21 Best Thanksgiving Appetizers Ideas for Houseful of Hungry Guests!
In charge of making appetizers this Thanksgiving? Need appetizer ideas that travel well for a family Thanksgiving dinner? The dinner is the main event, sure, but the appetizer table is where everyone actually hangs out! There’s nothing like hanging out in the kitchen while the turkey roasts, and grabbing little bites while catching up with everyone. Here are my go-to appetizer ideas for the big day!
Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
Sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy – this cranberry jalapeno dip is perfect for Thanksgiving. Pulse cranberries with cilantro, jalapenos to make a spicy sauce and spoon it over softened cream cheese. Add crackers or pretzel chips for dipping. It takes about 15 minutes to make! Recipe.
Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce
Baked brie is a showstopper that looks way fancy than it actually is. Wrap a wheel of brie cheese in puff pastry and top it with cranberry sauce. Bake the whole thing till the pastry looks golden and cheese becomes soft and melty. Serve it with crackers, toasted baguette slices, and fruits. This is a great centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.
Fall Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are always a hit as guests can linger around the board, pick what they want, while making easy conversation. Start with a few cheeses like sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, something soft like brie, then add cured meats, crackers, and nuts. Sliced apples, pears, fig, grapes, and dried cranberries bring in fall touches. Make your board an hour or two ahead of time and add the soft cheeses just a couple of minutes before. Find more Thanksgiving platter ideas here.
Sweet Potato Bites with Cranberries and Pecan
These bites combine the flavors of Thanksgiving in one small snack. Roasted sweet potato rounds get topped with a little cream cheese or goat cheese, cranberries, and chopped pecans, then finished with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. They’re slightly sweet, slightly savory, and a little bit festive. You can roast the sweet potato rounds ahead and assemble just before guests arrive.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
This old school dip is a party classic for a reason. It’s creamy, cheesy, and full of crunch from both artichokes and water chestnuts. It tastes great with anything from tortilla chips, pita bread, nan dippers, or baguette slices. Serve it in a slow cooker to stay warm or in a bread bowl for retro feel. Make this now.
Sweet & Spicy Bourbon Meatballs
These meatballs are sweet, sticky, saucy, and boozy – all reasons to keep going back for another one! Frozen meatballs work well with this recipe, as the major flavor comes from the sauce itself. Mix bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, and a little hot sauce to make this deliciously tasty sauce. Then let meatballs simmer in the sauce, till it thickens and coats the meatballs. I love to keep them warm in the slow cooker with toothpicks or coktail picks nearby.
Butternut Squash Hummus
Make regular hummus but add some butternut squash puree and nutmeg to complement the taste. It tastes so good! the creaminess of hummus adds to the creaminess of butternut squash making it taste like a cheesy dip but without all the calories! Add a spoonful of chili crunch on top and serve with crackers on the side.
Cheese Ball with Crackers
The cheese ball first arrived on the scene in the 1960s and never really went away. Mix softened cream cheese with shredded cheddar cheese and your favorite seasonings, then shape it into a ball. You can also shape it into a pumpkin using thread to create ridges. Roll the finished cheese ball in sharp cheddar or chopped pecans or more herbs. A bacon ranch or cranberry pecan cheeseball fits the Thanksgiving theme quite nicely. Make it atleast a day in advance so the shape sets and flavors meld, and you just pull it out of the fridge and add crackers before guests arrive.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are a must for Thanksgiving. You can make the mushrooms with a variety of fillings, but my favorite is a simple herb and cheese filling. Fill the mushroom caps with a mix of panko breadcrumbs, garlic, parmesan cheese, and herbs. You can also add in some crumbled sausage or keep them vegetarian. You can stuff them ahead of time and then bake just as the guests are about to arrive.
Caramel Apple Board
Caramel apple board is an elegant way to serve up your normal Thanksgiving caramel apple desserts. You can make apple slices and have a variety of toppings such as M&M’s, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, and more on a tray. Keep a variety of caramel sauces such as plain caramel, salted caramel, chocolate caramel for dipping. This board is a hit with kids. Find more toppings ideas here.
Bacon-wrapped Dates
The more elegant amongst other appetizers. Stuff some soft sweet dates with a little goat cheese and wrap them in bacon, then bake until crisp. These dates can be made with just a few ingredients and easy to make in short time.
Caprese Skewers
Cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, and fresh basil skewers make an interesting contrast against the rich fall appetizers. These skewers are fresh and light plus the basil acts like a nice palate cleanser. Drizzle them with balsamic glaze before serving for that tangy flavor. I love making them on fancy fall themed appetizer picks. These skewers add a pop of color to a table that’s mostly brown and gold, plus they’re vegetarian-friendly. Recipe.
Cranberry Brie Bites
A whole wheel of baked brie can be too much at times, and that’s where these small bites come in. Line a muffin tin with pastry sheet, then add some brie cheese and cranberry sauce. Bake till cheese is bubbly and pastry is cooked through. You can also use phyllo cups instead of puff pastry sheets.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Everyone loves a good buffalo chicken dip. It’s creamy, tangy, and a little spicy. Just perfect when hot. I love making it in the slow cooker. Just mix shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch or blue cheese, and shredded cheese in together and cook it low and slow. Serve with celery sticks, cucumber slices, tortilla chips and crackers, so there are options for everyone. Get my favorite recipe here.
Pesto Pinwheels
Pesto pinwheels add a pop of green to the table. Spread pesto and cheese over a sheet of puff pastry, roll it up, slice it into rounds, and bake until puffed and golden. They’re easy to eat with one hand and look really pretty on a platter. Vegetarian guests will be glad to have them. You can roll and slice them ahead, then bake them shortly before serving.
Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
These poppers literally work from anything from game day to Thanksgiving feast. Everyone loves biting into the crispy, smoky bacon layer and find the spicy pepper and soft creamy cheese underneath. The flavors just go together. Be sure to scoop out the seeds before you fill the jalapeno with cheese to keep the heat down. Make them now.
Classic Deviled Eggs
No holiday spread is truly complete without deviled eggs. These have been a classic since the 80s for family celebrations such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Mash the egg yolks with a little mayo, mustard, and pinch of salt. Then pipe it back into the egg whites. For that retro look, sprinkle some paprika on top.
Vegetable Platter
A vegetable platter is the perfect appetizer for when your dinner consists of rich, cheesy dishes. Arrange your favorite vegetables, including carrots, celery, cucumber, sweet bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli on a platter with variety of dipping sauces such as ranch, blue cheese, and hummus.
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail feels a little fancy without being much work. Buy cooked shrimp, chill them well, and serve with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges. You can find pre-cooked, peeled shrimp at most grocery stores to save time. It’s a good cold option when your oven and stovetop are busy. Set the bowl over ice if the appetizers will be out for a while.
Spiced Pumpkin and Sage Dip
Need something pumpkiny at the table? Make this spiced pumpkin and sage dip. It’s super easy to make with some canned pumpkin puree, cream cheese, warm spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, plus some fresh sage. It tastes really good with pita chips. You can also add a little curry powder for a kick of flavor.
Pigs in a Blanket
Not really on theme, but then is there really a bad time for pigs in a blanket? These nostalgic snacks are popular with kids as well as adults. Wrap mini sausages in crescent dough sheet and bake till they are golden. Serve with ketchup and mustard for dipping.
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving appetizers are fillers while everyone waits for the turkey and other good stuff. So don’t stress much! Plan a menu of 5 to 6 appetizers, a combo of hot and cold ones, finger foods and cheesy dips, and make sure you have at least 2 no meat options. Then set everything out, mingle and chatter, and enjoy the day!
