Easy Recipes & Ideas for Thanksgiving Appetizers in 2023

Are you ready for this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations? Already have everything prepared? If you are wondering how to keep your guests delighted before serving the grand turkey dinner, then you’ve come just to the right place! 

What are some easy and delicious Thanksgiving appetizers that you can prepare in 2023? Find our favorite ideas and recipes below!

Easy Recipes & Ideas for Thanksgiving Appetizers in 2023

The holiday of Thanksgiving is about many things, but surely the most important among them is to be grateful about what you have and especially about the people in your life. Food has always had the great opportunity of bringing people together, and on this holiday a lot of us spend hours in the kitchen, making sure that we create the best possible feast for those we hold dearest. Turkey meat, cranberry sauce to make ahead, mashed potatoes, Thanksgiving cocktails… No family dinner is complete without them! And also not without a handful of mouth-watering appetizers to keep your guests delighted before bringing in the turkey!

Let’s draw some culinary inspiration from the recipes and ideas showcased below!

Crostini Thanksgiving Appetizers with Cranberries

This crostini recipe is the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer for any of your friends and family who prefer gluten-free food. How to make it?

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups/250 gr cranberries, fresh or previously frozen
• ¼ cup/15 gr sliced red onion
• 4–5 gluten free rolls
• ¼ cup/60 gr soft goat/feta cheese
• ½ cup/5 gr fresh basil, stemmed and chopped
• Fresh Thyme sprig, chopped
• Maple syrup, to taste
• Cracked black pepper, sea salt and balsamic glaze to top
• Pinch salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Take a baking sheet of paper and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently mix in the red onions and cranberries.
3. Take the cranberries mixture and spread it on the prepared baking dish. Put in oven and bake for 15 to 18 min.
4. Slice the rolls and placed them on a different baking sheet. Put in oven for 7 to 10 min. Make sure you flip them over during the baking time.
5. Remove both cranberries mixture and rolls from the oven.
6. Place the roasted cranberries mixture in a bowl and add a little bit of maple syrup for taste.
7. Now place the roasted rolls on a platter and smear 2 to 3 tablespoons of cheese onto each slice.
8. Top the slices with the cranberry mix.
9. Sprinkle the rolls with chopped thyme leaves and basil.
10. Drizzle them with balsamic glaze and sea salt or cracked pepper to finish.
11. Serve or store in fridge, covered.

Also read: Martha Stewart Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe with Wild Mushrooms

Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Mmm, I love me some sweet potatoes! Let’s see how we can prepare this delightful Thanksgiving side dish recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 sweet potatoes
• 1 ½ tablespoons butter
• 2 to 3 tablespoons fat-free milk
• ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Take each potato and pierce it 3 to 4 times with a fork on each side. Proceed to wrap each one in a damp paper towel.
2. Place in microwave at high and cook for 8 minutes, turning the potatoes on their side after 4 minutes.
3. Let them cool slightly and then cut in half. Scoop out the pulp into a bowl and mash it.
4. Take a small saucepan and heat the butter over medium heat. Cook it for 3 to 4 minutes. Take the butter and stir it into the potato pulp, along with the milk and salt.
5. Top sweet mashed potatoes with pecans.

Tips: You can of course top the sweet mashed potatoes with something else apart from pecans. For a saltier taste, proceed with crumbled bacon or grated Parmesan cheese.

Sweet Potato Casserole Thanksgiving Appetizer

I personally think that no Thanksgiving dinner is a real one without a sweet potato casserole, don’t you? Here is one my favorite recipes for it!

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
• ½ cup/85 gr brown sugar packed
• ¾ cup/110 gr pecans chopped, divided
• 2 cups/90-100 gr miniature marshmallows
• ⅓ cup/75 gr butter softened
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
2. Take the cut sweet potatoes and put them in a pot of boiling water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Drain.
3. Mash the sweet potatoes and fold in the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and pepper.
4. Also mix in half of the pecans and spread the mixture into the prepared pan.
5. Sprinkle the mixture with the remaining pecans and miniature marshmallows.
6. Bake the casserole for 25 minutes, or until the marshmallows are golden brown.
7. Serve and enjoy a sweet treat.

Also read: How & When to Start Defrosting Your Turkey Based on Its Size?

More Ideas for Mouth-watering Thanksgiving Appetizers

Thanksgiving charcuterie board idea

Where are we without the traditional cranberry sauce? 

Thanksgiving appetizer with roasted turkey, brie & cranberry sauce on crackers

A delightful selection of pies, appetizers & desserts for Thanksgiving