This post rounds up recipes from other creators. Every photo is shown through its creator’s original Pinterest pin and belongs to them. Click any recipe to get the full recipe on their site.
Featured photo: Stoked at Home, used with permission.
Here’s my secret for hosting Thanksgiving: the appetizers are where you can have the most fun. You can try the newest, trendiest bites (hello, whipped feta and hot honey) and still look like a total pro without working that hard.
The turkey takes all day. The sides take all morning. But a gorgeous appetizer spread? That can take 15 minutes if you pick the right recipes. Guests walk in, see a beautiful board of brie bites and crostini, and assume you’ve been cooking since dawn.
As a mom of four boys who hosts a crowd, I need apps that keep everyone out of my kitchen while the turkey finishes. These 17 are my favorites right now. They’re the trendy apps all over Pinterest this year, mixed with a few crowd-pleasers that even the pickiest eaters at your table will grab. They look like they came from a caterer, but most use store-bought shortcuts like puff pastry and a good block of cheese.
Look for the Trending and Picky Eater Approved notes to build a spread with something for everyone, from your foodie friend to your pickiest nephew.
Pin this for later so you have it ready when you’re planning your Thanksgiving menu!
17 Trendy Thanksgiving Appetizers Everyone Will Love
1. Cranberry Brie Bites
Recipe by Yellow Bliss Road
Flaky pastry cups filled with melty brie and tangy cranberry sauce. They’re a Pinterest favorite for a reason: they look like they came off a caterer’s tray, but it’s basically just assembling and baking.
Trending: this pin has been saved more than 128,000 times on Pinterest.
Why it looks chef-made: a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few chopped pecans on top.
2. Pumpkin Whipped Feta Dip
Recipe by Walder Wellness
Creamy, salty feta whipped with pumpkin into the prettiest orange dip. Swirl it in a shallow bowl, drizzle with honey and olive oil, and watch it disappear.
Trending: whipped feta is still everywhere, and the pumpkin twist makes it perfect for fall.
Why it looks chef-made: the swoosh. Use the back of a spoon to make swirls before you drizzle.
3. Whipped Ricotta Crostini with Walnuts and Honey
Recipe by Food Worth Feed
Toasted baguette slices topped with fluffy whipped ricotta, crunchy walnuts and a drizzle of honey. Five ingredients, total wow factor.
Trending: whipped ricotta and honey is the cozy cousin of the hot honey craze.
Keep reading: 15 Easy High Protein No-Bake Thanksgiving Desserts
4. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
Recipe by Sugar Maple Farmhouse
Sweet, salty, creamy and crispy all in one bite. These always look like a restaurant appetizer, but you only need dates, goat cheese and bacon.
Trending: sweet and salty bites are having a moment, and these are the classic.
5. Prosciutto, Pear and Blue Cheese Bites
Recipe by Eats by the Beach
Juicy pear slices wrapped in prosciutto with tangy blue cheese. No cooking needed, and they look so elegant lined up on a board.
6. Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
Recipe by For the Love of Cooking
The shortcut here is genius: a wheel of herby Boursin cheese does all the flavor work. Stuff, bake and serve warm.
7. Pumpkin-Shaped Cheese Ball
Recipe by The Country Cook
The most festive thing on your appetizer table. A classic cheese ball gets shaped into a pumpkin, stem and all, and it’s the one everyone takes a picture of.
Why it looks chef-made: wrap it in plastic wrap and use a few rubber bands to press in the ridges. Seriously, that’s it.
Keep reading: 25 High Protein Thanksgiving Side Dishes
8. The Best Deviled Eggs
Recipe by Downshiftology
A Thanksgiving table isn’t complete without deviled eggs. Bonus: they’re naturally high in protein, so they keep hungry guests happy until dinner.
Picky Eater Approved: a familiar classic that kids and grandparents both reach for.
Why it looks chef-made: pipe the filling with a zip-top bag with the corner snipped, then dust with smoked paprika and fresh chives.
9. Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
Recipe by A Spicy Perspective
Bright red cranberry salsa spooned over a block of cream cheese. It’s sweet, a little spicy and absolutely gorgeous, and you can make it the day before.
10. Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
Recipe by Julie Blanner
A golden puff pastry package hiding a wheel of melty brie. Cut into it at the table for the ultimate oohs and aahs.
Picky Eater Approved: warm melty cheese and flaky pastry. Enough said.
11. Burrata with Balsamic Tomatoes
Recipe by Spend With Pennies
Creamy burrata surrounded by balsamic tomatoes, served with crusty bread for scooping. It looks like a fancy restaurant starter but takes minutes.
Trending: burrata is the it-cheese of every holiday board right now.
Keep reading: 21 Healthy High Protein Soup Recipes That Actually Keep You Full
12. Goat Cheese Crostini with Fig and Honey
Recipe by The Oven Light
Creamy goat cheese, sweet fig and a drizzle of honey on crunchy toasts. A little bit fancy, a lot easy.
13. Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
Recipe by Midwest Foodie
Sweet caramelized onions, blue cheese and fig jam on flaky puff pastry, cut into little squares. It looks like a bakery tart, but store-bought pastry does the hard part.
14. Parmesan Candied Bacon Crackers
Recipe by Bad Batch Baking
Buttery crackers topped with bacon, brown sugar and parmesan, baked until crispy. These are dangerously addictive, so make a double batch.
Picky Eater Approved: bacon on a buttery cracker wins over even the fussiest guests.
15. Spinach Feta Pinwheels
Recipe by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Puff pastry rolled up with spinach and feta, then sliced and baked into golden spirals. They look so impressive on a platter and freeze beautifully.
Picky Eater Approved: cheesy, flaky and easy to grab with one hand.
Keep reading: 5 Skinny Pumpkin Bread Recipes (that taste better than Starbucks)
16. Sweet Potato Bites with Goat Cheese and Honey
Recipe by What Molly Made
Roasted sweet potato rounds topped with creamy goat cheese and a drizzle of honey. All the Thanksgiving flavors in one pretty, naturally gluten-free bite.
17. Brie, Apple and Honey Crostini
Recipe by Two Peas & Their Pod
Crisp apple slices and creamy brie on toasted baguette with a drizzle of honey. Simple, seasonal and always the first thing gone.
Picky Eater Approved: mild brie and sweet apple, no strong flavors to scare anyone off.
My Tips for a Chef-Worthy Appetizer Spread
- Pick 3 to 4 appetizers, not 10. Choose one dip, one warm bite, one no-cook bite and one showstopper like the pumpkin cheese ball or baked brie.
- Make ahead whatever you can. Dips, cheese balls and pinwheels can all be prepped the day before, so you’re just baking or plating on Thanksgiving.
- Garnish everything. Fresh rosemary, thyme, pomegranate seeds, chopped pecans and a drizzle of honey make anything look professional.
- Use boards and platters. A wooden board or a big white platter instantly makes store-bought crackers look styled.
- Keep it light. Appetizers should take the edge off, not fill everyone up before the turkey.
Thanksgiving Appetizer FAQs
How many appetizers do I need for Thanksgiving? Plan on 3 to 4 options and about 4 to 6 bites per person before a big dinner.
What appetizers can I make the day before? Cheese balls, the cranberry jalapeño dip, pinwheels and deviled eggs all hold well in the fridge overnight.
What are the easiest Thanksgiving appetizers? The prosciutto pear bites, burrata and crostini need little to no cooking, so they’re perfect if your oven is full of turkey.
Keep reading: 10 Low-Sugar Matcha Recipes That Boost Metabolism (and Taste Better Than Starbucks)
Final Thoughts
You don’t need culinary school to put out an appetizer spread people talk about. Pick a few of these, add some fresh herbs and a pretty board, and let everyone think you’re a pro. Happy Thanksgiving, friend!
Pin this for later so you have it ready for every holiday party this season.
