fresca recipe.

This tasty appetizer makes the most of in-season onions and fennel. It's basically getting to eat pizza before your real dinner, and who doesn't like that?

Get the Onion Flatbread recipe.

Serve this creamy dip with some crunchy veggies for a lighter appetizer before a big Christmas dinner.

Get the Tzatziki recipe.

RELATED: 80 Best Party Dip Recipes to Feed a Crowd

Dips, while delicious, can be messy. Avoid the inevitable by topping slices of crispy bread with a cheesy artichoke spread.

Get the Spinach Artichoke Tartines recipe.

If you really want to impress your guests, tell 'em that you made this homemade dip without soup mix. It's true!

Get the French Onion Dip recipe.

Still have Thanksgiving leftovers? Turn cranberry sauce into a glaze to sweeten up frozen cocktail meatballs.

Get the Sweet and Sour Meatballs recipe.

RELATED: 51 Juicy Meatball Recipes That Are Simple to Make

Meet the ultimate make-ahead app: Coat the cheese log with the lemony herb mixture on Christmas Eve, then pull it out of the fridge 30 minutes before guests arrive at your door.

Get the Goat Cheese Appetizer recipe.

Serve these tangy mushrooms on a sliced baguette or eat them plain — they're incredible either way.

Get the Pickled Mushrooms recipe.

Sneak arugula into this pesto for added nutrients and color. Drizzle it over a slice of fresh bread or in this case, on top of ricotta-coated crostini.

Get the Arugula Pesto recipe.

Freshly-cut veggies are way more exciting after they're dipped in a bowl of creamy dip. Or skip the veggies altogether and go straight for the good stuff: salty chips and seedy crackers.

Get the Dill Dip recipe.

Balance out the oyster's salty flavor with a bite of mustard, horseradish and lemon zest.

Get the Oysters with Mustard-Horseradish Relish recipe.

You may think scallions are fit for springtime, but they're just as flavorful in the winter months. Take our word for it by layering them on top of a cheesy tart.

Get the Onion Tart recipe.

Beets are a staple in the winter months — and this recipe really makes them shine. In a bowl, toss 6 oz cooked beets (cut into 1/4-inch pieces), 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp orange zest and 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper. Fold in 1/4 cup green olives (chopped), then spoon onto endive leaves and sprinkle with chopped basil.

Add a spoonful of this four-ingredient confit onto crusty bread slices for a tasty bruschetta.

Get the Cherry Tomato Confit recipe.

This cheesy, golden galette will warm you right up.

Get the Rustic Potato and Fennel Galette recipe.