Modified: Oct 30, 2025 · Published: Dec 20, 2015 by Andréa · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Christmas Appetizers 15 Festive Starters

Christmas is all about gathering at the table. Candles on, pretty plates, everyone in a festive mood. And it starts with the best moment: the starter. Small in size, big on flavor. This is your chance to kick off dinner with a spark-without kitchen stress.

In this roundup you'll find 15 festive favorites made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients. Think creamy smoked salmon with avocado crème, a quick roast-beef carpaccio with Asian dressing, crisp puff-pastry onion tarts, or an elegant fish terrine with salmon and cod. Classics are here too, like a salmon cocktail with whisky sauce or a Dutch shrimp cocktail. Want something fresh? Try salmon carpaccio with honey-mustard or a pretty stack of smoked salmon and goat cheese. Craving warm and cozy? Go for homemade shrimp ragout or a bright tomato soup.

A collage in height of four photos of appetizers

All recipes are step-by-step and many can be prepped ahead. Do your chopping and mixing in the morning, then plate in the evening. Pro tip: serve on small plates or in little glasses-it looks chic and keeps room for the rest of the menu.

Scroll through, pick your favorites, and mix away: a fresh salad with smoked chicken and avocado next to a bite-size cucumber-tuna snack? Yes, please. You'll have a Christmas menu that shines in no time. 🎄✨

15 Quick Christmas Starters And Bites

Smoked salmon and cucumber salad

1

A white plate with cucumber ribbons, smoked salmon and pipings of horseradish and avocado cream

This delicious smoked salmon and cucumber salad, with avocado and horseradish cream, is an easy to prepare cold starter. The smoked salmon is seasoned with Vodka and lime for an extra flavor boost. This dish is a great choice for Christmas, Easter, or a dinner party.

Asian-Style Roast Beef Salad with Crunchy Toppings

2

A square photo with a bowl filled with Asian style roast beef carpaccio salad.

Are you looking for a quick, fresh, and impressive starter? This Asian-style roast beef salad with crunchy toppings is a hit! With just a few ingredients, you can put something delicious on the table in no time. Ideal as a starter, light lunch, or part of an extensive dinner. It is fresh, a little spicy, and full of flavor.

Onion tart with thyme

3

Uientaartje met tijm

The lightly caramelized sweet onions combine wonderfully with the fragrant thyme and creamy pastry. A hot entree, particularly tasteful and just four ingredients.

Salmon cod terrine

4

zalm kabeljauw terrine

Elegant, looks refining, can be made in front and is delicious. This recipe for a salmon cod terrine. And therefor an ideal entrée to serve at the holidays

Klassieke Zalmcocktail (Cold Dutch Salmon Cocktail)

5

A square photo with two cocktail glasses filled with salmon, whiskey sauce and an egg. The rim of the glass at the top is garnished with parsley.

Zalmcocktail, a Classic Dutch Salmon Cocktail with Whiskey Sauce, is an old-fashioned tasty starter. With flavorful salmon, creamy whiskey sauce, and a fresh caper, this elegant recipe will dress up your dinner party. And you can make this easy recipe in just a few steps. Enjoy this delicious dish.

Dutch shrimp cocktail

6

a glass with shrimp, whiskey cocktail sauce and ice berg lettuce

Who doesn't love a delicious Dutch shrimp cocktail? Crispy iceberg lettuce at the bottom of your glass. Above that the shrimp and a delicious homemade pink whiskey cocktail sauce. Which tastes so much better than the ones you buy in the supermarket. And is SO easy to prepare!

Smoked Salmon Carpaccio

7

A square photo with part of a plate covered with salmon carpaccio, lettuce, red onion, capers and honey mustard dressing. A white background.

Today, a delicious and elegant appetizer: Salmon Carpaccio with honey mustard dressing. The salty smoked salmon, sweet honey, and spicy mustard are flavors that complement each other very well. You can quickly prepare the honey mustard dressing without packages and bags. And with ingredients, you probably already have them at home.

Salmon and Goat Cheese Towers

8

A square photo with two plates with a smoked salmon, honey and goat cheese tower on a white background.

Salmon and goat cheese towers: This is a restaurant-worthy recipe. This makes you so happy. The smoked salmon is flavored with shallot, the cucumber with a delicious mustard-honey dressing, and the topping is a goat cheese mousse. Creamy, salty, and prepared with lots of love!

Three Amuse Bouche with Ham, Shrimp, and Goat Cheese

9

A square photo with two black pictures in a row, each with three appetizers, a roll, a salad and a spoon snack

These three amuse bouche with ham, shrimp, and goat cheese are super tasty! A spoon filled with chicory and shrimps, duck breast with cream ham, goat cheese with Parma ham, and pine nuts. What a delicious combination. A delightful entrée to serve at Christmas or Easter.

Dutch pasteitje met Garnalenragout (Dutch puff pastry with shrimp gravy)

10

a puff pastry basket filled with shrimp gravy and topped with dill on a glass plate

Making shrimp gravy (Garnalenragout) yourself sounds more difficult than it is. This ragout is ready within 15 minutes, is easy to prepare, and has a lot of taste. It is made with Dutch shrimps, white wine, capers, and dill. A little lemon on top, a glass of white wine and you have a delicious starter or lunch.

Shrimp cocktail with orange

11

six glasses with shrimp cocktail

A shrimp cocktail with orange, a variation on the traditional shrimp cocktail. With homemade bourbon sauce. It becomes a fresh and creamy starter.

Homemade Tomato Soup with Fresh Tomatoes

12

two cups with Rich tomato soup and golden spoons

An easy homemade tomato soup with fresh tomatoes for extra flavor... this easy recipe is my version of this tasty soup. A healthy soup with very few calories (less than 150!), which is very, very, very delicious!

Beet carpaccio

13

a white plate with beet carpaccio, pear, arugula, old cheese and walnuts

This vegetarian beet carpaccio is fresh and combines delicious flavors. An appetizer that you can always serve.

Smoked Chicken Starter with Avocado

14

A square photo of a salad of smoked chicken and avocado on a white plate, topped with quartred cherry tomatoes on a white background

Smoked chicken starter with avocado salad. It's terrific to serve at your next dinner party or during the Holidays.

cucumber tuna appetizer

15

cucumber tuna appetizer

A nice light, healthy snack. Lovely to serve as a snack at Christmas, New Year's Eve, summer buffet. This cucumber tuna appetizer can be made at any time.

More ✨ Festive Christmas Recipes for Every Table ✨

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