20+ Holiday Appetizers To Keep Your Guests Happy
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Whether you are having a holiday cocktail party or planning a multi course feast, appetizers are always great to snack on during these festive times. No one will be left hungry with any combination of these gluten free and paleo appetizers.
Maker sure to complete your menu with festive cocktail ideas, main dishes, holiday sides and baked treats!
Dips & Platters
Artsy Crudite Platter with Ranch Dip & Guac
This Artsy Crudite Platter is sure to please guests - no matter how picky they are! - around your holiday table. I always feel like it is such a treat when your food is healthy and looks like a piece of art! You will love letting your creative side shine on this healthy and gorgeous crudité platter. The healthy dips and gorgeous design of this platter will get everyone to eat their veggies. Be sure to feature local, seasonal produce and order from your CSA box like Farm Fresh To You.
Whipped Tahini & Crudite Platter
Looking for an easy gorgeous appetizer to serve guests? Look no further. This Whipped Tahini and Crudite Platter is not only beautiful, it’s healthy, and quick to throw together! Perfect to make in the summer with all the fresh produce that is available. Your guests will keep going back for bites! Impress them by featuring local, seasonal produce and order from your CSA box like Farm Fresh To You.
Grazing Table / Charcuterie Board
You can't got wrong with a delectable grazing table or charcuterie board with a variety of meats, cheeses, gluten free crackers, fruit and nuts. Turn it into an art pieces using edible flowers and bright holiday produce. The only downside to these is that sometimes the food looks so beautiful your guests won't want to eat it!
Perfect Guac
Have you ever tried using a stand mixer to make perfectly creamy Guac? It's so easy and only takes 4 ingredients. It is really all about the ratio with Guacamole so depending on how much you have to make use this ratio and go up from there. Of course Guac is personal so make sure to taste and adjust lime and salt ratios to your liking.
Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Kalamata Olive Dip is an easy Provencal dip consisting of olives and olive oil. This dip is excellent served for a holiday appetizer with crackers or vegetables for dipping or an addition to the aforementioned Whipped Tahini and Crudité platter.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach Artichoke Dip is a holiday gathering staple and with these two recipes, most will be able to enjoy it whether you are paleo or vegan. Moreover, the prep on this dip is so easy you will be able to whip it up for any last-minute plans or if you need to put out an extra appetizer if the bird takes longer than expected.
Fancy Bites
Roasted Beets & Whipped Ricotta
Roasted Beets and Creamy Whipped Ricotta are a match made in heaven in this tasty appetizer that is a perfect addition to your holiday table. If you're worried because you have anti-beet-eaters coming to dine - have no fear! This recipe marries the sweet and hearty pairing and will change anyone's tune. To say nothing of the beautiful festive colors this dish will bring to your spread.
Prosciutto Wrapped Pears
Pears are a delicious winter fruit and wrapping them in salty prosciutto and topping it with sweet honey and savory thyme is the most delicious bite you can imagine. These tasty wraps work great as a holiday gathering appetizer or even an easy weeknight dinner when you don’t feel like cooking this winter and want something light.
Whipped Cream Cheese & Cucumber Salmon Bites
Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon are a match made in heaven and pair perfectly on this grain free “bagel bite” that uses a sturdy and hydrating slice of cucumber as it’s base. A light, savory way to start any holiday party!
Whipped Ricotta with Peaches & Herbs
There is nothing more delicious then a light and airy whipped ricotta, unless its topped with Peaches and Herbs! This cloudy whip will send your tastebuds into a simple yet delicious blend of honey and herbs along with the peaches and cheese. Who said ricotta is just for lasagne? And when peaches are not in season, like the holidays, you can use golden beets instead!
Tapenade Cucumber Bites
Tapenade Cucumber Bites are a perfect appetizer with cocktails or at the beginning of a meal. This recipe uses cucumbers instead of bread or crackers to maintain a crunch while being entirely plant based and a much healthier alternative to grains. It's fast to prepare with earthy flavors reflecting the autumnal season.
Asian Pork Meatballs
These Asian-Inspired Meatballs contain plenty of ginger and garlic, and fragrant cilantro. They are as easy as your usual sweet and sour or Italian-style meatballs but can be served in a few unique ways at the start of a party. Try them with rice noodles or zucchini zoodles for a pasta type dish or wrap in lettuce leaves with some pickled vegetables for a lunch or dinner similar to Vietnamese banh mi. Served with a toothpick, these would make great bite-sized appetizers for a party as well.
Grain Free Cauliflower Wings
Here is a new favorite recipe just in time for the holiday season. You don’t need to be vegan to enjoy these really tasty Grain Free Cauliflower Wings. It’s simple to make and a new opportunity to do something different with cauliflower. You can catch my good friend, Crystal Hefner and I making these step by step for Super Bowl on Youtube!
Crab Hand Roll
There is no need to go out for sushi when you can make this Crab Hand Roll at home. Beat the holiday delivery rush with this recipe is versatile since you can use canned crab if that is all you have available. If you live somewhere where fresh crab is at the ready, however, use that for the tastiest crab rolls ever. Find it in my cookbook, Wandering Palate
Alligator Bites
This tasty dish of Alligator Bites is probably one of the most unique recipes on the blog! Serve this up as an appetizers all your guests will be raving about.
Grain Free Hush Puppies 3 Ways
Crab & Potato Hush Puppies
These Grain Free Crab and Potato Hush Puppies are made with mashed potatoes, chives, and crab meat. Made with cassava flour, these hush puppies are full of flavor!
Sweet Potato Hush Puppies
Traditional hush puppies are made with cornmeal, but I made these grain-free by using cassava flour and my secret ingredient - Sweet Potatoes! You won’t miss the corn in these paleo Southern hush puppies.
Celery Root Hush Puppies
Celery root is a very underrated vegetable and is a fantastic low carb alternative to potatoes or sweet potatoes. These celery root hush puppies are a fantastic flavor combo of bacon, mushrooms and herbs with the fluffy celery root texture.
Seafood
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
These Crab Stuffed Mushrooms can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge before you plan to serve and bake them. Easy prep and lots of flavor is what makes this appetizer shine. They have a lovely, buttery, and herbaceous crab mixture that will leave your guests wanting more.
Shrimp Cocktail
There is not much to a shrimp cocktail making it one of the easiest and most elegant party appetizers around. Make sure to whip up a batch up my cocktail sauce and arrange your chilled shrimp and enjoy!
Shrimp Ceviche
Ceviche is a tasty dish that involves marinating seafood in acidic ingredients like citrus for a short time. This version is bright and refreshing with shrimp, lemon, and lime, and is great served on crisp, wintery days.
