23 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes (2024)

Since cooking a Thanksgiving dinner takes a minute it's not a bad idea to have some appetizerson hand to serve your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving guests. Of course, you don’t want to have to spend a ton of time making snacks when you’re also preparing a feast. But that’s where these last-minute fall bites come in. These Thanksgiving appetizers will keep your guests satisfied until dinner, and they’re so easy to make, you won’t have to deal with any extra kitchen drama.

Without further ado, let's dive into these quick and easy fall appetizer recipes!

Butternut Squash and Bacon Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are such a classic snack, but they can become a yummy Thanksgiving appetizer by adding butternut squash and bacon to the center! (via Brit + Co)

Perfect Fall Cheese Board

Transform your famous charcuterie board into a cheese board for a Thanksgivingappetizer that'll hit all the right taste buds. (via Brit + Co

Sausage, Spinach and Mushroom Phyllo Cups

Don't you just love a bite-sized snack you that's quick to make? (via Brit + Co)

Mushroom Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Should your guests craves something that's creamy and crunchy, serve this Thanksgiving appetizer. (via Brit + Co)

Baked French Onion Meatballs

What do you get when you combine the savory flavors of French Onion soup and meatballs? We'll give you a hint — it has something to do with being irresistible. (via Brit + Co)

Shrimp co*cktail

Seafood isn't usually associated with Thanksgiving but that's about to change with this shrimp co*cktail recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Ingredients:

1 lb. shrimp, deveined and chopped

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack

Warning — biting into these sweet, spicy, crispy, cheesy chips is the point of no return, but it's worth it. (via Half-Baked Harvest)

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Two-ingredient apps are always a winner in our book, and this one is extra hearty. (via Savory Tooth)

Candied Walnut Bruschetta

Candied walnuts are excellent on their own; imagine how they taste with pears and goat cheese on toast. (via Pizzazzerie)

Crock-Pot Honey Garlic Little Smokies

Soy sauce and brown sugar coat these mini hot dogs, and a touch of sriracha makes them even more spice-tastic. (via The Blond Cook)

Roasted Carrot Hummus

Carrots and cinnamon are blended with classic hummus ingredients for a healthy dip to pair it with pita chips. The pomegranate and pumpkin seed garnish ups the presentation. (via Sunkissed Kitchen)

Caesar Salad Wonton Cups

Keep a package of wonton wrappers in the fridge, and you’ll never have to worry about what snacks to prep for your party guests. This recipe stuffs them with Caesar salad fixings, but the options are endless. (via Recipe Tin Eats)

Chili and Rosemary Roasted Nuts

Even if you don’t have a ton of time, you can roast up a batch of these smoky mixed nuts before guests arrive. (via The Real Food Dieticians)

French Onion Soup Toasts Thanksgiving Appetizer Idea

French Onion Soup Toasts

Turn French soup into a convenient appetizer with crusty bread, sautéed onions, and smoky cheese. (via Tara's Multicultural Table)

Raspberry Baked Brie

Crispy puff pastry, smooth goat cheese, and tart raspberry preserves are a match made in snack heaven. (via The Recipe Critic)

Smoked Cheese and Onion Straws

If you have cheese lingering in your deli drawer, it’s the beginning of a tasty appetizer. Sprinkle it into puff pastry for a twisty straw you'll reach for again and again. (via Lavender and Lovage)

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites

The combo of chicken, bacon, and barbecue sauce results in an app that's almost impossible to stop eating. (via The Seasoned Mom)

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms With Bacon and Cheddar

Smokey bacon and salty, nutty cheddar top earthy mushrooms for a new version of the stuffed app. (via Savory Tooth)

Garlic-Stuffed Olives-in-a-Blanket

If you have vegetarian guests coming to your party, you’ll want to have a tasty option for them. These do the trick nicely. As a bonus, most store-bought crescent roll dough is vegan. (via The Baking Fairy)

Best Cheese Ball

There's a reason why sharp cheddar cheese balls are a classic. Serve them with buttery Ritz crackers to reach snack nirvana. (The Cookie Rookie)

Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates

Sweet and savory, this goat cheese dip is perfect for dipping crostini and vegetables. (via Half-Baked Harvest)

Savory Roasted Cranberry Salsa

Top a cracker with sour cream (or brie or goat cheese) and spread on this cranberry salsa. (via Live Eat Learn)

Pear and Gouda Puff Pastry

Pear really finds its life purpose when tucked into a square of puff pastry and topped with salty gouda. (via Amanda Wilens)

Get more ideas and inspiration for your Thanksgiving appetizers and other festive holiday entertaining tips by following us on Pinterest or joining our newsletter.

Additional reporting by Sara Cagleand Jasmine Williams.

Lead image via Nutmeg Nanny

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FAQs

How many appetizers should you have at Thanksgiving? ›

Three or four bites of food per person should be plenty. For shrimp co*cktail, oysters or larger crostini, plan about two pieces per person. If you're serving smaller, one-bite hors d'oeuvres, allot three per person total. For dip, 3 ounces per guest will be plenty.

Discover More Details ›

Should you serve appetizers before Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The Thanksgiving meal is so heavy, appetizers aren't usually required, but I suppose if you have guests at your home a few hours before the meal is served, you could offer some light appetizers. Spinach dip with vegetable crudites (celery sticks, cucumber slices, broccoli florets, carrot sticks) and crackers.

Menu Item	Small (2 to 4 )	Large (14 to 20 )
Appetizer	1	3 to 4
Soup	4 cups	16 cups
Turkey (whole)	6 pounds	18 to 25 pounds
Salad	1	2 to 3

What is the most important food on a Thanksgiving table? ›

A Thanksgiving meal is not complete until the turkey is on the table. Turkeys are large, so we get it, but they don't have to be intimidating. The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn't dry out in the oven: Brine it! Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.

Find Out More ›

What are the three most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving? ›

Three of the New York Times cooking section's most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes. As with potatoes, there's a Thanksgiving-preferred way for green beans to be consumed: the casserole, of course.

Keep Reading ›

How many pies do I need for Thanksgiving? ›

The general rule for a holiday family meal, which takes into account larger portions than a normal meal, budgets for each person, on average, to eat one three-inch wedge of a nine-inch pie (there are six of these slices in the pie). Simplified, a family should have one full pie for every six guests at the table.

Know More ›

How many appetizers do you need per person? ›

For a one hour party, typically 4 – 5 bites per person would be appropriate. For a two hour party, because people will eat more the first hour than the second, you'll still need the 4-5 bites and also about 2-3 more per person for the second hour so a total of 6-8 bites per person.

How do you determine how many appetizers per person? ›

Here's a general guideline: Number of Appetizers: Plan for 4-6 different types of appetizers. Quantity per Person: Estimate around 5-6 pieces per person per hour. So for a 4-5 hour party, you'd aim for around 20-30 pieces per person in total.

Know More ›

What is the standard rule of serving appetizers? ›

Prepare enough for your guests.

The standard rule is to serve four to six pieces for each person. Note, however, that if you are planning an evening event that does not provide a main course and only has an appetizer, you should prepare 10 to 15 pieces per person. The amount of time can also change this figure.

How many of each appetizer per person? ›

More than 6 appetizers per person are too many. You don't want to fill your guests' bellies before dinner. Generally, you will need enough for each guest to eat 2 of each type of appetizer you serve. For very large parties, you can lower this to 1.5 servings per person per appetizer.