Best Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

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What Do You Serve Before Thanksgiving Dinner?

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What do you serve before Thanksgiving dinner? Here are some Thanksgiving appetizer recipe ideas—from a cranberry chutney with brie to a spinach artichoke dip. 

When it comes to appetizers, you don’t always need a recipe! Here’s a favorite standby: Brush a bunch of bread slices with olive oil and rub with a garlic clove. Then toast them top each one with a dollop of ricotta, a piece of smoked salmon, a sprinkling of minced chives, and a little grind of black pepper. Voila! Easy, a little elegant, and delicious!

Dips are also really easy, especially as you can prepare them in advance. This spinach-artichoke dish is a favorite of ours because it’s a real crowd pleaser.

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

This Florentine Spinach Dip won first prize in The 2015 Old Farmer’s Almanac Recipe Contest!

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Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Stuffed Mushrooms

How about stuffed mushrooms? Pass a tray of these at your next party and watch them disappear. They’re also great to make ahead and reheat just before serving. 

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Stuffed Mushrooms
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Best-Ever Cheese Ball

No holiday party is complete without a giant cheese ball! It will disappear before your eyes. Note: The cheese ball tastes even better when made a day ahead.

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Best-Ever Cheese Ball
Photo by Sam Jones of Quinn/Brein.

Cranberry Chutney

Slather our cranberry chutney over melted brie on crackers, crostini—or a baked round of brie. This chutney’s best if you make it in advance (at least the day before). 

(The chutney’s also an excellent condiment with roasted pork or poultry.)

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Cranberry Chutney
Photo by vm2002/shutterstock

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Salty bacon wrapped around sweet scallops is a luscious appetizer. They may look fancy, but they’re easy to make.

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Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Photo by Matt Antonino

Baked Stuffed Artichokes

This is a very special appetizer for your Thanksgiving feast! You could serve this as a side dish, too.

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Baked Stuffed Artichokes
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Tasty Mini-Quiches 

These delicious quiches are highly customizable, making them the perfect addition to any holiday party. 

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Tasty Mini-Quiches 
Photo Credit: Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock

Roasted Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus 

This is essentially a two-ingredient dish, and it is always a hit. If you do have any left over, serve it chilled in a salad.

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Roasted Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus 
Photo Credit: Ekaterina Smimova/Shutterstock.

Spiced Nuts 

Tasty, easy to make, and a great “snackable” appetizer. You’d better grab a handful while you can!

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Spiced Nuts 
Photo Credit: Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Dip

Move over hummus! We want to dip everything in this Roasted Butternut and Red Pepper Dip.

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Dip
Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes? See our Thanksgiving Dinners, Thanksgiving Sides, and Thanksgiving Desserts!

What are your go-to holiday appetizers? We’d love to hear in the comments below. 

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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