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Make the holidays easier and less stressful with make-ahead Christmas appetizers. These festive and flavorful dishes can be prepped a few days in advance so that when Christmas comes around you can spend more time with your loved ones instead of being stuck in the kitchen.Recipes like Crudité Vegetable Wreath with Ranch Dip and Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & Honey are healthy, easy and sure to put everyone in a jolly mood.
Make the holidays easier and less stressful with make-ahead Christmas appetizers. These festive and flavorful dishes can be prepped a few days in advance so that when Christmas comes around you can spend more time with your loved ones instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
Recipes like Crudité Vegetable Wreath with Ranch Dip and Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & Honey are healthy, easy and sure to put everyone in a jolly mood.
01of 23Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & HoneyView RecipeThis easy, quick appetizer is perfect for any gathering. Be sure to process the feta and cream cheese together until you see a smooth texture and ribbons start to form. Doing so will ensure any bits of feta are broken down, and you’ll avoid a grainy texture. The drizzle of hot honey adds a pleasant spice and plays well with the salty pistachios, but you could substitute regular honey or date syrup if preferred.
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Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & Honey
View Recipe
This easy, quick appetizer is perfect for any gathering. Be sure to process the feta and cream cheese together until you see a smooth texture and ribbons start to form. Doing so will ensure any bits of feta are broken down, and you’ll avoid a grainy texture. The drizzle of hot honey adds a pleasant spice and plays well with the salty pistachios, but you could substitute regular honey or date syrup if preferred.
02of 23EatingWell Crudité Vegetable Wreath with Ranch DipView RecipeTake your veggies and dip to the next level with this colorful crudité wreath that’s the perfect make-ahead Christmas appetizer. This vegetable appetizer is a stunner with white cauliflower, red tomatoes and green broccoli, green beans, snap peas, kale and Brussels sprouts. It’s also a delicious way to start your celebration with veggies—which always seem to be in short supply at parties and holidays.
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EatingWell Crudité Vegetable Wreath with Ranch Dip
Take your veggies and dip to the next level with this colorful crudité wreath that’s the perfect make-ahead Christmas appetizer. This vegetable appetizer is a stunner with white cauliflower, red tomatoes and green broccoli, green beans, snap peas, kale and Brussels sprouts. It’s also a delicious way to start your celebration with veggies—which always seem to be in short supply at parties and holidays.
03of 23White Bean–Stuffed Mini Bell PeppersPhotographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph WanekView RecipeMini bell peppers are the perfect vessel for delivering creamy bean dip with a crunchy chickpea topping in this easy snack. Crunchy chickpeas are easy to make at home, or you can buy them already prepared and flavored with spices to add your own unique twist.
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White Bean–Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
Mini bell peppers are the perfect vessel for delivering creamy bean dip with a crunchy chickpea topping in this easy snack. Crunchy chickpeas are easy to make at home, or you can buy them already prepared and flavored with spices to add your own unique twist.
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Crispy Chickpeas over Whipped Feta
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
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Avocado Deviled Eggs
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
06of 23Pear-Pecan Cheese BallView RecipeSweet pear, salty Cheddar cheese and crunchy nuts make this healthy cheese ball recipe an alluring holiday treat. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers.
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Pear-Pecan Cheese Ball
Sweet pear, salty Cheddar cheese and crunchy nuts make this healthy cheese ball recipe an alluring holiday treat. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers.
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Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts
This festive whipped feta dip is the perfect appetizer for any gathering. If the feta seems too thick, add 1 teaspoon water at a time until loosened. Walnuts provide a nice crunchiness, but you could easily swap in another nut like pecans or pistachios. If you have leftover cranberry sauce, try a dollop in some yogurt or oatmeal for an easy breakfast.
08of 23Garlic-Chile Marinated OlivesView RecipeSimply pour warm aromatic oil over a selection of olives to infuse them with loads of flavor fast. These olives are a wonderful easy party appetizer—add any leftovers to salads or simply snack on them.
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Garlic-Chile Marinated Olives
Simply pour warm aromatic oil over a selection of olives to infuse them with loads of flavor fast. These olives are a wonderful easy party appetizer—add any leftovers to salads or simply snack on them.
09of 23High-Protein Spinach DipPhotographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph WanekView RecipeThis spinach dip recipe gives the classic appetizer a high-protein twist. In addition to adding plenty of protein, using cottage cheese and feta instead of cream cheese and Cheddar cuts back on saturated fat and calories. Enjoy this easy dip as a side dish, appetizer or snack served with whole-grain bread and veggies for dipping.
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High-Protein Spinach Dip
This spinach dip recipe gives the classic appetizer a high-protein twist. In addition to adding plenty of protein, using cottage cheese and feta instead of cream cheese and Cheddar cuts back on saturated fat and calories. Enjoy this easy dip as a side dish, appetizer or snack served with whole-grain bread and veggies for dipping.
10of 23Lemon, Mint & White Bean DipCookingLightView RecipeThis quick, healthy dip is an easy appetizer or snack. If you don’t have cannellini beans, chickpeas work just as well. Serve this tasty dip alongside veggies, crackers, pita or pretzels.
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Lemon, Mint & White Bean Dip
CookingLight
This quick, healthy dip is an easy appetizer or snack. If you don’t have cannellini beans, chickpeas work just as well. Serve this tasty dip alongside veggies, crackers, pita or pretzels.
11of 23Whipped Cottage Cheese French Onion DipPhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel GrecoView RecipeWe swap out sour cream for whipped cottage cheese in this light and airy French onion dip. We call for vegan Worcestershire sauce to keep the dip vegetarian; you can use regular Worcestershire (which usually contains anchovies) if you like. Serve with chips, fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.
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Whipped Cottage Cheese French Onion Dip
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
We swap out sour cream for whipped cottage cheese in this light and airy French onion dip. We call for vegan Worcestershire sauce to keep the dip vegetarian; you can use regular Worcestershire (which usually contains anchovies) if you like. Serve with chips, fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.
12of 23Buffalo Chicken MeatballsEatingWellView RecipeSautéed mushrooms, celery and garlic add flavor in this easy Buffalo chicken meatball recipe. Serve these meatballs as an appetizer with carrot and celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch-style dressing for dipping, or make them into a Buffalo chicken meatball sandwich.
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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
EatingWell
Sautéed mushrooms, celery and garlic add flavor in this easy Buffalo chicken meatball recipe. Serve these meatballs as an appetizer with carrot and celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch-style dressing for dipping, or make them into a Buffalo chicken meatball sandwich.
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Creamy Chicken Poblano Dip
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
14of 23Roasted Beet HummusView RecipeThis vibrant hummus recipe couldn’t be easier—just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Roasted beets make this healthy dip extra flavorful. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.
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Roasted Beet Hummus
This vibrant hummus recipe couldn’t be easier—just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Roasted beets make this healthy dip extra flavorful. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.
15of 23Everything-Bagel Crispy ChickpeasView RecipeCrispy, salty and packed with everything-bagel goodness, these crispy chickpeas are a delicious, healthy snack that can be enjoyed on their own or tossed into a salad for added crunch. Removing the skins from the chickpeas helps achieve a better crisp. Look for “everything bagel seasoning” in the spice aisle; it’s now available in most supermarkets.
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Everything-Bagel Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy, salty and packed with everything-bagel goodness, these crispy chickpeas are a delicious, healthy snack that can be enjoyed on their own or tossed into a salad for added crunch. Removing the skins from the chickpeas helps achieve a better crisp. Look for “everything bagel seasoning” in the spice aisle; it’s now available in most supermarkets.
16of 23Double-Tahini HummusView RecipeThis easy recipe produces the lightest, silkiest hummus you’ve ever had. Chilling the cooked chickpeas ensures that, when they’re blended with the oil and cold tahini, the hummus will come out creamy rather than oily.
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Double-Tahini Hummus
This easy recipe produces the lightest, silkiest hummus you’ve ever had. Chilling the cooked chickpeas ensures that, when they’re blended with the oil and cold tahini, the hummus will come out creamy rather than oily.
17of 23Pumpkin Spice Cheese BallView RecipeAll the fall spice flavor you crave, folded into creamy cheese and coated with cranberries. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers.
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Pumpkin Spice Cheese Ball
All the fall spice flavor you crave, folded into creamy cheese and coated with cranberries. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers.
18of 23Çerkez Tavugu (Circassian Chicken)View RecipeCircassian cooking is from the North Caucasus, which was at different times part of the Ottoman and Persian empires. This chicken stew recipe is made with a creamy walnut sauce and was originally served as a main dish, but became a mezze somewhere along the way. Serve at room temp along with some bread for dipping.
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Çerkez Tavugu (Circassian Chicken)
Circassian cooking is from the North Caucasus, which was at different times part of the Ottoman and Persian empires. This chicken stew recipe is made with a creamy walnut sauce and was originally served as a main dish, but became a mezze somewhere along the way. Serve at room temp along with some bread for dipping.
19of 23Herb & Cheddar GougèresView RecipeDon’t let the fancy French name for these cheese puffs mislead you—this is an easy appetizer recipe. They’re traditionally made with Gruyère or Comté; we couldn’t resist turning to our Vermont roots and using good old Cheddar instead.
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Herb & Cheddar Gougères
Don’t let the fancy French name for these cheese puffs mislead you—this is an easy appetizer recipe. They’re traditionally made with Gruyère or Comté; we couldn’t resist turning to our Vermont roots and using good old Cheddar instead.
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Easy Scallion-Salmon Dip
21of 23Jalapeño Cheese BallView RecipeServe this spiced jalapeño cheese ball with tortilla chips or use it as a spread for your next burrito.
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Jalapeño Cheese Ball
Serve this spiced jalapeño cheese ball with tortilla chips or use it as a spread for your next burrito.
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Lovage Pesto
23of 23Lemon-Thyme Whipped RicottaView RecipeThis stunning yet easy appetizer recipe infuses creamy ricotta with fresh herbs and lemon. Serve with whole-grain crackers and cut-up vegetables or use as a spread for sandwiches or sauce for pasta.
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Lemon-Thyme Whipped Ricotta
This stunning yet easy appetizer recipe infuses creamy ricotta with fresh herbs and lemon. Serve with whole-grain crackers and cut-up vegetables or use as a spread for sandwiches or sauce for pasta.
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