Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas: Delicious Bites for Festive Feasts 2025

For a seasonal sweet-tart accent on your cheese board, we found Bonne Maman Cranberry-Cherry Preserve tastes like homemade, with generous fruit chunks for texture. It’s fantastic spooned over baked Brie or whisked into a quick glaze for turkey sliders. The glass jar even looks giftable and is handy to reuse later. Just note the higher price compared with supermarket brands, the occasional pit reported by reviewers, and its limited availability—stock up before Thanksgiving if it’s a must-have.

For a quick vegan-friendly dip, Sabra Classic Hummus is easy to find and reliably smooth for veggies, pita chips, or sandwich spreads. Our experience shows it’s a helpful crowd option—dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and Non-GMO—when you’re juggling different diets. That said, some recent batches have a bitter or soapy aftertaste and the soybean oil can make it feel a bit oily; we brighten it with lemon juice, olive oil, and paprika before serving to balance the flavor.

Looking for a crowd-pleasing dip for your crudité or chip platter? During our review, La Terra Fina’s Spinach Artichoke Parmesan delivered a creamy, Parmesan-forward richness that works chilled with veggies or warmed over crostini, baked potatoes, and sandwiches. It’s certified gluten-free, which simplifies hosting mixed-diet gatherings. Heads up: a few buyers report a mayonnaise-forward flavor and even expired or rancid tubs on shelves, and the texture is rich, so portion modestly—or serve alongside lighter options to balance the spread.

Distinctive and elegant, Humboldt Fog makes a stunning centerpiece thanks to its dramatic edible ash line. During our review, we loved the layered experience: a tangy, buttermilk-y center surrounded by a creamy, richer rim as it ripens. It’s brilliant with figs, honey, nuts, or a crisp white wine, but the assertive goat tang may not suit every palate, and timing for peak ripeness matters. It costs more than basic chèvre, so for large crowds we serve smaller wedges alongside milder cheeses.

If you want an effortless crowd-pleaser, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs is our go-to for crostini, crudités, and quick cheese boards. In our testing, its ultra-smooth, spreadable texture made last-minute hosting easy and even doubled as a creamy pasta or potato booster. The bold garlic-and-herb punch is craveable but can linger on the breath, and the smaller package can feel undersized for the price. We often grab two when feeding a crowd, or look for multi-packs to improve cost per ounce.

For a big crowd, the Président 2 lb Brie is a reliable, mild option that bakes up beautifully with cranberry or apricot preserves. During our review, we found the creamy texture a hit on cheese boards, and the wide availability makes last-minute shopping easier. Because it’s mass-produced, it’s less nuanced than artisan bries, and mishandling can cause an ammonia whiff—let it breathe briefly and keep it well chilled. It’s indulgent, so offer lighter sides to balance saturated fat and sodium.

Carr’s Table Water Crackers are the classic neutral canvas that lets cheeses and toppings shine, from soft Brie to tangy goat. We found the thin, crisp bite ideal for delicate canapés, though the crackers can be fragile, so handle and plate gently. The box can feel small for the price, and we’ve seen the occasional stale piece depending on storage. For larger gatherings, our experience shows buying an extra box ensures you’ll have enough intact crackers for your cheese board.

We love this Roasted Garlic Onion Jam for instant elegance on cheese and cracker boards—spread it over goat cheese and it’s appetizer-ready. In our testing, it also shines as a glaze for Brussels sprouts or a quick pizza topping, and that award-winning classic preserve pedigree shows. It leans sweet, so add a splash of vinegar or pair with salty cheeses to balance. Note that Stonewall Kitchen lists it as not gluten free, and the price is higher than generics.

Caprese skewers practically build themselves with BelGioioso’s fresh ciliegine—just add cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic for a Thanksgiving-friendly finger food. During our review, the mild, milky flavor and bite-size format made assembly fast for large platters. Do plan to use them quickly due to the short shelf life, and check the sell-by date or delivery freshness on arrival. They can run pricier per ounce than block mozzarella, but the convenience is hard to beat for entertaining.

Put these Blue Diamond Bold Sriracha Almonds out with your cheese board and watch them disappear. In our testing, the roasted crunch and sriracha-inspired kick add a lively, pleasantly spicy contrast to milder bites, great for cocktail hour. Do note that the heat can run milder than actual sriracha and flavor intensity varies between batches, so spice-seekers may want a backup option. Our experience shows they’re occasionally harder to find, so grab a bag when you see one.

Need a fast hot appetizer? Aidells Teriyaki & Pineapple meatballs come fully cooked, and in our testing they caramelize beautifully in an air fryer or skillet. The sweet teriyaki profile is crowd-friendly, though some folks find it too sweet or not pineapple-forward, and the sodium is on the high side. We like to skewer them with scallions and serve a sesame-lime dipping sauce to balance the sweetness, while keeping an eye out for the occasional gristle or texture inconsistency.

Plant-based guests won’t feel like an afterthought with Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage sausages, which in our testing seared nicely and held their shape when sliced. The sweet, smoky apple-and-sage flavor pairs well with mustard, roasted onions, or a chutney for easy toothpick bites. Note the relatively high sodium and that they contain gluten, so they’re not suitable for all diets, and some recent batches have tasted different to longtime fans. Our experience shows a quick pan-brown boosts flavor and texture.

Kite Hill Ricotta is a versatile vegan stand-in that we’ve used for crostini, stuffed mushrooms, and dairy-free lasagna, thanks to its creamy, ricotta-like texture. During our review, we found it needs seasoning—salt, lemon zest, or a drizzle of honey—to mask any pungency and make flavors pop. Be mindful of reports of early spoilage and use it quickly after purchase, checking dates and seals. It costs more than dairy ricotta, but for plant-based guests it delivers flexibility for savory and sweet appetizers.

Spanakopita is an easy win for a Thanksgiving nibble board, and in our testing Good & Gather’s version baked up flaky and crisp in the air fryer or oven. The bite-size triangles are convenient from freezer to tray, especially with a side of tzatziki or a lemony yogurt dip. Be aware that filling can leak and flavors vary between batches, with some skewing spinach-heavy. We’ve had better results baking on parchment and letting them rest a minute to set.

When you need a warm bite fast, these Cuisine Adventures Florentine Quiches microwave in about 2 to 2½ minutes and come individually wrapped, so you can heat only what you need. We found the crust surprisingly flaky and buttery for a frozen option, especially when finished briefly in a toaster oven. Note the higher calories and saturated fat, plus common allergens like wheat, milk, and egg. Keep a box in the freezer for last‑minute guests and easy platter-ready wedges.

These Siete Sea Salt tortilla chips are a nice Thanksgiving appetizer base for guacamole or chunky salsa, with a sturdy crunch that held up in our testing. We like that they’re grain-free and fried in avocado oil, making them friendly for gluten-free guests and those avoiding seed oils. That said, the 5 oz bag can feel pricey, and some batches taste greasier or saltier than expected. Our experience shows it’s worth checking freshness dates and buying an extra bag as backup.

Hosting and need fast apps? During our review, the Ninja Speedi’s 12-in-1 versatility and rapid-cook system turned out crispy wings, baked meatballs, and roasted veggies far faster than our oven, and cleanup was a breeze with the dishwasher-safe pot and crisper tray. It is bulky, though, so measure your counter and storage. Also note there’s no pressure-cook mode and a few users report occasional heating errors, making an extended warranty worth considering if you’ll use it daily.

For feeding a crowd, the Ninja Foodi XL 2-Basket makes Thanksgiving appetizers easier—cook wings in one basket and potato skins in the other at different temps, then Smart Finish syncs completion. In our testing, the 10‑quart capacity handled big batches, and IQ Boost helped power through proteins quickly. Be prepared for noticeable fan noise, and some users report reliability issues and exterior wear over time. If counter space allows, it’s a flexible workhorse for multi-dish prep.

The Instant Pot Duo shines when you need holiday prep efficiency, reliably turning out beans, rice, and tender vegetables for dips and appetizer fillings. In our testing, it’s a versatile 7-in-1 that replaces multiple gadgets, though the sauté mode can’t brown like an oven or air fryer. The lid and silicone ring take extra effort to clean, and the ring holds odors—keeping a spare for sweet versus savory helps. For the price, it’s a solid workhorse that streamlines Thanksgiving timing.