21 Thanksgiving Appetizers So Good Guests Forget Dinner Is Coming

The hardest hour of Thanksgiving is the one before dinner. Guests are hungry, the turkey still needs time, and somebody always asks if there’s anything to snack on.

That’s where a good appetizer earns its spot. When the holiday gets hectic, I lean on recipes that take little effort and still feel generous, like a baked brie, a no-cook dip, or a cheese ball you can make ahead.

Fair warning: these 21 starters can make people forget dinner is coming. Put out two or three, and watch the main meal become the second act.

Baked Brie with Figs

Hectic holidays are when I lean on recipes like this baked brie, easy to make and generous on the table. The cheese comes out molten with figs, herbs, and nuts, and it’s best right out of the oven, while it’s still soft. It keeps guests happy before the main meal. Maybe a little too happy.
Get the Recipe: Baked Brie with Figs

Bacon-Wrapped Pickle Bites

Yes, really: a pickle wrapped in bacon. Bake the dill spears until the bacon turns crisp, and you get salty, sour, and crunchy in one bite. It’s the kind of snack that makes saving room for dinner hard.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Pickle Bites

Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer

Cranberry gets to be the star instead of the side. Tangy berries and creamy goat cheese make a festive bite that takes little work, so put it out early and let guests nibble.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer

Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer

Brie and cranberry sauce share one tiny pastry cup, and it works. They bake in puff pastry until warm and melty, and they’re small enough that you’ll lose count.
Get the Recipe: Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer

Delicious and Easy Canapés

I like any appetizer that makes the host look calm, and canapés do that. They’re easy to put together on a platter, so guests get little bites to pick up while you finish dinner.
Get the Recipe: Delicious and Easy Canapés

Sausage Balls

My vote for the heartiest bite on the table goes to sausage balls. This version comes together in about half an hour, so you can make a batch before guests arrive.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Balls

Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip

A slow cooker keeps this dip warm all through the party. Spinach, artichokes, and cheese come together in a creamy dip with three simple steps and about 5 minutes of prep. It leaves the oven free for the turkey.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Guacamole Shrimp Appetizer Recipe

I’d set this guacamole shrimp next to all the cheese and pastry, just for balance. It’s easy to make, and it works for a holiday table or a game day spread.
Get the Recipe: Guacamole Shrimp Appetizer Recipe

Cheese Puffs Air Fryer

One and a half ingredients is how the recipe describes it, and I can’t argue with how little it asks. The air fryer puffs the cheese up, so your oven stays open for the turkey. It’s low carb, gluten free, and grain free, so more guests get a snack.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Puffs Air Fryer

Potato Skins

Potato skins are a meal pretending to be a snack. Scoop out baked potato halves, load them with cheese and bacon, and bake until the edges crisp. A few of these and guests may call it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Make this cheese ball ahead, and it takes care of itself. A creamy cheddar and ranch base chills until firm, then gets rolled in crispy bacon and chives. Set it out with crackers, pretzels, or veggies, and nobody has to hover in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Pineapple Cranberry Brie Crescent Ring

Crescent dough does the fancy work for you, which I love on a busy day. Pineapple, cranberry sauce, and brie bake inside it into a golden ring you can pull apart, so every piece is sweet, tart, and melty.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cranberry Brie Crescent Ring

Cranberry Sauce Cocktail Meatballs

Your oven is already full of turkey, so these meatballs go in the slow cooker. A quick homemade cranberry sauce makes them sweet and tangy, and the pot keeps them warm until guests are ready to snack.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce Cocktail Meatballs

Baked Feta Dip Recipe With Honey, Dates And Hazelnuts

Please don’t skip the Medjool dates, because they turn soft and gooey in the oven. A block of feta (not crumbles) bakes under chopped dates, hazelnuts, honey, and olive oil, an idea that started with a baked feta appetizer I once had with dough balls and walnuts. Serve it warm with crostini or crackers.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Dip Recipe With Honey, Dates And Hazelnuts

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Boards are the easiest way to keep a crowd happy while the turkey finishes. Cured meats, cheeses, fruit, dried berries, and crackers go on one tray, so the salty fans and the sweet fans both win. Honestly, people tend to stop checking the clock once there’s a board to graze.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Buffalo Deviled Eggs

Trust me on the blue cheese. Hot sauce goes into the smooth yolk filling and blue cheese goes on top, so every egg tastes like a buffalo wing. Put a plate out before dinner and see how fast it empties.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Deviled Eggs

Herb and Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizers

Warm pastry swirls are hard to walk past. Puff pastry gets rolled around herb cheese and cheddar, then sliced and baked until golden, with chives and garlic herbs for a savory kick.
Get the Recipe: Herb and Cheese Puff Pastry Appetizers

No-Cook Hot Pepper Jelly Dip with Cream Cheese

Sweet heat, a creamy middle, and no oven needed, which matters on Thanksgiving. It whips up in a food processor, then chills for about 30 minutes. Skip the freezer, because the cream cheese and sour cream can separate.
Get the Recipe: No-Cook Hot Pepper Jelly Dip with Cream Cheese

Thanksgiving Sliders

Okay, sliders can be an appetizer, too. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and melty cheese go on soft Hawaiian sweet rolls and bake with a buttery topping, which is a fun way to give leftovers a second act.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Sliders

Traeger Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Got a Traeger? Put it to work here. Ham, cheddar, and mustard roll up inside puff pastry, get sliced into pinwheels, and bake on the grill, so they’re bite-sized and easy to snack on while dinner finishes.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Pecan Praline Spice Butter Board – TikTok Recipe

Butter boards went viral on TikTok, and I think this pecan praline spice one earns a spot on a holiday table. It’s charcuterie style, so set it out with bread or crackers and let guests help themselves.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Praline Spice Butter Board – TikTok Recipe

I’m all for a little snacking before dinner, but three trips to the appetizer table might be pushing it. Which one would tempt you?