Thanksgiving appetizers get your holiday meal off to a delicious start. We dug deep into our treasure trove of appetizer recipes and found that these top-rated snacks and apps are the best of the best, including seasonal sensations like stuffed mushrooms and cranberry meatballs, plus Thanksgiving-friendly dips, cheesy puffs, and assorted bite-size delights.
Feta Cheese Foldovers
Christina
These golden puffed pastries are filled with a simple feta cheese mixture. “I made these for Thanksgiving, and my family requested more for Christmas dinner,” says SHARARW. “Very, very easy. Plus, I assembled them the day before and baked them when everyone arrived. Tasty, elegant, and EASY!”
Beef-Stuffed Mushrooms
Melissa Goff
A savory ground beef and bread crumb mixture is seasoned with garlic and chili powder and baked inside buttered button mushroom caps. “An 18th-century recipe that I have altered slightly,” says Jennifer. “Better make a double batch because these go fast. Sausage can be substituted for ground beef if you’d like.”
Savory Pumpkin Hummus
NancyLou
Pumpkin purée puts a colorful and delicious twist on traditional hummus. Serve with cut veggies and pita bread! “I think I like my results. I stirred in a small handful of tamari-flavored pumpkin seeds just before serving and sprinkled a bit of paprika on top to make it look nice,” says Georgia J Llewellyn.
Cape Cod Cocktail Meatballs
Deb C
Sweet and tangy cocktail meatballs are baked in a fruity, colorful cranberry sauce glaze in this recipe that originated on Cape Cod (cranberry country). “These cocktail meatballs are perfect for any party where you want to impress,” says Robin Myshrall Ulery. “They are the first appetizer to go, and everyone wants the recipe.
Baked Crab and Artichoke Dip
stacy
Here’s a creamy crab and artichoke dip that’s baked in a bread bowl. Cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise mix it up with Cheddar, herbs, and seasonings. The best part of baking this dip in a bread bowl? You can eat the bowl! The second best part? There’s no serving dish to clean! Serve it hot with crackers.
Balsamic Roasted Grapes
Yoly
“A surprisingly delicious treat,” recipe creator Olivia says of this perfect Thanksgiving appetizer. “Easy to make and a hit with everyone who has tried them! Pairs well with wine and cheese.”
Cranberry Salsa
Carol
This sweet and tangy cranberry salsa gets a little fire from a jalapeño pepper. “I spread cream cheese on a platter and spread the salsa over the top of the cream cheese with whole cranberries for garnish,” says CarolynWG. It’s a “great balance of flavors and pretty too. This will be a regular for future holidays.”
Cranberry Brie Bites
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Tangy cranberry, creamy Brie, and crunchy walnuts come together in a buttery shell for an appetizer that will wow your guests,” says Julie Hubert. “Bonus: These can be made up to three days ahead; wrap them in plastic wrap before the baking step and store in the refrigerator. Serve warm or at room temperature.”
Olive Cheese Ball
KGora
Cheddar cheese, green olives, onion, and a twist of lemon make this easy appetizer an all-time favorite. “This cheese ball is one our family has had and used for 20 years,” says Cindy Carnes. “We love it. It’s simple, and most of the ingredients are kept on hand. Roll it in nuts or parsley if desired. Serve with an assortment of crackers.”
Baked Stuffed Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts
Chef John
Chef John’s version of baked Brie is wrapped in puff pastry dough, chilled, and then baked until the pastry is perfectly browned and the Brie is warm and melty. Let it come to room temperature first so all the flavors can be fully realized. “Was a big hit at our family’s Thanksgiving gathering,” says tharrisa.”
Best Spinach Dip Ever
Charlie Brown
No matter how many creamy veggies you serve at Thanksgiving, you can always make room for this sour cream- and mayo-based dip. “I made this for Thanksgiving, and my mom called and asked me to bring it for Christmas,” Cassy Gartman says.
Sugar-Coated Pecans
SavedByGrace
“I kept a batch for myself and took the rest to Mom’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Two pounds of these pecans were GONE in a matter of hours!” says PTHOMPS2.
Classic Savory Deviled Eggs
naples34102
You can’t go wrong with a classic, especially one that’s best made in advance. “I made these for Thanksgiving,” Holiday Baker says. “The dill taste and garlic powder were a little stronger than I cared for when I first made them. However, the next day they tasted very good.”
Sweet Potato Rolls
lutzflcat
We can’t think of a better holiday to serve these festive, fall-flavored rolls. “We loved these rolls and will make them every Thanksgiving from now on. My one-year-old could not get enough. Very moist and great flavor,” says reviewer ATHENE, who added an extra 1/2 cup of puréed sweet potato.
Pine Cone Cheese Ball
Leslie from Aurora
This festive appetizer tastes as good as it looks! “Savory, yet tangy, and a different twist on the traditional Cheddar-based cheese ball,” Roxanne Ingold Thomas says. “Everyone really liked the taste of the cream cheese and goat cheese blend.”
Jalapeño Cheese Puffs
Kimberly Kahmann Harvey
Store-bought wonton wrappers are stuffed with a cheesy cream cheese-jalapeño mixture, then fried to golden perfection in this fun twist on traditional jalapeño poppers.
Antipasto on a Stick
Lindsey
Salami, olives, cheese, and artichoke hearts are skewered together for a make-ahead appetizer everyone will love.
Best Ever Party Appetizer
Lori Corradetti
Goat cheese is topped with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, basil, rosemary, and garlic in this crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving appetizer.
Mouth-Watering Stuffed Mushrooms
Alberta Rose
Fresh mushrooms are stuffed with a flavorful mixture of garlic, cream cheese, Parmesan, black pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
Festive Olive and Cheese Appetizer
Jones
Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas season, so kick it off in style with this elegant wreath-shaped appetizer featuring olives, sweet grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and fresh rosemary sprigs.
Baked Brie with Maple Caramelized Apples and Spiced Praline Bacon
Alexandra Villegas
“Made this as an appetizer for Thanksgiving,” says Alexandra Villegas. “It was great! For the bacon I did half of the amount of chili powder. Super good on crostini!”
The Best Hot Crab Dip
Chef John
Chef John admits it’s hard to prove, but he thinks this is THE best crab dip. “Perfection, as always, as is!” says NancyC. “Such a party hit, or if you’re like me, perfect for making ahead and baking portions as wanted throughout the holiday season (or anytime!).”
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
You need just three ingredients (scallops, bacon, and lemon juice) to make this restaurant-worthy Thanksgiving appetizer.
Chef John’s Apple Butter
Chef John
“Though the cooking time is long, it’s super easy and pretty hands-free,” Chef John says of his apple butter recipe. Pair it with some sharp Cheddar on a cheese plate or slather it onto cheesy biscuits.”
Sausage Balls
C.P.
These sausage balls are made with sharp Cheddar. And since it’s an easy 3-ingredient recipe, these bites make irresistible Thanksgiving appetizers.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Felicia
“Dates are stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon, and baked until crisp,” according to recipe creator WINEANDCHEESE. “These are delicious and very easy to make for a party.”
Creamy Goat Cheese and Honey
“Creamy goat cheese is lightly dusted with pecans, honey, and rosemary,” says recipe creator Raelee’s recipes, who suggests serving this with crostini or bagel chips.
Holiday Hot Spinach Dip
Melissa Goff
“This recipe is easy to make and delicious,” says KMF0519. “Every time I’ve made it, I’ve had to pass along the recipe.”
Blue Cheese and Pear Tartlets
wintergirl
A sweet-savory mixture of blue cheese and chopped ripe pear is baked in store-bought phyllo tart shells for these elegant appetizers.
King Crab Appetizers
Robyn
“These crab tartlets have long been a family favorite and are requested often at holiday get-togethers,” according to recipe creator 102183.