37 Thanksgiving Appetizers
Thanksgiving is all about the big feast, but let’s not overlook the appetizers—they’re the first taste of this special day! Think of them as a warm welcome for your guests, offering a bite to munch on while everyone catches up and the main meal gets its final touches. Whether you’re after something simple to whip up or a more fancy starter, our collection of Thanksgiving appetizers has you covered.
Smoked Salmon Dip
This decadently flavorful, creamy Smoked Salmon Dip will be the hit at your next party. In less than 5 minutes and with just 3 simple ingredients, you’ll have an elegant party appetizer to impress your guests.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Dip
Bacon Stuffing Rolls
Bacon Stuffing Rolls are a true family favorite. Crispy on the outside, tender and savory on the inside. This delicious dish is an easy way to add a new spin to your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey dinner.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Stuffing Rolls
French Onion Dip
Our creamy, easy, homemade French Onion Dip will make your next Thanksgiving an event to remember. A creamy, tangy base and deliciously sweet caramelized onions result in rich flavors that never disappoint.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Dip
Spinach Dip
There’s a reason Spinach Dip is one of the classics and such a popular party appetizer. It’s deliciously creamy, cheesy, and perfect for dipping chips, crackers, or veggies.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Dip
Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
Bloody Mary devilled eggs are a favorite creative deviled egg idea. They take the concept of traditional eggs and add rich ingredients like slaw dressing, pickle juice, tomato paste, paprika, and more to make unique gourmet deviled eggs with a Bloody Mary feel.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
Shrimp Dip
This Pesto Pasta Salad is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s a simple, make-ahead summer salad recipe perfect for parties, gatherings, or holiday parties.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Dip
Salami Roll Ups
Salami Roll-Ups is one of our favorite starter recipes! Salami Roll-Ups are always a crowd-pleaser, from church events to birthday parties, New Year’s Eve, and any other events
Get the Recipe: Salami Roll Ups
Rotel Dip
Looking for a quick and easy appetizer that’s packed with flavor? Try our easy cheesy Rotel Dip! Made with simple ingredients, including ground beef, Rotel tomatoes, and creamy Velveeta cheese. This dip is quick to prepare and perfect for serving with tortilla chips or crackers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Rotel Dip
Frikadellen
German Frikadellen are delicious pan-fried meatballs made with a mixture of ground beef, onions, and seasonings that are perfect for a quick and tasty meal or can also be served as an appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Frikadellen
Shrimp Salad
Shrimp Salad is delightfully light and refreshing. It’s made with perfectly cooked shrimp, onion, celery, cucumber, dill, and mayonnaise.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Salad
Crab Dip
This cheesy Crab Dip is so easy to make; it makes the perfect quick and elegant party appetizer. Made with lump crab meat baked in a cream cheese base with cheddar and parmesan cheese mixed through green onions and gentle seasonings that give this dip just enough flavor without being too overpowering.
Get the Recipe: Crab Dip
Tuna Croquettes
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to serve tuna, you’ll want to try these savory Tuna Croquettes. Each croquette is crispy on the outside, bursting with flavor on the inside, and perfect with a side of Cucumber Salad or German Potato Salad.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Croquettes
Burrata Caprese
This burrata caprese takes the classic and already delicious caprese salad to the next level! Extra creamy burrata with fresh and flavorful heirloom tomatoes, sweet shallots, and fragrant basil, topped with flaky salt, fresh black pepper, olive oil, and balsamic glaze.
Get the Recipe: Burrata Caprese
Scallop Stuffed Mushrooms
There is nothing average about these delicious scallop-stuffed mushrooms! It’s the scallop mixture that makes this appetizer stand out!
Get the Recipe: Scallop Stuffed Mushrooms
Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Easy Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes features homemade basil Pesto, sautéed zucchini, and delicious sun-dried tomatoes. If you’re looking for the very best crowd-pleasing appetizer for a birthday party, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, you can count on this Basil Pesto Bruschetta to deliver.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Whipped Pumpkin Spice Butter Spread
This pumpkin spice butter is ready in 5 minutes with just 7 ingredients. It’s like a whipped pumpkin pie spread; the perfect compound butter for fall!
Get the Recipe: Whipped Pumpkin Spice Butter Spread
Bruschetta With Mozzarella
There is nothing quite like the classic flavor combination of sweet tomatoes with fresh basil and mozzarella. Allow this winning flavor trio to marinate with a bit of olive oil, balsamic, and garlic, serve on slices of rustic toasted gluten-free bread, and you’ll have a simple bruschetta with mozzarella appetizer that everyone will love and devour.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta With Mozzarella
Baked Meatballs
This 6-ingredients Baked Meatball recipe is an easy, delicious, and incredibly versatile recipe.
Get the Recipe: Baked Meatballs
Crostini With Fig And Prosciutto
A quick and easy appetizer for your dinner guests to enjoy before any meal or holiday gathering. This crostini has a taste profile that is a little sweet, salty, and savory and so very TASTY! Only 10 minutes to prepare!
Get the Recipe: Crostini With Fig And Prosciutto
Avocado Deviled Eggs
These avocado-deviled eggs are creamy, delicious, and an easy variation of a classic recipe!
Get the Recipe: Avocado Deviled Eggs
Air Fryer Black Bean Taquitos
Black Bean Taquitos made in the air fryer! Crispy vegan taquitos made in the air fryer with just a handful of ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Black Bean Taquitos
Brie And Cranberry Tartlets
These brie and cranberry tartlets are perfect for easy holiday entertaining. They take 20 minutes to make and have only four ingredients. Plus, you can make the tart shells ahead of time!
Get the Recipe: Brie And Cranberry Tartlets
Garlic Bread
Do you love the aroma of roasted garlic and freshly baked bread? This garlic bread recipe will have you salivating as the flavors of garlic, parmesan, butter, bread, parsley, and onion all beautifully meld together to create a deliciously savory side to serve with just about anything.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Bread
Instant Pot Hummus
Instant Pot Hummus! This homemade hummus is SO much better than store-bought and oil-free! Vegan, gluten-free, and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Hummus
Marinated Olives With Feta
You only need seven ingredients to prepare this delicious marinated olives and feta cheese appetizer or snack. Expect a riot of soft and pleasing Mediterranean flavors in every mouthful. Everything in there is tasty, from the green and kalamata olives to the creamy feta, salty caperberries, and hints of garlic, red pepper flakes, and extra virgin olive oil. If you love Greek appetizers, this might become your next favorite.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Olives With Feta
Puff Pastry Cheese Straws With Three Cheeses
These puff pastry cheese straws use three different cheeses making these savory snacks really tasty. The best thing is you can have them ready in less than half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Cheese Straws With Three Cheeses
Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer
The creaminess of brie cheese pairs beautifully with the sweet flavor of cranberry sauce in these brie cranberry bites in puff pastry. These delightful little bites are perfect for any season or occasion, and each one boasts plenty of wonderful flavor. So, if you like the gooey creaminess of brie cheese along with sweet bottled or homemade cranberry sauce, you’re going to want to make these.
Get the Recipe: Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer
Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Balls
Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Balls are made with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and chopped pecans. They are such a great party appetizer for the holidays. They’ve got the same classic cheese ball flavor in bite-sized form.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Balls
Marinated Cheese And Olive Antipasto
Cubes of cheese, green and black olives, crunchy red bell pepper, and pepperoncini peppers all marinated in a flavorful, herbaceous dressing make this recipe for Marinated Cheese & Olive Antipasto the perfect addition to your parties, potlucks, and holiday get togethers.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Cheese And Olive Antipasto
Mexican Street Corn
Have you ever had Mexican street corn? Fresh corn has been so good this summer, and this is a super fun way to serve it up!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn
Bacon Ranch Cheesy Stuffed Peppers
These Bacon Ranch Cheesy Stuffed Peppers are a quick and easy appetizer that you can make in about ten minutes.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Cheesy Stuffed Peppers
Spicy Edamame With Garlic
Make the most irresistible fiery snack in under 10 minutes! This Spicy Edamame with Garlic is insanely addicting and fool-proof. I dare you to have only one!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Edamame With Garlic
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the BEST way to make them! It’s so easy and there’s no heating up the oven or deep frying necessary! Perfect for a quick snack or an appetizer with a side of your favorite tomato or marinara sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Rosemary Maple Roasted Pecans
These Rosemary Maple Roasted Pecans need only 4 ingredients and 15 minutes to make. They’re sweet, salty and great for snacking! Serve them with cocktails, as part of a cheese board or to add crunch to soups and salads. So easy to make and perfect for the holidays!
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Maple Roasted Pecans
Mango Corn Salsa
This mango corn salsa is deliciously fresh and light and has the best sweetness from the juicy, ripe mangoes. Serve as a healthy dip with tortilla chips for a summer appetizer or as a topping for tacos, meat, or fish dishes. It’s quick and easy to make and ready in just 15 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Mango Corn Salsa
Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings! Looking for healthy, vegan buffalo wings? These air fryer buffalo wings made from cauliflower are a MUST try!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Air Fryer Broccoli Potatoes
These Air Fryer Broccoli and Potatoes, bold in zesty and savory flavors, are made quickly in just 15 min with minimum prep time. Tossed in olive oil, black pepper, and oregano and topped with vegan cream cheese, this fried Broccoli with Potatoes is a perfect healthy side dish!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Broccoli Potatoes
Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin
It’s the best time to get the best-tasting and most flavorful pumpkins, and I can show you how you can get the most out of this season’s harvest with this air fryer pumpkin recipe.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.