The best Thanksgiving appetizers are the ones you made yesterday. Of the twelve below, five need no oven at all, three are baked early and served at room temperature, and four want the oven near the end. Pick two or three, and plan on 5 to 7 pieces per guest before a full dinner.
Each idea comes from a recipe we read, and we credit the source below it. We haven’t cooked these ourselves. We sorted them by what they ask of your kitchen on the day, since that’s where Thanksgiving plans usually fall apart!
How many appetizers do you need for Thanksgiving?
Two or three recipes is plenty. Blue Sky at Home suggests 5 to 7 pieces per person when a full meal follows, or 10 to 12 for an appetizer-only party. It also says to serve them 1 to 2 hours before dinner and keep them light, so guests are hungry when the turkey comes out.
| Guests | Pieces before a full dinner (5 to 7 each) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 30 to 42 |
| 8 | 40 to 56 |
| 12 | 60 to 84 |
| 16 | 80 to 112 |
That’s our arithmetic on one site’s range, and it counts bite-sized items. A dip or cheese ball is harder to count, so think in handfuls per person. The same source also says to mix something creamy, something crunchy and something fresh.
Which Thanksgiving appetizer ideas need no oven?
These five are cold or room temperature, and the sources say they can be made ahead. Start here. They never compete with the turkey.
- Bruschetta cheese ball. Carlsbad Cravings’ version, shared on Blue Sky at Home, is whipped up in minutes and chilled. It’s rolled in crispy panko and served with toasted baguette slices.
- Cranberry jalapeño dip. Sparrows and Lily’s dip combines cranberry, jalapeño, green onion and cream cheese, and Blue Sky at Home calls it make-ahead. Southern Living has a similar cranberry jalapeño cream cheese dip.
- Pumpkin and feta dip. Walder Wellness whips feta with pumpkin, honey, walnuts and fresh thyme into a hummus-like dip. It can be made in advance and served on crostini.
- Thanksgiving deviled eggs. Delicious Table garnishes them with sage and thyme, and Blue Sky at Home says they’re definitely make-ahead.
- Ranch oyster crackers. Southern Living says they need no cooking and can be prepared ahead, to keep guests happy without ruining their appetite.
Deviled eggs deserve a warning. One of the top r/Cooking replies, in a thread about holiday appetizers, says:
“Deviled eggs never go unfinished. Ever. Think of how many you think you need, and then make double that.”
– r/Cooking (276 upvotes)
That’s one commenter’s joke with a point, not a measurement. Still, if eggs are on your list, make a few extra!
Which ones can you bake early and serve at room temperature?
Three ideas use the oven or stove days before, then sit on the table without any reheating. Is your oven busy on Thursday? This is your sweet spot.
- Buttery toasted pecans. Southern Living says these can be made up to one week ahead. It pitches them as an upgrade for a cheese board.
- Honey roasted pumpkin seeds. The Short Order Cook’s oven-baked seeds are crispy, sweet, sticky and salty, and Blue Sky at Home labels them make-ahead.
- Bourbon maple bacon jam crostini. The Savory Chipolla tops toasted crostini with brie and a bourbon, maple and brown sugar bacon jam. The jam can be made in advance, so you only assemble on the day.
Which appetizers are worth the oven space?
These four are the warm, hot-from-the-oven options, and each needs the oven at some point. Our rule of thumb is to choose only one, and to put it in once the turkey is out and resting. None of the sources gives a temperature that works next to a turkey, so check your own recipe.
- Maple bacon-wrapped dates. Kapnos Dining Club stuffs dates with goat cheese or almonds, wraps them in bacon and adds a maple drizzle just before baking. Blue Sky at Home calls them make-ahead.
- Warm cheese box bites. Southern Living’s host trick is to freeze a batch ahead of time and bake it on Thanksgiving.
- Baked feta with herbs. Ellie Krieger shares a Washington Post recipe where a slab of feta is baked until warm and soft, then topped with herbs. It’s served in its baking dish with crisp vegetables and pita chips.
- Spinach and cheese stuffed mushrooms. Another Ellie Krieger pick, with a garlic and herb spinach filling and Parmesan, baked until the mushrooms are juicy.
Ellie Krieger’s own advice is to keep appetizers festive, light and low effort so they take the edge off without spoiling the main meal. Skip anything heavy, since there’s a lot of food coming.
How do you pick your three?
Aim for a mix. Don’t pile up five of the same kind. Blue Sky at Home says to balance hot and cold options so you aren’t heating things at the last minute, and to include at least one vegetarian and one gluten-free choice. Here’s a simple trio that follows those tips:
- One dip or spread you made the day before, such as the pumpkin and feta dip.
- One crunchy snack from the room-temperature group, such as the toasted pecans.
- One warm bite, if you have oven room, such as the baked feta.
Check the label before you promise anything. Whether a dish is vegetarian or gluten-free depends on the exact recipe and ingredients, and the sources above don’t label most of them.
If you’d rather build a board than cook, our Costco charcuterie board guide covers what to buy and how to lay it out. For the rest of the menu, see our Thanksgiving side dishes ranked and the vegetable sides sorted by oven space. Our turkey calculator shows when the oven frees up. If cranberry is on your menu, our cranberry sauce recipe compares five versions, and the Thanksgiving salad ideas cover the other cold side.
Thanksgiving appetizer questions people ask
What are good snacks for Thanksgiving?
Southern Living’s light list includes toasted pecans, ranch oyster crackers and air fryer pumpkin seeds. Those are the sort of small, quick bites that keep hungry relatives out of the kitchen.
What makes a good appetizer platter?
Blue Sky at Home recommends variety: something creamy, something crunchy and something fresh. A cheese board with seasonal fruit is one of its examples, and it says charcuterie, dips and handheld bites travel well for potlucks.
When should you serve appetizers?
Blue Sky at Home says 1 to 2 hours before the main meal. That’s long enough to settle everyone in and short enough that nobody fills up.