8 Healthy Appetizer Recipes for the Holiday Season

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The holidays are all about indulging, but that doesn’t mean your appetizers have to derail your healthy eating goals. Enter these guilt-free, crowd-pleasing bites that are as delightful as they are nutritious.

Whether you’re hosting a soirée or bringing a dish to share, these appetizers will have your guests saying, “Wait, this is healthy?”

Let’s prove that “light” and “holiday-worthy” can absolutely go hand in hand—and no one will even miss the cheese logs.

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Easy Healthy Holiday Appetizers

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1. Caprese Skewers with a Twist

Ingredients:

• 12 cherry tomatoes
• 12 fresh mozzarella balls (use reduced-fat if preferred)
• 12 basil leaves
• 12 small cucumber slices
• 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Skewer one cherry tomato, a basil leaf, a mozzarella ball, and a cucumber slice onto small cocktail sticks.
2. Drizzle lightly with balsamic glaze.
3. Sprinkle with a touch of salt and pepper.
4. Serve chilled.

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2. Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

• 10 mini bell peppers, halved and seeds removed
• 1 cup hummus (flavor of choice)
• 1/4 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese

Instructions:

1. Fill each pepper half with a generous spoonful of hummus.
2. Top with cucumber, tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta cheese.
3. Arrange on a platter and serve.

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3. Crispy Brussels Sprouts Chips

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Brussels sprouts leaves
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Toss the Brussels sprouts leaves with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.
4. Roast for 10-12 minutes until crispy, tossing halfway through.
5. Serve immediately.

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4. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 large cucumber, sliced into rounds
• 4 oz smoked salmon
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp dill (fresh or dried)
• Lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Spread a dollop of Greek yogurt on each cucumber slice.
2. Top with a small piece of smoked salmon.
3. Garnish with dill and a squeeze of lemon juice.
4. Arrange on a serving platter.

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5. Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 12 button mushrooms, stems removed
• 1/2 cup goat cheese
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs (optional, for crunch)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix goat cheese, parsley, and garlic in a bowl.
3. Stuff each mushroom cap with the mixture.
4. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs if desired.
5. Bake for 15 minutes and serve warm.

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6. Spinach and Feta Phyllo Cups

Ingredients:

• 12 pre-made phyllo cups (store-bought)
• 1/2 cup cooked spinach, drained
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 egg white (for binding)
• Pinch of nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix spinach, feta, egg white, and nutmeg in a bowl.
3. Spoon the mixture into each phyllo cup.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the filling is set.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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7. Avocado and Shrimp Lettuce Cups

Ingredients:

• 12 small butter lettuce leaves
• 1 avocado, diced
• 12 cooked shrimp
• 1 lime (juice and zest)
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Place a few pieces of diced avocado in each lettuce cup.
2. Top with a cooked shrimp.
3. Squeeze lime juice over the cups and sprinkle with zest, salt, and pepper.
4. Serve immediately.

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8. Pomegranate and Walnut Sweet Potato Rounds

** This one is not only pretty to look at, it’s just as delicious. Definitely a favorite with our taste testing crew!

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• 2 tbsp chopped walnuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Brush sweet potato rounds with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
3. Allow to cool slightly, then top each round with a dollop of Greek yogurt, pomegranate seeds, and chopped walnuts.
4. Serve on a platter.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are hosting this holiday season or bringing an appetizer to a party, we hope you can see that you can easily whip up some super healthy apps. And the best part… most of these recipes look so fabulous on the platters, that your guests are sure to oooh and ahhh.

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