Thanksgiving appetizers are overlooked far too often. The turkey and sides are delicious but don't forget that the beginning small bites will get the party started.
From cheesy dips to soul-warming soups, these 20 Thanksgiving appetizer recipes will take your dinner party to the next level.
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Buffalo Chicken Dip
Shredded chicken is mixed with cream cheese, hot sauce, and plenty of spices to make the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer. It's creamy and perfect for sharing with the family. Pair it with tortilla chips, crackers, or sliced veggies to feed a hungry crowd.
Blue Cheese Dip
This is one of the easy Thanksgiving appetizers on this list, which is a great relief from a day full of cooking! With just a few ingredients you can serve a savory dip that will become the main event. It pairs well with pita chips and carrots.
Smoked Salmon Terrine
Smoked salmon terrine is a rich mix of cream cheese, crème fraîche, mustard, and smoked salmon. The taste is delicate but unforgettable. By wrapping the cheese mix in salmon, the appetizer looks like a wonderful edible present.
It'll fit right into the holiday table spread. This is an amazing way to start a meal during the holiday season.
Crab Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
This easy appetizer is full of fresh and zesty flavors. The tomatoes give a burst of flavor that will surely be a crowd-pleaser at your next turkey day get-together.
By using the tomatoes as a vessel for the crab mix, it's an easy appetizer to eat without having to worry about mess.
Roasted Beetroot Dip
Roasted beetroot dip is one of the most beautiful Thanksgiving appetizers. Its vibrant pink-purple color is only made better by its sweet and savory taste. This delicious dip tastes amazing with crackers, bread, or fresh veggies.
Chicken and Mushroom Vol-au-Vents
The flaky pastry is filled with a creamy chicken and mushroom mixture that is satisfying and delicious. The puff pastry has such a lovely texture that is only highlighted by the rich sauce inside. Despite its elegant appearance, the vol-au-vents are actually quite easy to cook.
You can use store-bought puff pastry in this dish to save some time on Thanksgiving day.
Mini Salmon Cakes with Sour Cream and Caviar
Mini salmon cakes are topped with sour cream and caviar to make for one of the fanciest Thanksgiving appetizers. This appetizer marries the richness of salmon with the opulence of caviar. You can also serve these without caviar.
Squeeze a bit of lemon juice on top of the salmon cakes to bring balance to the scrumptious dish.
Devils on Horseback
Don't be intimidated by the name, this delicious appetizer is also known as bacon-wrapped dates. Each bite is filled with savory and slightly sweet flavors. The dates are filled with cream cheese which gives a nice tanginess that works beautifully with the salty bacon.
It's the perfect finger food for any holiday gathering, so give these easy Thanksgiving appetizers a try!
Parmesan Crisps
If you're looking for easy Thanksgiving appetizers, make these Parmesan crisps. Cheese is grated and baked until golden to make a salty, crispy "cracker" that can be a vessel for whatever toppings you like.
These crisps can be paired with any of the dips on this list, but they also taste incredible with a sweet and tangy topping like pomegranate.
Caprese Skewers
This classic appetizer is great for a big feast. Creamy mozzarella cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes, and basil leaves are skewered for the perfect handheld appetizer. With a drizzle of balsamic glaze, the flavors of the skewer truly shine.
Don't forget to add fresh basil to the skewers for a burst of fresh flavors that tie all the ingredients together.
Hoisin and Honey Glazed Mini Chipolatas
This is one of the best Thanksgiving appetizers if you want to put a twist on a classic recipe. Chipolatas, or sausage, are slathered with hoisin sauce and honey to give a delightful sweet and savory taste. You won't see sausage the same way again after trying this recipe.
Pigs in a Blanket
Don't overlook easy Thanksgiving appetizer recipes! With just three ingredients and a bit of time, you can cook these fun Pigs in a Blanket. Mini sausages are wrapped in dough and baked to perfection. You can use turkey sausage as well in this recipe.
Pigs in a blanket is a classic sausage recipe that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike!
Pumpkin Hummus
Give hummus a seasonal flavor twist with lots of lovely pumpkin. With the help of a food processor, this becomes one of the best Thanksgiving appetizers where you don't have to cook.
Drizzle olive oil on the dip and serve it with crackers, sliced apples, or pita bread. Its warm flavors make it one of the best appetizers for the holiday season.
Goat Cheese Ball
Creamy goat cheese is rolled in sweet apricots and almonds creating a lovely mix of textures and flavors. This appetizer is sweet, salty, soft and crunchy. Enjoy the goat cheese ball with crackers for a lovely start to a Thanksgiving dinner.
Spinach artichoke dip
Easy Thanksgiving appetizers get a lot of help from cooking tools like slow cookers, and this recipe is no exception. Spinach, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese are cooked together in a slow cooker to create this melty cheese spinach artichoke dip.
Using store-bought frozen spinach and canned artichoke hearts makes it even quicker. Spinach artichoke dip is a delicious snack that will hold everyone over until the turkey is ready to eat!
Cranberry Baked Brie
Baked brie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving appetizer recipes to make for Thanksgiving. Brie is baked with cranberries and crushed pecans to make for a festive, cheesy dish that pairs wonderfully with crusty bread.
The baked brie feels smoother than cream cheese! You can use leftovers like cranberry sauce, fresh herbs, or crunchy walnuts in this brie recipe to reduce food waste. Not only is baked brie delicious, but it looks spectacularly festive as well.
stuffed mushrooms
Easy Thanksgiving appetizers don't have to be flavorless! These stuffed mushrooms are packed with garlic, cheese, cream cheese, and fresh herbs. Each bite of this Thanksgiving appetizer has tons of umami and the crumbled bacon on top just makes it even better.
There won't be any leftovers after your guests try these stuffed mushrooms! You can try using sharp cheeses like swiss cheese or blue cheese in this Thanksgiving appetizer recipe.
ham and cheese biscuit bites
This is one of the best appetizers to serve at Thanksgiving. These biscuit bites are filled with cheesy goodness and salty bits of meat. Their small size makes them perfect for a handheld treat, but they can also soak up all the yummy gravy.
Enjoy the Thanksgiving appetizer the day of, or the next day for brunch!
Caramelized Onions
Sweet and savory onions are mixed with creamy brie cheese and stuffed in baked phyllo dough. It's an underrated Thanksgiving appetizer that should get a lot more attention!
The onion-brie tarts can also be made ahead of time, which makes them even better. There's enough food to cook on Thanksgiving!
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
If you need some vegan appetizer recipes for Thanksgiving, try making this sweet potato and red pepper soup! Its creamy texture is lovely, but the roasted flavors of the veggies and garlic are what make this appetizer stand out.
Enjoy the sweet potato soup as is, or serve it with crispy bread. Experiment with different roasted vegetables to make soup recipes to see what you like best. This roasted veggie recipe will help give you some ideas for your next soup appetizer.
Do you need appetizers for Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is known for being a food-heavy holiday. There are lots of main dishes and side dishes to enjoy that day. You may think appetizers aren't needed, but many enjoy snacking on small bites while waiting for the food to finish cooking.
How many appetizers for Thanksgiving dinner?
It depends on how many people you have over for dinner. If it's only 4-6 people, you likely need no more than two appetizers. If there's a larger crowd, you should probably make more.
What else can you serve besides turkey on Thanksgiving?
Roasted chicken is a popular substitution for turkey. It's a white meat that can be easily prepared and cooked. Some other recipes that you can make are slow-roasted lamb shoulder or stuffed bell peppers. Don't forget the cranberry sauce or chutney!
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