Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers Worth Ruining Your Appetite For

Three easy Thanksgiving appetizers that are worth ruining your appetite over. I mean… are you really looking forward to turkey? I didn’t think so. :)

One of the most under-appreciated aspects of adulthood is SNACKING, grazing, fiddling with the olive jar inside the open refrigerator door. I snack so regularly, I often ruin my appetite come dinner, a major sin growing up, but an absolute luxury as an adult. Is it really ruined if the snacking was a pleasure?

Snacking doesn’t stall with a big important meal like Thanksgiving looming. On the contrary, the pre Thanksgiving snack is an opportunity to make ruining appetites extra elite. I take great pleasure in luxurious but easy thanksgiving appetizers. They hit all the spots: savory and sweet, heat and spice. Something worth hovering over the kitchen counter for. Feel no guilt about the Thanksgiving meal itself, we all know the leftovers are better, anyway.

Here are three easy and extra delicious Thanksgiving appetite ruiners. We glug the olive oil, stuff some dates, and drizzle honey over apples. It’s all a delight, and someone else can deal with the big bird, right?

What are the best Thanksgiving appetizers?

The best Thanksgiving appetizers are small, salty-sweet bites you can make ahead or serve without the oven, because the turkey has dibs on the oven all day.

Think olives, dates, crackers, a good dip. Nothing that needs a fork, nothing that fills anyone up too much (that’s the dream, anyway).

Easy Thanksgiving appetizers, at a glance

Here’s my whole snack spread in one place, all from my own recipe box:

My 3 favorite no-recipe Thanksgiving appetizers

SALTY: Marinated Olives with Roasted Garlic and Feta

In a bowl place your favorite mix of green and black olives. Add several glugs of the fanciest olive oil you have in the pantry. Add the juice of half a lemon or a few tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Add roasted garlic cloves, a hearty amount of crumbled feta, sea salt, and fresh cracked black pepper. Nestle in any fresh herbs and the rind of either lemon or orange. Chill until ready to serve and enjoy with thick crackers or bread wedges. See also: Muffuletta Deviled Eggs

SWEET SALTY SPICY: Dates stuffed with Salami and Manchego

Split whole dates and remove the pit. Stuff with a slice of thick salami and a small slice of manchego (goat cheese would also be nice). Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes or smoky paprika flakes and serve at room temperature with a side of arugula leaves and pomegranate seeds. Wealth.

SALTY SWEET: Melon and Prosciutto

Use a melon baller (or a round tablespoon spoon) to scoop ripe melon into spheres. Place on a metal cocktail or bamboo pick along with a very thinly sliced piece of prosciutto. Refrigerate until your guests arrive. Serve with honey drizzled apple wedges and little pickles. See also: Bite-Size Baked Brie in Puff Pastry.

Make-ahead Thanksgiving appetizers (from the freezer)

The easiest Thanksgiving appetizer is the one you made last week. These three go straight from the freezer to the party.

My Buttery Cheddar Pecan Crackers make about 5 dozen, and you can roll, top and freeze them for up to 1 month. Sharp cheddar, toasted pecans, a little red pepper heat. They belong right next to the deviled eggs.

French Onion Pastry Puffs are little flaky bites with French onion soup filling inside, and they’re made to be made ahead and kept frozen until you’re ready to bake. Same goes for my Fresh Herb and Gruyere Puffs: bake, freeze, then reheat them in a warm oven right before everyone shows up. Light. Pop-able. Dangerous.

Thanksgiving appetizers that don’t need the oven

If the oven is full (it will be), go cold, go room temperature, or go microwave.

My Warm Herb and Jam Goat Cheese Spread is pure smoke and mirrors: goat cheese, store-bought jam warmed with fresh herbs in the microwave, black pepper, BOOM. Whipped Ricotta with lemon and olive oil takes a mixer and about two minutes of your life. And deviled eggs are never a bad idea. My Extra-Special Deviled Eggs are dill-y and radish-y, and I’ll be the one lingering near the plate.

A Thanksgiving dip for the crowd

One big, warm dip keeps everyone gathered around the kitchen island and out of your way.

My Butter Braised French Onion White Bean Dip is slow-cooked onions, butter and 2 cans of white beans, served with crispy bread and veggie wedges. It’s vegetarian, so it works for everyone at the table, and it’s deeply savory in a way that feels very Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving snacks to set out for grazing

For the long afternoon between the parade and the turkey, put out a bowl of something crunchy and walk away.

Cacio e Pepe Roasted Chickpeas are 2 cans of chickpeas roasted with parmesan and a LOT of black pepper, and they keep at room temperature in an airtight container. My Party Time Excellent Snack Mix is aggressive (Chex, ranch Doritos, wasabi peas, furikake) and keeps for up to 5 days, so make it the weekend before.

One warm bite, right before dinner

If you have the oven for 20 minutes before the turkey comes out, spend it on Sausage-Stuffed Dates.

It’s 25 dates stuffed with spicy Italian sausage, baked in marinara until the dates go soft and nearly caramely, then topped with feta and olives. You can stuff them ahead and bake them right before guests arrive. They’re my favorite holiday appetizer, full stop.

How many appetizers do you need for Thanksgiving?

Two or three is plenty: one salty, one sweet-ish, one crunchy, all light, because the main event is coming.

Hosting a Friendsgiving potluck instead? Hand the appetizers to the friend who’s running late, then save room for the best Thanksgiving desserts.

Happy snacking, my friends! Have the most lovely holiday!

xo