The 9 Best Appetizer Recipes to Pair With Holiday Movies

Trimming the tree, decking the halls, hanging the mistletoe, shopping for family and friends, finding a parking spot in the mall lot, writing holiday cards, waiting in line at the post office, and, of course, cooking an enormous feast for Thanksgiving or Hanukkah or Christmas. If it feels like the holiday season is just a never-ending lineup of chores and obligations, there may be no better way to hit pause and relax than a seasonally appropriate movie paired with an easy-to-make appetizer. We’ve combed the Allrecipes archives for recipes that will put you in the spirit—and we won’t judge if you want to pour yourself a little spiked eggnog for added merriment.  

Love, Actually (2003) 

Pair with: Mark’s English Sausage Rolls

This star-studded seasonal romantic comedy is one of the most iconic British films of the past few decades, with an ensemble that includes Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, and Hugh Grant as the prime minister. Crank up “Christmas Is All Around”—performed in the film by Bill Nighy—and tackle these four-ingredient pub classics. If you really want to get in the spirit of the film, serve them with Portuguese peri-peri sauce to honor the cross-cultural love affair between writer Jamie (Colin Firth) and his Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz). 

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) 

Pair with: Reindeer Snack Mix

This beloved John Hughes comedy follows a type-A advertising executive (Steve Martin) and a good-natured shower-curtain-ring salesman (John Candy) as they try to get home for Thanksgiving dinner by any means necessary. Honor the duo’s odd-couple energy with this salty-meets-sweet riff on the ultimate boring in-flight snack: a bag of pretzels. Trust us, this mix is much more satisfying. 

White Christmas (1954)

Pair with: Baked Brie with Maple Caramelized Apples and Spiced Praline Bacon

Featuring tunes from Irving Berlin, this adored musical sees a song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) try to save a Vermont inn while wooing a sister act (Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen). Get in the cozy spirit of a New England winter with something maple-flavored, like this baked Brie topped with caramelized apples and spiced praline bacon. And even if it’s not snowing where you are, the Brie’s bloomy rind is a worthy stand-in for the something white you’ll be dreaming of. 

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) 

Pair with: Football Cheese Ball

This Emmy-winning holiday special kicks off with Lucy’s ongoing football gag, making a pigskin-shaped cheese ball the obvious choice for an appetizer pairing. (Sorry, Charlie!) We suggest serving it with crackers of your choice, but if you want to add another layer of Peanuts homage, you can put out the same spread Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock served their friends on Thanksgiving: toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, jelly beans, and ice cream sundaes. 

Home Alone (1990) 

Pair with: Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Muffins 

After his family inadvertently leaves him at home in Chicago during their holiday vacation to Paris, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) orders a delivery pizza from Little Nero’s. These muffin-tin bites take the Windy City’s signature pizza style and make it portable—meaning you can have an extra hand free if you need to, say, thwart any robbers who are trying to break into your house. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) 

Pair with: Beef and Caramelized Onion Canapes 

Before the Grinch gets his fuzzy green paws on all their holiday fixings, the Whos plan to celebrate Christmas with their usual feast: Who pudding and rare Who roast beast. While we don’t know where to get fresh beast this time of year, roast beef should do the trick, and it’s made particularly delectable in these horseradish-topped bites. 

Elf (2003) 

Pair with: TikTok Candied Kielbasa Bites 

When you’re raised at the North Pole like Buddy (Will Ferrell), there’s a good chance you’ll develop a heck of a sweet tooth. As he explains it upon his arrival in New York City, the elves stick to four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup. We think he’d be willing to expand his repertoire for these viral candied kielbasa bites, which get their hit of sweetness from a brown sugar and Dijon mustard glaze.  

Eight Crazy Nights (2002) 

Pair with: Potato Latkes

Despite all the Jewish entertainers Adam Sandler rattles off in his “Chanukah Song,” that has unfortunately not translated into a robust roster of Chanukah-related movies. The SNL alum did something about it with this animated musical, which didn’t get particularly kind reviews but fills a much-needed holiday niche. These potato latkes, which can be served with sour cream, applesauce, or even smoked salmon, do get great reviews—so they’ll help the sometimes clunky, but ultimately sweet comedy go down a bit easier. 

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) 

Pair with: Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizers with Hot Pepper Jelly

This Oscar-winning classic may be the quintessential pop-culture portrayal of Santa Claus, with Edmund Gwenn donning a white beard to play Kris Kringle. Honoring his love of cookies, these cheddar-infused, sweet-and-savory thumbprint biscuits are an elevated take on the tradition. And depending on the spice level of the hot pepper jelly you decide to use—we have a recipe made with scorching habaneros—you may also be reaching for a glass of milk like the man in red himself.