Best Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Stress-Free Recipes To Make! (2024)

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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.

Best Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Stress-Free Recipes To Make! (1)

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15 Easy Make-Ahead Christmas Snacks
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
💭 Tips For Choosing Make Ahead Appetizers For Christmas
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Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Easy Recipes To Make In Advance!
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15 Easy Make-Ahead Christmas Snacks

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!

Ranch Cheese Ball

This ranch cheese ball is a tasty party dip perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, or any other party or get-together. It's loaded with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, chives, and lots of ranch seasoning. Once you try it, this ranch cheese ball will be your new go-to party appetizer.

Check out this recipe

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!

Sausage Cream Cheese Dip

Sausage cream cheese dip is a flavorful and easy-to-make appetizer dip that will be the talk of your next party or game day get-together! This 3-ingredient dip combines hearty pork sausage, cream cheese, and RoTel diced tomatoes with green chiles. Serve with chips or veggie sticks and you have yourself a delicious party appetizer to share with a crowd!

Check out this recipe

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!

Cheese Platter

A cheese platter is an impressive appetizer that's incredibly easy to make for any party, gathering, or get-together! I cover tips and tricks to help you assemble an amazing assortment of cheese and accompaniments that will make the most enticing platter ever! Plus, I even walk you through how to arrange, label, and present your cheese platter too!

Check out this recipe

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!

Pinwheel Sandwiches

Pinwheel sandwiches are an easy-to-make, delicious choice for lunches, snacks, or appetizers. Perfect for holidays, game days, and everyday meals, these make-ahead sandwiches, rolled in tortillas or bread, are loved by all.

Check out this recipe

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!

Antipasto Skewers

Antipasto skewers feature a medley of Italian-inspired ingredients, including cured meats, cheeses, and vegetables! This popular party appetizer is also incredibly easy to make, and can be put together last minute! Mix and match your favorite savory meats, cheese, and fresh or marinated veggies!

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.

Hummus

This hummus recipe is perfect for creating the creamiest and most delicious hummus dip you have ever tasted! You can pair it with crackers, vegetables, bread, and more for a tasty appetizer or snack. Plus, there's no cooking required as everything is combined in a food processor and blended until smooth!

Check out this recipe

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!

Olive Dip

Olive dip is a delicious and savory appetizer that's perfect for entertaining or as a quick and easy snack. Made with salty green olives, this dip is loaded with rich, bold flavors that are sure to delight your taste buds. Best of all, it takes only a few minutes to make, then you can just pop it in the fridge until you need it!

Check out this recipe

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!

Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs

Crockpot grape jelly meatballs combine homemade or freezer meatballs, grape jelly, ketchup, and seasoning! They're a perfect appetizer for any potluck, dinner party, or game day! These easy, delicious, and tender meatballs will be the hit of any family dinner, too!

Check out this recipe

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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!

Crab Rangoons

These crab rangoons are easy to make with wonton wrappers, then stuffed with a delightfully rich cream cheese filling featuring tender bits of crab meat! They're a perfect appetizer to serve with your Chinese food dinners while watching a game, or just to snack on because they're THAT GOOD! Serve with some soy sauce, sweet and sour, or hot mustard for an amazingly tasty snack!

Check out this recipe

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!

Deviled Eggs

These deviled eggs are a classic, time-honored recipe that is supremely easy to make and quite simply the best ever! Some things just don't need improving, and these yummy deviled eggs are one of those things! Of course, you can always change them up with stir-ins or add-ons, but these eggs will be just like the ones from your childhood!

Check out this recipe

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!

French Onion Dip

This delicious homemade French Onion Dip requires only sour cream, dried minced onion, and seasoning to make this flavorful appetizer dip! No worries if you don't have French onion soup mix on hand! You can make this completely from scratch version and still have a delicious dip for chips, crackers, bread, and veggies!

Check out this recipe

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.

Deviled Ham

Easy, quick deviled ham is the perfect savory sandwich spread or dip that everyone will love no matter the occasion! Tasty ham is blended with lots of spices and creamy mayo to make an out-of-this-world appetizer or lunch spread!

Check out this recipe

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.

Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is an impressive but super-easy way to feed a crowd when entertaining for holidays or any reason! It doesn't matter if you're an avid cook, a great-looking appetizer tray like this amazing assortment of meats and cheeses is surprisingly easy to assemble! Add fruit, nuts, vegetables, dips, mustard spreads, pepper jelly, marmalade, honey, pickles, olives, and more to make a charcuterie board that everyone will love!

Check out this recipe

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!

Cheese and Bacon Turnovers

These cheese and bacon turnovers are a delicious treat that combines all of the best of our favorite comfort food flavors! They feature rich, buttery puff pastry wrapped around crispy bacon and melted cheeses! Nothing more is needed as every great flavor we love is wrapped in tender, flaky puff pastry and ready to be enjoyed!

Check out this recipe

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!

Sausage Cream Cheese Biscuit Bites

These sausage cream cheese biscuit bites are an easy 4 ingredient appetizer perfect for serving a crowd. With a fluffy buttermilk biscuit crust and a savory cheese and sausage filling, these tasty morsels are hard to put down. If you're looking for finger food for your next party, these biscuit bites are always a hit.

Check out this recipe

💭 Tips For Choosing Make Ahead Appetizers For Christmas

Here are a few things to remember when choosing what make-ahead appetizers you want to serve for Christmas!

Variety is Key: Aim for various flavors, textures, and types of appetizers to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
Consider Dietary Restrictions: Be mindful of your guests' dietary restrictions and preferences.
Sturdy and Travel-Friendly: Choose appetizers that can withstand being made in advance and transported if necessary.
Freezer-Friendly Choices: Opt for appetizers that can be prepared and frozen in advance. This allows you to spread the workload over several days or weeks before Christmas.
Prep Ahead, Assemble Later: Select appetizers that allow you to do most of the preparation in advance, with final assembly or heating just before serving.
Reheating Considerations: If your chosen appetizers require reheating, ensure they can be easily reheated without losing quality.

Which one of these appetizers will you be trying out this Christmas? Leave a comment down below and let me know your tried-and-true Christmas appetizers!

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5 from 4 reviews

Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers: 15+ Easy Recipes To Make In Advance!

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.

Author | Angela

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 373kcal

Prep 10 minutes minutes

Cooking 0 minutes minutes

Chill 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

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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)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

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

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make ahead christmas appetizers, ranch cheese ball

Course Appetizers, Dips

Cuisine American

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

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