26 BEST Thanksgiving Appetizers
Nov 16, 2023, Updated Nov 04, 2024
These appetizers will steal the show. Here are 26 breads, salads, soups, munchies, and bite-sized finger foods that will kickstart your Thanksgiving celebration – so much so that your guests might forget about the turkey dinner!
Appetizers are arguably the most important part of Thanksgiving dinner; they set the tone for the whole evening! From party dips like my crowd-pleasing Beer Cheese, or a fall soup like my family-favorite Butternut Squash Soup, your holiday dinner is going to be unforgettable, starting with the apps!
Need some help planning other Thanksgiving courses? Some of my favorite Thanksgiving sides are simple Baked Sweet Potatoes (maybe with a fun toppings bar!), awesome creamless Creamed Corn, or how about one of my YouTube channel’s top recipes, Sautéed Spinach?
I also have a tutorial for How to Carve a Turkey that will help you serve the perfect bird this holiday. Wash it all down with fun fall cocktails that you can make ahead and let guests serve themselves, like classic Negronis or Apple Martinis made with apple cider. Yes please!
And for my fellow sweet tooths out there, change it up and make cute, decorated Pumpkin Cupcakes, Apple Fritters, or my Mom’s famous Pie Crust Cookies instead of predictable pies for your Thanksgiving desserts.
Regardless of your holiday menu plans, you’ll want to check out these favorite Thanksgiving appetizers (many can be made ahead!) and Thanksgiving Sides that your guests will be talking about from now until next year’s feast!
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Video
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Breads
- Easiest French Baguettes: Baguettes aren’t known to be easy to make. But this French baguette recipe is the easiest on the internet, plus it’s crazy good to munch on before turkey dinner.
2. Homemade Crostini: These crostini take 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to make. Crispy, chewy, and lightly flavored with extra virgin olive oil and garlic, these crostini are the best bases for almost any topping (or even alone as a Thanksgiving app!).
3. Easy Popovers: Want to make tall, crispy popovers without special equipment? This recipe is easy, using only 5 ingredients and a typical muffin pan.
4. Buttery Parker House Rolls: Parker House Rolls are soft, and richly yeasty and buttery. You’ll want to make these homemade rolls more than just on Thanksgiving.
5. Ricotta Toast (With Hot Honey and Pistachios): Ricotta toast with hot honey, pistachios and fresh thyme is the perfect sweet and savory appetizer that’s so easy to make, even though they look like they’re from a magazine!
6. Easy Beer Cheese: This velvety pub-style beer cheese is an easy appetizer in just 30 minutes. Dip pretzels, veggies, or crackers…you can’t go wrong!
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Salads & Veggies
7. Crisp Apple Salad: Peppery arugula, sharp cheddar cheese, and crunchy chopped walnuts are meant to be together. Top with a simple homemade vinaigrette, and feed a crowd with this fall salad!
8. BEST Antipasto Salad: An Italian antipasto platter made into a big salad…how could you go wrong?
9. Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad (With Parmesan & Lemon): The most underrated way to serve brussels sprouts is raw! Shred brussels sprouts in a food processor and toss with buttery marcona almonds, parmesan, and fresh lemon juice for a refreshingly easy salad.
10. Roasted Green Beans (With Pickled Shallots & Parmesan): Green beans can be a brilliant, showstopping appetizer by roasting them until they begin to caramelize. Pickle thinly sliced shallots until they turn bright pink, and add a generous handful of parmesan to the final product so it just melts. They’re gorgeous!
11. Roasted Acorn Squash (With Maple Sage Butter): Roast acorn squash in the oven until it’s caramelized and tender. Then finish each squash half with a touch of maple and sage butter, and toasted walnuts. Yum.
12. Italian Bagna Cauda: Bagna Cauda is a classic Italian extra virgin olive oil dip, served warm, and infused with garlic and anchovies. Dip raw or steamed veggies and crusty bread in this heavenly “hot bath”.
13. Creamy Italian Tonnato Sauce: Tonnato is a creamy tuna-based sauce or dip from Italy. Although it sounds a little weird, it’s delicious and versatile! Use as a dipping sauce with assorted vegetables or bread.
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Soups
14. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup: Butternut squash soup is such a staple at the Thanksgiving table. You can make it days in advance, easily reheating and ladling into shallow bowls as an appetizer, topped with a pinch of nuts or dollop of sour cream.
15. Dad’s Split Pea Soup: This split pea soup recipe is a family heirloom. With only a couple ingredients, it’s easy to prepare in a big batch for the holidays, even making days ahead – or frozen and reheated!
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Munchies
16. Parmesan and Pancetta Popcorn: Parmesan and pancetta popcorn is so easy to make and customizable based on your family and friend’s favorite seasonings! This recipe is for popcorn seasoned with olive oil, parmesan cheese, crispy pancetta and black pepper. Who doesn’t love a big bowl of carbonara-flavored popcorn?
17. Crispy Roasted Chickpeas (5 Flavors!): Make crispy roasted chickpeas in a bunch of fun flavors! This recipe includes 5 popular flavors your Thanksgiving guests will love.
18. Citrus Marinated Olives: Dress up olives with a simple citrus marinade. These warm marinated olives are great alone or as part of a larger appetizer spread!
19. Whipped Ricotta With Brown Butter, Sage & Honey: Whipped ricotta is quite possibly the easiest Thanksgiving appetizer! Place ricotta in a mixer and whip it until fluffy. Drop sage in brown butter, add a drizzle of honey, and coarse sea salt for a perfect holiday appetizer with Crostini or crackers.
20. Best Homemade Bacon Jam: Your guests will be beggin’ for this bacon jam. Slow-simmered bacon and caramelized onions come together into a smoky, sweet dip that completes your Thanksgiving appetizer spread with bread or crackers.
Thanksgiving Appetizers: Bite-Sized Finger Foods
21. Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms: These stuffed mushrooms are loaded with sausage, ricotta and parmesan, and fresh herbs. They’re a crowd-pleasing finger food for your holiday appetizer spread!
22. Fresh Salmon Croquettes: Salmon croquettes are made with fresh salmon (instead of the typical canned), veggies, herbs and some panko breadcrumbs to bind everything together into piping hot, crispy patties.
23. Spanakopita Bites (Easy!): Take the tremendous time and effort out of spanakopita, with these easy spanakopita bites! Stuff mini phyllo shells with a homemade filling. These crispy morsels will be your go-to holiday appetizer.
24. Million Dollar Candied Bacon: Sweet, salty, crispy and chewy: candied bacon is also called million dollar bacon for a reason. It’s ridiculously good.
25. Juicy Baked Chicken Meatballs: These chicken meatballs are moist and juicy, baked in only 20 minutes, and are just as perfect made ahead.
26. Cheesy Bacon Mini Quiche: This mini quiche recipe is so easy and crowd-pleasing! Bacon, parmesan cheese, and chives in little phyllo pastry shells are so delicious that you’ll want to double the recipe!
Thanksgiving Dinner Pro Tips
And finally, here are some expert tips for an amazing, stress-free (or should I say stress-less) Thanksgiving dinner:
- Plan Ahead: Create a schedule for the days leading up to Thanksgiving and the day itself. Make a shopping list and get all your ingredients a few days beforehand if possible!
- Prep Ingredients in Advance: Chop, dice, and measure ingredients ahead of time to streamline the cooking process on the big day.
- Make Ahead Dishes: Choose some dishes that can be made in advance and reheated, such as casseroles, side dishes, and desserts. This reduces stress on Thanksgiving day.
- Delegate Tasks: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Delegate tasks to family members or guests to make the workload more manageable.
- Have Appetizers Ready: Prepare your appetizers before guests arrive to keep them satisfied while you put the finishing touches on the main meal.
- Offer Dietary Options: Check with your guests in advance to see if anyone has dietary restrictions or preferences. Plan accordingly to accommodate everyone.
- Leftovers Plan: Have containers ready for guests to take home leftovers. And plan post-Thanksgiving meals using the leftovers!
- Enjoy the Moment: Remember to enjoy the time with family and friends. Don’t get too stressed about the details; the goal is to share a meal and create lasting memories!
If you’ve tried these Thanksgiving Appetizers or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
