1. Cheese ball
Ingredients: 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 2 tablespoons chopped green onion, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, chopped nuts or parsley for the outside.
How to make it: Mix everything except the coating until smooth, shape into a ball, roll it in the nuts or parsley, wrap it and chill until firm. Serve with crackers or vegetable sticks. It can be made the day before.
2. Spinach artichoke dip
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 1 can artichoke hearts chopped, a package of frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry, 2 cloves garlic minced.
How to make it: Mix everything, spread it in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F until hot and bubbly at the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with bread, chips or vegetables. You can assemble it ahead and bake just before guests arrive.
3. Pigs in a blanket
Ingredients: A can of refrigerated crescent dough and a package of cocktail sausages.
How to make it: Cut the dough into small strips, wrap one around each sausage and bake at 375 degrees F until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve with mustard or ketchup for dipping.
4. Caprese skewers
Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, small mozzarella balls, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, and balsamic glaze or vinegar if you like.
How to make it: Thread a tomato, a basil leaf and a mozzarella ball on each toothpick or skewer. Drizzle with olive oil and a little balsamic just before serving, and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
5. Baked brie with cranberry
Ingredients: A small wheel of brie, a few spoonfuls of cranberry sauce or jam, and crackers or sliced bread.
How to make it: Put the brie on a baking sheet, top it with the cranberry sauce and bake at 350 degrees F until soft and warm, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve right away with crackers.
6. Mix hot and cold dishes
Ingredients: Too many dishes that all need the oven at once cause a traffic jam.
How to make it: Pick one oven appetizer, one that can sit out, and one that is made the day before. The cheese ball and caprese skewers need no oven at all.
7. Plan about a handful per person
Ingredients: Too much food before dinner spoils the meal, and too little leaves guests hungry.
How to make it: For a dinner, offer two or three appetizers and keep portions small. For a party where appetizers are the meal, offer five or six and refill as needed.
Recipes that use these tips
Pair these with the rest of the menu:
- Thanksgiving make-ahead timeline: where appetizers fit into the plan.
- Thanksgiving sides: sides that come out of the air fryer.
- Thanksgiving potluck planner: who brings what.
- Homemade seasoning mixes: a ranch blend for dips.
- Easy Halloween dinner ideas: more kid-friendly party food.