Make your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners stress-free with these 25 easy make-ahead appetizer recipes! Spend less time in the kitchen making and more time with guests eating!
Make ahead recipes are the best and you may be thinking about making-ahead your Thanksgiving dessert recipes too. We think our Gingersnap Cookies and Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread will complete your holiday dinner!
Easy Make-Ahead Appetizers
One of my favorite things about the holidays is the food, I especially love Thanksgiving Appetizers. Today I’m going to share 25 of the top make-ahead appetizers for Thanksgiving.
These are all perfect when you want to cross a few items off your menu list to make the day of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving day can get hectic when you are preparing an entire Thanksgiving dinner. Save yourself some time and your sanity with these easy Thanksgiving appetizer ideas!
You are going to have a hard time deciding which ones to prepare, but, don’t worry, they are all super simple and utterly delicious!
1. Thanksgiving Turkey Cheese Platter
From Melanie Cooks
Isn’t this turkey just the cutest? This cheese platter is so festive and everyone will gobble it up. You will want to make this every single year.
2. Five Minute Savory Pumpkin Hummus
From Two Healthy Kitchens
Serving something pumpkin flavor is almost a must for fall. This pumpkin hummus can be made a few days ahead of time and is definitely in season.
3. Easy Cranberry Brie Appetizer
From The Seasoned Mom
You all know that I love brie. Naturally, I want to make this cranberry brie appetizer. Make the cranberry sauce ahead of time and then throw a few ingredients together.
4. Jalapeno Popper Dip
From Spend with Pennies
Like spicy food? These jalapeno popper dip will add a little kick to your appetizer table. Be prepared to hand out the recipe.
5. Mini Caprese Salad
These mini Caprese salads are colorful and you won’t feel like you are spoiling your appetite before the meal even begins.
6. Easy Cucumber Appetizer
From Blessed Beyond Crazy
Adding something lighter to the appetizer menu this Thanksgiving is definitely a plus. Your guests who prefer a little something on the healthier side will thank you for this, but everyone will enjoy this dish.
7. Cream Cheese Cranberry Dip
I love a festive dip for Thanksgiving. I don’t love traditional cranberry sauce, but I think I would like it with cream cheese in a dip. Isn’t it beautiful, too?
8. Bacon Ricotta Crostini
From The Food Charlatan
Crostini always looks so fancy, but it is a breeze to make. Try it with bacon and ricotta cheese for a fun detour from the ordinary.
9. Onion, Cranberry and Pecan Cheese Ball
From Real Housemoms
This is not your grandmother’s cheese ball. The medley of flavors with the onion, cranberry, pecans and cheese are simply mouth watering.
10. Simple Smoked Salmon Dip
I fell in love with Salmon when I traveled to Alaska and this smoked salmon dip is just so delicious.
11. Greek Antipasto Skewers
From Dinner Then Dessert
These Greek antipasto skewers will add a colorful element to the table and also add a certain depth to the flavors you are serving. Just throw these together the day before and sit them on the table.
12. Pumpkin Cranberry Bites
From My Suburban Kitchen
Aren’t these pumpkin cranberry bites just delightful? I love pretty food, but I look pretty and tasty appetizers even more!
13. Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Spread
From She Wears Many Hats
This cream cheese spread is a family favorite and your toddler could make it. This is a great, crowd-pleasing appetizer that brings the sweetness to your gathering.
14. Kahlua Pecan Brown Sugar Baked Brie
From Noble Pig
This baked brie looks so fancy and tastes even fancier. It looks hard, but it isn’t at all. This one just went on my menu.
15. Bacon Chipotle Cheddar Cheese Ball
Bacon… need I say more? Every single person that visits you during the holiday season will love this chipotle cheddar cheese ball. Yum!
16. Cranberry Jalepeno Cream Cheese Appetizer
From Honey and Birch
This recipe looks so intriguing. A little heat, a little cream and a little sweet. Looks like a winner to me!
17. Healthy Ranch Dip
When in doubt, make a ranch dip. Everyone loves it and you can serve it with just about anything. I love to put in on a platter of fresh vegetables.
18. Dried Apricot and Blue Cheese Canapes
From Tidy Mom
I’ve never made anything called a canape, but this recipe looks incredible. Watch out Martha!
19. Gouda and Sun Dried Tomato Cheese Ball
From Amanda’s Cookin’
I love the flavor combination for this cheese ball. Don’t gouda and sun dried tomatoes sound like a match made in heaven?
20. How to Make a Veggie Turkey Tray
This is always a hit. Always! Everyone gets a kick out of devouring this sweet veggie turkey.
21. Tomato and Bocconcini Salad
From Happy Hooligans
I love the sound of this recipe… tomato and bocconcini salad. Isn’t it so pretty? This one can be served as an appetizer or a side dish.
22. 5 Minute Taco Dip
From Spend with Pennies
There is something about taco dip that brings people together. It is simple and everyone loves the flavor. This recipe only takes 5 minutes to make, too!
23. Slow Cooker Nacho Cheese Dip
This Crockpot Nacho Cheese Dip is perfect for holiday parties and get together with friends and family. It’s a loved recipe by all. And it makes a ton!
24. Avocado Dip
From Together as a Family
The avocado is super popular right now. It is delicious and this avocado dip looks incredible.
25. Harvest Cheese Ball
During this time of the year, it makes perfect sense to serve a harvest cheese ball. It is filled with all of your favorite fall flavors.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these 25 Make Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes. Let me know which one you’d like to try!
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