20 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

At the top of our easy Thanksgiving appetizers…a festive cheese board! Cheese boards are our go-to for entertaining: they’re simple to put together, easy to customize for various diets, and look simply brilliant. Here’s an easy way to make a cheese board, with loads of cheese board ideas so you can build the spread of your dreams.

Need a simple appetizer to wow at parties? Try this easy cranberry cream cheese dip! The homemade sauce bursts with sweet and tart cranberries, orange juice, and if you’d like, a little jalapeno for a tang. Spoon it over cream cheese and it’s perfect for dipping crackers or even apple slices. It comes together in minutes with minimal effort. 

There could not be an easier appetizer recipe than baked brie! Here’s what you need to know about making a melty, delicious pile of cheese. The toppings are versatile depending on your preferences, and you can make a beautiful platter with little effort. Try honey, cranberry sauce, apricot jam, or pomegranate seeds.

Step it up: Make a platter with sliced pears and apples, grapes, crackers, nuts, and more!

Ready for the best, coziest Thanksgiving appetizer to hit your table? Try this easy Pumpkin Dip! It tastes like everything you love about the season: pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. And it takes only 5 minutes to stir together. Serve with apple slices as a healthy appetizer idea.

This cranberry salsa is a fun Thanksgiving appetizer that's all about the flavors of the season! Use fresh or frozen cranberries here, then whiz them up with jalapeño, lime and honey. Serve with pita chips or crusty bread!

Looking for a great healthy Thanksgiving appetizer recipe for entertaining? Try these simple stuffed mushrooms! These little bites have everything going on: they’re savory, meaty, and herby, with a tender exterior and a crunch in each bite. Even better, this recipe is incredibly easy: no need to sauté filling ingredients. Chop them up, fill, and bake!

Who doesn't love a great spinach artichoke dip? This tangy, creamy dip recipe is such a crowd pleaser that it might interfere with the conversation when you serve it (sorry!). Serve with pita chips or crostini.

Also try: Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Pumpkin hummus? Yes, and it’s surprisingly good: creamy, savory and with an undertone of autumnal goodness. This easy hummus recipe is quick to whip up: just 10 minutes in an food processor.

Here’s a classic party appetizer everyone will crowd around: this easy Cheese Ball! This one gives us all the retro vibes, imagining a 1970’s style appetizer spread with shrimp cocktail and party franks. But some foods never go out of style, and this one still pops for parties. This recipe freshens up the classic with cheddar, green onion, Worcestershire, garlic powder and smoked paprika for a creamy, savory punch.

Looking for a fun, creamy dip that’s simple to whip up for guests? Try this homemade French Onion Dip recipe! Sure, you can easily grab a tub at the store. But making this classic dip at home takes it to a new level. The flavor is fresh, savory, rich and tangy: ideal for drowning salty potato chips or crunchy veggies. 

Looking for a fun party snack everyone will love? This recipe gives a crunchy, candy-like coating to the exterior of nuts. They’re spiced with cinnamon, chili powder and bit of cayenne for an intriguing mix of sweet, savory and spicy. You won’t be able to resist taking another handful!

Need a dip idea that doubles as a sandwich spread? This sun dried tomato pesto is bursting with so much zippy flavor, you’ll want to put it on everything! Dip it with with toasted or grilled bread or crackers, and it’s a burst of savory, sweet, tangy, and herby all at once. All you need are a handful of ingredients to whip up a batch. 

Here’s a quick bread that’s begging to be part of your Thanksgiving appetizer spread: this Sweet Potato Bread! This alterative to pumpkin bread is even more fun than the classic, we think. Why? It’s incredibly moist and sweetly spiced, with cinnamon and a beautiful nuance from the sweet potato. This recipe makes a tall, fluffy loaf that looks impressive. (You can also whip it up as sweet potato muffins.)

Got 5 minutes? Then you can whip up this stunningly simple appetizer: Whipped Ricotta! The pairing of fluffy, savory cheese and gooey golden honey will have everyone licking their plates. It’s creamy, salty sweet perfection scooped up with some warm bread. It’s the ideal starter to get any meal rolling: and it couldn’t be easier to whip up.

This dish will make an olive lover out of anyone. Using the correct type of olives here results in smooth, rich flavor: not briny or overly salty. The garlic, lemon and herbs make a symphony of flavor! Every time we make these and set them out on the table, people go crazy for them.

These easy deviled eggs are totally classic and taste amazing. They’ve got a twist: Greek yogurt in the filling along with the mayo. Along with both yellow and Dijon mustard, it adds the perfect flavoring to these eggs without being overly rich! Garnish with dried dill or smoked paprika, or a mix of the two to make it festive. 

A good pinwheels recipe is classic in an appetizer spread! This recipe is full of Italian-style flavors: mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and a blend of spices. They're easy to make ahead and look absolutely stunning on a platter.

This Thanksgiving appetizer idea could not be easier: honestly, it’s more an idea than a recipe. Bake up some homemade crostini, top with goat cheese and honey, and you’ve got the most delicious sweet and savory taste treat. The flavor of soft goat cheese is so perfect in itself that you don’t need any other seasoning.

What’s more classic than shrimp cocktail? This 1960’s appetizer might seem a little retro, but it’s a timeless recipe that truly never goes out of style! Why buy one of those sub-par trays from the grocery store when you can make an incredible version of shrimp cocktail at home? Homemade is always the best (in our opinion), and this recipe really shines.

Last up in our Thanksgiving appetizers: stuffed dates! These beauties are incredibly easy to make, and the flavor of this simple pairing is outrageous. There’s the sweet caramel chewiness of Medjool dates. Pair that with tangy, fluffy goat cheese, and the sweet-savory combo is out of this world. Or, stuff them with almond butter and top with chunky sea salt.