15 Easy and Healthy Christmas Appetizers For Parties

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It’s time to bring fancy China and the holiday decor out because Christmas is coming faster than we expected! As you slowly begin to hear holiday songs and see the neighbors planning how to design their houses, it’s probably high time you think about what you’ll be making for the entire family.

After all, the holidays aren’t all about gifts and Santa Claus… We get extremely excited with the sumptuous meals to gorge on, too. Come on, there’s the Christmas cookies, roast beef, baked ham, pecan pie, eggnog, and hundreds to thousands more meals in mind. Our mouths are already watering just thinking about it!

What about starters, though? Not everyone pays close attention to making appetizers since the main course is what everyone looks for. But hey, why not try something different and make fancy, delicious, and nutritious appetizers so the entire feast will be an enjoyable one?

Check out these extravagant-sounding and wholesome appetizer recipes everyone can make, from kitchen newbies to experienced chefs!

 

More delicious and healthy recipe ideas for you:

• 15 Easy and Delicious Christmas Dinner Ideas
• 20 Easy Christmas Cookies to Bake this Holiday
• 40 Easy Christmas Desserts For Any Winter Holiday

 

Pin this image on Pinterest so you can come back to these delicious and healthy Christmas and holiday appetizers!

 

1. Buffalo Chicken Salsa Dips

Chips and dip are always a classic appetizer. It’s so easy to prep and serve. But don’t stick with the typical store-bought cheese dips and just plain chips out of the bag. Why not try to change things up a bit and make a fan favorite: Buffalo Chicken Dip? It’s creamy and indulgent, but you won’t need to think of the guilt.

One chip with a big scoopful of this dip is filled with cheesy, savory flavors with the right amount of tanginess from the buffalo sauce.

 

2. Christmas Appetizer Hummus Wreath

Now, this is something the entire family will gasp about the moment it’s set on the table! You don’t need to be an expert on food plating to get the wreath design right, you just need parsley, tomatoes, chips, and everyone’s best friend: Creamy hummus.

Take the classic chips and dip to a whole new level and make it in line with the Christmas season. Fair warning, though. It might either be too pretty to eat OR you’ll end up with a totally empty plate because hummus is life!

 

3. Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

Don’t just stick with the usual cranberry sauce, kick things up a notch with this unique meatball recipe. You’ll be surprised how good appetizer meatballs are during the holidays, especially when you put a cranberry twist on them.

The sweet and tangy flavors complement each other amazingly, while the meatballs are made from scratch and melt in your mouth! The secret to the special sauce isn’t just the cranberry sauce, but a bit of ketchup, sugar, and lemon juice. This is also an excellent Christmas dinner idea as it’s filling and pairs well with rice and other sides.

 

4. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Have you ever seen something look so eloquent? Show off your skills in the kitchen without spending a ton of time and energy with this recipe. It sounds too fancy to make, but you’ll be astounded by how easy it is to follow, taking less than half an hour.

These low-calorie stuffed mushrooms only contain 163 calories with a whopping 19 grams of protein. You’ve got the Greek yogurt, crab meat, and portobello mushrooms to thank for that protein kick.

 

5. Festive Bruschetta

The holidays are all about family time, so why not have the kids help out in the kitchen as well, where they can learn a thing or two about prepping their own food? They will be so proud to serve these bruschettas after carefully decorating them with hearty toppings like cranberries, pesto, cherry tomatoes, and more.

You can also serve these as a healthy, low-calorie snack to keep squeamish kids at bay if they’re impatient for dinner!

 

6. Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Who doesn’t love a rich, creamy spinach artichoke dip? No need to worry about the fat or calories with this infamous dip though, because this recipe makes it a whole lot healthier while still tasting fantastic. It’s much lower in fat and higher in protein compared to other recipes because of simple ingredient substitutions!

Pair this dip with chips, bread, pretzels, veggie slices, or pita for everyone to enjoy. Heck, you can even just eat spoonfuls of it as a tiny indulgence!

 

7. Stuffed Jalapenos

With the weather turning chilly in December, it’s a perfect time to have a bit of chili to warm you up. Alright, that wasn’t the best pun, but we couldn’t resist! These stuffed jalapenos are absolutely loaded, the recipe leaves no chili untouched, with the slight spice complementing the creamy cheese and mild black bean flavors.

Don’t worry because it isn’t overly spicy. It’s enough to bring the heat up but every bite is perfectly balanced and filled with flavor. They are also vegetarian-friendly and take less than 40 minutes to make.

 

8. Shrimp Cocktail

No, we aren’t talking about serving alcoholic cocktails at the beginning of your Christmas feast! Shrimp cocktails are another popular recipe you can easily prep ahead. No one (except those allergic to shrimp of course) will reject a plump shrimp made with a yummy homemade cocktail sauce!

This is a healthy and low-carb appetizer that takes only 20 minutes or less before it’s ready to serve. The martini glasses add a nice touch as you bring them to your guests, too!

 

9. Tuna Salad

Salad as an appetizer? It isn’t as “boring” as it sounds with this rich tuna salad! But this isn’t just any tuna salad, it’s made healthier by swapping out the usual mayo with Greek yogurt, amping up the protein while lessening the fat and calories. Pair that with the meaty tuna texture and the crunch of the celery, and you’ll be left with an empty plate!

We recommend pairing it with bread or using it as a dip with chips. If you want to eat it on its own, go ahead, we don’t judge!

 

10. Crustless Mini Quiches

These crustless mini quiches aren’t only great to serve as an appetizer before your big holiday feast, but are suitable for breakfast, lunch, or a snack! Kids and adults will love these, while you will keep this recipe in mind for meal preps as you can freeze them for later on to heat up and enjoy.

You can even customize the recipe to add even more veggies, making it a more wholesome meal with nutrients everyone can benefit from. Think of it as a savory muffin, instead of serving it as a Christmas dessert, it’s an appetizing starter to get the bowl rolling for a ton of Christmas festivities and meals with family.

 

11. Avocado Peach Salsa

That isn’t an error on the recipe name, this is an avocado peach salsa, a whole different take on the classic tomato-based snack or appetizer! You may serve this with the usual tortilla chips or even make it into the main dish.

It’s worth trying and you won’t go back, because you’ll see how the creamy avocado blends well with the sweet peach flavors. It’s fresh, bright, and offers many nutrients, making it a great starter for any party.

 

12. Butternut Squash Crostini

Ah, a crostini. It’s like life on a bite, with that crisp, crusty bread topped with olive oil and your favorite ingredients. This time, this recipe uses a classic holiday veggie, the butternut squash, along with mild, buttery goat cheese.

It’s also topped with fig glaze or balsamic glaze, adding a sweet, savory, and tart flavor to every bite. Combine that with the earthy, pumpkin taste of the butternut squash, and it will definitely set the tone for dinner because if they think these crostinis are delicious, wait until what comes next!

 

13. Shrimp Spring Rolls

Shrimp spring rolls are another classic appetizer and you’ve got to try this fresh spring roll recipe. It’s got a vibrant appearance and all the fresh flavors kicking in from the shrimp, veggies, herbs, and rice noodles packed in one bite.

You can serve this with fish sauce or make your own peanut sauce, it doesn’t matter. These rolls are healthier starters without the need for any deep-frying. The only thing time you’ll touch the stove is when cooking the shrimp and rice noodles.

 

14. Cheese-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

This cheese-stuffed cherry tomatoes recipe goes to show that anything with cheese doesn’t need to be so calorific.

With Greek yogurt and cream cheese adding to the creaminess of the simple appetizer, you’ll even find kids enjoying their share of tomatoes. You’ll even get more bursts of flavor from garlic paste, parmesan cheese, and your favored seasonings!

 

15. Smoked Salmon Bites

They look like something you’d find at a reception at a gala, but they aren’t as tough to prepare and serve as you’d expect. Guests will enjoy these mini bites with the richness of quality salmon, cream cheese, and the tangy lemon and earthy parsley to go with it.

These bites are nice finger foods to keep everyone’s stomach at bay before the delicious feast really begins. Plus, people will appreciate the light and healthy kick the appetizer has, as salmon is a good protein and fat source, rich in many vitamins and minerals.