Discover simple yet tasty additions to elevate your holiday dinner. From beet and yogurt to elegant fruit and charcuterie platters, these appetizer ideas are easy to prepare and perfect for festive gatherings. Enhance your Christmas table with these flavorful starters that impress guests and complement your main course seamlessly.

Festive and Easy Holiday Dinner Enhancements

A traditional Christmas dinner often includes roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, roasted goose, lamb chops, or a classic roast chicken. Pair these main dishes with delicious desserts to create a memorable holiday. Start your meal with light appetizers to stimulate the appetite and leave plenty of room for the main course. Here are some simple and tasty appetizer ideas perfect for the holiday season:

Beet and Yogurt Brushed Toasts: A tasty starter that also works as a side, combining marinated beets with creamy yogurt on toasted bread.

To make the beet and yogurt toasts, gather 1 pound of pre-cooked vacuum-packed beets sliced into quarters, a finely chopped shallot, 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 4 tablespoons of olive oil divided, a teaspoon of kosher salt divided, freshly ground black pepper, 1½ cups full-fat Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, a loaf of sliced and toasted whole-grain bread, thinly sliced radishes, and chopped chives. Mix shallots, beets, vinegar, 3 tablespoons oil, half the salt, and pepper; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine horseradish, yogurt, remaining oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the yogurt mixture over each toast, then layer with marinated beets, radishes, and chives.

For a quick, elegant starter, try Pears with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto. Slice 2 pears into wedges and toss with lemon juice. Wrap each pear wedge with a prosciutto slice, add arugula and blue cheese, then roll and serve. Another colorful option is a mixed greens salad with champagne vinaigrette. Whisk Dijon mustard, Champagne vinegar, honey, and chopped shallots; slowly add olive oil while whisking. Toss fresh herbs and greens with the vinaigrette, then serve to impress your guests.