It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the inevitable bout of extreme hunger that seems to strike the whole family hours before the meal is set to begin. Whether it’s due to the tantalizing smell of roasted turkey, cornbread dressing, and dozens of casseroles, or because everyone skipped breakfast in anticipation of the Thanksgiving feast, you’ll likely need a few snacks on hand to keep everyone out of the kitchen.
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Credit:
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
The perfect balance of sweet, savory, and buttery, these fancy-looking appetizers are a breeze to assemble. (Use mini phyllo cups instead of puff pastry to make this dish even easier.)
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
True to its name, this is one deluxe dip. Bacon, Cheddar, almonds, and scallions add texture and interest to a tangy blend of chive-and-onion cream cheese and mayonnaise.
Credit:
Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Sweet, savory, and just a touch spicy, these Spicy Pear-and-Cheddar Bites layer buttery crackers with sharp Cheddar, juicy pears, and a hint of pepper jelly. They’re an easy yet impressive appetizer that will whet guests’ appetites without filling them up.
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
While you can certainly buy your shrimp pre-steamed, this recipe by Mississippi chef Hunter Evans is way more flavorful, especially when paired with his homemade remoulade sauce.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
If your go-to appetizer is throwing together a beautiful cheese board, amp it up with homemade Buttery Toasted Pecans that can be made up to one week ahead of time.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
With no cooking required, these Ranch Snacker Crackers are easy to prepare ahead of time as an appetizer. Keep guests happy without ruining their appetite for the big Turkey Day feast.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Coming right off of Halloween, you’re likely to have a pumpkin or two around your house. Don’t throw those seeds away and turn them into an easy, light snack for the Thanksgiving season.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
Even the deviled egg purists in your family will be in love with this new take on the old-school appetizer. With less mess, more texture, and so much flavor, there’s nothing we don’t love about this creative recipe.
Credit:
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
If you’re looking for a unique way to serve a sausage appetizer this Thanksgiving, these Conecuh sausage bites will do just the trick. With the sausages dunked in a peach preserve and mustard sauce served with a pepperoncini mayo, these are an easy yet impressive snack perfect before your meal.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
These savory little bites feel fancy but are so easy to put together. Find the frozen mini phyllo pastry shells in the freezer section of your grocery store, right next to the frozen breads and pie crusts.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Tangy, aromatic fresh dill is the star of this creamy dip, but the fried garlic slices on top make this appetizer taste restaurant-worthy.
Credit:
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason
If you’re having green bean casserole for dinner, these French onion deviled eggs will be the perfect precursor. Use up any extra fried onions from your casserole on this delicious twist on the classic appetizer.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This cheese ball takes everyone’s favorite dip—ranch—and turns it into a spread filled with bacon and scallions. A coating of chopped pecans adds a nice crunch, but you can also make it without the nuts.
Credit:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Sausage balls are a holiday classic and truly hit the spot in the chillier weather. Though many families have their own recipes, this cream cheese sausage ball recipe is one to try.
Credit: Southern Living
Nothing could feel more fitting for Thanksgiving than a Brie cheese nosh topped with sweet cranberry sauce. It gives a tasty argument for anyone who claims to hate the popular Thanksgiving side.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Christmas sausage balls—a Southern favorite—got an autumnal takeover by sweet potato and chorizo sausage for a balance of sweetness and spice.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
If you love classic Southern cheese straws, this is the new recipe you have to try. The ultimate host trick is to freeze a batch ahead of time and bake them on Thanksgiving.
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning
Switch up your traditional bruschetta for this fall twist. With peppers, capers, honey, and red wine vinegar, these popables are a unique and delicious appetizer your guests will love.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
During the busy holiday season, there’s nothing we love more than a store-bought shortcut with puff pastry. Aside from fresh thyme and Gouda cheese, you probably have everything you need to make this new twist (pun intended) on cheese straws.
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Fluffy whipped cream cheese meets its flavor match in this cranberry-jalapeno salsa topping that instantly makes cranberry sauce cool again.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Sweet potatoes are an undisputed star on the Thanksgiving table when it comes to side dishes, but why shouldn’t they make an appearance before the meal as well? These two-bite appetizers are sweet, spicy, and look pretty on your favorite platter.
Credit:
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Warm, gooey cheese and red pepper jelly meet in these easy-to-make Baked Brie Bites. With only five ingredients, you can have them ready quickly while finishing the rest of your Thanksgiving meal preparations.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
We’re all about bringing back retro recipes for the holiday season, including this sweet, tangy, and saucy creation. You need just a few store-bought ingredients and your slow cooker.
Say hello to one of our most popular cheese straw recipes that gets extra crunch from the addition of crispy rice cereal, flavor from extra-sharp Cheddar, and kick from a pinch of cayenne.
Credit: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
This Southern twist on traditional spinach dip feels light enough to precede the indulgent meal to come on Thanksgiving Day. Serve with crudité and crackers.
Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
We gave the classic slow-cooker party meatballs you know and love from Grandma’s recipe tin a fun and festive upgrade for the holiday season. Simply serve them with toothpicks in a cute container and cocktail napkins, and you’re done.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
If you have a Southern grandparent (or are one yourself), you probably know that cream cheese and pepper jelly are the best and quickest way to an appetizer win. This recipe ups the ante on the classic with seasoned crackers and herby shrimp for a pre-portioned bite that looks elegant.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
James Beard Award Winning Chef Adam Evans, owner of Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Birmingham, shared this elegant but easy dip recipe with us. “Great balance of creaminess, crunch, saltiness and overall texture,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “Wouldn’t change a thing concerning ingredients.” We have a feeling you’ll agree!
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cheese balls are a classic appetizer welcomed at any Southern holiday gathering, and this recipe with dried beef and toasted pecans will be a showstopper in flavor or presentation.
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Trust us: This smoky, savory snack mix is so much tastier than store-bought. Serve it in individual cups or paper vessels to avoid a million hands in the same bowl.
Dining and Cooking