These make-ahead Christmas appetizers allow you to do all of the prep work in advance for a stress-free holiday meal. There is something for every family on this list, ranging from cheese balls to chip dip. With these tried and true favorites, you can spend more time with your loved ones and less time in the kitchen!
Check out my easy party appetizers and collection of chip dip recipes for more great ideas!
Jump to:
- 1. Ranch Cheese Ball
- 2. Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
- 3. Cheese Platter
- 4. Pinwheel Sandwiches
- 5. Antipasto Skewers
- 6. Hummus
- 7. Olive Dip
- 8. Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
- 9. Crab Rangoons
- 10. Deviled Eggs
- 11. French Onion Dip
- 12. Deviled Ham
- 13. Charcuterie Board
- 14. Cheese and Bacon Turnovers
- 15. Sausage Cream Cheese Biscuit Bites
- 16. Pickle Roll-Ups
- 17. Antipasto Salad
- 💭 Tips For Choosing Make Ahead Appetizers For Christmas
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Easy Recipes To Make In Advance!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
I'm always seeking ways to reduce stress during the hectic holiday season. These appetizers can all be made before your holiday dinner or party to help free up some time during your busy day!
Some can have all the prep work completed beforehand, while others can be finished just before the big day! Either way, when your guests arrive, they will all be delicious!
1. Ranch Cheese Ball
This ranch cheese ball is a classic appetizer choice for any festivities, even Christmas! It combines cream cheese, cheddar, chives, bacon, and ranch seasoning for a flavorful snack.
You can make it a day in advance by assembling the cheeseball, tightly wrapping it in plastic wrap, and storing it in the fridge. This also gives it plenty of time for the flavors to fully meld together!
2. Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
This 3-ingredient dip is so simple to make and loaded with flavor! You can even make it as spicy as you like!
Prepare your dip as directed up to 3 days in advance. Keep it in the refrigerator, reheat it on the stovetop, or pop it into your crockpot to warm it back up!
3. Cheese Platter
Is there anything more simple yet elegant than a cheese platter? The best part about this versatile appetizer is how you can make it ahead of time!
Go ahead and cube your cheeses and gather any additional platter ingredients. Store these in the fridge in sealed containers and assemble the platter whenever ready!
4. Pinwheel Sandwiches
Classic pinwheels are so versatile and easy to assemble. You can make a variety so your guests have tons of options to choose from!
I have found that making these a day ahead of time is best, as the time spent in the fridge makes them easier to slice! You can even freeze them!
5. Antipasto Skewers
With everything you love about an antipasto platter but in easy-to-serve skewers, this appetizer is perfect for a crowd! You can make them all the same or mix it up for some variety.
Prepare these skewers a day ahead of time, and just pull them out of the fridge when your guests arrive!
6. Hummus
Hummus is a classic party dip that can be thrown together quickly. With absolutely no cooking required and tons of tasty variations, this appetizer is always a winner!
You can make your hummus at the last minute or keep it in the fridge until ready to serve it.
7. Olive Dip
This savory dip is a step above boring store-bought dips. You can make it a full day in advance and move it from the fridge to the table when your guests start showing up!
8. Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
These grape jelly meatballs are the perfect combination of sweet and savory! They use frozen meatballs, so there is essentially zero prep work!
You can easily toss the handful of ingredients into the crockpot on Christmas morning, and it will be ready to serve for dinner!
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9. Crab Rangoons
These crab rangoons look fancy but are actually quite simple to prepare. I also have a shrimp version you can check out!
You can assemble your rangoons in advance and then fry them when ready!
10. Deviled Eggs
When I think of Christmas appetizers, deviled eggs are the first to come to mind! You can hard boil your eggs in advance and finish the deviled eggs before serving, or prepare them entirely ahead of time!
11. French Onion Dip
French onion dip is a classic chip dip that is bound to be a hit with everyone who tries it! I recommend making this dip the night before so the flavors can fully meld together in the fridge overnight!
12. Deviled Ham
This ham-based spread or dip is more filling than a typical chip dip but still light enough to be an appetizer or snack! Go ahead and prepare it the day before and serve it straight from the fridge.
13. Charcuterie Board
Nothing screams formal and sophisticated as much as a classic charcuterie board. Plus, they are so simple to throw together (and everyone loves them!)
You can slice or cube all of your meats and cheeses as needed and store them in the fridge until ready to place them on the board.
14. Cheese and Bacon Turnovers
These savory turnovers are easy handheld appetizers you can enjoy while mingling with your guests. You can assemble these turnovers and store them in the fridge before baking.
Alternatively, you can fully prepare and freeze them for even longer storage!
15. Sausage Cream Cheese Biscuit Bites
With only four ingredients, this appetizer is perfect for busy holiday meals. You can assemble your biscuits and place them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Then, bake them as directed!
16. Pickle Roll-Ups
Deli meat, cheese, and dill pickles rolled up and sliced for an easy yet undeniably delicious finger food. I assemble, roll, and slice them the night before, then put them on a serving platter in the fridge and wrap them in plastic clingwrap for easy transport.
17. Antipasto Salad
Cured meats, olives, fresh mozzarella, pickled peppers, and everything else you'd find on a good charcuterie board but in a refreshing salad. I recommend waiting to add the homemade Italian vinaigrette until just before serving so your lettuce doesn't get soggy.
💭 Tips For Choosing Make Ahead Appetizers For Christmas
The closer it gets to Christmas, the more of these quick and easy make-ahead appetizer recipes I like to have in my arsenal. Use these guidelines to choose a few recipes, then gather the necessary ingredients to have a quick holiday appetizer always at the ready:
- Refrigerated recipes: Cold or chilled recipes can almost always be made the night before, and more often than not, they don't require much cooking. Salads, cold dips, and meat and cheese platters or skewers are the way to go if you aren't confident in the kitchen but want to show up with something delicious.
- Easy to transport: If the dinner or party isn't at your place, make sure you choose a dish that is easy to transport. Disposable aluminum pans are my go-to for holiday potlucks.
- Prep now, assemble later: Some appetizers will allow you to do most of the preparation in advance, with the final assembly or heating just before serving.
- Reheats easily: If your dish requires reheating, make sure it can be easily reheated without losing quality.
What are your family's must-have Christmas appetizers? Drop a comment below and tell me about it!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Easy Recipes To Make In Advance!
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 3 tablespoon sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1 oz Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix packet (*see note)
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 2 tablespoon freeze dried chives (plus more for pecan coating, if desired)
- 6 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled, reserve some for the optional pecan coating if desired)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional, finely crushed)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except the optional pecans, reserved bacon crumbles, and extra chives for the coating) in a large mixing bowl. Use a silicone spatula to mix until thoroughly combined, then pop it in the fridge to chill for 5-10 minutes before shaping.
- Remove the cheese mixture from the mixing bowl and place it in a mound on top of a sheet of plastic wrap. Pull up two opposing sides of the plastic wrap and place them over the cheese mixture. Place your cupped hands over the plastic wrap and use them to form a round shape.
- (optional) Place pecans, reserved bacon bits, and additional freeze-dried chives (I used 1 teaspoon) into a Ziploc storage bag (a heavy-duty freezer bags work best). Cover it with a kitchen towel and crush with a meat tenderizer mallet.
- (optional) Pour the contents of the bag into a shallow rimmed dish and roll your ranch cheese ball in it to coat the outside with the crushed pecan mixture.
- Transfer your cheese ball to a serving tray or platter with pita chips, crackers, vegetables, or bread.
Notes
- 16 ounces of cream cheese is the equivalent of 2 8-ounce blocks and a 1-ounce package of ranch seasoning (any brand) is about 3 tablespoons. 1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella) is about 4 ounces.
- Shredding your own cheese will yield the best flavor and is preferable to bagged shredded cheese.
- I had no problem forming and serving my cheese ball right away. If you'd like to, you may chill it and let the flavors meld for 20-30 minutes before serving. Just lift the sides of the saran wrap up and over the cheese mixture so that they all meet in the middle above the mound, then twist them together so that the cheese is tightly bundled like a sack or pouch and place it in the fridge.
- To make this cheese ball into finger food, roll it into bite-sized balls and stick a toothpick or pretzel rod in them!
- I used buttermilk-flavored Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix, though any of the different flavors or varieties of dry ranch seasoning would be delicious.
- You may make your cheese ball up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you need it.
- To store: To keep your cheese ball fresh, always wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container before refrigerating it. It is best when enjoyed within a week.
Nutrition
Originally published November 21, 2023
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