Christmas starter recipes (2024)

Christmas starter recipes (1)

107 Recipes

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Discover delicious and elegant starters to ease you into Christmas dinner. Choose from smoked salmon, soups, pâtés, sharing platters, cheese tarts and more.

We have more sharing platters and starters in our Christmas side dishes recipe collection. For more festive main meal inspiration, check out our Christmas dinner recipes and you can impress guests with this selection of dinner party starters.

Showing 1 to 24 of 107 results

  • App onlyBaked camembert with brioche bun wreath. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Elevate the classic tear-and-share bread with molten cheese with Tom Kerridge's recipe. It's perfect for a special occasion when you need to feed a crowd

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • More effort
  • A star rating of 3 out of 5.4 ratings

    Take a little effort to make these delicious croquettes – they store well in the freezer and make a quick starter that takes just minutes to cook

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • More effort
  • Baked red onions with ricotta

    A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Gather your friends for a relaxed evening – these baked red onions are special but simple to prepare, so you won’t be stuck in the kitchen

    • 2 hrs
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Multi-seed cheese straws

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Make cheese straws with the added flavours of sesame and poppy seeds, dried onion flakes and sea salt. They're perfect snacks to serve with co*cktails

    • 45 mins
    • Easy
  • App onlyChristmas tree cheeseboard. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Rustle up this sharing platter made with cheese, crackers, cucumber and grapes. Decorate with rosemary and pomegranate seeds to look like a festive tree

    • 20 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Veg peel fritters

    A star rating of 4 out of 5.4 ratings

    Make veg peelings the star of the show with these easy fritters. They're perfect the day after a big family dinner, such as at Christmas time

    • 45 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.42 ratings

    A hit of vodka gives this classic a new edge. Serve with a shot of vodka for full effect

    • 15 mins
    • Easy
  • Sausage roll wreath

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.6 ratings

    Bring a festive theme to the buffet table with a sausage roll wreath. It's a great sharing dish at Christmas when you have a friends and family over

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • Easy
  • Baked ham hock pots

    A star rating of 4.9 out of 5.9 ratings

    Save time and energy at Christmas with these easy, no-fuss baked ham hock pots as a starter. They’re great to begin a Christmas menu and set the festive mood

    • 30 mins
    • Easy
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Enjoy our easy halloumi, pomegranate, fennel & walnut salad as a festive starter or light lunch – it takes just 15 minutes to make

    • 15 mins
  • Pull-apart garlic rolls with baked camembert

    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Create a memorable sharing experience with our pull-apart garlic rolls – they're baked with a wheel of gooey baked camembert, making them ideal for big gatherings such as Boxing Day

    • 1 hr
    • More effort
    • Vegetarian
  • A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Enjoy this vibrant orange, herb and burrata salad with black olive dressing for lunch or as a starter ahead of a main meal. Scatter with pistachios to serve

    • 20 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Nut roast rolls

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.4 ratings

    Bake these vegetarian nut roast rolls for a Boxing Day buffet or summer picnic. They're packed with mushrooms, lentils and nuts, and encased in puff pastry

    • 1 hr 5 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Smoked mackerel on toasted crumpets

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Try our easy starter – the filling can be made well in advance and chilled. Once your guests arrive, toast the crumpets and pile the filling on top

    • 30 mins
    • Easy
  • Smoked salmon coddled eggs. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.5 ratings

    Enjoy smoked salmon with coddled eggs, capers and gruyère cheese for a Christmas starter. It’s also great for breakfast or brunch over the festive holidays

    • 30 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.5 ratings

    Serve up a feast on Christmas Day and add these buttery sprouts with crispy shallots and almonds to your festive dinner table

    • 40 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Serve this smoked salmon dish as a starter on a special occasion such as at Christmas. With beetroot, rocket and walnuts, it‘s full of colour and texture.

    • 10 mins
    • Easy
    • Gluten-free
  • Smoked salmon grazing wreath

    A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Try a clever Christmas-themed update on the ‘butter board’ trend (that’s butter spread on a board with various toppings, ready to slather on bread)

    • 25 mins
    • Easy
  • Purée de châtaignes (chestnut purée)

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.4 ratings

    Enjoy this rich and smooth chestnut purée alongside turkey or veal on Christmas Eve. In France, chestnuts are synonymous with the Christmas season

    • 50 mins
    • Easy
    • Gluten-free
  • Rosemary polenta bites with peperonata

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Serve our rosemary polenta bites with peperonata as canapés or a starter ahead of a celebration. They're ideal for a special occasion such as Christmas

    • 1 hr 35 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 4 out of 5.4 ratings

    Choose starchy potatoes like Maris Piper or King Edward to ensure the parsnip rösti hold together. Enjoy with caramelised red onions, harissa and feta

    • 1 hr 25 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free sausage roll wreath

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.3 ratings

    Create this gluten-free sausage roll wonder by arranging sausage and chutney pinwheels into a festive wreath shape. It's perfect for a Christmas buffet

    • 50 mins
    • Easy
    • Gluten-free
  • Cheesy cayenne savoury biscuits

    A star rating of 3 out of 5.2 ratings

    Rustle up these cheesy cayenne savoury biscuits for a Christmas party. They're a great make-ahead nibble to serve with drinks before the main event

    • 30 mins
    • Easy

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Christmas starter recipes (26)

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Christmas starter recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do people have starters on Christmas Day? ›

Christmas starters are a contentious debate, but in our opinion, if you're going to go all in at Christmas, a three-courser is a must. In our eyes, starters are just as important as the main meal.

What makes up a Christmas dinner? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What do most people serve on Christmas Eve? ›

Turkey is classic, of course, as is ham, but you could also serve a roast chicken, roast beef, or pork tenderloin. Fill out your meal with some Christmas-y side dishes, and you'll be all set for the perfect holiday dinner.

What do Americans have to eat on Christmas Day? ›

Roast turkey and ham are popular for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork or “seven fishes” seafood salad.

What do Americans do on Christmas morning? ›

Americans go on marathon shopping trips, both in store and online to find that perfect gift while listening to Christmas carols. Stockings are hung and people enjoy Christmas parades, concerts and the classic Christmas films with a glass of eggnog or mug of hot cocoa.

What vegetables do you have on a Christmas dinner? ›

Discover the perfect amounts of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, peas and red cabbage to serve with your roast turkey. Need help planning your Christmas dinner?

What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods? ›

Top 10 most popular Christmas recipes
  • Yule log. ...
  • Christmas pudding with citrus and spice. ...
  • Sticky spiced red cabbage. ...
  • Cola ham with maple & mustard glaze. ...
  • Sausage, sage & onion stuffing. ...
  • Mary's Berry Christmas chutney. ...
  • Ultimate roast potatoes. ...
  • Nut roast.

What meat is traditional for Christmas? ›

Why not add a bit of stuffing or cranberry sauce to go with it? Turkey is definitely the most traditional meat for Christmas dinner and you can take a look at our wide selection of whole, rolled and diced turkeys here – perfect for your traditional Christmas dinner!

How do you simplify Christmas dinner? ›

Look at your meal plan and determine what you can buy pre-made at the store. Things like pies, rolls, and sides are great options. Even buying something “halfway homemade” that you have to throw together quickly, like a salad kit, will simplify life.

What can I make the night before Christmas? ›

Make-ahead Christmas recipes
  • Tuscan sausage, kale & ciabatta stuffing. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Sunken chocolate, olive oil & hazelnut cake. ...
  • Pheasant casserole. ...
  • Roast garlic make-ahead gravy. ...
  • Air-fryer soy & cranberry chicken wings. ...
  • Croissant bread sauce. ...
  • App onlyQuick pickled red cabbage. ...
  • Mincemeat half-baked cookies.

What part of Christmas dinner can be made in advance? ›

I've learned, over the years, to make and freeze most of the trimmings in advance – stuffing, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce, even parboiled potatoes."

What is the most popular Christmas dinner item? ›

Roast potatoes and gravy are the most ubiquitous items on the Christmas dinner, with only around half opting for turkey.

What is the most popular Christmas Eve dinner? ›

Turkey is classic, of course, as is ham, but you could also serve a roast chicken, roast beef, or pork tenderloin. Fill out your meal with some Christmas-y side dishes, and you'll be all set for the perfect holiday dinner.

What was served at the first Christmas dinner? ›

For the first course the mince pie is served alongside nineteen other dishes, including a roast swan, sweetbreads, a boiled partridge, a roast turkey infused with cloves, mutton with anchovy sauce, and “a kid with a pudding in his belly.” As was customary for the era, these would arrive on the table in one grand ...

What is the most popular time for Christmas dinner? ›

A survey of more than 2,500 British people by the Midland Hotel in Manchester found that the majority of people get the turkey on the table mid afternoon. The most popular time is 2pm with 28 per cent of people sitting down to eat, followed by 23 per cent who tuck into the main meal an hour later at 3pm.

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