These 30 Thanksgiving appetizers and finger foods cover everything a holiday table needs: creamy dips, cheese balls, Brie, crostini, sausage bites, and crockpot meatballs. Most of them are easy, and many can be made ahead so you are not stuck in the kitchen when guests arrive.
Pick two or three from different groups, such as one dip, one cheese ball or Brie, and one hot bite, and you have a balanced spread. For a bigger table, add a charcuterie board and plenty of crackers, baguette slices, and fresh vegetables.
Quick picks for your Thanksgiving appetizer menu
- Make-ahead: pumpkin whipped feta dip, bacon ranch cheese ball, baked cranberry cream cheese dip, turkey cranberry sliders, and stuffing sausage balls.
- Slow cooker: crockpot crack corn dip, slow cooker meatball pineapple smokies, honey garlic meatballs, and crockpot buffalo chicken dip.
- No-bake: Thanksgiving deviled eggs, cranberry pecan cheese ball, cranberry jalapeño dip, and turkey club pinwheels.
Dips and Spreads
1. Pumpkin Whipped Feta Dip
Feta and cream cheese whipped with pumpkin puree until fluffy, then topped with honey, toasted walnuts, and thyme. It is no-bake and keeps up to 4 days in the fridge. Get the Pumpkin Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
2. Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
A hot, bubbly dip of cream cheese and extra-sharp white cheddar topped with cranberry sauce, fresh cranberries, and pecans. You can assemble it a day ahead. Get the Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip recipe.
3. Crockpot Crack Corn Dip
Sweet corn, cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, jalapeño, and ranch seasoning melt together in the slow cooker in about 2 hours. It stays warm for serving. Get the Crockpot Crack Corn Dip recipe.
4. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, ranch or blue cheese dressing, and hot sauce, cooked hands-off in the slow cooker. A classic party dip. Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.
5. Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
A fresh, tangy dip made with chopped fresh cranberries, jalapeño, green onion, cilantro, and lime. Chilling it ahead is optional. Get the Cranberry Jalapeño Dip recipe.
6. Cold Corn Dip
A chilled dip of sweet corn, cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, and diced jalapeños. Make it ahead and serve it with tortilla chips. Get the Cold Corn Dip recipe.
Cheese Balls and Brie
7. Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Cream cheese, sharp cheddar, ranch seasoning, bacon, and green onions rolled in chopped pecans. Chill it for 2 hours or make it up to 2 days ahead. Get the Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball recipe.
8. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
A sweet and savory cheese ball made with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, dried cranberries, pecans, Dijon, and Worcestershire sauce. Get the Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball recipe.
9. Acorn Cheeseball
A cream cheese and cheddar cheese ball with dried cranberries, shaped like an acorn. It is a cute fall centerpiece for the appetizer table. Get the Acorn Cheeseball recipe.
10. Mini Bacon Ranch Cheeseballs
The bacon ranch flavor in single bites: cream cheese, cheddar, ranch seasoning, bacon, and fresh herbs, rolled into mini balls. Get the Mini Bacon Ranch Cheeseballs recipe.
11. Baked Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl
A hollowed sourdough loaf filled with a whole Brie wheel, cranberry sauce, pecans, rosemary, and honey, baked with garlic butter bread cubes for dipping. Get the Baked Cranberry Brie Bread Bowl recipe.
12. Pumpkin Shaped Baked Brie
A Brie wheel wrapped in puff pastry and shaped like a pumpkin, with pumpkin butter or cranberry jam inside and a cinnamon stick stem. Get the Pumpkin Shaped Baked Brie recipe.
13. Baked Brie with Fig Jam
A simple baked Brie topped with fig jam, dried figs, and chopped walnuts. It is quick to put together and easy to scoop. Get the Baked Brie with Fig Jam recipe.
14. Mini Cranberry Brie Bites
Puff pastry cups filled with cubes of Brie and cranberry sauce, brushed with egg wash and baked until golden, then topped with thyme or pistachios. Get the Mini Cranberry Brie Bites recipe.
Crostini, Bruschetta and Bite-Size Appetizers
15. Brie Apple Honey Crostini
Toasted baguette slices topped with melted Brie, thin apple slices, walnuts, thyme, and a drizzle of honey. Toast the bread a day ahead. Get the Brie Apple Honey Crostini recipe.
16. Three Cheese Bruschetta
Baguette slices topped with a creamy mix of ricotta, cream cheese, goat cheese, and Parmesan, finished with fresh parsley and basil. Get the Three Cheese Bruschetta recipe.
17. Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs with a Dijon filling that is golden from turmeric and smoked paprika, topped with sage, thyme, and pepitas. No-bake, and you can boil the eggs a day ahead. Get the Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs recipe.
18. Honey Feta Sweet Potato Rounds
Sweet potato rounds tossed in olive oil and topped with crumbled feta and a drizzle of honey. A sweet and salty fall bite. Get the Honey Feta Sweet Potato Rounds recipe.
19. Stuffed Mushrooms
Large white mushrooms stuffed with a cheesy filling of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, and basil. Get the Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.
20. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño halves filled with cream cheese and cheddar and wrapped in bacon. The seeds are removed to keep the heat mild. Get the Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers recipe.
21. Turkey Club Pinwheels
Tortilla pinwheels rolled with turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Slice them into bites for a no-bake finger food. Get the Turkey Club Pinwheels recipe.
Sausage Bites, Meatballs and Sliders
22. Stuffing Sausage Balls
Pork sausage, boxed stuffing mix, sharp cheddar, and an egg, baked at 400°F until browned. Shape them ahead or freeze them unbaked. Get the Stuffing Sausage Balls recipe.
23. Rotel Sausage Balls
Sausage balls made with sharp cheddar, baking mix, and drained Rotel tomatoes with green chilies for a little kick. Get the Rotel Sausage Balls recipe.
24. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
Little smokies wrapped in bacon and baked with brown sugar until sticky and caramelized. Serve them with toothpicks. Get the Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies recipe.
25. Mustard Hasselback Kielbasa Bites
Hasselback-cut kielbasa glazed with yellow mustard, honey, and smoked paprika, then cut into bites. Get the Mustard Hasselback Kielbasa Bites recipe.
26. Slow Cooker Meatball Pineapple Smokies
Frozen meatballs, little smokies, and pineapple chunks in a sweet barbecue sauce, cooked in the crockpot and kept warm for the party. Get the Slow Cooker Meatball Pineapple Smokies recipe.
27. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs
Frozen meatballs cooked in the slow cooker in a sauce of ketchup, honey, soy sauce, garlic, and Worcestershire. Get the Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs recipe.
28. Cranberry Meatballs
A cranberry meatball recipe made with ground beef or pork, breadcrumbs, and onion. A sweet-tart appetizer for the holiday table. Get the Cranberry Meatballs recipe.
29. Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Hawaiian roll sliders layered with deli turkey, cranberry sauce, and melted Swiss, brushed with a Dijon butter glaze. Assemble them a day ahead. Get the Turkey Cranberry Sliders recipe.
30. Muffin Tin Turkey and Stuffing Cups
Leftover turkey, stuffing mix, eggs, and broth baked in a muffin tin and topped with gravy. A good way to use up leftovers. Get the Muffin Tin Turkey and Stuffing Cups recipe.
Tips for planning your Thanksgiving appetizers
- Choose one hot appetizer, one cold appetizer, and one dip, so the oven and the fridge both stay balanced.
- Use the slow cooker for a hot dip or meatballs. It frees the oven for the main dish and keeps the food warm for guests.
- Prep ahead where you can. Boil the eggs, mix the dips, and shape the cheese balls and sausage balls the day before.
- Keep the appetizers light enough that guests still want dinner. A few small bites go further than one heavy dish.
- Do not leave perishable appetizers out for more than 2 hours. Refill small portions from the fridge instead.
Frequently asked questions
How many appetizers should I make for Thanksgiving?
For a typical gathering before a full dinner, three to five different appetizers is plenty. A mix of one dip, one cheese ball or Brie, and a couple of bites keeps things simple.
Which Thanksgiving appetizers can I make ahead?
Dips, cheese balls, deviled eggs, and unbaked sausage balls all work well. The quick picks above list the best make-ahead options.
What Thanksgiving appetizers can I make in a slow cooker?
Crockpot dips and meatballs are the easiest. Try the crockpot crack corn dip, the meatball pineapple smokies, or the honey garlic meatballs.
What are easy no-bake Thanksgiving finger foods?
Deviled eggs, cheese balls, pinwheels, and cold dips are all no-bake. See the quick picks above.
What should I serve with a cheese ball or dip?
Crackers, pretzels, baguette slices, apple slices, and raw vegetables all work. For more ideas, see our charcuterie board ideas.