Healthy Recipes Cooking Methods Healthy No-Cook Recipes Healthy No-Cook Appetizer Recipes 18 Last-Minute No-Cook Holiday Appetizers By Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte is EatingWell's editorial apprentice. She attends Iowa State University, where she is a senior studying advertising and fashion communications. During her time at college, she has worked as a reporter at the campus newspaper, the Iowa State Daily, where she writes about culture and lifestyle. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 24, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player When time is running short and the festivities are in full swing, these last-minute no-cook appetizers are designed to help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the holiday cheer with your loved ones. From quick dips like our Avocado Hummus to delightful cheese boards like our Winter Charcuterie Board, these stress-free, no-cook options guarantee a memorable and delicious celebration. 01 of 18 Winter Charcuterie Board A cheeseboard is an ideal stationary hors d'oeuvre for holiday entertaining. Select a variety of cheeses, making sure to include an aged variety, a creamy cheese, a blue cheese and perhaps a smoked cheese. Round out the platter with cold cuts, bread, an abundance of seasonal fruits, dried fruit, crudité, nuts and olives. We even included some dark chocolate to cap it off! View Recipe 02 of 18 Pear-Pecan Cheese Ball Sweet pear, salty Cheddar cheese and crunchy nuts make this healthy cheese ball recipe an alluring holiday treat. Serve with an array of crudités and crisp party crackers. View Recipe 03 of 18 Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn & Bell Pepper Fred Hardy This TikTok-trending, veggie-packed salsa gets inspiration from Texas caviar (aka cowboy caviar), a dish created in 1940 to ring in the New Year by Helen Corbitt, who was a chef at Neiman Marcus. Scoop it up with tortilla chips or try it as a topping for grilled meat or fish, or as a filling for a quick quesadilla. View Recipe 04 of 18 Chocolate-Peppermint Energy Balls These festive no-cook energy balls have all the flavors you love in peppermint-chocolate bark but in healthy snack form. Whip up a batch for an office or after-school treat, or take them along to a holiday cookie swap. The recipe is easily doubled or even tripled. Be sure to store the bites at room temperature rather than the refrigerator--the moisture from the fridge will melt the candy cane coating. View Recipe 05 of 18 Savory Date & Pistachio Bites A touch of sweetness from the dates and raisins paired with crunch and nuttiness from the pistachios make these bites perfect for an on-the-go snack or as an accompaniment on a cheese board. View Recipe 06 of 18 Avocado Hummus This vibrant green hummus recipe couldn't be easier—just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) and avocado make this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités. View Recipe 07 of 18 Candy Cane Beet & Goat Cheese Board Ali Redmond This festive and easy appetizer is a colorful addition to any holiday spread. If you can find precooked beets, they help save time. The honey balances the richness of the goat cheese and the earthiness of the beets, while candied pecans add a satisfying crunch. View Recipe 08 of 18 Date Wraps Sweet dates and salty prosciutto combine in a tasty bite. View Recipe 09 of 18 Zesty Avocado Black Bean Dip Perfect for game day, this fiber-rich dip is a surefire crowd-pleaser to serve with crudités or tortilla chips. It requires little prep time and is ready to serve immediately. View Recipe 10 of 18 Za'atar-Spiced Chickpea Dip Greg Dupree Labneh—a thick and tangy strained cow's-milk yogurt—adds creamy richness to this layer dip featuring salty feta and olives. Serve with pita chips for dipping. View Recipe 11 of 18 Caprese Skewers Photographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall We take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party. View Recipe 12 of 18 Apricot, Prosciutto & Parmesan Bites Jamie Vespa, M.S., R.D. These 3-ingredient apricot, Parmesan and prosciutto bites are as simple to make as they look, and they taste even better. Simply layer each ingredient on top of the other and secure with a toothpick for an easy bite-size starter. View Recipe 13 of 18 Jalapeño Cheese Ball Serve this spiced jalapeño cheese ball with tortilla chips or use it as a spread for your next burrito. View Recipe 14 of 18 Smoked Gouda & Giardiniera Charcuterie Sticks Jacob Fox Crunchy pickled vegetables pair perfectly with creamy Gouda with a hint of smoke. View Recipe 15 of 18 Cheddar-Apple Cracker Bites This easy recipe comes together in just 5 minutes, making it a quick snack or appetizer. The sweetness of the Fuji balances well with the cheddar, but you can use another variety of apple if you prefer. This recipe calls for 3 thin apple slices per cracker, but feel free to use just one if you’re craving a more cheesy bite. View Recipe 16 of 18 Olive Tapenade Eric Wolfinger Head to the olive bar at your grocery store to get a mix of brined and oil-cured olives for more complex flavor. Moroccan (Beldi), Kalamata, Niçoise and Castelvetrano make a nice combo. View Recipe 17 of 18 Dill Pickle Dip Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely If you're a dill pickle lover, this dip recipe is calling your name. It uses both dill pickles and their pickle juice that would normally languish in a jar in your fridge or get tossed. The fresh zing from actual dill makes this dip perfect to serve with veggie chips or straight-up veggies that have been lightly blanched and chilled. Did we mention it's excellent for party platters? View Recipe 18 of 18 Everything Bagel Cheese Ball This is not your grandma's cheese ball. It has all the flavor of an everything bagel without all the carbs and with just 3 ingredients! Want to emphasize the bagel taste? Serve it with bagel chips and some raw veggies for dipping to keep things healthy. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit