Set the tone for the big Thanksgiving dinner with simple, delicious hors d’oeuvres. These healthy bites will keep guests out of the kitchen and give them something light to munch on before the big meal. Recipes like our French Onion Smashed Potatoes and Whipped Feta with Beets, Pistachios & Honey are the four- and five-star recipes that will take your holiday spread to the next level.
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3-Ingredient Guava & Cream Cheese Bites
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
These buttery, flaky puff pastry bites draw inspiration from pastelillos, a Puerto Rican pastry. We fill these bites with guava paste and cream cheese for a bite-size appetizer that couldn’t be easier to make. Using frozen puff pastry keeps prep simple while ensuring light, golden layers that bake up beautifully in the oven.
French Onion Smashed Potatoes
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Holstein, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee.
These Smashed French Onion Potatoes turn a classic soup into a crispy, cheesy, hand-held bite that’s perfect for parties. Each potato is smashed into a muffin tin to form a golden cup, then filled with jammy caramelized onions and topped with melted Gruyère. A quick trip under the broiler creates bubbling, browned tops and crispy edges. Think of them as the ultimate French onion soup, no spoon required!
Whipped Feta with Beets, Pistachios & Honey
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Nicole Hopper, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This whipped feta is a delicious appetizer that comes together in only 15 minutes. Red beets and green pistachios provide some holiday flair, while a drizzle of honey contributes a sweet note to the savory whipped feta spread. A pinch of Aleppo pepper adds a touch of heat and mild fruitiness that enhances the dish. If you don’t have Aleppo pepper, you can use a mix of sweet paprika and a touch of cayenne or crushed red pepper for a similar flavor profile. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies.
Spinach-Artichoke Puff Pastry Spirals
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
These spinach-and-artichoke puff pastry spirals are the ultimate appetizer when you need something in a pinch. Flaky, buttery layers of pastry get wrapped around store-bought dip for an appetizer that feels elegant.
3-Ingredient Blue Cheese & Fig Bites
Salty-tangy blue cheese pairs beautifully with sweet fig jam in these easy appetizers, which are perfect for a holiday party. The optional minced chives add a nice pop of color, but these are just as tasty without herbs.
Cranberry & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Wreath
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This cranberry and goat cheese puff pastry wreath is an easy appetizer that’s sure to impress. Despite its elegant look, it’s incredibly simple to make, with just a few ingredients and minimal prep time. Whether served as a centerpiece or passed around as bites, this wreath will bring holiday cheer to your next gathering!
Goat Cheese–Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These bacon-wrapped dates are stuffed with creamy goat cheese for the perfect salty-sweet appetizer bite. Deglet Noor dates are smaller than Medjool dates and work best for this recipe. Center-cut bacon has had fat removed from either side of the strip, making it a leaner choice. If you’re having trouble keeping the bacon in place, secure it with a wooden pick before baking.
Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & Honey
This easy, quick appetizer is perfect for any gathering. Be sure to process the feta and cream cheese together until you see a smooth texture and ribbons start to form. Doing so will ensure any bits of feta are broken down, and you’ll avoid a grainy texture. The drizzle of hot honey adds a pleasant spice and plays well with the salty pistachios, but you could substitute regular honey or date syrup if preferred.
Cheddar-Apple Cracker Bites
This easy recipe comes together in just 5 minutes, making it a quick snack or appetizer. The sweetness of the Fuji balances well with the cheddar, but you can use another variety of apple if you prefer. This recipe calls for 3 thin apple slices per cracker, but feel free to use just one if you’re craving a more cheesy bite.
Pumpkin-Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Rolls
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
These pumpkin-goat cheese puff pastry rolls combine sweet pumpkin with savory goat cheese for the perfect fall appetizer. Opt for pre-crumbled goat cheese to keep the pinwheels dry and easy to slice. If you want to tip these easy rolls to the sweeter side, add a little pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon or cloves to the pumpkin mixture.
Puff Pastry Cheese Straws
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.
Crispy, golden and cheesy, these puff pastry cheese straws with garlic and Parmesan are the perfect holiday party appetizer. They’re easy to prepare ahead, making them ideal for entertaining. Serve warm or at room temperature—they’ll be the most popular three-ingredient appetizer at your gathering.
Pear & Goat Cheese Upside-Down Puff Pastries
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Holstein, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
These easy tarts are the perfect holiday appetizer. With a blend of sweet fig jam, creamy goat cheese and juicy pear slices all baked in flaky puff pastry, they’re a crowd-pleasing combination of sweet and savory flavors.
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
This healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright delicious, but these easy stuffed mushrooms are also good for you.
Whipped Feta Honey Toast
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This whipped feta toast gets a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of your favorite fresh herbs. This easy appetizer takes only 10 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute guests. Using a food processor gives the feta mixture a light and airy texture. You can mix it by hand for the same great flavor with a coarser texture.
Fig & Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Roll
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Buttery puff pastry is a tasty shortcut ingredient that can be used in many delicious ways. Here we roll out a pastry sheet and cover it with fig jam and crumbled goat cheese, then roll it up into a log and bake it. The end result is a sweet-and-savory appetizer that looks and tastes impressive, especially considering it has only three ingredients.
