Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

Find the appetizer recipe you've been searching for in this roundup of healthy appetizer ideas for Thanksgiving, just in time to fill out your Thanksgiving menu!

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Healthy Appetizer Ideas for Thanksgiving to Try This Year

1. Cornbread Bruschetta

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

Don’t just use your cornbread for your stuffing. This scrumptious cornbread bruschetta is gluten-free and vegan, and sure to be perfect Thanksgiving appetizers.

2. Mini Bean and Cheese Molletes

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (2)

Slice a baguette into rounds and start adding your toppings. Thesemini bean and cheese molletes are bite-sized morsels that never fail to fill your tummy and warm your heart.

3. Spicy Sweet Potato Pumpkins

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (3)

These spicy sweet potato pumpkin bites will allow the whole family to savor the flavors of the season, especially during the festive Thanksgiving feast.

4. Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

Spinach and mushrooms are my favorites, so thesespinach stuffed mushrooms will not be missing from my Thanksgiving table. Serve it too!

5. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (5)

Another take on making mushrooms more appetizing:crab stuffed mushrooms. Pretty sure your guests will be drooling over these decadent bites.

6. Apple Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

These super delicious meatballs are like Thanksgiving in one bite. The whole family will love the sweet, juicy, and tangy flavor of these apple cranberry turkey meatballs.

7. Sweet Potato Hummus

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (7)

Thissweet potato hummus will help you cut down on calories and fat since it uses Greek yogurt. Don’t forget the pita chips!

8. Brussels Sprout Sliders

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Whether you are planning a vegetarian Thanksgiving or not, these adorable healthy brussels sprout sliders are sure to impress.

Who knew brussels sprouts would make great mini burger buns, right? It's a must-serve!

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9. Spiced Paleo Apple Dip

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (9)

Go Paleo with this a healthy and delicious snack! It doesn’t get healthier than fruit, right?

Don't miss this spiced Paleo apple dipat your family holiday feast.

Add some cranberry to your #Thanksgiving meal a little differently this year. Check out these unique recipes! https://t.co/K43jWbyLcK pic.twitter.com/8FV6AyZrzB

— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) November 6, 2016

10. Coconut-Crusted Brie-Stuffed Quinoa Bites

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (10)

Love quinoa? You’ll enjoy it so much more when transformed into these coconut-crusted brie-stuffed quinoa bites.

A tiny bite which is superbly stuffed with ooey-gooey brie.

11. Crazy Greek Feta, Sun-Dried Tomato and Pistachio Truffles

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (11)

Looking for a unique Mediterranean flavor? These crazy Greek feta, sun-dried tomato, and pistachio truffles will be just the thing you’re looking for.

It's cheesy, salty, and delicious! What more could you ask for?

12. Butternut Squash Pizza

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Did you ever consider that pizza could be healthy appetizers, and finger food-sized, too? This butternut squash pizza will give you a big punch of flavor that's impressive, considering its tiny size.

13. Spinach Puffs

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These spinach puffs are super easy to make. You can even make them ahead and keep them frozen until you’re ready to warm and serve.

14. Spinach Balls

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (13)

This will make you consider eating your greens. With a combination of spinach and stuffing mix, who can dare to resist?

I’m sure everyone in your gathering will love these spinach balls.

15. Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

This roasted acorn squash stuffed with quinoa mushroom pilafgive you both fall flavors and a gorgeous plate for your Thanksgiving feast. Make sure to give your guests a heads up–they may spend way too much time taking photos of this dish for Instagram, it will go cold!

16. Classic Deviled Eggs

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (15)

Nothing beats tradition! Make these classic deviled eggs for Thanksgiving and keep it plain and simple without jeopardizing the Thanksgiving flavor.

17. Sweet Potato Cakes

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (16)

Make a batch of these sweet potato cakes and don't forget to top them off with the awesome black bean salsa! It elevates your ordinary sweet potato, that's for sure.

Looking forvegetarian Thanksgiving appetizers? Lucky you! This video from Edgy Veg features 3 easy vegan appetizers you can whip up and serve on Thanksgiving:

WOW, so good! Have your family and friends gather around with any of these healthy appetizer ideas for Thanksgiving while dinner is cooking.

Serve two or more from this list of healthy and easy appetizers for Thanksgiving to kick off your dinner feast. We have a pretty good feeling these healthy Thanksgiving appetizers will be a huge hit!

What do you think of these healthy appetizer ideas for Thanksgiving? Which one will you try? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 14, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Healthy Appetizer Ideas For Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Should you serve appetizers on Thanksgiving? ›

You might think there's no need for appetizers when you're preparing a big turkey dinner with all the classic sides (plus pies for dessert!), but having some easy bites that guests can nibble on when they arrive means that no one notices if it takes a few extra minutes to get the meal on the table.

How many appetizers for Thanksgiving? ›

Three or four bites of food per person should be plenty. For shrimp co*cktail, oysters or larger crostini, plan about two pieces per person. If you're serving smaller, one-bite hors d'oeuvres, allot three per person total.

How do I choose the right appetizer? ›

As you sort through appetizer recipes to potentially add to your easy starters menu, consider these six factors for the best blend.
  1. Keep it simple. ...
  2. Balance the choices. ...
  3. Contrast colors and shapes. ...
  4. Consider temperature and texture. ...
  5. Plan make-ahead selections. ...
  6. Avoid repeating flavors.
Aug 1, 2022

How many appetizers per person? ›

For a one hour party, typically 4 – 5 bites per person would be appropriate. For a two hour party, because people will eat more the first hour than the second, you'll still need the 4-5 bites and also about 2-3 more per person for the second hour so a total of 6-8 bites per person.

What should you not forget for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Use this list to make sure you're prepared to have the feast you planned for.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk. A number of tasty desserts rely on this often forgotten item. ...
  • Cranberries or Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Chicken Stock or Broth. ...
  • Simply Done Containers. ...
  • Foil, Parchment Paper, Pastic Wrap. ...
  • Centerpiece. ...
  • Nuts or Dried Fruit. ...
  • Dinner Rolls.
Nov 25, 2019

What to put on a charcuterie board for Thanksgiving? ›

Anything you would put on a normal charcuterie board such as different types of cheese, cured meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pickles, spreads, and crackers are key components to a well-balanced Thanksgiving appetizer. Using seasonal fall ingredients makes this particular board special!

How to make Thanksgiving unique? ›

Different Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving
  1. Have a Mini-giving. This one is inspired by my daughter's love of ASMR and mini cooking videos. ...
  2. Go themed. ...
  3. Declare a spending embargo. ...
  4. Throw a co*cktail party. ...
  5. Make it a potluck. ...
  6. Go out to a really fancy meal. ...
  7. Spend the day hunting your food. ...
  8. Be intentional with your photos.
Nov 20, 2020

How many sides should you have at Thanksgiving? ›

For sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing, you should have at least one dish for every five people and at least two dishes for 10 people or more. If you're serving a salad, one should be enough unless you're serving 20 people or more.

What is the standard rule of serving appetizers? ›

Caterers often plan a minimum of 4 different choices for groups of 25-100 or more, adding an additional choice for each 25 people. A good rule of thumb for a dinner party, allow for 6 appetizers per person.

How many sides should you serve for Thanksgiving? ›

For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What is considered the simplest appetizer? ›

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – are the simplest appetizer. Fruits are good appetizers because they give an attractive appearance, fragrance, appealing taste and delicious flavor. For example, you could serve a platter of thinly sliced cucumbers, chunks of red bell pepper and baby carrots.

What are the 6 types of appetizer? ›

They work perfectly to tide you over until your dinner is ready, but they also ensure you're not full when your meal comes.
  • co*cktails. co*cktails are some of the most popular appetizers. ...
  • Hors D'oeuvres. ...
  • Canape. ...
  • Relishes & Crudite. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Soup. ...
  • Chips & Dips.
Aug 1, 2022

What are the 9 types of appetizers? ›

There are nine main classifications of appetizers: canapes, chips and dip, co*cktails, finger foods, fruits and vegetables, hors d'oeuvres, petite (small salads), relishes and crudite, and other.

When should appetizers be served? ›

Appetizers are the first course served when seated at a table. An appetizer is meant to complement an entrée and is generally a small-portioned first course of a multi-course meal. Appetizers are meant to whet the appetite before the following courses. Appetizers connote that a dinner will follow.

What is traditionally served on Thanksgiving? ›

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

What do you serve during Thanksgiving? ›

On turkey day that means tried-and-true classics (like green bean casserole, Thanksgiving stuffing and sweet-tart cranberry sauce), a cornucopia of vegetable side dishes and, of course, all the oh-so-hearty-and-satisfying side dishes starring potatoes and sweet potatoes.

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