Don't get us wrong: We love a traditional Thanksgiving feast. But we pretty much know what mains and sides to expect every year (roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing—you know the drill). Starters, on the other hand, can be full of delicious surprises. From finger foods to dips to vegetable sides, here are 65 Thanksgiving appetizers that will kick off your celebration with a bang.
65 Thanksgiving Appetizers That Will Blow Your Relatives Away
1. Cranberry, Brussels Sprouts and Brie Skillet Nachos
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
Otherwise known as Thanksgiving dip. (It'd taste even better topped with a mound of leftover turkey...just sayin'.)
2. Roasted Mixed Nuts
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
With just the right amount of spice. We used a mix of cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios, but you can use whatever assortment you'd like.
3. Sweet Potato Hummus and Cumin Flatbread Chips
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
A seasonal twist on a party classic that everyone can get behind. Cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg and cumin offer lots of warming spice to the dish.
4. Baked Brie with Figs, Pistachio and Orange
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Anything starring Brie is a guaranteed hit. Set this warm, gooey app down and watch your guests instantly gather around.
5. Cinnamon Apple Chips
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, make ahead, vegan
They sure beat a bowl of regular potato chips. Dip them in sweet yogurt or caramel sauce.
6. Crispy Mushrooms
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
You only *think* you don't like mushrooms. Simply season and roast the creminis until they're shatteringly crisp and brown.
7. Artichoke Dip Bites
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
We’ve never seen party dip look this adorable. Thanks, store-bought puff pastry and easy canned artichoke hearts.
8. Baked Pumpkin with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Serve an appetizer in a hulled-out pumpkin and let the oohs and ahhs roll in. Bonus: They make eye-catching table decorations, so you can save on flowers.
9. Cheese Crostini with Cranberry Fig Jam
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Sweet, tart, crunchy and creamy in every bite. Prepare the jam ahead so all you have to do the day of is assemble.
10. Eggplant Parm Bites
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
One of our favorite Italian mains, in finger food form. Pass the marinara, please.
11. Jalapeño Poppers
12. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, make ahead, vegetarian
Save the hot dogs for summertime. These cuties won’t spoil your appetite before the big feast.
13. Bleu Cheese-Stuffed Figs
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Sweet, savory and undeniably classy. (Oh, and they're ready to eat in 15 minutes flat.)
14. Beer Cheese Soup
15. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Part holiday appetizer, part work of art. All the toppings will be easy to grab, thanks to the classy serving board.
16. Rosemary, Cheddar and Gorgonzola Pumpkin Crackers
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Complete with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds tossed in soy-maple glaze. Might we suggest adding them to a cheese board?
17. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
Everyone’s favorite comfort food, only miniature. Feel free to spice up the mac and cheese recipe with hot sauce, shredded chicken or crumbled bacon.
18. Spaghetti Squash Fritters
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Hi, spicy yogurt dipping sauce. Hustle to the hors d'oeuvres table—these are bound to disappear fast.
19. Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
Salty, tangy and sweet. Plus, toothpicked apps are a hostess's best friend.
20. Sweet Potato Crostini
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Choose your fighter: smoked salmon and cream cheese or dried cranberries, almonds and crème fraîche.
21. Cauliflower “Tater” Tots
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Don't come for us, but they're better than the original (yep, we said it). Your kids will be none the wiser—as long as there's ketchup on the table, that is.
22. Ultimate Cheese Plate with Roasted Grapes
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Roasting grapes in oil and herbs will give them deep sweetness and complexity, making them the perfect pairing for salty, sharp cheese.
23. Roasted Artichokes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Impeccably golden, crispy and briny. Slather on the garlic-lemon aioli with abandon.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, make ahead
Squash season is back, and we are so ready for it. Here, roasted butternut squash meets tahini and chickpeas for fall twist on hummus.
25. Deviled Eggs, Three Ways
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
You can’t go wrong with this roasted garlic, sriracha and capers trio. Make them ahead so you have one less thing to worry about on the big day.
26. Black Bean Sweet Potato Boats
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian
Loaded with flavor and color. The sweet spuds are also packed with protein (and avocado crema).
27. Brussels Sprout and Apple Tart with Walnut Pesto
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Store-bought puff pastry saves the day, as always. Don't skimp on the walnut pesto—we'd argue it's the best part.
29. Baby Bloomin’ Onions
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Just like your favorite steakhouse makes them, only scaled down for minimal mess. Don't even get us started on the horseradish dipping sauce.
30. Sweet Potato Skins
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Walnut taco meat, an ingenious way to accommodate your vegetarian guests.
31. Caramelized Apples and Goat Cheese Crescents
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
They'll never know you started with store-bought dough. Your secret is safe with us.
34. The Best Damn Pumpkin Soup
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Just scoop out the seeds, pour in chicken stock and seasonings, then roast the whole darn thing in the oven. Ingenious.
35. Maple Pecan Baked Brie
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Where dessert and cocktail hour collide. Serve this five-ingredient beauty with bread, crackers or slices of Granny Smith apple.
36. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly
Don't peel the delicata squash's striped skin off—it's totally edible and offers serious fall flair to these handhelds.
37. Pumpkin Pizza Crust with Arugula and Prosciutto
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, kid-friendly
Bet you didn't think you'd see *this* type of pie on your holiday table. Good looking out, canned pumpkin purée.
38. Bacon, Onion and Asiago Fondue
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Is there anything more comforting than a skillet of warm, melty cheese? Didn't think so. Dip with bread, crackers and crudités.
39. Cheesy Polenta Bites with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
Tangy goat cheese and salty pancetta hold their own against crispy cornbread-like morsels of Parmesan polenta.
40. Brussels Sprout Sliders
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
These prosciutto- and mozzarella-stuffed gems are dangerously poppable, so they won't last long at the party.
41. French Onion Cups
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
The only way to make this Gruyère-rich soup more decadent? By wrapping it in puff pastry, of course.
42. Savory Pumpkin Dip
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Complete with toasted pecans, crumbled bacon and pumpkin purée. Serve with crostini or buttery, flaky crackers.
43. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, one pot, make ahead, vegan
Meet a soup that's pretty enough to steal the spotlight from any roast turkey. Chalk it up to sesame seeds, roasted peanuts and a coconut yogurt swirl.
44. Brie-Stuffed Pretzel Bites
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
We have one question: Are you dipping 'em in yellow mustard or beer cheese? (Both is the only correct response.)
45. Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Choose a pumpkin beer that's loaded with fall spices and real pumpkin. The mini soft pretzels are optional (but we can't imagine why you'd skip them).
46. Mini Mason Jar Chicken Potpies
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Behold, the cutest little casseroles you ever did see. We have a feeling these will win over even the pickiest eaters at the kids' table.
47. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Don't have the patience for charring sprouts? Wrapping them in bacon will give them the crunch you crave minus the smoking pan.
48. Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
And you thought pasta salad season was over. The ingredients are decidedly autumnal, down to the pine nuts and fresh thyme.
49. Baked Gorgonzola Bites
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, one pan, crowd-pleaser
We like to think of this five-ingredient, half-hour app as savory monkey bread. Your guests won't miss the cinnamon, promise.
50. Baked Maple Glazed Donuts
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
No high-maintenance frying required. We're definitely saving some for Black Friday brunch.
51. Buffalo Pecan Pimento Cheese
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
This is probably a new addition to your holiday feast, but it's about to become a family tradition. Add a few extra shakes of hot sauce to the mix if you want it extra spicy.
52. Easy Cranberry Baked Brie Bites
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
They’re bite-sized, meaning you can have as many as your cheese-loving heart desires. (We'd probably make a second batch just for the hostess, if we were you...)
53. Pumpkin Hummus
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <30 minutes, no cook
Bring this beauty to Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving or any other fall gathering. The pomegranate arils on top make it look beyond classy.
54. Cranberry-Brie Puff Pastry Pops
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
These grown-up lollies are made with frozen puff pastry, leftover cranberry sauce and Brie, so all you'll have to do is assemble and bake them.
55. Avocado Deviled Eggs
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Deviled eggs are always a crowd-pleaser, so why not dress them up for the party? Avocado and chives add a little something that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
56. Hasselback Butternut Squash
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Apply the Swedes' method for cooking potatoes to this autumn gourd and let your guests shower you with compliments.
57. Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Beer
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Trust us: It's a far cry from your grandma's, thanks to crumbled bacon, sourdough croutons, sherry vinegar and a whole can of beer.
58. Sweet Potato Biscuit Rolls with Honey Butter Glaze
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Like a crispy biscuit-soft bun hybrid. Excuse us while we go for a swim in the sweet-and-salty honey butter.
59. Miso-Tahini Glazed Roasted Eggplant with Farro
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
Proof that eggplant doesn't need to be fried or blanketed in melted cheese to be enjoyable.
60. Jammy Upside-Down Onion Tart
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
As stunning as it is delicious. Think caramelized brown sugar-herb onions atop a bed of store-bought puff pastry.
61. Five-Minute Bean Salad
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, crowd-pleaser
For when your guests are arriving in ten and you forgot to make an appetizer. (You can thank us later.)
62. Feta Wrapped in Phyllo with Sesame and Honey
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
While it's certainly a crowd-pleasing starter, you can also serve this cheese dish for dessert with wine and fruit.
63. Apple, Grape and Pecan Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
All tossed in a lemony Dijon dressing. Bonus points for candying the pecans in brown sugar and maple syrup.
64. Caesar Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Traditional Caesar dressing uses eggs to achieve a creamy consistency, but this version calls on buttery, omega-rich avocado instead.
65. Vegan Miso Caramel Dip with Pretzels and Granny Smith Apples
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
You're an adult now—you can have a little something sweet before dinner if you want to. (And there's nothing Mom can do about it.)
30 Brussels Sprouts Thanksgiving Recipes That Are Pretty Much Foolproof
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.