Bacon, Cranberry, and Brie Sliders Recipe (2024)

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time to talk appetizers for the #HEBJoyville Virtual Progressive Dinner Party! This week, I’ve joined 4 other Texas bloggers to talk you through some of our favorite entertaining tips, food, and drinks this holiday season:

Monday – Table Decor by Handmade Mood
Tuesday – Drinks & Wine by Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine
Wednesday – Bacon & Cheese!
Thursday – Main Course by A Zesty Bite
Friday – Desserts by The Baking Fairy

You, too, can join in the delicious fun and be entered to win a $100 gift card and a $50 Prize Pack! Here’s how it works:
1. Instagram photos of your favorite holiday dish, drink, and/or decor.
2. Tag it with #HEBJoyvilleSweeps
3. Tag @HEB.

Easy enough, right? And one winner will be chosen each day! Now let’s talk appetizers.

My formula for putting together a party spread generally goes something like:
Cheese plate
Hot Dip
Baked sliders
Something Meaty
Something Wrapped in Puff Pastry
Vegetables w/Cold Dip (this is Texas so that means Ranch Dressing)
16 Kinds of crackers (because you can never have too many crunchy, crispy dipper thing)

This isn’t the time I opt to make my own puff pastry – there are baseboards to be cleaned and crayon marks to be magic-erased. I use a mix of pre-made and homemade to keep things efficient and convenient.

My love for cheese cannot be understated. And the cheese plate is where I have 57% of the non-margarita fun:
Goat cheese – room temp, with honey drizzled over top just before guests arrive
Brie – sometimes baked, sometimes not
Cranberry Gouda – tis the season!
Berries – whatever is in season and on sale
Nuts – the Spiced Texas Pecans you see up there are fabulous
Crackers – pick up a box of those Rosemary & Date crackers, you won’t be sorry
Something Smokey/Spicy – Smoked Gouda and Chipotle Cheddar are two of my favorites

Now let’s talk about the other 43% of non-margarita joy.

Two words: Baked Sliders. You can heat 3 dozen or more in the oven at once. No matter how many of those 3-bites-of-heaven you make, you will never, ever have enough. This year’s sliders are filled with crispy bacon, creamy brie, and tangy cranberry sauce and topped with a bacon vinaigrette. Yeah. I know. And you can get the recipe below.

Don’t be afraid to reinvent the wheel. Crab & Artichoke dip is a huge crowd pleaser around here, by why stop at “just” dip? Spread it over a halved loaf of crusty bread or drop a spoonful into a wonton wrapper and bake in a mini-muffin tin for a two-bite treat.

Use that slow-cooker! It will keep meatballs hot, crab & artichoke dip creamy, and queso the perfect consistency so that you get the maximum drippage when you drop it on the front your shirt. Pro-tip: those slow-cooker liners are magical when making queso. Too bad they don’t make shirt liners.

Put a bow on it! Okay, so not an actual bow. Add a festive touch to an old favorite. You know those sweet and sour meatballs that use grape jelly? I know you do – they were everywhere in 1995. You couldn’t out run them if you tried but you didn’t try because then someone else would get to eat your meatballs. Try an updated, more sophisticated version that uses cranberry sauce and red wine.

Less can be more, and just as delicious. A sheet of puff pastry + a small jar of pesto = Pesto Palmiers.

Now that we’ve talked appetizers, let’s get ready for the big show. And don’t forget to Instagram your favorite #HEBJoyvilleSweeps holiday shots!

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received compensation from H-E-B for my time and participation in the H-E-B Virtual Progressive Dinner. Although we have material connection to H-E-B, any publicly stated opinions of H-E-B and their brands remain my own.