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Kick off your holiday meal with these low-carb, healthy Christmas appetizers. You can munch on these bites while you cook the bigger meal or just eat these delicious appetizers for dinner—we won’t blame you if you can’t help yourself. Whether it’s our Pomegranate, Cranberry & Brie Bruschetta or Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts, these healthy holiday appetizers are festive and have no more than 14 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
01of 30Pomegranate, Cranberry & Brie BruschettaView RecipeMake this simple festive appetizer for your holiday guests. Toasted baguette slices with creamy, melted brie are topped with an orange-cranberry-pomegranate mixture–each bite delivers an explosion of flavor and texture!
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Pomegranate, Cranberry & Brie Bruschetta
View Recipe
Make this simple festive appetizer for your holiday guests. Toasted baguette slices with creamy, melted brie are topped with an orange-cranberry-pomegranate mixture–each bite delivers an explosion of flavor and texture!
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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.
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Crispy Hot Honey–Sesame Feta Bites
These warm feta bites are encrusted in toasty sesame seeds and drizzled with spicy-sweet honey for an easy appetizer that hits all the right notes. Make sure to pat your feta dry so the egg can adhere to it, keeping the sesame seeds in place. Feta cheese holds its shape as it cooks but it will need a delicate touch when it’s turned and transferred to the platter.
04of 30Cucumber Salmon BitesPhotographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel GrecoView RecipeLook no further for your impromptu snack—these 3-ingredient cucumber salmon bites are a surefire hit. Beyond being an ideal choice for midday, this quick and easy recipe doubles as a satisfying appetizer. If you have a bit more time and a few extra ingredients at your disposal, try enhancing the cream cheese with chopped fresh herbs like dill or chives.
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Cucumber Salmon Bites
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Look no further for your impromptu snack—these 3-ingredient cucumber salmon bites are a surefire hit. Beyond being an ideal choice for midday, this quick and easy recipe doubles as a satisfying appetizer. If you have a bit more time and a few extra ingredients at your disposal, try enhancing the cream cheese with chopped fresh herbs like dill or chives.
05of 30Creamy Cauliflower-Jalapeño Popper DipView RecipeCreamy, cheesy and tangy—this super-easy warm dip has everything you love about jalapeño poppers without the individual prep work. And it’s better for you, thanks to the riced cauliflower stirred into every spoonful. Adjust the level of heat to your tastes with either mild or spicy pickled jalapeños. If you prefer smaller pieces of the hot pepper, feel free to chop the jalapeños.
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Creamy Cauliflower-Jalapeño Popper Dip
Creamy, cheesy and tangy—this super-easy warm dip has everything you love about jalapeño poppers without the individual prep work. And it’s better for you, thanks to the riced cauliflower stirred into every spoonful. Adjust the level of heat to your tastes with either mild or spicy pickled jalapeños. If you prefer smaller pieces of the hot pepper, feel free to chop the jalapeños.
06of 30Baked Feta Dip with Hot HoneyView RecipeThis baked feta dip with hot honey, served right from the skillet, is perfect for your next party. It’s got salty, sweet and spicy flavors all wrapped into one dip, with plenty of fresh flavor from tomatoes and basil.
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Baked Feta Dip with Hot Honey
This baked feta dip with hot honey, served right from the skillet, is perfect for your next party. It’s got salty, sweet and spicy flavors all wrapped into one dip, with plenty of fresh flavor from tomatoes and basil.
07of 30Smoked Tuna Spread CanapésPhotographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Lydia PursellView RecipeTry this easy canapé recipe for your next cocktail party. Made with canned tuna, cream cheese and cucumber slices on crunchy almond crackers, this is an appetizer that your guests will be reaching for first.
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Smoked Tuna Spread Canapés
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell
Try this easy canapé recipe for your next cocktail party. Made with canned tuna, cream cheese and cucumber slices on crunchy almond crackers, this is an appetizer that your guests will be reaching for first.
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Crispy Chickpeas over Whipped Feta
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
09of 30Chicken Parmesan DipView RecipeNo breading and frying here! Layer on the cheese and tomatoes using leftover chicken (or turkey) in this healthy dip recipe. Pair with soft Italian bread and a salad for an easy dinner or serve it as an appetizer for your next party.
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Chicken Parmesan Dip
No breading and frying here! Layer on the cheese and tomatoes using leftover chicken (or turkey) in this healthy dip recipe. Pair with soft Italian bread and a salad for an easy dinner or serve it as an appetizer for your next party.
10of 30Baked Feta & Olive DipPhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe HauserView RecipeThis baked feta and olive dip hits all the marks: creamy, rich and a perfect complement to bread, crackers or crudités. The tomatoes burst as they roast and release their juices, which combine with the softened feta, cream cheese and briny mixed olives. Red pepper flakes add a little heat, but feel free to leave them out if you prefer a milder dip.
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Baked Feta & Olive Dip
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This baked feta and olive dip hits all the marks: creamy, rich and a perfect complement to bread, crackers or crudités. The tomatoes burst as they roast and release their juices, which combine with the softened feta, cream cheese and briny mixed olives. Red pepper flakes add a little heat, but feel free to leave them out if you prefer a milder dip.
11of 30High-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
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
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.
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The Best Avocado Deviled Eggs
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
13of 30Tequila GuacamoleView RecipeMargarita lovers will go crazy for this twist on classic guacamole. Spiking your guacamole with tequila adds an extra layer of flavor and blends deliciously with the fresh lime juice and jalapeño. This guacamole is for grown-ups only, but you can omit the tequila if you’re serving to kids.
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Tequila Guacamole
Margarita lovers will go crazy for this twist on classic guacamole. Spiking your guacamole with tequila adds an extra layer of flavor and blends deliciously with the fresh lime juice and jalapeño. This guacamole is for grown-ups only, but you can omit the tequila if you’re serving to kids.
14of 30Easy Stuffed MushroomsView RecipeThis healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright decadent, but these easy stuffed mushrooms are actually good for you.
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Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
This healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright decadent, but these easy stuffed mushrooms are actually good for you.
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Crab-Artichoke Dip
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
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Easy Scallion-Salmon Dip
17of 30Baked Brie with Jam in Puff PastryView RecipeThis best baked Brie recipe is also the easiest. Serve this simple appetizer with apple wedges and crackers and watch it disappear in seconds! It’s bound to be your new party go-to.
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Baked Brie with Jam in Puff Pastry
This best baked Brie recipe is also the easiest. Serve this simple appetizer with apple wedges and crackers and watch it disappear in seconds! It’s bound to be your new party go-to.
18of 30Oysters au Gratin with Spinach & BreadcrumbsView RecipeThese succulent baked oysters thrill with spicy spinach and a crispy cheese topping.
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Oysters au Gratin with Spinach & Breadcrumbs
These succulent baked oysters thrill with spicy spinach and a crispy cheese topping.
19of 30EatingWell Crudité Vegetable Wreath with Ranch DipView RecipeTake your veggies and dip to the next level with this colorful crudité wreath. 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 there are rarely enough of at parties and holidays). The homemade ranch dip, which uses nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, takes just a few minutes to make, or you can use a healthy store-bought dip.
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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. 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 there are rarely enough of at parties and holidays). The homemade ranch dip, which uses nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, takes just a few minutes to make, or you can use a healthy store-bought dip.
20of 30Loaded Cauliflower BitesView RecipeCrispy slices of roasted cauliflower topped with cheese, sour cream and bacon make a tasty low-carb alternative to classic loaded potato skins.
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Loaded Cauliflower Bites
Crispy slices of roasted cauliflower topped with cheese, sour cream and bacon make a tasty low-carb alternative to classic loaded potato skins.
21of 30Pear-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.
22of 30Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan MeatballsView RecipeTurn classic chicken parm into meatballs with this easy load-and-go appetizer recipe with a cheesy surprise inside. Making meatballs for a party? Switch your crock pot to warm for serving all party long.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Turn classic chicken parm into meatballs with this easy load-and-go appetizer recipe with a cheesy surprise inside. Making meatballs for a party? Switch your crock pot to warm for serving all party long.
23of 303-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie BitesView RecipeBaked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.
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3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites
Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.
24of 30Crab-Stuffed MushroomsView RecipeThis crab-stuffed mushroom recipe is perfect for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other holiday parties or any other time you need a quick and easy appetizer. The filling is light and fresh thanks to hearts of palm, a tender vegetable with a mild flavor (similar to artichokes) that doesn’t mask the rich, sweet flavor of fresh crabmeat.
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Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
This crab-stuffed mushroom recipe is perfect for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other holiday parties or any other time you need a quick and easy appetizer. The filling is light and fresh thanks to hearts of palm, a tender vegetable with a mild flavor (similar to artichokes) that doesn’t mask the rich, sweet flavor of fresh crabmeat.
25of 30Everything Bagel Cheese BallView RecipeThis is not your grandma’s cheese ball. It has all the flavor of an everything bagel in the nostalgic appetizer. Pair it with crackers, bagel chips and/or raw veggies.
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Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
This is not your grandma’s cheese ball. It has all the flavor of an everything bagel in the nostalgic appetizer. Pair it with crackers, bagel chips and/or raw veggies.
26of 303-Ingredient Blue Cheese & Fig BitesView RecipeSalty-tangy blue cheese pairs beautifully with sweet fig jam in these easy appetizers, which are perfect for a holiday party. The optional minced chives add a nice pop of color, but these are just as tasty without herbs. Keep the ingredients on hand and you can whip these up for impromptu holiday cocktail parties.
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3-Ingredient Blue Cheese & Fig Bites
Salty-tangy blue cheese pairs beautifully with sweet fig jam in these easy appetizers, which are perfect for a holiday party. The optional minced chives add a nice pop of color, but these are just as tasty without herbs. Keep the ingredients on hand and you can whip these up for impromptu holiday cocktail parties.
27of 30Caprese SkewersPhotographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors HallView RecipeWe take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.
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Caprese Skewers
Photographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall
We take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.
28of 30Baked Stuffed ShrimpView RecipeStuffed shrimp make a quick and easy appetizer perfect for holiday parties. The trick to great stuffed shrimp? Make sure your shrimp are large enough to hold the filling. We recommend jumbo shrimp, which easily encase the savory filling of scallions, breadcrumbs and bacon with just a hint of spice from cayenne pepper.
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Baked Stuffed Shrimp
Stuffed shrimp make a quick and easy appetizer perfect for holiday parties. The trick to great stuffed shrimp? Make sure your shrimp are large enough to hold the filling. We recommend jumbo shrimp, which easily encase the savory filling of scallions, breadcrumbs and bacon with just a hint of spice from cayenne pepper.
29of 30Cured or Smoked Salmon Appetizer PlatterView RecipeThis smoked salmon platter requires little effort, but the spread makes a big impression.
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Cured or Smoked Salmon Appetizer Platter
This smoked salmon platter requires little effort, but the spread makes a big impression.
30of 30Sweet Potato Skins with GuacamoleView RecipeTop crispy sweet potato skins with guacamole for a healthy take on classic potato skins in this easy crowd-pleasing recipe.
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Sweet Potato Skins with Guacamole
Top crispy sweet potato skins with guacamole for a healthy take on classic potato skins in this easy crowd-pleasing recipe.
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