15 Appetizers For Thanksgiving: Impress Your Guests with Savory Beginnings

Before the turkey and sides take their place on the table, treat your guests to a prelude of flavors with our Thanksgiving day appetizers. In this blog post, we guide you through a collection of 15 appetizers for Thanksgiving that promise to awaken the taste buds and cultivate a sense of anticipation for the feast that lies ahead.

Thanksgiving Meals to Remember

• Thanksgiving Lunch Ideas
• Dessert Ideas For Thanksgiving
• Meaning Of Thanksgiving Day

Appetizers For Thanksgiving

Here are appetizers for Thanksgiving that strike the perfect balance between simplicity and indulgence.

1/ Spinach and Artichoke Dip – Appetizers For Thanksgiving

A creamy and cheesy classic, this Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a crowd-pleaser and an ideal appetizer for Thanksgiving dinner. Blending spinach, artichokes, and a rich mix of cheeses, it’s a perfect dip to kick off your Thanksgiving feast.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Combine ingredients, bake until bubbly, and serve with tortilla chips or bread slices.

2/ Cranberry Brie Bites 

These bite-sized delights not only balance the sweetness of cranberry with the creaminess of Brie cheese but also serve as creative Thanksgiving appetizer ideas—a perfect fusion of flavors in a single bite.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Crescent roll dough, Cranberry sauce, and Brie cheese.
• Instructions: Cut dough into squares, place Brie and cranberry sauce, fold, and bake until golden.

3/ Deviled Eggs with Bacon – Appetizers For Thanksgiving

Elevate the classic deviled eggs by adding crispy bacon. These savory bites are a simple yet impressive addition to your Thanksgiving appetizer spread.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, bacon, chives, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Mix yolks with mayo and mustard, pipe into egg whites, and top with crispy bacon and chives.

Image: Downshiftology

4/ Sweet Potato Fries with Rosemary Aioli

A Thanksgiving twist on a classic appetizer, these sweet potato fries are crispy, flavorful, and served with a fragrant rosemary aioli—ideal Thanksgiving appetizer recipes to elevate your holiday spread.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, olive oil, rosemary, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice.
• Instructions: Cut sweet potatoes into fries, toss with oil and rosemary, and bake until golden. Mix mayo, garlic, and lemon juice for aioli.

5/ Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage

These savory stuffed mushrooms are filled with a delicious mixture of sausage, breadcrumbs, and herbs, making them a hearty and flavorful Thanksgiving appetizer.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Mushrooms, sausage, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, Parmesan, olive oil.
• Instructions: Remove mushroom stems, mix sausage with breadcrumbs, stuff mushrooms, and bake until golden.

6/ Caprese Skewers – Appetizers For Thanksgiving

Caprese skewers are a great Thanksgiving appetizer with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil, balsamic glaze, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Skewer tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

7/ Pumpkin Hummus with Pita Chips

Embrace the fall spirit with this Pumpkin Hummus, an enticing addition to your collection of appetizer recipes for Thanksgiving dinner. Creamy and subtly sweet, it pairs perfectly with homemade pita chips.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Chickpeas, pumpkin puree, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Blend ingredients until smooth, adjust seasoning, and serve with baked pita chips.

8/ Shrimp Cocktail – Appetizers For Thanksgiving

A classic and elegant choice for Thanksgiving, Shrimp Cocktail features plump, succulent shrimp accompanied by a zesty cocktail sauce.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Shrimp, lemon, cocktail sauce.
• Instructions: Boil shrimp, chill, serve with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.

9/ Butternut Squash Bruschetta

Combine the sweetness of butternut squash with the tanginess of balsamic glaze on toasted baguette slices for a delightful twist on traditional bruschetta.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Butternut squash, baguette, olive oil, balsamic glaze, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Roast butternut squash, mash, spread on baguette slices, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

10/ Cheese and Herb Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Bursting with flavor, these stuffed cherry tomatoes feature a savory blend of cream cheese, herbs, and a hint of garlic, making them a delightful bite-sized treat.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, chives, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Cut tops off tomatoes, scoop out seeds, mix cream cheese with herbs, stuff tomatoes, and chill before serving.

11/ Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tartlets

These elegant tartlets boast a harmonious blend of sweet caramelized onions and creamy goat cheese, offering delightful Thanksgiving finger foods—all nestled in a buttery, flaky pastry.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Puff pastry, onions, goat cheese, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.
• instructions: Caramelize onions, cut puff pastry into squares, top with onions and goat cheese, and bake until golden.

12/ Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Pinwheels

These pinwheels offer a delightful combination of roasted red peppers and tangy feta cheese, rolled into a flaky pastry for a visually appealing and tasty appetizer.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Puff pastry, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, olive oil, basil, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Roll out puff pastry, and layer with red peppers, feta, and basil. Roll into a log, slice, and bake until golden.

13/ Maple Glazed Bacon-Wrapped Dates

A perfect blend of sweet and savory, these bacon-wrapped dates are drizzled with maple glaze for a decadent Thanksgiving appetizer.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Dates, bacon, maple syrup, toothpicks.
• Instructions: Wrap dates with bacon, secure with toothpicks, and bake until bacon is crispy. Drizzle with maple syrup before serving.

14/ Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Elevate your mushroom game with these herbed goat cheese-stuffed delights. A harmonious blend of creamy goat cheese and earthy mushrooms.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Mushrooms, goat cheese, thyme, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Instructions: Remove mushroom stems, mix goat cheese with herbs, stuff mushrooms, and bake until golden.

15/ Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites – Appetizers For Thanksgiving

For a vegetarian twist with a spicy kick, these Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a crowd-pleasing alternative to traditional wings.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Cauliflower florets, flour, garlic powder, buffalo sauce, butter, celery sticks, and blue cheese dressing.
• Instructions: Coat cauliflower in flour and garlic powder, and bake until crispy. Toss in buffalo sauce and butter. Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.

Conclusion

These 15 appetizers for Thanksgiving promise to add a burst of flavor and variety to your holiday celebration. Whether you prefer classic favorites or creative twists, these delicious bites are sure to satisfy your guests and set the perfect tone for a memorable celebration.

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