Hosting gets pricey fast, but you can still put out a decent spread without wrecking your budget. Aldi happens to have a bunch of party-friendly appetizers that come in under $5, so you can fill a board and keep everyone fed without doing math in your head. Here are a 18 festive appetizers that will get the job done.
Cranberry & Feta Mini Puff Pastries
This 8.2-ounce box comes with 12 small pastries filled with cranberry and feta — a combination that works well as a Mediterranean twist on a wintery flavor. People recommend them as great bite-size appetizers, and some say baking them in a muffin pan keeps them from spreading too much. At $4.99, it’s an easy yet delicious addition to a holiday spread, whether you’re hosting or keeping it small.
Savoritz Fig and Black Sesame Artisan Crisps
Fruity crackers might sound like something that would turn your stomach, but figs tend to behave better than people expect, especially with cheese. They’re great with soft options like brie, and they instantly make a charcuterie board look a little bougie, because … figs. The 5.3-ounce box goes for $4.75, and everyone who’s tried them seems comfortable recommending them. “If you haven’t tried these, you need to” one Redditor said. Another added, “Love these! They are great with the honey goat cheese or with some whipped cream cheese.”
Loaded Potato Skins
If you’re going for a more comfort-indulging vibe, loaded potato skins will do their duty. The $3.19 box comes with potato halves filled with cheddar cheese and applewood-smoked bacon, so you get that classic salty-warm bite people always migrate toward at holiday gatherings.
Caramelized Onion & Gouda Mini Puff Pastries
These are from the same Appetitos line as the cranberry-and-feta pastries, but this version leans richer. The caramelized onion and Gouda give it a fuller, slightly French feeling, and the 8.2-ounce box still comes with 12 pieces. They bake up soft and savory, so they work well when you want something warm on the holiday table that isn’t sweet.
Mac & Cheese Bites
Here’s another appetizer that isn’t the most common pick but still feels comforting right away. The 8-ounce box is $3.19 and comes with breaded cubes filled with actual macaroni and cheddar, and it’s the kind of bite-size indulgence that works for any crowd — especially if there are kids around.
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Jubilee Assortment Olives
This little 7-ounce tub brings a mix of Picholine, Kalamata, and green olives marinated in herbs and spices that come in handy when you need something briny to break up all the cheese and pastry. It’s not a huge container, but it’s enough for a holiday board when you just want a bit of variety. It goes for $2.99 and adds a nice contrast next to richer bites.
Jalapeño Jack Cheese Stuffed Olives
But if you want olives on steroids, these Jalapeño Jack Cheese Stuffed Olives get you there fast. The 7-ounce jar is $3.29, and each olive is filled with a small amount of jalapeño jack cheese. They will work on a holiday board when you want something sharper than plain olives.
Specialty Party Cheese Tray
The 13.7-ounce Specialty Party Cheese Tray is $4.95 and comes with four cheeses: Extra Sharp White Cheddar, Havarti, Gouda, and Asiago. It’s an easy way to put variety on the table without buying separate blocks.
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Premium Fig Fruit Spread
The Premium Fig Fruit Spread comes in a 9-ounce jar for $3.29, and it’s what your charcuterie board needs for that extra fancy zhuzh. It’s a thick, seedy spread with a mild sweetness rather than a strong sugary punch. It goes great with soft cheese, and it has a huge fan base on Reddit. “During the holidays I spoon this over the top of brie and then wrap in crescent roll dough and bake,” suggested one Redditor.
“It has a wonderful seedy crunch and mild backend buttery/nutty flavor, just like fig newton filling,” said another.
Diced Prosciutto
If you want something easy to scatter across a charcuterie board, this diced prosciutto does the job without you having to slice anything. The 4-ounce pack is $4.39, and you can add them into a bowl of olives, add to crackers, or sprinkle over a salad.
Rosemary Artisan Crackers
The 6-ounce Rosemary Artisan Crackers box costs $3.85, and feature straightforward, crisp crackers with a clear rosemary flavor. They’re sturdy enough for soft cheeses and spreads, and the herbal note gives a little lift to anything you put on them.
But First Coffee Lavender and Espresso Cheddar Cheese
Here is a cheese with a kick, though not the spicy kind. The 4-ounce block is $3.85 and mixes lavender and espresso into a mild cheddar. It sounds unhinged and might throw some people off, but those who’ve tried it say the combination works surprisingly well.
“This stuff is great,” one fan shared on Reddit. “The coffee adds a deep, rich earthiness to the cheddar’s mild saltiness. I couldn’t really taste lavender — the cheese doesn’t really have a floral taste, but it might add a little sweetness. It works much better than you might think.”
Specially Selected Panino Bites
Here is something simple and tried that you cannot go wrong with. The Specially Selected Panino Bites come in a 4-ounce pack and are just mozzarella wrapped in soppressata. They’re reliable if you need an easy bite and fit onto any holiday table.
Cranberry Cinnamon Flavored Goat Cheese Log
The Cranberry Cinnamon Flavored Goat Cheese Log ($3.85) from Emporium is a 6-ounce roll of tangy goat cheese mixed with sweet cranberry and a hit of cinnamon. It spreads easily on crackers or crusty bread, and the cranberry plus cinnamon gives it a little contrast next to the heavier cheeses on the table. And since it’s shaped like a log, it pretty much screams yuletide.
Dill Veggie Dip
Dill dip might not be the flashiest thing on a holiday table, but it will work with raw veggies as a healthyish addition to all that cheese and deli meats. In this Park Street Deli tub, the dill comes through right away and gives the sour-cream base a clean, direct flavor. The 14-ounce container is $4.39 and easy to add when you want a little variety on the table.
Glazed Crunchy Sweetened Pecans
These glazed pecans come in a 5-ounce bag for $4.39, and they’re an easy way to add a little sweetness to a holiday spread. You can put half on a charcuterie board for people to snack on, and chop the rest into a salad for something with crunch.
Cheddar & Onion Snowman Truckle
Aldi really leans into the holiday shapes, and this Cheddar & Onion Snowman Truckle is another example. It’s a 6-ounce block for $4.49, and inside the snowman mold you’re getting cheddar mixed with onion, which gives it a little more depth than a plain cheddar. It would work as a cheeky festive addition to the holiday table.
Caramelized Red Onion Chutney
This Specially Selected Caramelized Red Onion Chutney at $3.55 adds a bit of pizzazz without much effort. It’s slow-cooked onion with balsamic, so it gives sandwiches and cheese boards a sharp, sweet boost that stands out.
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