Posted by Tastefully Simple on December 15, 2021
Visiting a few friends for the holidays? Or traveling over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house? Don’t show up empty-handed!
Bring something simple and delicious to the table, like a fun and festive appetizer. Here are 11 of our favorites for the holidays, along with tips for taking them on the go!
10 Perfectly Poppable (and Portable) Holiday Apps
1. Saucy BBQ Meatballs. Smoky. Sassy. Simple. Always a holiday favorite, these BBQ meatballs are fantastic for feeding a full house. Plus, there’s no need for your host to make extra room in the oven. They’ll stay in your slow cooker – and stay’ warm – for easy transport!
Travel Tip: Don’t have a slow cooker with a locking lid? Simply wrap heavy-duty rubber bands around the handles and lid. Place your slow cooker in a laundry basket or sturdy box, surrounded by thick towels to keep it warm and secure.
2. Holiday Cranberry Cheese Log. Perfect for wine and cheese lovers! Serve this festive appetizer rolled in pecans and dried cranberries and drizzled with a touch of honey.
Travel Tip: Transport it in a small resealable container, and wait to arrange it with crackers until you arrive. Add a couple fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish.
3. Cheesy Artichoke and Spinach Dip. So creamy and oh-so-melty, this slow cooker dip comes together with only a few ingredients. Bubbling with red bell peppers, pepper jack cheese and spinach, it’s brimming with bright holiday colors, too!
Travel Tip: Pack a loaf of Bountiful Beer Bread® to cube and serve alongside it.
4. Antipasto Kabobs. Skewered with salami, mozzarella, fresh cucumbers and grape tomatoes, these festive finger foods are delicious chilled or served at room temperature.
Travel Tip: You can make these up to 24 hours in advance, and store them in a resealable container in your fridge. Great to grab and go!
5. Jalapeño Honey Cheese Ball Bites. Make merry mini cheese balls! Simply prepare Jalapeño Honey Cheese Ball Mix as directed, and fold in 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese before chilling.
Shape into 1½ –inch balls, and roll ‘em in chopped pecans, dried cranberries and/or green onions for a little extra color and crunch.
Travel Tip: After you roll them in toppings, store your mini cheese balls in a resealable container. Bring along a package of cocktail picks or skewers to add the finishing touch when you arrive. They’ll be pretty and plated within two minutes flat!
6. Cranberry Jalapeño Holiday Dip. A little spicy. A little sweet. A whole lot of deliciousness.
Perfect for the holidays, this irresistible jewel of a dip is layered with sweet-tart cranberries, fresh jalapeños, cilantro and cream cheese. It’s divine with crackers!
Travel Tip: Pack your pie plate, whipped cream cheese and a resealable container filled with the cranberry-jalapeño mixture in a bag, and assemble the dip after you arrive. You’ll have it ready in two minutes flat!
7. Pizza Pull-Apart Bread. Prefer something a little heartier? Try this gloriously gooey pull-apart bread, great for gathering around the table for the holidays. Kids will love it, too!
Travel Tip: Assemble the bread and cover it with lightly greased foil as directed in the recipe, but wait to bake it until you arrive at your destination. It will pack perfectly, and everyone will enjoy that melty cheese right out of the oven.
8. Veggie Pizza Pinwheels. No time to cook? No problem! Filled with fresh and crunchy veggies, these perfectly poppable pinwheels are made to grab and go.
Roll ‘em up with chopped red and green veggies – such as sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and sugar snap peas – for a festive holiday look.
Travel Tip: Store pinwheels in an airtight container in your refrigerator, and place them in a small cooler bag whenever you’re ready to roll.
9. Tortellini Skewers with Marinara. Deck the table with these mini holiday skewers, stacked with spinach tortellini, mozzarella and pepperoni.
Travel Tip: Assemble with decorative toothpicks, and store in your fridge in an airtight container. Then tuck them inside your cooler, along with a separate marinara container for dipping.
10. Bountiful Beer Bread Bowl with Spinach & Herb Dip. Last but not least, it’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve made this recipe 50 times over the years. Tried and true, it’s always a hit for potlucks, and it looks so impressive – even though it’s super simple to make!
Travel Tip: Wrap the bread bowl with foil, and tuck it into a cooler, along with fresh garden veggies for dipping. It packs beautifully!
And remember, you can find more than 1,000 additional appetizer recipes for easy entertaining on our website, too.
Wishing you and yours “app-y” holidays, my friends!
– Jen