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The holiday season is full of opportunities to entertain, which is fun but can be stressful for the host. This year, lean into classic holiday appetizers to delight your guests and make life a little easier on you (maybe even skip that big sit-down dinner and gather around a dressed-up kitchen island!). Get the party started with our 10 favorite classic appetizer recipes, from a cheese ball so good you’ll want to bring it as a hostess gift, to a three-ingredient recipe that has Allrecipes users saving it in record numbers.
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Hot and bubbly, this spinach artichoke dip is a party favorite for a reason. It’s packed with veggies, but it’s so cheesy and delicious, even the spinach-averse will want seconds. Allrecipes user Liz G. says, “My son is crazy about this, and, yes, he will eat it with a spoon!” If you’re looking for dippers besides a spoon, anything from crostini to carrot sticks to pita chips will work nicely.
Mouth-Watering Stuffed Mushrooms
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
These stuffed mushrooms are another veggie-forward option for holiday gatherings. Bite-sized mushrooms are filled with a savory blend of sauteed garlic, cream cheese, grated Parmesan, and spices. And there’s even a little bit of cayenne for a subtle kick. Aiming to impress? Allrecipes user Noeller67 advises sprinkling on some bread crumbs to make them feel “finished.”
Slow Cooker Cocktail Smokies
These spicy-sweet sausages come together quickly and since they’re made in a slow cooker, they’re very hands off– exactly what a busy holiday cook wants to hear! If you do have extra time, you can experiment by making your own sauces (but of course, jarred works just fine)., “This has been a go-to party/covered dish recipe of mine for years,” says Allrecipes community member Jay Newton “It works with meat balls or sausages, and with BBQ sauce or cocktail sauce. Super easy, and never any leftovers.”
Cocktail Meatballs
These classic beef meatballs contain just a few simple ingredients and are simmered in a combination of tangy chili sauce and sweet jellied cranberries. Try putting the sauce and cooked meatballs in the slow cooker and it’ll be ready when you are. And if you’re short on time, you can always use plain (not Italian-seasoned) frozen meatballs.
Sweet, Salty, Spicy Party Nuts
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
For a quick appetizer or hostess gift, these mixed nuts are hard to beat. A combination of tree nuts is seasoned with a mix of salt, pepper, cayenne, and cumin and then tossed with simple syrup. After about 15 minutes in the oven, the result is a snack that’s equal parts sweet and savory with a bit of a kick.
Best Cheese Ball
This cheese ball combines savory ingredients like cream cheese, cheddar, and zesty seasonings and it can easily be made ahead and then frozen. If you’re making the cheese balls in advance, wrap them well and then add the parsley and nuts just before serving. Wrap one in cellophane, add a bow, and you’ll have your next hostess gift taken care of.
Chef John’s Shrimp Cocktail
With an impressive 4.9-star average rating, you can bet this shrimp cocktail recipe is a crowd pleaser. Shell-on shrimp is poached in a flavorful blend of garlic, onion, lemon, and herbs until it’s infused with flavor. The classic horseradish cocktail sauce and chilled shrimp can give any gathering a fancy, festive energy.
Baked Brie
Baked Brie is a classic for a reason and this recipe is the perfect marriage of sweet and savory. Fruit preserves are sandwiched in between layers of Brie and then baked in flaky puff pastry dough. To really impress your guests, surround the baked Brie with a selection of dried fruits, nuts, crostini, and crackers.
Simply the Best Deviled Eggs
These deviled eggs are filled with the traditional mix of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, dill relish, and onion, but crispy bacon and its drippings help them to stand out. You can experiment with the filling ingredients to get *your* perfect flavor combination. According to Allrecipes community member Sharon Lyon-Amos, “THIS recipe was the Bomb!! The best deviled eggs I EVER tasted.”
Sausage Balls
Perfect for a quick holiday breakfast, game day treat, or pre-dinner snack, these sausage balls are a mix of just three simple ingredients–baking mix, cheese, and pork sausage. These bite-size snacks are the Allrecipes community’s most saved holiday recipe, so if you decide to bookmark them, you’ll be in good company! For a spicy twist, Allrecipes user Laurann recommends serving them with Mike’s Hot Honey.
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