30 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers


These Thanksgiving appetizers are great for entertaining before the big meal, from baked brie to pumpkin hummus! The easy recipes feature fall flavors like apple, pear, and cranberry.

30 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

Need finger foods ideas for before the big meal? There’s nothing more fun than munching on a few snacks before the main event. Over the years, I’ve learned the best Thanksgiving appetizers are the ones I can easily prep and have ready once friends and family arrive.

After almost a decade of hosting this holiday, here are my absolute favorite Thanksgiving appetizers that go over well with a crowd, from creamy dips to sweet breads and crunchy crostini! Most take 30 minutes or less, many can be prepped the night before, and all of them are built around the flavors of the season, like pumpkin, apple, fig, cranberry, and pear.

My top Thanksgiving appetizers

Tips for Thanksgiving Appetizer Success

After hosting Thanksgiving for a few years, here’s what I’ve learned about making the appetizer hour run smoothly. First, I try to prepare at least two appetizers the night before: things like marinated olives, apple dip, or cheese balls that taste better after the flavors meld overnight.

I also think about contrasts: in ingredients, colors and textures. For example, have something warm and comforting like baked brie, something cool and fresh like a veggie tray, and crunchy like spiced nuts.

When it comes to special diets, I try to include at least two or three options that are vegan appetizers or gluten-free appetizers so everyone feels included. Many of the recipes in the list above fit these diets!

Make-Ahead Ideas

You can make things like cranberry cream cheese dip, marinated olives, cheese balls, and spiced nuts up to two days ahead.

Quick breads like sweet potato bread and cranberry orange bread can be baked a day or two early, wrapped tightly, and stored at room temperature. Just slice them right before serving for that fresh-baked look.

Even things that need to be baked day of, like stuffed mushrooms, can be assembled the night before. I prep them completely, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight (or put them outside if the weather is cold enough!). Then just pop them in the oven while guests start arriving.

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30 Thanksgiving Appetizers: Holiday Cheese Board

Cheese Board

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These Thanksgiving appetizers are ideal for grazing before the main meal! Choose from baked brie, cranberry salsa, and more.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 brie cheese wheel
  • Honey or cranberry, cherry or apricot jam or preserves
  • Chopped pistachios, walnuts or pecans
  • Flaky sea salt (optional)
  • For the platter: crackerscrostini, baguette slices, sliced apples or pears, grapes, nuts, jam, etc.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the brie in a baking dish or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until soft and warm: it’s done when you touch the center with your finger and it feels very liquid inside.
  2. Top with honey or jam, crushed pistachios, and a bit of flaky sea salt. Surround with crackers or crostini, grapes, apple, pear, etc.

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