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17 Trader Joe’s 3-Ingredient Holiday Appetizers That Will Make You Look Like You Tried Way Harder Than You Did

Because the holidays are stressful enough.

As a Canadian (now living in the US), I've had a long-distance love affair with Trader Joe's for years. I'd often plan my weekends around driving across the border to peruse the glorious, fluorescent-lit aisles of my favorite store, sampling candies and uniquely flavored cookies, and filling my car with enough treats to last me until my next road trip.

People walking into a Trader Joe's store with a bicycle parked nearby
Achim Biermann / Getty Images / Via Buzzfeed

Now that TJ's (my pet name for Trader Joe's...obviously) and I are no longer long-distance, and I live within a five-minute drive of its friendly confines, my cupboard could be an advert for its catalogue of deliciousness, and my hosting game has benefited from my obsession.

With the holidays around the corner, it's time I head back to the aisles in search of party-worthy dishes I can make in a pinch. So I've rounded up a few holiday appetizers that use only three ingredients and require basically zero effort.

1. Pomegranate Goat Cheese with Spicy Honey Sauce

Trader Joe's products: a pomegranate, spicy honey sauce, and Chevre goat's milk cheese on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Pomegranate Arils + Chevre Goat's Milk Cheese Log + Spicy Honey Sauce

How to serve it: Unwrap the goat cheese and add it to a plate, top with pomegranate arils (or seeds) and a drizzle of hot honey. Serve with crackers.

Perfect for: Sweet, spicy, and everything nice! This is perfect for enjoying with a glass of wine in front of a fireplace (or a video of a fireplace) on a cold night with just enough spice to warm you up.

2. Unexpected Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeño, Trader Joe's cheddar cheese, and onion chive cream cheese spread on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Jalapeños + Onion Chive Cream Cheese + Unexpected Cheddar

How to serve it: Slice the jalapeños lengthwise and (carefully!) remove the seeds. Stuff it with cream cheese and top with grated Unexpected Cheddar.

Perfect for: A night in with your pals, watching whatever sports are on TV (go sports! yay!), and a cold beer. Honestly, eat this for dinner if you just don't feel like making anything.

3. Yogurt Pesto Dip with Rainbow Carrots

Trader Joe's products: thick and creamy Greek yogurt, vegan kale cashew and basil pesto, and Les Petites carrots
Trader Joe's

Products: Strained Thick & Creamy Greek Yogurt + Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto + Rainbow Carrots

How to serve it: Swirl together the Greek yogurt and pesto and serve with cute little carrots. Fancy, much?

Perfect for: A lighter appetizer or addition to a grazing board. Serve it to your friend who cares about everything they put into their mouth, or when you've realized it's been two weeks since you ate a vegetable.

4. Feta Cheese Stuffed Dates with Pistachios

Medjool dates, Israeli feta cheese, and dry roasted salted pistachios from Trader Joe's on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Medjool Dates + Feta Cheese + Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios

How to serve it: Cut a slit in the date lengthwise and remove the pit, open gently, and add a little crumbled or cubed feta. Top with finely chopped pistachios.

Perfect for: Your friends who have bougie tastes and are obsessed with the new "it" food.

5. Garlic-Marinated Feta

Trader Joe's Israeli Feta, Aglio Olio seasoning, and Sicilian olive oil on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Feta Cheese + Sicilian Selezione Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend

How to serve it: Cube the feta cheese and add it to a container. Top with olive oil (to cover) and sprinkle with a tablespoon of the seasoning blend. Let it marinate for two hours or overnight. Bam!

Perfect for: That cheeseboard party you were invited to but don't know how to contribute, or for a snacky dinner you want to mindlessly eat with a toothpick.

6. Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish Ricotta Dip

Containers of Trader Joe's cranberry orange relish and whole milk ricotta cheese, with a sprig of fresh thyme
Trader Joe's

Products: Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish + Thyme + Ricotta

How to serve it: Whip together the Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish with ricotta cheese and chopped thyme for a festive, simple dip!

Perfect for: Your workplace holiday party, where you want to convince everyone that you do know how to do more than order delivery.

7. Double Cream Brie and Fig Butter Pastry Bites

Brie cheese, fig butter jar, and puff pastry packaging against a checkered background; all Trader Joe's products
Trader Joe's

Products: Double Creme Brie + Fig Butter + All Butter Puff Pastry Sheets

How to serve it: Top the brie with the fig butter and wrap it with puff pastry. Bake at 400°F until ooey and gooey (about 25 minutes).

Perfect for: A Thanksgiving or Christmas-y appetizer that screams indulgence and fancy! Make this for someone you want to impress (just make sure they aren't lactose intolerant).


8. Baked Cranberry Ginger Chutney Brie

Trader Joe's items: brie cheese, cranberry ginger chutney, and an organic French baguette
Trader Joe's

Products: Double Creme Brie + Cranberry Ginger Chutney + Baguette

How to serve it: Top the entire wheel of brie with the chutney and bake until melted. Serve with toasted baguette slices.

Perfect for: Thanksgiving day while watching sports, gossiping with your family, and sipping on a glass of dry white wine.

9. Pesto Rosso Pinwheels

Trader Joe's products: puff pastry package, jar of Pesto Rosso sauce, and tub of shaved Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheeses
Trader Joe's

Products: All Butter Puff Pastry Sheets + Pesto Rosso + Parmesan, Asiago & Romano Cheese Blend

How to serve it: Spread a thin layer of pesto on the puff pastry and sprinkle with cheese. Roll into pinwheels and slice. Bake at 400°F for about 15–20 minutes.

Perfect for: Making your cheeseboard feel a little more special, or when a friend asks you to bring an appetizer when you are already running late.

10. Cucumber Salmon Bites

Cucumber slices, Everything but the Bagel seasoned smoked salmon, and onion & chive cream cheese spread are arranged on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Everything But The Bagel Smoked Salmon + Onion Chive Cream Cheese + Cucumber

How to serve it: Slice cucumbers into rounds and top with a dollop of cream cheese and flaked salmon.

Perfect for: When you can't remember which of your friends are grain-free, gluten-free, keto, or paleo.

11. Mini Goat Cheese Balls with Pistachios

Trader Joe's fig crisps, roasted pistachios, and cranberry goat cheese are displayed on a patterned background
Trader Joe's

Products: Cranberry Chevre Goat Cheese + Pistachios + Fig and Olive Crisps

How to serve it: Scoop a teaspoon of cheese and roll it into a ball. Roll it in crushed pistachios and serve on top of a crisp.

Perfect for: Thanksgiving dinner at your fancy aunt's house.

12. Roasted Olives

Jar of lemon-stuffed olives, a seasoning blend, and a bottle of Sicilian extra virgin olive oil arranged on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Lemon Stuffed Olives + Sicilian Selezione Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Aglio Olio Seasoning Blend

How to serve it: Add the olives to a baking dish and cover halfway with olive oil. Add a tablespoon of seasoning and roast at 400ºF for 15 minutes.

Perfect for: Hanukkah appetizers, featuring a lot of oil. Perfect for when you've just made 200 latkes and realize you need an appetizer.

13. Goat Cheese Stuffed Figs with Honey

Fig, honey bear bottle, and Trader Joe's goat cheese on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Fresh Figs + Honey + Goat Cheese

How to serve it: Use a small knife to make an "x" at the tip of each fig, gently pull apart, and stuff with goat cheese. Broil for four minutes until the cheese is melty and serve with honey.

Perfect for: When you want an appetizer that feels special but takes very little effort. Make this for your family with a sweet tooth.

14. Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese Dates

Packaged organic medjool dates, blue cheese, and uncured smoked bacon against a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon + Medjool Dates + Blue Cheese

How to serve it: Make a slit in each date and remove the seed, stuff with blue cheese, and wrap in a piece of bacon. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crisp.

Perfect for: The perfect Christmas day appetizer to satisfy anyone who loves bacon. If they don't love blue cheese, sub goat cheese. Serve with a crisp glass of white wine or a light beer. YUM.

15. Plantain Crisps with Almond Chipotle Dip and Salsa Macha

Plantain crisps in a bowl, a container of almond chipotle dip, and a jar of crunchy sesame sunflower seeds labeled Salsa Macho
Trader Joe's

Products: Plantain Crisps + Almond Chipotle Dip + Salsa Macha

How to serve it: Serve plantain crisps with almond chipotle dip swirled with salsa macha.

Perfect for: Hanukkah dinner, where you need a dairy-free appetizer that also feels on theme.

16. Spicy Chimichurri Yogurt Dip with Pita Chips

Greek yogurt, pita chips, and chimichurri sauce arranged on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Strained Thick & Creamy Greek Yogurt + Chimichurri Sauce + Pita Chips

How to serve it: Combine the yogurt and chimichurri, and serve with pita chips.

Perfect for: Your office holiday party, when you see that four people have committed to bringing hummus, but you also want to bring a dip.

17. Truffle Burrata with Fresh Figs and Arugula

Container of Truffle Burrata with fresh fig and arugula on a checkered background
Trader Joe's

Products: Truffle Burrata + Fresh Figs + Arugula

How to serve it: Serve the burrata with arugula and sliced figs. Drizzle with olive oil.

Perfect for: When you are told to bring "either a salad or an appetizer" and you forgot to plan either one. Perfect for a holiday brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Did I miss any of your favorite three-ingredient appetizers? Share yours below!

For more holiday appetizers you can throw together in a pinch, download the free Tasty app to browse and save thousands of recipes — no subscription required.

Hand reaching for mini potato skin topped with cheese, bacon, cranberry sauce, and herbs on a plate, perfect for a savory appetizer
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