Waiting for the main course on Thanksgiving day can be insufferable with the delicious, savory smell of a roasting turkey in the oven. Offer your guests (and yourself) some Thanksgiving appetizers to munch on before the big feast! We at OOLA have curated a list of some of the best and easiest Thanksgiving appetizer ideas to help kick-off your upcoming holiday that’ll hold your guests over until the main event!
1. Turkey Cheese Ball
This turkey cheese ball is sure to be a big hit with all your guests, both young and old, at your Thanksgiving celebration. This adorable appetizer is a simple cheese ball, made up of a single Slim Jim, candy eyes, and candy corn for the turkey’s face. Pretzel sticks offer this cheesy turkey a full tail of feathers. Serve the turkey cheese ball in a nest of crackers.
This recipe features a homemade cheese ball consisting of cream cheese and cheddar cheese rolled in a mixture of chopped nuts. Feel free to purchase a pre-made cheese ball at your local grocer for time-saving purposes this holiday season.
2. Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Tray
A tray of sliced vegetables with a side of creamy ranch dip is a familiar dish on the buffet table in the dining room during holiday festivities. Put a fun Thanksgiving twist on your veggie appetizer by transforming your healthy snack into a vibrant turkey veggie tray. This light and refreshing snack will put a smile on everyone’s face!
Feel free to choose whatever vegetables you’d like to create your turkey veggie tray. But, remember that vegetables that lay flat will be the easiest to work with when creating your turkey veggie display. Experiment with various colors of bell peppers, celery sticks, mushrooms, radishes, and thinly sliced tomatoes.
3. Baked Brie And Cranberry Bites
This modern, bite-sized twist on baked brie in puff pastry with cranberry sauce will be a huge hit with your guests. Less mess, less stress. Merry cranberry bites are the perfect small-bite appetizer to kick off your holiday pregame. Creamy brie and warm homemade cranberry sauce are baked in a buttery phyllo shell until the cheese has melted and the shells are golden. Feel free to utilize pre-made cranberry sauce for added convenience.
4. Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli
Serve up some copycat Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli at your Thanksgiving celebration. Toasted ravioli is a simple holiday appetizer that is guaranteed to please even the pickiest of eaters. Coat the cheese ravioli in a delicious bread crumb seasoning, and then deep fry until golden and crispy. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and provide warm marinara sauce for dipping. We promise these tasty toasted raviolis won’t last long!
5. Classic Deviled Eggs
Classic deviled eggs are a staple dish to any holiday party. Thanksgiving deviled eggs will surely keep your guests far from the kitchen and save you from distractions. Our deviled eggs recipe calls for a traditional filling with egg yolks, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and Dijon mustard.
For a Thanksgiving twist on this party classic, add a small dollop of cranberry sauce prior to serving – your guests will love the sweet, tart, savory flavor on this beloved appetizer.
6. Oven-Baked Potato Skins
Brittany Baxter
Oven-baked potato skins are an irresistible combination of baked potato, melted cheddar cheese, and smoked Applewood bacon. This savory, restaurant-worthy appetizer not only makes for a great starter, but it also serves as an excellent vessel for leftover turkey from Thanksgiving day.
If you loved your oven-baked potato skins as a Thanksgiving pre-game, imagine how they’ll taste with leftovers. Transform your classic potato skins with a Thanksgiving-style twist. Pile turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce over a bed of mashed potatoes in a crispy potato skin.
7. Quick Cranberry Glazed Meatballs
Prepare cranberry glazed meatballs in under 20 minutes for your hungry party guests. This quick and easy appetizer consists of packaged meatballs, cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce for a sweet and savory dish.
8. Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Wreath
The cranberry brie puff pastry wreath makes a jovial addition to any holiday cheese board spread. A buttery golden puff pastry is filled with melted brie cheese, cranberry sauce, and crunchy pistachios for an explosion of warm seasonal flavors.
9. Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini
The cranberry brie puff pastry wreath makes a jovial addition to any holiday cheese board spread. Buttery golden puff pastry is filled with melty brie cheese, cranberry sauce, and crunchy pistachios for an explosion of warm seasonal flavors.
10. Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach artichoke dip is a creamy, cheesy classic go-to appetizer that is perfect for any get-together. This mouthwatering dip is filled with spinach, artichoke hearts, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. Bake until golden brown and the cheese is gooey and bubbly. Serve with a sliced toasted baguette, crackers, chips, or fresh veggies for dipping.
11. Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Sausage stuffed mushrooms are an addicting bite-sized appetizer to serve to a deserving crowd. Simple to prepare, mushrooms are stuffed with a mixture of savory Italian sausage, panko crumbs, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and green onion. Impress your guests with this delicious dish by preparing this easy appetizer in under 30 minutes!
12. Easy Garlic Parmesan Knots
Add these easy garlic Parmesan knots to your Thanksgiving pre-feast for a crowd-pleasing quick bite. Prepare this simple dish by tying pre-made biscuit dough into a knot. Lightly brush the dough with butter and a mixture of herbs and spices and finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan. Bake until golden brown and serve buttery, flakey, soft garlic knots that your guests will absolutely love!
13. Easy Olive Puffs
Olive lovers rejoice! If you adore black or stuffed green olives, then you’ll fall in love with this puff pastry wrapped olive starter. Olive puffs are an appetizer that couldn’t be easier to prepare with only two ingredients! Simply wrap each olive with a strip of puff pastry and bake in the oven until golden brown. Sprinkle each puff with cheddar cheese or garlic salt for an added twist.
14. Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Apples
Brown sugar bacon-wrapped apples make the ultimate small-bite appetizer. With bacon in the name, it’s undoubtedly hard to resist! Chopped apples are wrapped in bacon and sprinkled with brown sugar and then baked in the oven for a delicious sweet and salty combination.
15. Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Impress your guests with an outstanding vibrant and display of fresh fruits, exotic cheeses, and delicious meats by preparing a Thanksgiving charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards provide colorful show-stopping arrangements of seasonal fare. Your charcuterie board can consist of anything you’d like with a color theme in mind. Popular choices to include on a board are the following:
Fruit
- grapes
- figs
- plums
- apples
- dried cranberries
- dark cherries
- pears
- oranges
Cheese
- brie
- smoked Gouda
- aged cheddar
- Gruyère blue cheese
Meat
- prosciutto
- chorizo
- Genoa salami
- smoked ham
- kielbasa
Accompaniments
- mustard
- fig jam
- hummus
- pepper jelly
- olives
- pickles
- baguettes
- crackers
- nuts
- dark chocolate
Have fun creating your Thanksgiving charcuterie board, and use a friendly guide along the way!
Preparing a Thanksgiving feast can be stressful, but keeping your guests from getting hangry shouldn’t be. Our list of easy to prepare Thanksgiving appetizers will hold your guests over until the main event and have them feeling thankful all day long.
