34 Christmas entrée ideas for easy party starters

These deluxe, bready oysters au gratin are the perfect way to kick off the festivities. With anchovies and a lemon zing, this dish works great with a glass of bubbly!

This retro-style dip will tingle your tastebuds! With flavours of avocado, coriander and trusty black olives, this is one dip your guests will remember. 

Adding a sprinkle of Christmas to your food can be tricky, but this cob dip wreath takes on the challenge with ease! Decorate your table with this beautiful wreath and watch your guests gobble it up. 

These may make a bit of mess when you eat them, but it’s definitely worth it! These sticky jerk lamb kebabs are a hit among big crowds, and you don’t even need any cutlery or plates.

Add a touch of spice to your Christmas spread with these delicious bang bang prawns. The crunch of fried prawn, shredded lettuce and prawn cracker crumble is a delectable sound!

A cheese and spinach pumpkin roulade is sure to be a hit amongst the Christmas crowd. Better yet, your vegie friends and family will thank you a million times over!

A showstopper for sure! This mud crab coconut vermicelli salad with punchy Thai flavours are perfect in a starter sized morsel. 

These chicken drumettes will go in a flash – sweet and spicy with a sesame crunch, what more could your Chrissy guests want? 

Take it back to the ’70s with this prawn cocktail. Not to worry though, this recipe has chorizo and jalapeno sauce for the perfect modern twist!

This elegant galette will look amazing as a part of your Christmas spread, and it’ll taste delicious too! With the sweetness of maple and sweet potato, and the zing of a ginger-lime cream, this one will be a hit.

Although this is the ‘cheat’s’ version of salmon gravlax, it certainly doesn’t cheat on flavour! With a pickled salad on top, this one looks great and goes down easy. 

Lime, lemongrass, coconut and mint – all of the great flavours of summer! Serve this up as a Christmas starter and watch your guests relish in its flavour. 

Bring a bit of Moroccan flair to your Christmas feast with these spiced lamb on pita crisps starters. Add a lemon wedge to serve and you’ve got a spicy, zingy delight!

Ceviche or fish tartare has become an entrée phenomenon in recent years. Make it at home for your guests with a smooth almond aioli and crisp radishes to top it off!

Ditch the basic bread rolls and create a beautiful damper Christmas tree! With a side of tomato relish, this easy dish is the perfect starter for Christmas. 

Get your fancy on with these seared scallops in their shell! Paired with a green olive tapenade, this will wow your guests when it’s brought out to the table. 

This tasty summer tart doubles as a beautiful red and green Christmas homage. Crumbly pastry, cherry tomatoes and pesto is the dream combination!

Nothing is more Australian than serving prawns and oysters for Christmas. This recipe helps you serve up the sea’s best with a Romesco seafood sauce, prosciutto sourdough crumbs and a chilli mango salsa. 

These bocconcini stuffed rice balls fill the deep-fried quota for your Christmas spread. Plus, they’re mouth-wateringly good! Watch them disappear in the blink of an eye!

This combination may seem a little unusual, but we promise it’s delicious! With some spice, tang and crunch, these prawn lettuce cups are the perfect start to Christmas feasting.

Baked cauliflower is the vegie dish from the gods! Paired with North-African flavours of sumac, fennel and dukkah, this entrée is spectacular.

This sophisticated take on salmon on crackers is beautifully presented and delicious! With homemade pickled onions and a dill-and-caper crème fraiche, this recipe is just indulgent enough for a celebration. 

These beauties can be made in only 20 minutes and they’re oh so tasty! If you’re short on time but big on flavour, this is the Christmas starter for you.

A meat-free morsel is a great way to kick off celebrations, and this one includes haloumi in it! The perfect size for dipping, try this one out with your favourite dip. 

A retro dish has taken on quite a boozy spin – add all the Bloody Mary ingredients into this prawn cocktails sauce, including the vodka! 

A vegetarian-friendly starter dish has never looked this good! With the perfect trio of ingredients, these pasties will steal the show.

These beautifully crafted rice paper rolls are surprisingly easy to make, and easy to roll as well! Serve with a sweet chili dipping sauce for the ultimate fresh entrée. 

If the barbie is your favourite cooking appliance, then have at it for this delicious starter. Paired with a sriracha mayo, BBQ marinated prawns will surely be a favourite among your friends and family at Christmas.

Made with a homemade pesto, this zingy tart is just what your Christmas table spread needs. Not only does it look very pretty, it goes down a treat as well!

With 10 minutes of prep and a while to chill in the fridge, this recipe simple to whip up before Christmas day. Impress your guests with this roulade that will tantalise tastebuds!

A crudité with a twist! This vegetable tempura recipe is the perfect Chrissy starter, and will give your vegie friends something to rave about.

Bring out the barbie for this recipe! Barbecued prawns, chargrilled corn and a caramelised coconut dressing is the perfect summer starter – which means it’s perfect for Christmas.

A real showstopper for your Christmas table, this recipe is surprisingly simple. This medley of tomatoes and herbed cheese tart is vibrant and fresh for summer festivities.

Raid your herb garden for the ‘skewers’ in this handheld holiday twist on classic surf and turf!