15 Easy, Impressive Thanksgiving Appetizers with 5 Ingredients or Less

cranberry brie pastry appetizer on a cheese board
Photo: Chef John

With all the cooking you do for Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to worry about is spending even more time making elaborate Thanksgiving appetizers. But just throwing down some chips won't cut it, either. So, here's how to fill the hungry hours before dinnertime with Thanksgiving appetizers that are quick and easy to make (and won't mess up your kitchen) but still feel as special as your Thanksgiving feast. You'll love that each people-pleasing recipe takes five ingredients or less, and mere minutes to prep. Even more good news: Many can be assembled ahead of time, and all the ingredients are easy to find. Take a look.

01 of 15

Best Ever Shrimp Dip

Best Ever Shrimp Dip with crackers on the side
LOBSTER

This creamy, classic dip is perfect as is, but some reviewers personalized it with dill, horseradish, chives, Old Bay Seasoning, and so on. Not all at the same time, of course. How will you tweak your batch?

02 of 15

Balsamic Roasted Grapes

Balsamic Roasted Grapes on a white plate
Yoly

Simple and elegant all at once. For a pleasingly rustic presentation, leave the grapes in bunches to roast, turning them over about halfway through. Pile on a platter and grab your camera.

03 of 15

Microwave Spiced Nuts

Microwave Spiced Nuts in a bowl
Derah

You don't have to fight for oven-space to make this super-easy recipe. Some reviewers used mixed nuts, and added savory spices like cayenne and chili powder to spice things up.

04 of 15

Scallops One - Two - Three

one scallop wrapped in bacon with lemon and rosemary garnish
Aja

Pull this one out only if you want to completely slay the Thanksgiving appetizer competition. Don't be put off by the fancy-schmancy looks, though; using frozen sea scallops (thawed overnight in the fridge) makes the prep go very quickly.

05 of 15

Crispy Cheese Twists

Crispy Cheese Twists on a white plate
Sugarplum

Easy, elegant, crispy, savory — did I miss anything? One thing: Line your baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper to keep these from sticking.

06 of 15

Pepper Vodka Cherry Tomatoes

Pepper Vodka Cherry Tomatoes in a white dish with lettuce
lutzflcat

You might be tempted to pop a couple of these booze infused 'maters to take the edge off a hectic holiday. You know what I'm saying? If you can't find pepper vodka, soak a few dried chilis and chopped jalapeños in inexpensive vodka (not the top-shelf stuff) until it's as spicy as you like it.

07 of 15

Kale Krisps

Kale Krisps on a white plate
Shalaine_1

Here's a savory bite the carb-phobic crowd will love. Change up the flavors with different kinds of cheeses, and add spices to the mix if you wish. Just be sure the kale is absolutely dry so the cheese sticks to the leaves.

08 of 15

Rosemary Garlic Parmesan Crisps

Rosemary Garlic Parmesan Crisps on a red dish
Yoly

This savory gluten-free cracker is a cheese lover's dream that you can customize with any herbs and spices you like. If you make them ahead of time, be sure to store them between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

09 of 15

Prosciutto and Parmesan Pinwheels

pastries with prosciutto and Parmesan
Mieke VanGeel Busmanas

Everyone's going to think you labored long and hard over these savory tidbits, but you don't have to tell them they took just minutes to pull them together thanks to frozen puff pastry.

10 of 15

Warm Brie and Pear Tartlets

Warm Brie and Pear Tartlets on a white dish
Jacolyn

Because everyone loves Brie. Take it from Jacolyn: "I made 48 of these for a party, and they were all eaten quickly. They are so simple to make. The creamy Brie worked so well with the lightly sweet pear and the small drizzle of honey."

11 of 15

Deep Fried Green Beans

Deep Fried Green Beans on a black dish
Soup Loving Nicole

Green beans are a Thanksgiving favorite, so why not serve them before the meal, too? Battered in bread crumbs and fried, these green beans will keep your Thanksgiving crew satisfied till meal time.

12 of 15

Pesto Puff Pastry Pinwheel

Pesto Puff Pastry Pinwheel on parchment paper
LauraF

"With three main ingredients, you can make this gorgeous giant puff pastry pinwheel in no time," recipe submitter Magda says. "Pesto and ricotta fill layers of puff pastry that are cut and twisted into a pinwheel which begs to be pulled apart!

13 of 15

Beet Salad on a Stick

Beet Salad on a Stick on a white plate
Lindsey

Coat balls of goat cheese in chopped walnuts then thread them on toothpicks with beet wedges and fresh spinach leaves for an elegant appetizer. Drizzling honey over them brings out the sweetness of the beets.

14 of 15

Baked Stuffed Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts

cranberry brie pastry appetizer on a cheese board
Chef John

Imagine cutting into this gorgeous creation, releasing an opulent flood of melted cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts. Yeah, you might want to make two.

15 of 15

Vidalia® Onion Dip

Vidalia Onion Dip in a red cocette
bd.weld

You don't have to wait for Thanksgiving dinner to bring out the creamy, cheesy dishes. "Really good. Even the kids liked it. The edges got extra brown and everyone was fighting over the crispy edges," Heidi says.

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