Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers for Your Holiday Gathering

You know how everyone starts asking when Thanksgiving dinner will be ready? That's why I love having a few appetizers out for everyone to snack on! These easy Thanksgiving appetizers include simple dips, bite-sized snacks, and make-ahead favorites that keep everyone happy without adding more stress to your holiday prep.

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Looking for a perfect fall appetizer? Cranberry Goat Cheese and Butternut Squash Toast is perfect for fall parties, pre-holiday dinner snacks, or just as an appetizer before dinner. This butternut squash toast assembly combines all of the perfect fall flavors, with sweetness from cranberries and butternut squash met with the tanginess and softness of goat cheese spread on a toasted baguette.?

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, thankfulness, and of course, sharing delicious food. But it's not just about turkey and side dishes! The appetizers and snacks you serve before the meal are just as important to think about.

Why to Serve Thanksgiving Appetizers

Whether you are hosting a more formal Thanksgiving dinner or a small family meal, having appetizers and snacks available for everyone to munch on during the day is a must.

The snacks and appetizers will be enjoyed in more ways than you might think.

They keep everyone out of the kitchen while you are cooking and baking.
Munchies to enjoy during the Thanksgiving day parade, AKC dog show, and/or the football games.
While guests mix and mingle before dinner
After the big meal, when tummies have settled and people just want a little bite to eat. This is especially true if you serve your Thanksgiving meal around lunch time. By dinner time, a full meal isn't necessary!

Quick appetizers are a must for parties and family get togethers! This Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer is a huge holiday tradition because it's super easy to make and the whole family can enjoy it! It's simply a block of cream cheese with your choice of pepper jelly or fruit preserve on top, served with Back to Nature Pink Himalayan multi-grain crackers. The combination is a perfect blend of sweet, spicy and salty!

Appetizer Varieties

Since Thanksgiving is a fall holiday, you can bring fall flavors into the appetizers. Giving these snacks a fall twist makes the event feel festive. Here are a few easy ideas:

Charcuterie plate: Crackers or crostini, with apple butter, cranberry jam or cranberry sauce, honey, cheese slices and cured meats like pepperoni and prosciutto.
Crostini: I have a lot of crostini recipes to choose from!
Olive oil dip: Warm homemade focaccia bread or soft breadsticks and a plate of olive oil with a drizzle of Italian seasoning for dipping
Chips and salsa: tortilla chips and pumpkin salsa
Hummus and pita chips: Pumpkin hummus or butternut hummus and pita chips
Flatbread pizzas: Pita bread with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and any toppings you have on hand

Glass of sangria made with lime, orange and cranberry.

Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

Slices of baguette topped with cheese, prosciutto, and dried cranberries are arranged on a white platter.

Cranberry Prosciutto Crostini

Enjoy an easy and delicious fall appetizer with Cranberry Prosciutto Crostini, perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering.

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Small slices of bread topped with cream cheese, diced butternut squash, dried cranberries, and herbs on a white plate.

Fall Bruschetta

Create a quick and perfectly balanced fall bruschetta that captures the season's essence in each bite.

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A skillet with melted cheese dip containing bits of tomato and herbs on a light blue surface, accompanied by scattered crackers and a striped cloth.

Skillet Sausage Dip

This skillet sausage dip is a must-have for football season, especially on Thanksgiving when you want a warm snack to enjoy while watching the games.

Check out this recipe

Jalapeno popper dip appetizer in a white baking dish, viewed from overhead.

Jalapeño Popper Dip

This Cream Cheese Jalapeño Popper Dip will become your go-to party appetizer! It's a classic, easy recipe that can be thrown together quickly, so you fan focus on other Thanksgiving recipes.

Check out this recipe

A plate of fresh vegetables including broccoli, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and celery arranged around a bowl of ranch dip, garnished with parsley and cucumber slices.

Easy Vegetable Tray

Make an easy vegetable tray to keep everyone fed while you finish cooking the Thanksgiving meal. It's a great snack and so easy to assemble!

Check out this recipe

A plate of baked parsnip fries with a side of dipping sauce topped with chopped green onions.

Cook at Home Mom

Crispy Parsnip Fries

Parsnip fries are great to snack on before the big Thanksgiving meal. They don't fill you up with empty calories like some snacks can, and they're just as delicious as French fries. They're great with any dip!

Check out this recipe

A bowl of orange soup garnished with bacon pieces, black pepper, and fresh herbs, with a spoon resting inside.

Butternut Squash Soup

A creamy bowl of fall flavored comfort food - this butternut squash soup is absolutely wonderful!

Check out this recipe

Two homemade biscuits with a golden-brown crust sit on a white plate against a light background.

Goat Cheese Rosemary Drop Biscuits

Elevate your Thanksgiving with these quick, buttery goat cheese rosemary drop biscuits, a perfect bread component for any occasion.

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A close-up of a pastry topped with glazed pecans, ideal for Thanksgiving appetizers.

www.lemontreedwelling.com

Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie

Elevate your Thanksgiving appetizers with this easy-to-make delight - Brie cheese, pumpkin butter, and pecans wrapped in puff pastry, baked to a gooey perfection.

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A Thanksgiving appetizer featuring a cheese ball coated with pecans and dried cranberries, served with crackers.

familyaroundthetable.com

Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

Traditional cheese balls get a festive fall makeover with this delightful Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball, a classic appetizer for Thanksgiving.

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A hand holds a chocolate-dipped apple slice topped with shredded coconut, with a platter of Thanksgiving appetizers in the background.

Cook At Home Mom

Chocolate Covered Apple Slices

A little sweet treat like chocolate covered apple slices won't spoil anyone's Thanksgiving dinner, and they're fun for kids to make, too!

Check out this recipe

Roasted sweet potato rounds topped with goat cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, and a honey drizzle, perfect as Thanksgiving appetizers.

www.theroastedroot.net

Sweet Potato Rounds with Herbed Ricotta and Walnuts

Impress your guests with these two-bite Sweet Potato Rounds, topped with herbed ricotta, walnuts, cranberries, and honey, creating a flavorful and fun Thanksgiving appetizer.

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A Thanksgiving appetizer charcuterie board featuring herb-topped cheese, sliced cheddar, a wedge of fruit-studded cheese, apple and pear slices, grapes, crackers, and walnuts.

www.theanthonykitchen.com

Thanksgiving Snack Board

Keep complaints and hunger at bay with a Thanksgiving Snack Board, a mix of salty-sweet, no-cook nibbles to enjoy while waiting for the turkey to cook.

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Drinks to Serve with Thanksgiving Appetizers

Don't forget to think about drinks when you are planning your appetizer spread!

Here are some favorites:

Beer: Go for a simple lager or wheat beer, or whatever the favorite is!
Wine: Serve a variety of white and red wines.
Spiced apple cider: It's non-alcoholic, but you can add rum or bourbon if you like.
Champagne: Thanksgiving is worth celebrating!
Spiced cranberry sangria: This wine drink has extra festive flavors.
Sparkling cranberry ginger ale punch: This non-alcoholic punch is great for the kiddos.

Tell me in comments below... What are some of your favorite snacks and appetizers to enjoy on Thanksgiving?