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Holiday Party Food – 16 Easy Holiday Recipes and Party Ideas

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Whether you’re hosting a festive family gathering, planning a holiday party with friends, or bringing food to an office celebration, this roundup is filled with easy and delicious holiday party food and appetizer ideas everyone will love.

From bite-size snacks to savory party appetizers and fun holiday recipes, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to help you create a crowd-pleasing holiday spread without stress.

Let’s take a look at this collection of Easy Appetizers to serve at your next family or office gathering.

holiday appetizers for parties.

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!

At-a-Glance: Holiday Party Recipes

What You’ll Find: A delicious collection of easy holiday party food ideas, appetizers, finger foods, and festive recipes that are perfect for entertaining.

Why You’ll Love It: These recipes are simple to make, full of flavor, and guaranteed to please a crowd without adding extra holiday stress.

Perfect For: Family holiday gatherings, Christmas and holiday parties with friends, work or office parties, potlucks, and festive celebrations of any size.

Pro Tip: Plan a mix of hot and cold appetizers and prep what you can ahead of time so you can enjoy the celebration instead of spending the whole party in the kitchen!

Looking for more New Year's Eve Snacks to ring in the new year? Try my collections of New Years Party Appetizers or New Year Finger Food Party Ideas.

Table of Contents

What to Serve at a Holiday Party?

Not sure what to bring to a holiday party? Try choosing something festive, easy to share, and guaranteed to please a crowd. For a more elegant spread, check out my collection of hors d’Oeuvres for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

  • Holiday Cookies: A tray of beautifully decorated Christmas cookies or New Year's Cookies always feels special and adds instant cheer to any dessert table.
  • Charcuterie or Cheese Board: A Christmas charcuterie board or simple cheese platter is always a hit and looks impressive with very little effort.
  • Bite-Size Sandwiches: Easy finger sandwiches like my cucumber tea sandwiches are great for mingling. Use Christmas cookie cutters to make fun shapes for a festive touch.
  • Mini Appetizers: Try my fun recipe for mini pizzas, mini quiches or Mini Puff Pastry Appetizers  that guests can easily grab and enjoy.
  • Something Helpful for the Host: If you’re unsure, call ahead and ask if you can bring something specific they may need. A last-minute item or needed dish is always appreciated!

What to Bring to a Holiday Work or Office Party?

If you’re heading to a work or office holiday party, it’s best to bring something easy to serve, not too messy, and simple to eat while guests mingle.

Avoid anything too saucy, complicated, or strong-smelling. If your office has an air fryer check out my collection of air fryer appetizers to make things easier.

  • Bite-size appetizers or finger foods
  • Dips with crackers, chips, or vegetables
  • Mini desserts like cookies, brownies, or bars
  • Simple charcuterie or cheese platter
Holiday Party Food and Appetizer

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Cheese Board and Knife Set, Charcuterie BoardCheese Board and Knife Set, Charcuterie BoardCheese Board and Knife Set, Charcuterie BoardCheese Boards: 1000 Days of Sweet & Savory Cheese Board Recipes to Amaze Family & Friends At Every OccasionCheese Boards: 1000 Days of Sweet & Savory Cheese Board Recipes to Amaze Family & Friends At Every OccasionCheese Boards: 1000 Days of Sweet & Savory Cheese Board Recipes to Amaze Family & Friends At Every OccasionHoliday Plates with Colorful Christmas TreeHoliday Plates with Colorful Christmas TreeHoliday Plates with Colorful Christmas TreeHome for Christmas PlatesHome for Christmas PlatesHome for Christmas Plates

 

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Holiday Party Food and Appetizer

Holiday Party Recipes FAQ's

To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!

What food travels well to a party?

Sturdy, easy-to-carry foods travel best, such as casseroles, dips, cheese boards, cookies, brownies, and bite-size appetizers. Pack items in airtight containers or pans with lids, and choose foods that can be served at room temperature to make things simple when you arrive.

How much food should I plan per person?

A good rule of thumb is about 6–8 appetizer pieces per person for a 2–3 hour party. If appetizers are the only food you’re serving or the party will last longer, plan closer to 10–12 pieces per guest. It’s always a good idea to prepare a little extra so platters stay full and everyone has plenty to enjoy.

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appetizer quiche.
Mini Quiche Appetizers
Prep ahead tips and freezing tips included so you can make these ahead before your party and defrost the day your company is arriving.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Party-Sized Mini Pizzas (Pizzette)
Get ready to feast on these bite-sized, hand-held delights! Mini pizzas are the ultimate crowd-pleasing finger food for parties. With a range of mouthwatering toppings, there's something for everyone – meat lovers, veggie enthusiasts, and even vegans. Don't miss out on these tiny treats that pack big flavors!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
Get ready for an irresistible delight that will have your taste buds dancing! Introducing Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese - the perfect combination of ooey-gooey cheese and crispy bacon. These mouthwatering appetizers are a breeze to whip up, making them an absolute must-have for any gathering. Whether it's a special occasion or a festive celebration, these stuffed dates will steal the show at every party.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Individual Caprese Salad
Get ready to create the most fabulous Caprese salads ever, and in record time! Within just 15 minutes, you can whip up these individual delights that will wow your guests at any occasion. Don't miss out on this perfect appetizer!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Pesto Bruschetta
Introducing the incredible Pesto Bruschetta! This mouthwatering appetizer is a breeze to make and bursts with flavor. With just 4 simple ingredients - Bread, pesto, cream cheese, and tomatoes - you'll have a tantalizing treat that will impress your taste buds. Get ready to indulge in the ultimate combination of deliciousness!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Mini Bacon Onion Ranch Cheese Balls
Get ready for the ultimate bite-sized appetizer that will elevate your holiday parties, gameday tailgating, and poolside snacking! Introducing the Mini Bacon Onion Ranch Cheese Balls. Tantalize your taste buds with these irresistible bites packed with crispy bacon, fried onions, ooey-gooey cheddar cheese, and more. The best part? They're incredibly easy to whip up. Don't miss out on this delectable sensation that will have everyone coming back for more.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Cream Cheese Veggie Pinwheels
Get ready to be blown away by these Veggie Pinwheels with Cream Cheese! These mouthwatering appetizers are not only incredibly easy to make, but they also never fail to impress. Brace yourselves, because they'll disappear faster than you can say "yum!" Get ready to be amazed!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Mini Caprese Skewers
Introducing the amazing Caprese Skewers - a delightful twist on the traditional salad! These colorful and flavorful appetizers are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, making them the perfect addition to your Christmas spread. Get ready to impress your guests with this easy and fantastic treat!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Everything Bagel Cheese Ball Bites with Bacon
These bite-sized appetizers are the absolute perfect addition to any occasion, whether it's a festive holiday gathering, a spirited game day, a delightful baby shower, or a fun-filled girls night!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Greek Salad Stuffed Cucumber Bites
Experience the bold flavors of a Greek salad, conveniently packed into bite-sized portions! This irresistible stuffed cucumber appetizer recipe will be a showstopper at your holiday parties.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Cheese Grape and Pistachio Truffles
You only need three ingredients to make these delicious truffles perfect for parties and cocktail hour!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Easy Cheese and Honey Bites
Flaky pastry topped with creamy goat cheese, sweet honey and thyme make an easy entertaining idea!
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Grape Crostini Appetizer
This Grape Crostini Appetizer Recipe with Blue Cheese Spread and Honey is easy to make and perfect for any special holiday celebration.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Easy Sweet & Sour Meatballs
These are always one of the most popular finger foods at any party. Perfect for both kids and adults.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Snowman Cheeseball
A snowman made from cream cheese and finely shredded mozzarella cheese! Kids both young and older will love this cute snowman.
VIEW RECIPE HERE
Homemade Mini Corn Dogs
Pigs in a blanket made a little tastier with homemade cornbread recipe.
VIEW RECIPE HERE

About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois is the voice behind Walking on Sunshine Recipes, where she shares easy, family-friendly meals made with simple ingredients. She believes dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious and offers practical recipes, monthly meal plans, and free printables to help busy families cook with less stress and more joy. When she’s not in the kitchen, Lois enjoys time with her family, gardening and sharing inspiration from her home in rural Pennsylvania.

Comments

  1. Salt Valley says

    Thanks for sharing such an amazing collection of recipes.

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you for visiting!

      Reply

  2. Marilyn Lesniak says

    Thank you for featuring my Ham Chowder! Thank you so much for hosting again this week. You always do so much for bloggers! Have a relaxing week! I am off to see some posts.

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you for joining every week!

      Reply

  3. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says

    These are all great holiday party ideas. Holiday party food is my absolute weakness, so it's to the gym for me on January 2! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you for joining this week!

      Reply

  4. Jenna says

    Thank you Lois, that snowman is adorable and too cute to eat!

    Reply

    • Lois says

      I agree! He's too cute!

      Reply

  5. Miz Helen says

    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks so much for the party!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you for joining Miz Helen!

      Reply

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