Thanksgiving appetizers should keep everyone happy until that turkey comes out of the oven! After working in restaurant kitchens for several years (where food was coming out non-stop), I’ve seen appetizers and quite a few menus! And you know what the best appetizers always had in common? They were easy to grab with one hand (while holding a drink in the other hand, naturally). Here’s a list of Thanksgiving appetizers that are perfect for grazing holiday guests to scarf down. Pick and choose your favorites from this crowd-pleasing list of hot and cold appetizer recipes, and you’ll have your Thanksgiving guests swooning over them all!
23. Turkey Veggie Tray
Arrange the veggies on a platter and form the tail feathers of a turkey by fanning out strips of bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. A small bowl of ranch or hummus can be the body and olives for eyes with a carrot beak will complete this adorable veggie tray! Such a bright and colorful appetizer will be a change of pace from all of the rich Thanksgiving foods. I know kids will love it and it’ll be a light option for adults! Can make tray ahead and store, covered, in fridge.
Turkey Veggie Tray
Ingredients
Method
- Place a small bowl of dip near the bottom center of a large platter.
- Fan peppers, carrots, and cucumbers above it to make the tail.
- Fill gaps with tomatoes and broccoli.
- Add olive slices for eyes on the dip.
- Add the carrot triangle for the beak.
- Add the red pepper piece for the wattle.
- Cover and chill until serving.
22. Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese
Sweet potato rounds (cut about quarter inch thick) provide a sturdy (and gluten free) foundation for goat cheese, chopped pecans, a drizzle of honey, and dried cranberries for a festive presentation. Roast the sweet potatoes and flip halfway through roasting to cook evenly and allow the edges to caramelize. The beauty of these little appetizers is they taste good out of the oven or after sitting at room temp so it’s one less thing to keep track of in your oven rotation!
Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- Toss sweet potato slices with oil and salt.
- Spread on a lined sheet pan.
- Roast 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Top each round with goat cheese, pecans, and cranberries.
- Drizzle with honey.
21. Thanksgiving Snack Mix
This Thanksgiving snack mix is the perfect crowd pleaser to keep everyone busy while you’re finishing up that turkey! Cereal squares, pretzels, pecans, dried cranberries… toss ’em with brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and you’ve got the perfect balance of sweet, salty, crunchy perfection. This snack mix is TOTALLY make ahead friendly. It can be made up to a week ahead of time, store in an airtight container. There will most likely be leftovers… perfect for the road trip home or leave out for Thanksgiving guests as a party favor.
Thanksgiving Snack Mix
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 250°F.
- Combine cereal, pretzels, and pecans in a large bowl.
- Melt butter with brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Pour over cereal mix. Toss to coat.
- Spread on 2 sheet pans.
- Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Cool completely.
- Stir in cranberries.
20. Cranberry Pecan Pinwheels
These pretty pinwheels can be made in advance, as they actually taste even better the next day, and are oh-so-inexpensive to make for large crowds. Mix cream cheese with cheddar, cranberries, pecans, and green onions, then spread over tortillas, and roll tightly. Refrigerate for a couple hours and slice into pinwheels. Chilling beforehand allows them to slice into pretty, neat and even delicious pinwheels.
Cranberry Pecan Pinwheels
Ingredients
Method
- Mix cream cheese, cheddar, cranberries, pecans, and green onions.
- Spread evenly over tortillas.
- Roll up tightly.
- Wrap in plastic wrap.
- Chill at least 2 hours.
- Slice into 1 inch rounds.
19. Apple Cheddar Crostini
The perfect combination of cheddar cheese and a crisp apple, these bite-sized crostini take little more than a few minutes to assemble so if you have unexpected Thanksgiving visitors, whip these up and drizzle with rosemary honey. Serve with a glass of white wine or cider. Choose apples that are firm to retain crispness. To make apple cheddar crostini, cut a baguette into slices and toast. Spread with cheddar cheese, top with thin slices of apple and drizzle with rosemary honey.
18. Maple Bacon Brussels Sprout Skewers
Roasted until perfectly tender and beautifully browned at the edges, these maple-glazed Brussels sprouts skewers are a Thanksgiving dinner game changer. They’re basically finger food, made right on the sheet pan alongside some salty, crispy pieces of bacon. A total upgrade on the classic side dish! It’s easy to make brussels sprouts skewers. Roast bacon and halved brussels sprouts until crispy and browned at the edges, respectively. Drizzle with maple syrup and roast for 3 to 5 minutes more. Skewer brussels sprouts and bacon pieces together onto small picks.
Maple Bacon Brussels Sprout Skewers
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- Toss sprouts and bacon with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread on a sheet pan.
- Roast 20 minutes, stirring once.
- Drizzle with maple syrup. Roast 3 to 5 minutes more.
- Thread two sprout halves and a piece of bacon onto each skewer.
- Serve warm.
17. Bacon Wrapped Dates
With their combination of sweet, savory and salty flavors, these bite sized bites will be the star of your appetizer table. Stuff pitted dates with either goat cheese or maybe an almond (optional), and then wrap them in bacon, secure with toothpicks, and bake until the bacon is cooked through and crispy. Bacon wrapped dates are even better when you drizzle on some honey for extra sweetness while still warm out of the oven! Trust us, double the recipe because they’ll go faster than you can make them!
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Line a sheet pan with foil.
- Slit each date open lengthwise.
- Fill with about 1 teaspoon goat cheese.
- Pinch closed and wrap with a half slice of bacon.
- Secure with a toothpick.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes, turning once.
- Drizzle with honey and serve warm.
16. Hot Crab Dip
Another dip that can be made super quickly with just a handful of ingredients, all this hot dip needs is lump crab meat, cream cheese, sour cream, and Old Bay. Combine it all together in one bowl, pile on some shredded cheese and pop it in the oven until bubbly and then serve with crackers, toasted bread or celery sticks for scooping. The bright hit of lemon juice really perks up the creamy, dreamy filling.
Hot Crab Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, Old Bay, and Worcestershire.
- Fold in crab and 1/2 cup cheddar.
- Spread in a small baking dish.
- Top with remaining cheddar.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly.
- Top with green onion. Serve warm.
15. Stuffing Balls
The flavors of Thanksgiving stuffing condensed into a handheld, party appetizer! All the flavors you love from your Thanksgiving dish, sage, thyme, savory sausage, bread cubes, celery, onion, herbs and broth, bound together with eggs. Bake until golden brown and super crispy on the outside and serve alongside some warm gravy or cranberry sauce for dipping. Bonus, you can roll these guys up the day before and pop them in the oven right when your guests walk in the door!
Stuffing Balls
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Brown sausage in a skillet. Add butter, onion, and celery. Cook 5 minutes.
- Combine with stuffing cubes in a large bowl.
- Add broth, eggs, sage, thyme, and parsley. Mix well.
- Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.
- Place on a greased sheet pan.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden.
- Serve with gravy or cranberry sauce.
14. Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket
Pull apart pigs in a blanket are always a hit with kids AND adults at parties. These adorable mini pigs in a blanket are made with crescent rolls, but instead of separating them and making individual pigs, they’re left close together and then served in a pull apart ring. Pop ‘em in the oven, remove when golden brown and serve warm, when the pastries are nice and flakey, around a pool of honey mustard or ketchup for dipping.
13. Ham and Cheese Sliders
Make use of that leftover holiday ham the days after Thanksgiving by making some seriously adorable and insanely tasty ham and cheese sliders. These adorable little guys are made with Hawaiian rolls (tops left intact), stacked with slices of ham and Swiss and then slathered with a glaze made from melted butter, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce and more. Bake until golden brown and cheese melty and then slice apart to serve. These would be perfect at a baby shower too.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Slice rolls in half as one sheet. Place bottoms in a baking dish.
- Layer ham and Swiss.
- Add roll tops.
- Mix butter, Dijon, poppy seeds, Worcestershire, and onion.
- Pour over rolls.
- Cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes.
- Uncover. Bake 5 to 10 minutes more.
- Slice and serve.
12. Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
They are insanely delicious, providing a perfect balance of sweet and tangy with a beautiful shine. You can leave them simmering away in the slow cooker for hours, which saves oven space for cooking the turkey and all of your tasty sides! All they require is a bag of frozen meatballs, a can of cranberry sauce and a bottle of chili sauce, plus a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten it all up and a touch of brown sugar to help balance all the flavors. Set it on the table with a box of tooth picks and leave on warm.
Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice in the slow cooker.
- Add meatballs. Stir to coat.
- Cook on low 4 hours or high 2 hours.
- Stir halfway through.
- Switch to warm. Serve with toothpicks.
11. Mini Chicken Parm Sliders
As a former prep cook, breading chicken cutlets was second nature to me. So when I had the idea for these Mini Chicken Parmesan Sliders all I had to do was toss crispy pieces of Chicken Cutlet on Slider Rolls along with some Mozzarella and Marinara Sauce. Brush the tops with Garlic Butter, pop in the oven and enjoy! A great change from Turkey and Cranberry for the kiddos and adults alike!
Mini Chicken Parm Sliders
Ingredients
Method
- Slice chicken into thin cutlets. Pound to 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut into 12 roll-sized pieces.
- Mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Dredge chicken in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs.
- Fry in hot oil 3 to 4 minutes per side, until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Place roll bottoms in a baking dish.
- Top with chicken, marinara, and mozzarella.
- Add roll tops.
- Mix butter, garlic, and parsley. Brush over tops.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes until cheese melts.
10. Harvest Cheese Board
A harvest cheese board is always a win. Choose your favorite assortment of cheeses, cured meats and pair with crackers, grapes, sliced apples, figs, nuts etc. A drizzle of honey or fig jam on top for something sweet too. No cooking involved, takes 15 minutes tops to throw together and guaranteed to please. Lay it all out on a large wooden board and leave out for all to graze on as you’re waiting on the rest of your guests to arrive.
9. Loaded Potato Skins
Loaded potato skins are the perfect thanksgiving appetizer. Bar food and thanksgiving go hand in hand just ask me. To take it up a notch and make these the ultimate finger food opt for smaller potatoes (like gold potatoes) that can be roasted, scooped and stuffed with melty cheddar cheese and bacon crumbles, then topped with a little sour cream and green onion and served in two bites. Save your appetite for everything else on the menu by making sure you serve them HOT (while the cheese is melty and the edges of the potato skins still have a little crisp to them).
8. Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushroom caps filled to the brim with sausage, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese and baked until golden brown and bubbly. If you’re looking for a naturally low carb holiday appetizer look no further! This easy to make mushroom recipe is sure to please. They can also be made ahead of time by stuffing them a day ahead and keeping refrigerated until ready to pop in the oven and serve. These are best served while warm with bubbly golden brown tops and cream centers.
7. Bacon Deviled Eggs
Take the yolks from hard boiled eggs and mash them together with mayo, mustard and a splash of white vinegar (for some added zing) then pipe the mixture into the whites, top with crumbled bacon and chives and bam you’ve got a crowd pleasing thanksgiving appetizer recipe that takes little time to prepare and chances are you have everything you need to make them on hand. Deviled eggs can be made Thanksgiving morning and chilled until ready to serve.
Bacon Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
Method
- Cover eggs with water in a pot. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat. Cover and let sit 12 minutes.
- Move eggs to an ice bath. Peel.
- Halve eggs. Scoop yolks into a bowl.
- Mash yolks with mayo, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Pipe filling into whites.
- Top with bacon, chives, and paprika.
- Chill until serving.
6. Buffalo Chicken Dip
Shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing and cheddar cheese come together to create one heck of an appetizer. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or celery and you’ve got the ultimate Buffalo inspired dip. If you’re looking for a thanksgiving appetizer idea that goes hand and hand with football on TV all day long (a.k.a Thanksgiving day for a lot of families) this buffalo chicken dip is your appetizer. Use rotisserie chicken for an extra easy thanksgiving appetizer. Best served from the dish while still bubbling and hot with melty cheese.
5. Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, Parmesan…what’s not to love? And, by cooking up this Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe in a slow cooker it will stay nice and warm (and creamy and scoopable) all afternoon long. It will also save some much needed oven space on a hectic cooking day! I like to sneak a little garlic in for an added flavor. Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips or toasted bread.
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
Method
- Add all ingredients (except chips and bread) to a slow cooker.
- Cook on low 2 hours, stirring halfway.
- Stir until smooth.
- Switch to warm for serving.
- Serve with chips or bread.
4. Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Layer Hawaiian rolls with sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, provolone cheese, a seasoned butter (I add a little dried thyme) and pop in the oven until melty and hot! I like to make these as an appetizer before a holiday meal, OR, I make them the next day to use up leftover turkey. You can assemble the cranberry turkey sliders ahead of time (cover so that the rolls stay nice and soft) and pop in the oven just before serving.
Cranberry Turkey Sliders
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Slice rolls in half as one sheet. Place bottoms in a baking dish.
- Layer turkey, cranberry sauce, and provolone.
- Add roll tops.
- Mix butter and thyme. Brush over tops.
- Cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes.
- Uncover. Bake 5 minutes more.
- Slice and serve.
3. Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball
Blend together cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese and a couple seasonings, roll into a ball and then press some kitchen twine around the sides to give the ball ridges similar to a pumpkin. Stick a little pepper stem (or even a mini pretzel rod) into the top to mimic a stem. Chill for about 2 hours so it holds its shape nicely then remove the twine and plastic wrap. A fun and festive holiday appetizer that makes a great centerpiece and can be made a day ahead. Serve alongside some crackers and veggies for scooping and dunking.
Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball
Ingredients
Method
- Mix cream cheese, sharp cheddar, Worcestershire, and spices.
- Shape into a ball.
- Roll in finely shredded cheddar.
- Wrap in plastic wrap.
- Tie 4 pieces of kitchen twine around it to make pumpkin ridges.
- Chill 2 hours.
- Remove twine and plastic.
- Press stem into the top.
- Serve with crackers and veggies.
2. Baked Brie and Cranberry Tartlets
Press crescent roll dough into mini muffin tins, add some brie and a dollop of cranberry sauce and pop in the oven! So easy, a beginner can make this recipe, but these bite-size baked brie and cranberry tartlets look like you pulled them from the bakery case. Top with rosemary or some chopped pecans for added holiday flair. Best served while warm so that the brie is melty and the crescent roll crust is nice and flaky.
1. Sausage Cream Cheese Bites
This recipe requires only 3 ingredients: sausage, cream cheese and crescent dough sheets. Brown the sausage, mix with cream cheese, roll up the filled crescent dough and chill before slicing and pop in the oven! Bake until melty, hot and golden. These little gems can also be made ahead and are guaranteed to disappear off of the appetizer table in record time. Serve alongside a honey or mustard based dipping sauce.
Sausage Cream Cheese Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Brown sausage in a skillet. Drain.
- Mix sausage and cream cheese.
- Unroll dough sheets. Spread half the filling on each.
- Roll each into a log from the long side.
- Chill 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Slice logs into 1/2 inch rounds. Place on a lined sheet pan.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden.
- Serve warm with dipping sauce.
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