12 Appetizers for Thanksgiving: Easy & Impressive
Oct 14, 2025
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Thanksgiving appetizers are my favorite dish to bring to a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving dinner because they can be anything you want. There will always be turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, pie – but appetizers? That’s where you can get creative. These 12 easy Thanksgiving appetizers will keep everyone happy until the main course – and they taste as good as they look!
Each one celebrates fall flavors in a fun, festive way. If you’re craving even more inspiration, check out my dip recipes or try my Baked Brie Pull Apart Bread, Homemade Hummus Platter, Whipped Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey, Elegant Crudité Platter, and Burrata & Prosciutto Appetizer.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Pumpkins are one of the most evocative symbols of fall, so I turned this super easy-to-make cheese ball into a pumpkin! It’s made out of cream cheese and shredded cheddar, so it’s super versatile and tastes delicious with both crackers and veggies. Plus, you can mix in pretty much anything your heart desires to add a pop of flavor, like bacon, jalapeños, and/or scallions!
Fall Squash & Burrata Board
You know I love burrata—it’s one of my favorite cheeses! It’s super soft, creamy, and complements just about any fruit or roasted veg you could dream up. Here, the mild flavor pairs beautifully with these fall staples: roasted delicata squash, sweet figs, tangy pomegranate seeds, and savory prosciutto. I love to serve this with homemade crostini!
Turkey Veggie Tray
I love incorporating fresh, colorful veggies into my Thanksgiving spread, but I didn’t want to make any old crudité board. Instead, I made a turkey out of veggies and dip! I turned the mini peppers, snap peas, carrots, and cauliflower into the plumage, then I decorated the dip with a cute little turkey face. It’s also a fun, healthy app for kiddos!
Easy Fall Burrata Salad
I love serving a salad on Thanksgiving! Whether it’s pre-feast alongside some other apps (ahem, try any of the other 11 here!) or on the dinner table, it offers a refreshing bite between all the starchy goodness. That said, this salad is still loaded with richness: burrata is the star while the arugula, figs, pomegranate seeds, and walnuts play important supporting roles.
Turkey Cheese Ball
This appetizer is more of a turkey sculpture with homemade cheese balls and a big wheel of brie! I love a serious cheese board, obviously, but I also love getting crafty with my cheese (like my Easter Bunny Brie and Santa Brie). Here I use the brie as the body and face with the cheese balls, rolled in delicious fall flavors, arranged like tail feathers.
Thanksgiving Snacks for Kids
I specifically designed this snack tray for kiddos, but it’s so cute and delicious that everyone will want a bite! You can serve it pre-dinner to keep little ones from getting hangry, or use it to keep the Thanksgiving spirit alive all weekend long—you could even incorporate leftovers! Some of these techniques make for great, fall-themed school lunch snacks, too.
Elevated Fall Cheese Board
This beautiful, maximalist spread captures all the best fall flavors, colors, and treats on one board. The intention is to add a layer of sophistication to your feast with high-quality charcuterie meats, a range of fancy cheeses, a variety of crackers, tons of fall produce, and some tasteful gourd decoration. It’s definitely geared more towards adult palates!
Pumpkin-Shaped Baked Brie Puff Pastry
Baking brie is so easy and incredibly rewarding. The melty cheese combined with the flaky, buttery pastry and sweet apple butter creates the perfect bite. Serve it with some fruited crackers to amp up the fall flavors. No matter what, I promise this app won’t last long!
Brie & Cranberry Bites in Phyllo Shells
These cranberry brie bites are the perfect app to serve if you’re doing most of the other cooking. All you need is 3 ingredients, 10 minutes, and some hungry mouths to feed. I also love how easy this one is to serve and clean up!
Waldorf Salad Recipe
I love that this salad can be served two ways! You can whip it up in a bowl, like any other salad, and serve it as a dinner side, or go the more deconstructed route and serve the toppings (apple, grapes, pomegranate seeds, blue cheese, celery, walnuts, and grilled chicken) as a snacking board with lettuce on the side as optional. Fresh baguette would be a delicious vehicle here!
Cheese-giving: Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
This board is especially great to bring to a Friendsgiving! It has all the flavors of a Thanksgiving feast, but is ideal for grazing rather than sitting down to feast. There’s cheese, of course, but you’ll also find cranberry, turkey, rosemary, pecans, baguette, and so much more. I also love to incorporate my leftovers into this board and serve it as a snack or light meal the day after!
Sweet & Savory Thanksgiving Platter
I love to combine sweet and savory foods on my boards, and Thanksgiving is no exception! Here, the creamy brie pairs beautifully with the savory charcuterie meats and tart berries, and the nutty mimolette complements the pecans and honey flavors of the persimmons. I took it a step further with the sweets and added festive chocolate turkeys and leaf-shaped maple sandwich cookies. There’s a little something for everyone on this board!
Show Me Your Thanksgiving Appetizers
I hope this round-up inspires you to create one of my Thanksgiving appetizer ideas. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!
And, if you liked these recipe ideas, please rate and review.
