When you're planning the menu for your Thanksgiving or holiday party, appetizers can often fall by the wayside. Somewhere between the main course and dessert, you forgot about the little bites that get the party started. Have no fear — here are 20 easy Thanksgiving appetizer recipes that are sure to impress your guests while you finish cooking up the main meal. Just remind everyone to save room for turkey and pie.
Caramelized Butternut Squash + Gorgonzola Crostini
Celebrate the approaching winter season with this crostini featuring seasonal favorites butternut squash, thyme, sage, cranberries and creamy gorgonzola cheese. (via Wisconsin Cheese Talk)
Easy Cranberry Chipotle co*cktail Meatballs
A seasonal take on the Pinterest-famous jelly meatballs, these have just the right amount of spice for those who can’t stomach too much heat, while still staying tart and sweet. (via Host the Toast)
Fried Brussels Sprout Leaves With Lemon + Chili Flakes
Kale chips are so 2014. This year, serve Brussels sprout chips instead. (via Blogging Over Thyme)
Sweet Potato Casserole Bites
Turn a favorite side dish into an appetizer with just sweet potatoes, marshmallows and pecans! Never worry about the potato-to-marshmallow ratio in your casserole again. (via Wonky Wonderful)
Baked Brie With Roasted Maple Cranberries
You can never go wrong with baked brie. Creamy, sweet and savory all at once, no one will believe it only took four ingredients. (via The View from Great Island)
Mashed Potato Puffs
Customize leftover mashed potatoes with your favorite flavors: curry, Italian-inspired or even spinach and goat cheese. These bite-sized appetizers are warm and creamy inside and crispy on the outside. It doesn’t get any better than that. (via The Kitchn)
3-Ingredient Blue Cheese Appetizer
If you think you can’t contribute to your Thanksgiving meal because you can’t cook, think again. This recipe will have everyone thinking you went to baking school. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites
Presenting the ultimate make-ahead holiday appetizer. They can be assembled and frozen — either baked or unbaked — weeks before a party. Oh, and they’re delicious. (via Well Plated)
Cranberry, Butternut + Brussels Sprout Brie Skillet Nachos
One dish is all you need for these fancy nachos. Caramelize your veggies, add your spices to balance the sweetness, add cranberries because fall and then add the brie for creamy, nacho-y goodness. Pretty simple, yet pretty awesome. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Spicy Fontina Spinach, Artichoke + Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms
As the love child of Mexican food and spinach and artichoke dip, these mushrooms are a little addictive. You can stuff the mushrooms in advance and just bake them before serving, leaving you free to socialize with your guests and pour another glass of bubbly. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Roasted Cranberry Pancetta Sweet Potato Skins
The best appetizers are definitely sweet + salty. Reduce food waste from your Thanksgiving dinner by using the potato skins from your mashed sweet potatoes, and extra cranberries from your cranberry sauce. (via Whitney Bond)
Onion, Cranberry + Pecan Cheese Ball
Skip the fancy appetizers — people always go for the simple and delicious ones. You can never go wrong with a cheeseball; the pecans and cranberries make this one a new holiday classic. (via Real House Moms)
Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free… this recipe is perfect for almost any dietary restrictions your guests may have (minus vegetarian or vegan). And bacon-wrapped anything is delicious, right? (via Fit Foodie Finds)
Rosemary Spiced Mixed Nuts
Nuts are always great to have on hand for an easy appetizer. Prepare up to four days before your party and store at room temperature in an airtight container. (via Kitchen Konfidence)
Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie
Wrap pumpkin butter, pecans and brie in puff pastry and bake for out-of-this-world perfection. Serve with crostini, crackers or even apple and persimmon slices. (via Lemon Tree Dwelling)
5-Ingredient Cranberry + Brie Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Swirls
This recipe has five ingredients, and one is cinnamon sugar, which you’re sure to have in your pantry. These also make a light dessert with vanilla ice cream! (via Half-Baked Harvest)
Cranberry Salsa
Even if you’re not a fan of cranberry sauce, you’ll be a fan of cranberry salsa. Make a little extra for leftover turkey burritos. (via Let’s Get Together)
Panko Crusted Stuffing Balls
Save some space on your appetizer table for this one. You’ll just need extra cornbread stuffing, an egg, spices and pepper jack cheese for this unique dish. (via The Dinner Vine)
Salami + Cream Cheese Roll Ups
An upgrade on plain old cheese, crackers and salami, no one can say no to this salty, savory snack. (via Sugar Apron)
Stuffed Mushrooms
Make a touch too much stuffing? Fill up mushroom caps with the stuffing leftovers, sprinkle on a little cheese and pop them in the oven for a quick bite. (via A Pumpkin and A Princess)
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Cassandra Pisone
Cassandra is a San Francisco-based marketer by day and blogger by night (and weekend!). You can usually find her running, surfing, hiking, eating or at the yoga studio when she's not working - or planning her next adventure.
