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The best supermarket canapés to serve over the festive period, tried and tested
The tastiest ready-made, bitesize treats for your next drinks party, tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute
Tested by Callum Black and JoJo Anastasiou
You’ve chilled the champagne, donned your party outfit, and now all that’s left to do is put out the party canapés.
Whether you’re feeding friends or treating yourself to a picky tea while wrapping the last of the presents (we’ve all been there), the Good Housekeeping Institute has found the very best supermarket canapés to buy this season.
From prawn lollipops to pork belly bites, there’s plenty to tempt your guests this festive season.
Best canapés to buy for Christmas 2025
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The best Christmas food and drink for 2025, revealed
How many canapés should you serve per person?
According to the experts at frozen food specialists COOK, if you’re planning on following up with a main meal later in the evening, you should serve four Christmas canapés per person, per hour. If the event is a “drinks only” affair, think about increasing that to six per person, per hour.
How we test canapés
Our panel tried 48 varieties of canapés to find their favourite meat, seafood and vegetarian bites — ‘tis the season of goodwill, after all. Each was prepared according to the pack instructions and presented to testers blind to avoid brand bias.
They judged each on their party-ready appearance, aroma, flavour and texture, to find the tastiest canapés for 2025 that will have you going back for seconds (... and thirds).
Score: 92/100
Perfect for daytime soirées, Aldi’s mini ham and cheese scones offer a little taste of afternoon tea in canapé form. Our testers loved the creamy ham hock filling, sandwiched in a cheesy scone and lifted with festive red onion chutney – just add a glass of Champagne.
Available 5 December 2025
Score: 92/100
This clever canapé packs a lot into one party bite. The bite-size fluffy naan is loaded with creamy butter chicken and topped with a sprinkle of crispy onions. Try drizzling a little extra yoghurt on top before serving.
Available TBC
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Crispy Mushrooms Tartlets 240g
Score: 91/100
We think both veggies and meat‑eaters will welcome these mushroom tartlets on the platter. The mini bakes deliver East Asian flavour with savoury soy and aromatic five‑spice, which pairs perfectly with the shredded filling.
Available 19 November 2025
Score: 89/100
No festive picky tea is complete without a take on prawn toast, and these innovative seafood lollipops are our top pick. Each pack offers two fresh flavours – coconut and lime, and sweet chilli – and every stick is coated in crispy puffed rice for an indulgent, moreish bite.
Available 29 November 2025
Score: 89/100
Likewise, warm sausage rolls always go down well with a crowd. And our experts rated COOK’s classic cook‑from‑frozen pork bites. Flavoured with honey and mustard, then sprinkled with poppy seeds, they’re encased in oh‑so‑flaky pastry. Delicious on their own or dunked in posh ketchup.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Chicken Tikka Samosas with a Smoky Masala Ketchup 8pk
Score: 89/100
These golden‑brown, crispy samosas from Sainsbury’s would make an excellent addition to this year’s party platter. They’re filled with tender chicken tikka in a gently spiced, rich tomato sauce, but it’s the masala ketchup that steals the show, adding a smoky‑sweet finish. Pair with a refreshing light lager.
Available 19 November 2025
Tesco Finest Slow Cooked Pork Belly Bites with Cherry Chipotle Glaze 300g
Score: 89/100
Our testers found the succulent pork belly doused in smoky chipotle sauce irresistible, especially when served in this convenient bite-size portion. Enjoy with a glass of red wine to cut through the richness.
Available 10 November 2025
Score: 89/100
Another unique option for fungi fans, Tesco’s flavour-packed rice paper parcels are filled with shredded mixed mushrooms and crunchy veg. Crispy on the outside with a satisfying chew, they won our panel over – especially with the Vietnamese‑inspired garlic and chilli dipping sauce on the side.
Available 1 December 2025
Morrisons The Best King Prawn Thermidor Tartlet Kit 355g
Score: 87/100
Make hosting a breeze with this DIY canapé kit – it has everything you need to whip up party bites at home. Toss the meaty prawns in the creamy thermidor sauce, spoon into the pastry shells, sprinkle over the crunchy topping, then bake and serve. Et voilà: a canapé you can confidently pass off as homemade.
Score: 83/100
Head to the frozen aisle for Iceland’s golden, half‑moon parcels. They’re coated in crisp breadcrumbs and generously filled with hoisin‑style duck and earthy mushrooms. The ultra‑crisp pastry contrasts beautifully with the saucy, meaty centre. Big on flavour, they’re delicious on their own – no dipping sauce required.
Score: 83/100
Tesco’s beautifully presented tail-on king prawns are wrapped in crisp filo pastry with fresh herbs for maximum impact on the plate. Testers praised the generous filling‑to‑pastry ratio and found the Japanese citrus dipping sauce light and refreshing.
Available 10 November 2025
Score: 81/100
These crisp, deep‑filled samosas are perfect for party season. Packed with gently spiced veg and meaty king prawns, they’re served with a fruity mango and chilli chutney that delivers long‑lasting flavour.
Available 6 November 2025
Score: 81/100
Buttery, flaky pastry gives way to fresh‑tasting veg — parsnip, caramelised onions and leeks — for a roll that’s anything but beige. We recommend serving with Christmas chutney for extra cheer. They conveniently cook from frozen and taste homemade — we won’t tell if you want to pass them off as your own.
Score: 81/100
In recent years, bao buns have become an essential component of the festive canapé line-up. This kit contains pillowy-soft steamed buns, crisp veg fritters and sweet soy sauce for DIY assembly. A fun and interesting flavour combo for guests to enjoy this Christmas.
Available 12 December 2025
These also passed...
- COOK Duck Puffs, £8.50 for 140g, Score: 80/100
- Picard Christmas Scallops And Citrus Crisps, £5 for 177g, Score: 80/100
- ASDA Sweetcorn Fritters, £1.94 for 144g, Score: 79/100
- Waitrose No.1 Breaded Cheese Bites with Fig & Balsamic Dip, £8 for 320g, Score: 78/100
- Co-op Irresistible Prawn Toast Gyozas, £5.50 for 206g, Score: 78/100
- Iceland Onion Bhaji Bombs Filled with Mango Chutney, £2.50 for 300g, Score: 77/100
- Morrisons The Best Ultimate Cheese Crumpets, £6 for 176g, Score: 76/100
- COOK Mini Salmon Frittatas, £8.50 for 230g, Score: 76/100
- Picard Mini Christmas Tree Croques Tomato Mozarrella, £5.50 for 173g, Score: 75/100
- Waitrose No.1 Wagyu Beef Mini Pies, £8 for 420g, Score: 74/100
- Morrisons Frozen Korean Style Fried Chicken with Gochujang Drizzle, £3 for 300g, Score: 74/100
- Co-op Irresistible Mexican Pulled Beef & Dirty Rice Croquette with Smoky Ketchup, £5 for 200g, Score: 72/100
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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