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Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas: Delicious Starters for Feast

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Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas – Thanksgiving appetizers bring a delicious start to the holiday meal, setting a warm, inviting tone with a variety of flavors and textures to delight guests. Options like bacon-wrapped dates and stuffed mushrooms are small bites that pack in savory, rich flavors, perfect for a festive gathering. Cheese and charcuterie boards provide a beautiful and bountiful spread, featuring assorted cheeses, meats, fruits, and crackers that cater to many tastes. For something creamy and cozy, a warm spinach and artichoke dip with crusty bread or crackers makes a crowd-pleasing appetizer, while deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail add a classic touch.

Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas

Roasted pumpkin soup shooters or butternut squash crostini bring seasonal flavors, pairing creamy textures with warming spices. For a unique twist, a brie wheel baked with cranberry and pecans introduces the holiday’s signature sweet-tart flavor, and mini crab cakes or smoked salmon on cucumber rounds offer a touch of elegance. These appetizers add flair to the meal and keep guests satisfied while the turkey and sides finish cooking, creating a balanced and inviting lead-up to the main feast.

Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas

Here are 40+ popular Thanksgiving appetizers to kick off your holiday meal:

  1. Bacon-Wrapped Dates
  2. Stuffed Mushrooms
  3. Cheese and Charcuterie Board
  4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
  5. Deviled Eggs
  6. Shrimp Cocktail
  7. Roasted Pumpkin Soup Shooters
  8. Butternut Squash Crostini
  9. Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans
  10. Mini Crab Cakes
  11. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds
  12. Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallow
  13. Cranberry Meatballs
  14. Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers
  15. Parmesan Garlic Knots
  16. Roasted Garlic and Herb Dip
  17. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
  18. Mini Cheese Tartlets
  19. Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Dip
  20. Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
  21. Caramelized Onion and Apple Tart
  22. Mini Quiches
  23. Caprese Skewers
  24. Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers
  25. Herb and Cheese Stuffed Olives
  26. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
  27. Spinach Puffs
  28. Mini Meatball Skewers
  29. Pumpkin Hummus with Pita Chips
  30. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Shrimp
  31. Butternut Squash and Feta Bruschetta
  32. Candied Pecans
  33. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
  34. Cornbread Muffins with Honey Butter
  35. Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Crostini
  36. Spiced Apple Cider Meatballs
  37. Smoked Gouda and Cranberry Pinwheels
  38. Feta and Pomegranate Dip
  39. Cranberry Brie Phyllo Cups
  40. Herb-Crusted Goat Cheese Balls
  41. Maple Bacon Wrapped Butternut Squash
  42. Mini Potato Skins
  43. Carrot and Celery Sticks with Herb Dip
  44. Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip
  45. Garlic Herb Cheddar Biscuits

These Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas will add variety and flavor to any Thanksgiving gathering, helping to keep guests satisfied until the main feast arrives!

Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas

How to Cook these Thanksgiving Appetizers

1. Bacon-Wrapped Dates

  • Ingredients: 24 dates, 12 slices of bacon (cut in half), ½ cup goat cheese (optional for stuffing)
  • Instructions:
    1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
    2. Pit the dates and, if desired, stuff each with goat cheese.
    3. Wrap each date with a half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
    4. Place dates on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until bacon is crisp.

2. Stuffed Mushrooms

  • Ingredients: 20 large mushrooms, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, 1 clove garlic (minced), 2 tbsp parsley, 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Instructions:
    1. Preheat oven to 375°F and remove stems from mushrooms.
    2. Combine breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, parsley, and olive oil.
    3. Fill mushroom caps with mixture, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes.

3. Cheese and Charcuterie Board

  • Ingredients: Various cheeses (cheddar, brie, gouda), assorted meats (prosciutto, salami), crackers, grapes, nuts
  • Instructions:
    1. Arrange cheeses and meats on a large board.
    2. Add crackers, grapes, and nuts as garnishes around the board.

4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip

  • Ingredients: 1 can artichoke hearts, 1 cup spinach (chopped), 1 cup cream cheese, ½ cup Parmesan, ½ cup mozzarella, salt, and pepper
  • Instructions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and transfer to a baking dish.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

5. Deviled Eggs

  • Ingredients: 6 eggs, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper
  • Instructions:
    1. Boil eggs, peel, and cut in half.
    2. Remove yolks, mix with mayo and mustard, and season.
    3. Spoon back into egg whites, garnish with paprika.

6. Shrimp Cocktail

  • Ingredients: 1 lb shrimp, 1 lemon (sliced), 1 cup cocktail sauce
  • Instructions:
    1. Boil shrimp with lemon slices for 2-3 minutes, then chill.
    2. Serve with cocktail sauce.

7. Roasted Pumpkin Soup Shooters

  • Ingredients: 3 cups pumpkin puree, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, salt, pepper, cinnamon
  • Instructions:
    1. Blend all ingredients in a pot and heat until warm.
    2. Pour into shot glasses for serving.

8. Butternut Squash Crostini

  • Ingredients: 1 baguette (sliced), 1 cup butternut squash (cubed), ½ cup ricotta cheese, honey
  • Instructions:
    1. Roast squash at 400°F until tender.
    2. Spread ricotta on baguette slices, top with squash and honey.

9. Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pecans

  • Ingredients: 1 wheel of brie, ¼ cup cranberries, ¼ cup pecans, 1 tbsp honey
  • Instructions:
    1. Place brie on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
    2. Top with cranberries, pecans, and honey.

10. Mini Crab Cakes

  • Ingredients: 1 lb crab meat, 1 egg, ¼ cup mayo, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, Old Bay seasoning
  • Instructions:
    1. Mix ingredients, shape into small cakes.
    2. Fry in oil until golden brown.

11. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds

  • Ingredients: 1 cucumber, 4 oz smoked salmon, cream cheese, dill
  • Instructions:
    1. Slice cucumber, spread cream cheese, top with salmon and dill.

12. Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallow

  • Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, mini marshmallows, cinnamon, brown sugar
  • Instructions:
    1. Roast sweet potato slices, top with marshmallow, broil until melted.

13. Cranberry Meatballs

  • Ingredients: Frozen meatballs, 1 cup cranberry sauce, 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • Instructions:
    1. Mix sauces, pour over meatballs, bake at 350°F until heated.

14. Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers

  • Ingredients: Mini peppers, goat cheese, herbs
  • Instructions:
    1. Halve peppers, fill with goat cheese mixture, bake briefly.

15. Parmesan Garlic Knots

  • Ingredients: Dough, garlic butter, Parmesan
  • Instructions:
    1. Shape dough, bake at 400°F, coat with garlic butter and cheese.

16. Roasted Garlic and Herb Dip

  • Ingredients: Sour cream, garlic, herbs
  • Instructions:
    1. Mix ingredients, chill before serving.

17. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

  • Ingredients: Cream cheese, cranberries, pecans
  • Instructions:
    1. Shape cheese with mix-ins, chill.

18. Mini Cheese Tartlets

  • Ingredients: Phyllo cups, cheese, herbs
  • Instructions:
    1. Fill cups with cheese, bake briefly.

19. Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Dip

  • Ingredients: Mini sausages, dough
  • Instructions:
    1. Wrap sausage in dough, bake until golden.

20. Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

  • Ingredients: Asparagus, prosciutto
  • Instructions:
    1. Wrap asparagus, bake at 375°F.

These recipes provide a variety of flavors and textures, perfect for creating a memorable Thanksgiving appetizer spread. Enjoy preparing these dishes!

 

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