When the holiday table starts filling up with rich casseroles, relishes, and little nibbles meant to keep folks happy until supper, it helps to have one easy appetizer tucked up your sleeve that comes together in minutes and still feels a little special. This old-fashioned style of party bite leans on a few dependable ingredients from the refrigerator, the kind many of us Midwestern cooks have turned to for church basements, card parties, and Christmas gatherings for years.
These savory bites are especially nice alongside pickle spears, celery sticks, olives, or a tray of cheese cubes and nuts. If you are setting out a bigger spread, they fit right in with deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, and a crisp green salad, and they pair well with sparkling water, iced tea, or a festive holiday punch.
Low Carb 3-Ingredient Roast Beef Horseradish Roll-Ups
Servings: 8
Ingredients
8 oz thin-sliced deli roast beef
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp prepared horseradish
Directions
1. In a small bowl, stir the softened cream cheese and prepared horseradish together until smooth and evenly blended.
2. Lay the roast beef slices out flat on a tray or cutting board. Spread a thin, even layer of the cream cheese mixture over each slice.
3. Starting at one end, roll each slice up tightly. Chill for 10 to 15 minutes if you would like cleaner slices.
4. Serve the roll-ups whole, or slice them into bite-size pieces and arrange on a platter for serving.
Variations & Tips
Milder version: If you have folks at the table who are shy about horseradish, start with 1 to 2 teaspoons instead of the full tablespoon and add more to taste. You want a pleasant zip, not something that overpowers the beef.
Make-ahead tip: These can be made a few hours ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. If you plan to slice them into smaller pinwheels, chilling first helps them hold their shape much better.
Extra creamy spread: If your cream cheese is still a bit firm, let it sit out longer before mixing. A truly softened cream cheese will spread more easily and keep the beef from tearing.
Party platter tip: For a nice old-fashioned appetizer tray, tuck these in with olives, pickles, and celery so guests can help themselves. They disappear fast, so a double batch is never a bad idea around the holidays.