Dairy-Free Holiday Appetizers To Enjoy This Season

’Tis the season for feasts and festivities, for sweets and sauces. It’s not the season for bloating, rashes, and digestive attacks. When planning your pre-meal party bites, include dairy-free holiday appetizers for your lactose-intolerant or casein-allergic loved ones.

Here comes LK, here comes LK, right down the DF lane! We’re ready with a tray full of delicious meat snacks to please every palate. With their bold smoked flavor, tender bites, and certified top-9-allergen-free rating (yes, that includes dairy-free!), they’re perfect for your next holiday gathering.

Meat sticks at a holiday party? We say YES — and we’ll share how to serve them. Versatile and convenient, these snacks can whet any holiday appetite.

Meat Snack Platters

'Twas the night of your party, and all through the house, your friends and your family were just settling down. Then out in the kitchen, there arose such a platter; there was no dairy on it, but that was no matter.

Don’t worry — our meat-smoking skills are better than our rhymes! With our savory sticks, your dairy-free guests will feel merry and bright all through the night.

• Smoke Show Beef Sticks: Bold onion and garlic shine in this savory slow-smoked stick. Choose the mini stick versions to avoid spoiling appetites — well, most of them, at least!

• Heat Seeker Beef Sticks: Wake your guests’ taste buds! Fiery jalapeño and 100% beef are a match made in appetizer heaven. Even the mini sticks pack a big punch.

• Herb-A-Licious Turkey Sticks: Give them a feast before the feast! The full flavors of a turkey dinner, now in snack form.  

• Chicka Boom Chicken Sticks: Avoid the oil and stains of a jar of chili crisp. Instead, get that same rich, spicy taste as a tender smoked stick.

Complement the meat tray with a dairy-free yogurt dip (add a little lemon and dill). Fresh vegetables, preserved jams, and crackers also add extra dairy-free pizzazz.

But let’s be real: Most of the fun is how they are presented! Layer and cross the sticks to achieve a flannel pattern with a red hummus base, or use crackers and vegetables to create reindeer with meat-stick antlers. Options abound!

Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

A sweet, chewy, juicy exterior. A warm, savory, spicy interior. Are you drooling yet?

Turn this popular dinner into bite-sized treats! They’re cute, colorful, and easy to eat. Swap out ground meat for diced LK Heat Seeker Beef Sticks. The smoky jalapeño pairs perfectly with the sweet peppers and whatever dairy-free cream cheese you use for the ooey-gooey filling. 

Mix your meat and “cheese” with lentils or quinoa, corn, and beans. Add spices like cumin, chili powder, and even cayenne. Fill the peppers, then bake until the mixture is melty and browning. 

Serve with a sprinkle of cilantro and an optional dollop of dairy-free sour cream. 

Dairy-Free Charcuterie Board

But I thought charcuterie was Girl Dinner? It is! But it’s also an ideal dairy-free holiday appetizer for all. Plus, holiday revelers can easily customize their plates to their preferences. 

Select bite-sized foods that are delicious individually and together. Olives, nuts, fruits, and dairy-free spreads are all invited. Naturally, our favorite boards always include LK meat sticks! 

Pay attention to the different flavors and textures. If you have a spicy beef stick, don’t add hot jam that makes people reach for the eggnog! Instead, pair it with a bright fruit jam and creamy dairy-free cheese. Savory Herb-A-Licious Turkey Sticks match with briny olives and crunchy, buttery nuts like walnuts or pecans.

Arrange them in a holiday shape, like a tree or wreath, that encourages the pairings you’re going for. Use bowls, ribbons, and cozy fabrics to separate and organize elements. 

Meat and Veggie Skewers

Skewers can be labor-intensive, but they’re always crowd-pleasers. Pair LK jerky with cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and dairy-free cheese cubes. 

Confession? We love the just-charred taste of the grill. So when we use the oven, we add a dry rub or glaze that includes liquid smoke. We also favor meat that brings its own smoky flavor, like the tender Smoke Show Beef Jerky.

Make sure the grill is hot before adding the skewers. You just want to char them, not destroy the texture. When done right, they’re one of our favorite dairy-free holiday appetizers!

Dairy-Free Meatball Bites

Amp up the flavor of your meatballs. Dice or smash up your favorite LK meat sticks and combine them with ground turkey or beef, breadcrumbs, and egg or another binder. It looks like a typical meatball, but the seasonings of the slow-smoked meat sticks are a little surprise gift.

Once mixed, bake the meatballs at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Smaller balls will cook more quickly, so check the internal temperature. You’re aiming for 165 degrees. 

But wait; there’s more! For that holiday-gathering feel, we need a dipping sauce or a glaze. 

For BBQ beef balls: Mix brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, mustard, vinegar, and garlic powder. Add extra sugar and some hot sauce for a sweet and spicy version. 

For turkey meatballs: Heat some apple cider, honey, and oil or ghee, then brush it lightly over the meatballs. 

Spicy Beef Dip

Cold winter, fiery dip. Warm yourself from the inside out with a spice-forward dip using LK’s Heat Seeker Beef Stick. Chop up the sticks and mix them with dairy-free yogurt, then find your ideal spice level with hot sauce. Include cumin, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder to enhance and complement the jalapeño flavor. 

We love a dip in a festive bowl. Top it with cilantro or parsley for a touch of holiday green. For dipping, use chips, vegetable sticks like carrots or celery, a variety of crackers, or sliced bell peppers. 

Enjoy a Dairy-Free Holiday Season With LK

Have we piqued your interest while you peek at your gifts? There are many other options for dairy-free holiday appetizers. Make a surf-and-turf app by pairing shrimp with meat sticks. Swap out the cocktail weenies with slices of beef sticks in a sticky-sweet glaze. 

Whichever adventure you choose, remember that friends and family are the reasons for the season. Delight them and their digestion by serving festive and flavorful dairy-free and allergen-free appetizers to please. With LK, it’s easy! Check out all our LK snacks for your next dairy-free fave.