The Best Appetizers for the New Year Holidays

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Alton's Hot Cheese Dip is a great way to start a Thanksgiving party.

Recipe: Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Cream of butternut squash soup

This simple, classic recipe enhances the flavor of butternut squash with a pinch of nutmeg.

Recipe: Cream of butternut squash soup

Mushrooms stuffed with minced pork and vegetables

Ina marinates mushrooms in olive oil and wine, then stuffs them with sweet Italian sausage and cheese.

Recipe: Mushrooms stuffed with minced pork and vegetables

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Sauce

Most bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts recipes use toothpicks to hold the ingredients together, but we skip this step. Placing the bacon seam-side down on a baking sheet will help it set in a hot oven, maintaining its shape. Maple syrup helps caramelize the bacon and add a hint of sweetness.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Sauce

Caramelized Onion and Bacon Bread Appetizer

Smoked cheese and bacon combine with the natural sweetness of caramelized onions in this warm, thick-crusted bread—an appetizer made for sharing with friends.

Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Bacon Bread Appetizer

Creamy baked potato and leek soup

For a richer flavor, Aina stirs a little cream into the hearty potato soup. The crème fraîche adds an even more delicate texture and a hint of tartness.

Recipe: Creamy baked potato and leek soup

Crostini with spinach and almonds

Spinach puree (very creamy and flavorful thanks to sour cream, garlic, and fresh herbs) is paired with sliced ​​almonds for the perfect toast topping.

Recipe: Crostini with spinach and almonds

Onion dip sauce with sour cream

Alton's homemade onion dip takes just a few minutes longer to prepare than the store-bought version. But once you make it yourself, you'll never want to buy the powdered dip again.

Recipe: Onion dip sauce with sour cream

Cream of forest mushroom soup

In this delicate soup, Aina uses three types of mushrooms: portobello, cremini, and shiitake. The dish is based on a rich combination of butter, cream, and homemade broth.

Recipe: Cream of forest mushroom soup

Deviled eggs with relish

Serve this convenient appetizer before the turkey. A little paprika adds a warm, festive color.

Recipe: Deviled eggs with relish

Puff pastry rolls with Brussels sprouts and bacon

The best part about this sausage roll isn't the baked Brussels sprouts, or even the salty prosciutto, but the Parmesan cheese. It's pressed into the dough as it's rolled out and sprinkled over the sausage roll before baking.

Recipe: Puff pastry rolls with Brussels sprouts and bacon

Stuffed porcini mushrooms

Giada's stuffed mushrooms are sure to be the star of your party.

Recipe: Stuffed porcini mushrooms

Baked Brie Cheese

The popular appetizer couldn't be easier to make: Tyler wraps brie cheese in foil and bakes it in the oven for about 20 minutes, until it becomes gooey like fondue.

Recipe: Baked Brie Cheese

Bread bowl filled with brie cheese and cranberry sauce

This cheese-filled bread appetizer is served cut into pieces for dipping—no crackers required.

Recipe: Bread bowl filled with brie cheese and cranberry sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry

The Barefoot Countess enhances the classic autumn soup with interesting and even unusual ingredients—guests can choose their own toppings.

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry

Festive appetizer with bacon

Ree Drummond's simple 3-ingredient appetizer is the perfect treat for newly arrived guests. Ree tops crackers with Parmesan cheese, wraps everything in bacon, and bakes it until crispy.

Recipe: Festive appetizer with bacon

Roasted Cashews with Rosemary

Instead of using store-bought nut mix, make your own: Ina adds fresh rosemary, dark brown sugar, and a little cayenne pepper to cashews.

Recipe: Roasted Cashews with Rosemary

Butternut Squash Soup with Crostini and Fontina Cheese

Giada De Laurentiis serves each serving of soup with a side of fontina cheese crostini.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with Crostini and Fontina Cheese

Creamy Corn Dip

When we think of creamed corn, we usually think of a hot soup or pudding. But this recipe offers another twist: a dipping sauce. Made with fresh parsley and caramelized onions, the dip is served cold with crisp vegetables or croutons—a delightful way to kick off a holiday party.

Recipe: Creamy Corn Dip

Dip sauce with mushrooms and meat

This creamy dipping sauce contains all the flavors of stuffed mushrooms and sausage—perfect for any get-together with friends.

Recipe: Dip sauce with mushrooms and meat

Oven-baked stuffed champignons

These tender stuffed mushrooms make a perfect appetizer before a holiday dinner. To make stuffing easier, create a perfect bowl shape by carefully scooping out the stems and flesh from each cap with a fruit baller.

Recipe: Oven-baked stuffed champignons

Ravioli with Marinara sauce

If fried pasta sounds strange to you, don't be afraid to try something new. Crispy ravioli with a soft cheese filling and a rich marinara dipping sauce—sounds delicious, doesn't it?

Recipe: Ravioli with Marinara sauce

Crostini with sun-dried tomato jam

Giada makes a small appetizer of crispy toast, sun-dried tomato jam, goat cheese, and herbs.

Recipe: Crostini with sun-dried tomato jam

Cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto

Sweet dates pair perfectly with the creamy mascarpone and goat cheese blend in Giada's recipe. A slice of salty prosciutto balances the flavors.

Recipe: Cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto

Winter pumpkin soup

Aina's hearty pumpkin soup is incredibly easy to make, and one of its key ingredients is likely already in your kitchen. Pumpkin puree helps achieve the soup's wonderfully creamy texture.

Recipe: Winter pumpkin soup

Cream of onion soup with potatoes and bacon

In this recipe, we've added homemade croutons and crispy bacon to a traditional creamy potato and leek soup.

Recipe: Cream of onion soup with potatoes and bacon

Swiss Cheese and Bacon Dip

Rachel's simple cheese sauce is baked in the oven and served hot, topped with crunchy almond slices.

Recipe: Swiss Cheese and Bacon Dip

Pumpkin soup with cream and cheese

For this delicate autumn soup, Guy Fieri uses acorn squash, a relative of the butternut squash.

Recipe: Pumpkin soup with cream and cheese

Spinach crostini wrapped in bacon

These trendy crostini are wrapped in slices of bacon. This "belt" not only looks elegant, but when baked, the bread absorbs the bacon grease, becoming golden and crispy.

Recipe: Spinach crostini wrapped in bacon

Chilled carrot soup

Michael Symon's Cold Soup is a great starter before a more substantial main course. Plus, this recipe offers a whole host of unexpected flavors: jalapeño, coconut milk, and cilantro.

Recipe: Chilled carrot soup

Shrimp cocktail with ketchup and horseradish sauce

Make shrimp cocktail about an hour before guests arrive (or a little earlier, for the sauce)—an easy appetizer for a large crowd.

Recipe: Shrimp cocktail with ketchup and horseradish sauce

Broccolini wrapped in prosciutto

Start your meal with Giada's Italian crudité. She wraps vegetables in prosciutto and tops them with grated Parmesan cheese for a festive touch.

Recipe: Broccolini wrapped in prosciutto

Beetroot and orange salad with nut dressing

Guests will love this light and refreshing beetroot and orange salad. Even better, it's a quick snack before the main course. A simple dressing of nut oil, cilantro, and orange juice adds a floral, sweet flavor.

Recipe: Beetroot and orange salad with nut dressing

Mushroom caps stuffed with ginger rice and minced meat

Sandra Lee makes stuffed mushrooms with an Asian twist. Instead of traditional breadcrumbs, she uses rice, adds a little pork, and seasons the dish with soy sauce, ginger, and cilantro.

Recipe: Mushroom caps stuffed with ginger rice and minced meat

Pumpkin, Blue Cheese, and Thyme Galette

Fill a simple crust with butternut squash, apple slices, and decadent Stilton cheese. Then bake until golden brown for a beautiful seasonal appetizer.

Recipe: Pumpkin, Blue Cheese, and Thyme Galette

Oven-baked stuffed mushroom caps

Sweet, balsamic-roasted portobello mushrooms are the perfect base for gooey, melted mozzarella and a subtle Parmesan topping.

Recipe: Oven-baked stuffed mushroom caps

Cheese brushwood with spices

Trisha's Cheese Sticks are a great snack before a holiday dinner.

Recipe: Cheese brushwood with spices

Goat cheese sprinkled with dill

Ree Drummond makes this appetizer in 20 minutes: she rolls goat cheese in fresh chopped dill and serves it with crackers.

Recipe: Goat cheese sprinkled with dill

Bruschetta with sweet pepper and gorgonzola

Aina arranges strips of red and yellow bell peppers and creamy Gorgonzola cheese on toasted bread. While sautéing the peppers, add a little sugar to caramelize the vegetables and intensify the color.

Recipe: Bruschetta with sweet pepper and gorgonzola

Ricotta-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon

These are classic tapas that never go out of style, especially when you add a little ricotta cheese to the mix.

Recipe: Ricotta-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon

Brie cheese with fig compote baked in puff pastry

This gooey cheese is a classic appetizer no one can resist, and with the homemade fig compote, guests will be coming back for a second (or third) helping.

Recipe: Brie cheese with fig compote baked in puff pastry

Sweet and sour butternut squash soup

Sage and balsamic vinegar in this recipe add wonderful depth of flavor to a simple fall soup.

Recipe: Sweet and sour butternut squash soup

Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage

Sage, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan add rich, warm flavors to this gnocchi dish: the perfect start to a holiday meal.

Recipe: Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage

Bacon-wrapped shrimp

The shrimp get a rich flavor from the paprika and thyme marinade, and the bacon makes this appetizer even better.

Recipe: Bacon-wrapped shrimp

Pumpkin soup with apple and curry

Sweet apples and nutty pumpkin make a perfect duo in Ina Garten's hearty soup.

Recipe: Pumpkin soup with apple and curry

Crudite with green yogurt dip

Fresh green vegetables are a rare, but very appropriate, addition to the most sumptuous celebration of the year. Serve green beans, broccolini, and roasted Brussels sprouts with a yogurt-dill dip and spiced pumpkin seeds: this appetizer will please even the most discerning guests.

Recipe: Crudite with green yogurt dip

Crostini with Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Crispy, smoky Brussels sprouts and Champagne-marinated cranberries add a vibrant touch to toast topped with creamy ricotta cheese.

Recipe: Crostini with Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Spiced popcorn with nuts, herbs and dried cranberries

This popcorn is bursting with the flavors of autumn in every handful. With a poultry spice mix, pecans, apple chips, and greens, this appetizer is sure to whet your guests' appetites before the sweet and savory dishes.

Recipe: Spiced popcorn with nuts, herbs and dried cranberries

Parmesan breadsticks

Guests will love these crispy cheese snacks—we recommend making a double batch.

Recipe: Parmesan breadsticks

Crudite with romesco sauce

Ranch dressing wouldn't do for this colorful vegetable appetizer with roasted acorn squash and multicolored carrots. Make a beautiful orange romesco sauce with chili pepper, garlic, croutons, smoked almonds, and paprika. Top the plate with crunchy raw radishes and a few more almonds.

Recipe: Crudite with romesco sauce

Pumpkin Seeds with Warm Spices

For a delicious treat, Valerie Bertinelli seasons pumpkin seeds with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Before guests arrive, place bowls of the snack around the house where everyone typically congregates and converses.

Recipe: Pumpkin Seeds with Warm Spices

Arancini with chicken filling

A delicate risotto under a crispy breadcrumb crust is always delicious, but Giada hides another tasty surprise inside these arancini: pieces of chicken sausage and apples.

Recipe: Arancini with chicken filling

Crudite with blue cheese dip

Keep your appetizers light and bright. Crisp vegetables and fruits (like green apples and jicama) and a refreshing, zesty blue cheese sauce are balanced by roasted cauliflower and candied walnuts.

Recipe: Crudite with blue cheese dip

Mushroom croquettes

The crispy crust in this appetizer is made from 4 slices of white sandwich bread. For a savory twist, dip the croquettes in Dijon mustard.

Recipe: Mushroom croquettes

50 Sandwich Spread Recipes

Grab some French bread and be inspired by dozens of sweet and savory toasts. Try No. 24, with Taleggio cheese and candied nuts.

Recipe: 50 Sandwich Spread Recipes

Marinated olives in citrus marinade

For a fresh, citrusy flavor, Alton drains the olives and then marinates them in a zesty marinade of vinegar, lemon juice and zest, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and curry powder. Make this appetizer a day or two before the party to allow the olives to soak in the marinade.

Recipe: Marinated olives in citrus marinade

French onion soup with a bread lid

Alton Brown caramelizes Vidalia onions until they're sweet and tender, then adds them to the broth for a rich, flavorful soup.

Recipe: French onion soup with a bread lid

Carrot and ginger soup with tofu

This spicy carrot soup replaces croutons with chunks of deep-fried, curried tofu.

Recipe: Carrot and ginger soup with tofu

Cream of champignon soup

This homemade cream soup is definitely better than the canned kind; it's made with chunks of ham and dry sherry, and it cooks in less than an hour.

Recipe: Cream of champignon soup

Devil's eggs

Katie's Deviled Eggs are a simple and easy to make classic appetizer.

Recipe: Devil's eggs

Puff pastry with cheese and sausage

Brie isn't the only cheese suitable for baking. The cream cheese melts beautifully inside the golden-brown puff pastry for this delightful appetizer.

Recipe: Puff pastry with cheese and sausage

Crostini with white beans and pomegranate

These simple crostini take just 15 minutes to prepare, but their colorful presentation makes a lasting impression.

Recipe: Crostini with white beans and pomegranate

Blue Cheese and Pecan Strudel

Serve this strudel with honey. The sweet note will help cut through the salty, vibrant flavor of the blue cheese.

Recipe: Blue Cheese and Pecan Strudel

Stuffed champignons with sausage mince

Don't throw away the mushroom stems! They pair well with the sweet sausage filling. Top each cap with bread crumbs, cheese, and savory green olive slices.

Recipe: Stuffed champignons with sausage mince

Cheese balls with pomegranate

Slightly tart goat cheese and herbs are hidden under a crust of pomegranate seeds, making your appetizer table look very festive.

Recipe: Cheese balls with pomegranate

Champignons stuffed with French onion soup

This classic appetizer captures the sophistication of French onion soup: mushrooms are stuffed with caramelized onions and topped with Gruyere cheese.

Recipe: Champignons stuffed with French onion soup

Filo pastry tartlets with cottage cheese and pumpkin filling

For a mini appetizer with savory, sweet, and smoky flavors, layer filo pastry shells with cream cheese, smoked cheddar, and roasted pumpkin.

Recipe: Filo pastry tartlets with cottage cheese and pumpkin filling

Stuffed champignons with crispy crab filling

Cream cheese, chopped vegetables, and fresh lemon add a vibrant flavor to the crab filling. This mixture makes a great dip on its own, but it's even better baked inside mushrooms with crumbled crackers.

Recipe: Stuffed champignons with crispy crab filling

Green Goddess Shrimp Dip in a Bread Bowl

This delicate shrimp dip is sure to become a classic dish at your celebration. What's more, this sauce variation is served warm in a beautiful bread bowl.

Recipe: Green Goddess Shrimp Dip in a Bread Bowl

Champignons stuffed with chorizo ​​and cornbread

This appetizer is reminiscent of cornbread stuffing, but in mushroom form—though the cheddar and pickled jalapeños arguably make it more savory than the classic side dish.

Recipe: Champignons stuffed with chorizo ​​and cornbread

Hot Reuben Dip in a Bread Bowl

The sandwich becomes a dipping sauce: once you try it, you'll wonder why you never made it before.

Recipe: Hot Reuben Dip in a Bread Bowl

Pumpkin bisque with shrimp

Liven up your pumpkin soup by adding shrimp and slivered almonds.

Recipe: Pumpkin bisque with shrimp

Champignons stuffed with quinoa and feta cheese

These stuffed mushrooms will stand out from the crowd. The vibrant flavor of feta and the unique texture of quinoa make them unforgettable.

Recipe: Champignons stuffed with quinoa and feta cheese

Filo pastry tartlets with cheese and pomegranate

This compact appetizer features juicy, vibrant pomegranate seeds complemented by creamy brie cheese.

Recipe: Filo pastry tartlets with cheese and pomegranate

Italian dip in a bread bowl

Turn your favorite crostini topping into a dipping sauce. Slices of toasted Italian bread are perfect for dipping into the garlicky vegetable mixture.

Recipe: Italian dip in a bread bowl

Cream of celery soup

Crispy bacon slices add a salty flavor to this creamy green soup.

Recipe: Cream of celery soup

Cheese and onion dip in a French bread bowl

French onion soup just got even more delicious. You'll love this classic combination in the form of a creamy cheese sauce. And don't be surprised when you find yourself eating a bread bowl, too!

Recipe: Cheese and onion dip in a French bread bowl

Deep-fried butternut squash with spicy honey

Butternut squash is battered and deep-fried, and a tangy honey dressing adds a beautiful touch of flavor.

Recipe: Deep-fried butternut squash with spicy honey

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Cheddar

Serve the soup as an appetizer in small bowls, garnished with a cheese stick. It's a great way to add crunch.

Recipe: Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Cheddar

Butternut squash slices wrapped in prosciutto

This baked appetizer looks like a melon on the outside, but once guests bite into it, they'll discover it's actually seasonal pumpkin inside.

Recipe: Butternut squash slices wrapped in prosciutto

Tomato soup with fennel and crab meat

Fennel gives this tomato soup a unique flavor, and crab meat makes it suitable for special occasions.

Recipe: Tomato soup with fennel and crab meat

Pecans in a spicy glaze

Alton's sweet and spicy pecans make a perfect appetizer before a holiday dinner. The dark sugar and cinnamon glaze whets the appetite for the fall dishes that follow.

Recipe: Pecans in a spicy glaze

Pea soup

Split pea soup is a beloved classic. Ina Garten's recipe is simple yet equally satisfying.

Recipe: Pea soup

Pumpkin soup in pumpkin pots

Surprise your guests by serving pumpkin soup in peeled, pitted pumpkins at your holiday table. A variety of toppings, including pumpkin seeds, croutons, and prosciutto, complete the festive dish.

Recipe: Pumpkin soup in pumpkin pots