75 Easy Last-Minute Appetizers Perfect For The Holiday Season
Procrastination happens to the best of us—but these easy apps got your back.
Life can get pretty hectic around the holidays, and it's easy to find yourself needing to entertain in a pinch. If you've put off cooking 'til the very last minute, these easy appetizers are here for you. Whether you've procrastinated putting together your Thanksgiving menu or decided to throw a last-minute party on a whim, no stress! These simple apps come together in no time at all and will leave your guests satisfied (and distracted) while you get to your main course. Tip: Set out some festive cocktails to really get the party started!
Whether you've got 10 minutes or up to an hour to get some food on the table, we've included simple recipes no matter how big of a rush you're in. Our antipasto skewers, our cheese ball bites, and our caprese bites come together in no time, little to no cooking required! If you're really under the wire, you can't go wrong with our delicious dips. Recipes like our pub beer cheese, our muhammara dip, or our bacon spinach dip come together in minutes with a handful of ingredients—simply set out some cut veggies or crackers, and you've got yourself a satisfying app in no time. Looking for some festive dishes for a holiday gathering? Whip up our cranberry brie bites, our fancy Christmas anytime cheese ball, or our crispy feta pockets to add a bit of fancy fare to your spread in under an hour. Looking to go more casual? Our ham & cheese pinwheels, our loaded fries, or our pigs in a blanket are always classic crowd-pleasers too.
Looking for some more entertaining inspo? Check out our make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes for some life-saving holiday prep or our favorite no-bake desserts for something sweet, STAT.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Our cranberry whipped feta dip rocked the Internet last year, so we’re coming back with a cranberry-topped whipped cream cheese spread—it's so luxurious, it's almost sinful. There are two easy parts to make this dip pop: the tangy sweet cranberry sauce finished with brandy (!!), and a lemony whipped cream cheese layer.
Get the Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread recipe.
Sweet Potato Crescent Bites
Just like our famous cranberry brie bites, these little guys are hard to put down! They're the perfect amount of sweet and savory, so you can serve them before or after the big meal.
Get the Sweet Potato Crescent Bites recipe.
Cheese Ball Bites
These easy mini cheese balls are perfect for any occasion. We love their little pretzel handles, but feel free to leave them out if you'd prefer to put them on top of crackers (or turn them into one BIG cheese ball).
Get the Cheese Ball Bites recipe.
Sausage Stuffing Bites With Cranberry Sauce
Stuffing, inside the turkey or out, is a Thanksgiving staple. The only thing better? MORE. STUFFING. Enter this easy, bite-sized, stuffing-centered appetizer with a tangy, three-ingredient dipping sauce (just cranberry sauce, honey, and Dijon).
Turkuterie
It’s a tail as old as time: It’s right before Thanksgiving dinner, and your guests don’t want a full meal but are feeling a little peckish. Try a bird of a different feather this year, and serve this festive and impressive fruit and cheese display as the centerpiece of your holiday app table.
Get the Turkuterie recipe.
Cheese Puffs
These cheese puffs (aka gougères) are a triple threat: easy to make, impressive looking, and wildly delicious. And the good news is, you probably already have most (or all) of the ingredients! If you're looking for an easy addition to any kind of holiday party or gathering, these bite-sized appetizers never disappoint.
Get the Cheese Puffs recipe.
Cranberry Brie Bites
These are a fan favorite every fall. They always disappear within minutes, probably because the combo of salty, creamy brie, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans is PERFECT.
Get the Cranberry Brie Bites recipe.
Carbonara Deviled Eggs
If deviled eggs had a classy Italian cousin, she would be these carbonara deviled eggs. Loaded with cheese and topped with crispy pancetta bits, these carbonara deviled eggs are coming to rock whatever party they join.
Get the Carbonara Deviled Eggs recipe.
Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
Pull-apart bread reaches a whole new level, thanks to brie and cranberry sauce. Use your favorite homemade sauce recipes, but store-bought works too if you're short for time.
Get the Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread recipe.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Baby bella mushrooms stuffed with garlicky, herby bread crumbs and plenty of cheese... Honestly, what could be better? Stuff them ahead of time and bake them off when you're ready to serve!
Get the Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.
Turkey Cheeseball
Even if you're not serving turkey this Thanksgiving doesn't mean you can't get in on the theme. Enter: this adorable cheeseball. We used carrots, pecans, pretzels, and bell peppers to create the iconic look, but feel free to sub out for different ingredients for what you have on hand. Serve it with crackers and use the decorations as dippers too!
Get the Turkey Cheeseball recipe.
Antipasto Bites
Fresh tortellini makes this the hearty party appetizer of our dreams. If you're not a fan of olives, pepperoncini peppers would be a delicious substitute.
Get the Antipasto Bites recipe.
Sausage Balls
In many households, sausage balls are a classic holiday appetizer. But many of you might be thinking: "Wait, what even is a sausage ball?!" The answer: savory, cheesy bites of cooked pork sausage, cheddar, and Bisquick that will be the most popular appetizer at your party.
Get the Sausage Balls recipe.
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.
Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
Parmesan Bread Bites
If you're a fan of garlic knots, this recipe is basically the bite-sized app version, covered in gooey cheese, garlic butter, and fresh herbs. Sage and thyme are used here to add seasonal flavor, but feel free to add any herbs you prefer.
Get the Parmesan Bread Bites recipe.
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
This recipe turns leftover mashed potatoes into magical, fried bites of savory deliciousness. Ready in 25 minutes, these delish creations are a perfect last-minute appetizer when you want something a bit different than your average mashed potatoes, or simply need a fun take on classic comfort food.
Fried Gnocchi Bites
Warning: Once you take a bite of these crispy gnocchi, you may never stop! These crunchy, little pillowy bites are absolute perfection and an excellent bite-sized appetizer to serve at any type of Thanksgiving gathering.
Get the Fried Gnocchi Bites recipe.
Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Safe to say, it’s a real GOUDA idea to make these sliders for out-of-town guests visiting for Thanksgiving or the holidays. The herby butter made with chives (an under-used and under-rated herb in my opinion) sends these buns sliding in for a home run.
Get the Cranberry Turkey Sliders recipe.
Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers
Cranberry brie bites are by far one of our favorite appetizers for the holidays, but jalapeño poppers also have place in our hearts too... So why not combine them? The spice of the jalapeño goes so well with the tart cranberries.
Upside-Down Cream Of Mushroom Tartlets
This beginner-friendly TikTok-inspired pastry hack transforms store-bought puff pastry and the sweet or savory filling of your choice into a beautiful bite-sized snack. Our version leans heavily into savory territory with a cream of mushroom soup-inspired filling.
Get the Upside-Down Cream Of Mushroom Tartlets recipe.
