24 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers to Start a Fabulous Feast

Baked Brie with Boozy Fruit

Warm and gooey baked brie is hidden under a decorative pile of puff pastry leaves that are perfect for scooping up the soft cheese. Serve it warm with port wine-stewed figs, apricots, pears, and raisins.

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Pear, Walnut, and Ricotta Crostini

This no-fuss appetizer will allow you to spend more time in the kitchen finishing up dinner. Simply spoon dollops of fresh ricotta over slices of toasted bread and top each with a few slices of pear, crushed walnuts, and a drizzle of honey.

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Saffron Shortbread

Saffron is a festive spice—perfect for the holiday season. These savory, crumbly biscuit cookies can be served as is, but they also disappear fast on a cheese or charcuterie board.

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Slow-Roasted Pear Chips

The ideal make-ahead appetizer exists in the form of these crispy seasonal baked pear chips. Serve them with your favorite spreadable cheese in place of crackers and your guests will pleasantly surprised.

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A Modern Relish Tray

pickled carrots and chilis with mushrooms and relish — Eleni N. Gage

Say hello to the relish tray—again. We took the classic party spread of pickled dishes, popular in the Betty Draper era and reimagined it as a lighter, brighter Thanksgiving appetizer, pairing fresh, unexpected flavors with rich cheese and buttery crackers. Make the Sweet-and-Tangy Relish, Quick-Pickled Carrots with Chiles and Cumin, and Pan-Roasted Marinated Mushrooms a day (or more) ahead, and spend cocktail hour mingling instead.

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Ham and Spinach Dip

Here's a Thanksgiving crowd-pleaser made with frozen spinach, ham, and nutty Spanish Manchego cheese. When mixed together they become a quick homemade bechamel that gets a bubbly cheese topping for extra richness. Serve this warm dip with freshly made crostini, crackers, and crunchy vegetables like halved mini bell peppers for dipping.

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Puff-Pastry Cheese Twists

This shortcut version of cheese straws begins with store-bought frozen puff pastry, which is brushed with egg and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and a touch of cayenne pepper, then formed into decorative twists. Also try the twists with different flavor combinations—sesame and poppy, tomato and rosemary, or pecorino cheese and black pepper—these tasty variations are all in the recipe.

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Warm Olives with Cracked Coriander

Transform store-bought olives into an impressive Thanksgiving appetizer by simmering them in olive oil infused with coriander and bay leaves.

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Artichoke Dip with Fontina

Warm and bubbly right out of the oven, this dip will be a hit as a Thanksgiving appetizer. Canned artichoke hearts are even more flavorful when cooked with white wine, then combined with fontina and Neufchâtel cheese and served with toasted pita wedges.

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Brown-Butter Nut Mix with Rosemary and Thyme

Mixed nuts are tossed with brown butter, brown sugar, cayenne, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted until golden and crisp. These buttery nuts pair so well with Thanksgiving cocktails.

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Crispy Prosciutto Cups with Pear

Just three ingredients, that's all you need for this impressive and easy Thanksgiving appetizer. Slices of prosciutto are baked in mini muffin tins to form crisp, edible cups that are then filled with spoonfuls of juicy diced Bartlett pears.

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Beet Cheddar and Apple Tarts

Store-bought puff pastry, cheddar cheese, and thin slices of beets and apples are layered to make an elegant looking but simple-to-make Thanksgiving appetizer. This recipe takes less than half an hour from start to finish and can be served warm or at room temperature.

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Herbed Hummus

Pump up the flavor and appearance of store-bought hummus by blending in fresh herbs. This is a great way to use up leftover herbs from other Thanksgiving recipes.

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Gingered Nuts

Here's an easy Thanksgiving snack recipe that makes the most of supermarket ingredients. Dress up mixed nuts by combining them with candied ginger, cayenne pepper, and sesame seeds, then bake them with a sugar syrup to make a spicy-sweet brittle.

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Herb-Cheese Palmiers

Store-bought puff pastry is spread with cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and fresh herbs to make these crisp, flaky appetizers.

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Smoked Salmon Dip with Bagel Chips

A little smoked salmon goes a long way in this easy, sophisticated Thanksgiving appetizer. It's blended with cream cheese, capers, horseradish, red onion, and a touch of lemon juice to make a chunky dip.

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Carrot Yogurt Dip

Fresh shredded carrots get a punch of flavor from Indian pickled lime, cilantro, and cumin. This carrot salad is spooned on top of a tangy-garlicky yogurt, then garnished with crunchy pistachios. It's a perfect make-ahead recipe that brings bright color to the Thanksgiving table.

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Sweet Onion Dip

Sautéed Vidalia onions star in this lightened up dip along with reduced-fat versions of cream cheese and sour cream. Serve this popular party appetizer with an assortment of colorful vegetable chips.

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Spicy-Sweet Maple Snack Mix

More addictive than a the typical nut mix with pretzels, cheese crackers, and cereal, this snackable, spicy-sweet snack mix is an easy make-ahead Thanksgiving appetizer. Divide the snack mix into smaller bowls for serving and place them around the room.

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Cheaters Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs have a place at every gathering, especially with this updated spin that simplifies their preparation. Top crackers with a mustard-mayo mixture and slice of hard boiled egg, finish with paprika and dill for all the deviled egg flavor with an added crunch from the cracker.

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Cranberry-Avocado Salsa

Sweet, tart, and spicy flavors are harmonious in this seasonal salsa recipe of fresh cranberries, avocado, honey, cilantro, and jalapeño. It only takes 20 minutes to get on the table, leaving you more time for preparing the rest of Thanksgiving dinner.

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Pistachio-Covered Cheese Log

This cheese log is made with a blend of cream cheese, grated white cheddar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. A coating of toasted pistachio nuts lends crunch and color to this easy, make-ahead Thanksgiving appetizer.

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Crispy Chickpea Snack

Prepare this elegant appetizer in advance of the holiday. Roasting canned chickpeas lends them a nutty flavor and crispy consistency. Add a little zing with spice mixes, such as za'atar or garam masala on the chickpeas.

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Blue Cheese and Walnut Spread

Made with cream cheese, crumbled blue cheese (we suggest Stilton, but another variety would work), and chopped walnuts, this easy spread can be prepped ahead, covered, and refrigerated up to a week before Thanksgiving. It is delicious served with crackers, or apple and pear wedges (rub the sliced fruit with lemon to prevent discoloration).

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