A little guide to easy, effortless holiday snacks — because the turkey deserves your attention, and your guests deserve a nibble.
Holiday hosting can feel like a juggling act: the turkey’s in the oven, the table is set, and guests are already arriving, chatting, and hovering with wine in hand, wondering what to nibble on. That’s where effortless, easy holiday snacks save the day. These are the kinds of snacks you can pull together in minutes, keeping everyone happily snacking while you finish your mashed potatoes without stress.
Whether you’re looking for last-minute holiday snacks or ideas for a larger spread, don’t despair — this guide has you covered. From fresh crudités and marinated olives to gorgeous crostini and even sweet mini croissants, we’ll go over how to whip up crowd-pleasing snacks without adding to your ever-growing list of hosting tasks.
It all starts with a little foresight and planning: a strategically stocked pantry here, a well prepared freezer there. When it comes to snacks, a handful of key ingredients goes a long way.
No matter your level of kitchen confidence, there’s something in this guide for everyone. Some snacks require minimal cooking, a quick stop in the oven, but overall, they take very little effort. My hope is that by the end of this post, you’ll feel fully equipped to tackle the holidays with easy holiday snacks that are perfect for last-minute hosting, impromptu guests, or simply keeping hungry hands busy while the main meal finishes.
The Art of Feeding People While You Cook
The art of feeding people starts with feeding them just enough so they stop hovering over the stove and let you actually finish the meal.
So let’s tackle the art of the near-effortless holiday snack — the kind you can assemble while stirring a pot, cursing a casserole, or crying over your lumpy mashed potatoes.
For me, a good, easy holiday snack is all about strategy. Quality over quantity is key — these bites are meant to keep guests happily snacking while the turkey is roasting, not to fill them up. A few pantry staples and fridge essentials can be mixed and matched into a plethora of different snack ideas for holiday entertaining. I’m dividing them into categories, and from there we’ll dive into the snacks themselves.
First Things First: a well-stocked pantry
Olives
A jar of good olives = endless snack opportunities. Warming them with a peel of citrus and whatever herbs you have is enough to call it one. More on that later. Castelvetrano olives, although not the cheapest, are the darlings of the snack world: their emerald-green color and sweet, buttery flavor taste and look like no other. Tip: get them at Costco for about half the price of other stores.
Crackers
Those cute, boutique-looking crackers are great, but between you and me, I’ll never say no to a classic box of Ritz crackers. They’re perfectly salty, perfectly crispy, and the perfect vehicle for dips and spreads.
Chips
Just like crackers, chips are really just a vehicle for a dip or spread. I usually go for classic potato chips — they go with everything and please any crowd.
Jams
A good-quality jam shines on any charcuterie board, snack plate, or crostini. I always have a fig jam in my pantry — specifically, Divina’s fig jam. I’ve tried many over the years, but this one is my go-to. It has the perfect balance of sweetness, the right texture, and pairs beautifully with most cheeses and crackers.
Nuts
Walnuts, almonds, pistachios — whatever you can find. You can just dump them in a cute bowl, or warm them with rosemary and a bit of honey, or butter and sugar, to make candied nuts.
Tinned fish
Some people get nervous at the mention of sardines or anchovies, but I can’t relate. Sardines can be made into a delicious spread — a French delicacy, by the way — and anchovies taste amazing on a thick layer of buttered toast. They eat that stuff all over Europe. You can do it anywhere too. Don’t be a picky eater.
The Fridge
Cheese
You don’t need a bunch of different cheeses in your fridge at all times if that’s not your thing. But keeping one or two will always come in handy for last-minute snacks. When you know you’ll be hosting, two is a good start: one soft (brie, goat) and one firm (cheddar, manchego). I love a squeaky cheese like halloumi — it does require a little cooking, but nothing too demanding. Whatever cheese you choose, it solves 90% of entertaining problems and is perfect for holiday snack boards.
Grapes, berries, citrus
These fruits do half the heavy lifting on any snack or charcuterie board. Grapes are nature’s own jewels, and draped over a plate, they make everything look intentional and beautiful. My advice: choose whatever fruits are in season — they’re always a safe, flavorful, and colorful choice.
A lemon
A touch of lemon brightens anything up: a dip, a dressing, or even those canned sardines you turned your nose up at before. Yes, I saw that.
Fresh herbs
I was tempted to call these optional, but really? Fresh herbs are integral to most dishes. They make a snack or plate look complete. Without a few leaves adorning the top, something always feels missing. You can use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand: parsley might be perfect for one snack, basil for another. There are no rules, and the herb police won’t be attending your party. If you have herbs past their prime, throw them on anything — flavor and visual appeal for the win.
The Dairy Trio
To build a solid foundation for easy snacks, here’s what I keep on hand: ricotta, feta, and cream cheese. Add labneh for extra versatility. A surprising number of effortless, crowd-pleasing snacks start with these ingredients, and we’ll dive into them a bit later.
The Freezer
Puff pastry
I always keep a sheet of homemade puff pastry in the freezer. Of course, store-bought works just as well. One humble sheet of puff pastry is the starting point for so many easy snacks, from savory bites to sweet treats. If you do nothing else, cut it into rectangles, top with cheese and something sweet or salty, and voilà — instant puff pastry tarts that are perfect for holiday entertaining or last-minute snacks.
Baguette
I make Claire’s baguette recipe at least once a month. I keep them in the freezer, and when I’m out of ideas or pressed for time, I just run them under water, pop them in the oven, and twenty minutes later, I have a freshly baked baguette ready to serve. It’s a small miracle and works just as well with store-bought baguettes — perfect for toast-based appetizers, crostini, or a quick holiday snack spread.
The Vegetables
Cucumbers, radishes, carrots
Or honestly, any fresh veggies you can grab. These are usually the ones I reach for, and for a simple reason: you don’t need to cook, boil, or even peel them if you don’t want to. Just slice, cut, or halve them and arrange on a plate. The colors and shapes speak for themselves, and they please everyone — from vegans to carnivores.
The Short Cuts
While I usually make yogurt and ricotta from scratch, I’m not above using some store-bought ingredients — and a few deserve a mention. Trader Joe’s mini croissants are perfect for little sandwiches or a sweet snack. Their caramelized onion dip and crunchy chili onion are also handy to elevate simple dishes or complement a veggie platter. Okay, this is starting to sound like a Trader Joe’s ad, so I’ll stop — but you get the idea.
The Snacks Themselves
And finally, the reason we’re all here: the snacks themselves! We’ll go through them by difficulty: easy, medium, and hard. Don’t worry — “hard” just means turning on the oven.
Level: Easy
These are my favorite snacks to assemble: the ones you can put together while sipping wine and chatting with guests. No real recipe, no pressure — just quick, tasty bites that keep everyone happy.
The Crudité Platter
Which is just a fancy name for a veggie plate. This is the snack I probably make most often because you can use whatever you have in your fridge or pantry. I like combining fresh veggies, a dressing, a dip, and some chips or sliced baguettes. Then all you need is a drink and good company. You can find all the tips and tricks I use here.
Prosciutto Tower & Marinated Olives
For equally effortless snacks you can assemble while chatting, without the risk of adding salt instead of sugar and ruining everything: a prosciutto-and-chips tower that comes together in about 15 seconds, and a marinated feta-and-olives appetizer that can actually be made the day before. Find the details here.
Level: Medium
In the same vein as the “easy” snacks, these are mostly about assembling. Crostini are nothing more than small, thin slices of toasted bread served with various toppings. Again, use your creativity and whatever you have on hand!
If you have the time and patience, you can make them cute, like these cherry ones made with cherry tomatoes, basil, and ricotta. For a more sophisticated version, I love the classic combination of caramelized onions, blue cheese, and honey—or something with prosciutto.
And as an example of thinking outside the box: butter, smoked salmon, and chives. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!
For the sweet-toothed out there, I’ve got you covered: mini croissants that you can dip in a dulce de leche ganache! Ganache is so simple to make, and it’s ready while the little croissants bake in the oven. You can find the recipe here.
And for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, you can’t go wrong with this smoked salmon dip. It’s the kind of recipe that works even better when you eyeball everything and measure with your heart. Find the recipe here.
Level: Hard
These require a little planning, but the actual making and assembling part is a no-brainer.
Feta itself is a great choice for a nibbling snack, but have you thought about marinating little chunks of feta with smoked spices and olive oil? It’s a game-changer, and it looks beautiful on a table! I love making this one—find the recipe here.
My motto when it comes to dinner party snacks is: put on labneh! If you have labneh or ricotta, you already have half a great snack. This olive-ricotta version is always a hit, and burst cherry tomatoes on yogurt is one of my favorite things to make. Of course, make sure you have crusty bread to go with them.
Going with the theme of things over labneh, crispy artichokes drizzled with an oregano-lemon–infused olive oil make a fantastic little snack. Find the recipe here!
And this roasted eggplant and red pepper dip is always a hit—I make variations of it all the time. Recipe here.
I hope these ideas inspire you to pull together effortless, crowd-pleasing snacks this holiday season! Let me know which ones become your go-to snacks this season!
great tips! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂 Mike
Thanks, Mike! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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