Endive Chicken Boats
At only 80 calories per serving, these savory Asian-inspired appetizers make the perfect Thanksgiving starter. Brown sugar adds a sweet flavor that complements the hearty chicken and peanuts. Don't have endive leaves? Use lettuce leaves instead.
Makes: 30 servings
Yield: about 30 appetizers
Start to Finish: 30 mins
Cran-Sage Rolls
These savory-sweet rolls have some of the favorite flavors of the season -- tart dried cranberries , crystallized ginger , and fresh snipped sage. Make it up to a day ahead of your dinner.
Yield: 12 rolls
Prep: 30 mins
Rise: 30 mins
Bake: 20 mins 350°F
Sugared Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Take basic smokies up a sweet bacon-enhanced notch with a slice of bacon and a light coating of brown sugar. So easy and so simple you can make it the day before your dinner.
Makes: 45 servings
Prep: 35 mins
Bake: 30 mins 350°F
Mini Gruyere Puffs
Freeze these light-and-puffy appetizers for up to one month -- the two-cheese, basil, flour, and egg mixture will warm up nicely just 15 minutes before your event.
Yield: About 20 appetizers
Prep: 15 mins
Bake: 20 mins 450 degrees F/375 degrees F
Stand: 3 mins
Peppered Herb Cheese Ball
This creamy make-ahead cheese balls gets rolled in parsley for a fresh and easy appetizer that you can make up to 24 hours ahead of time, or freeze and keep on hand for company. For the Italian version, stir in salami and roasted red pepper and substitute goat cheese for fontina.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 25 mins
Chill: 4 hrs to overnight
Pizza Dippers
These simple, saucy pizza bites will start your supper off right. Savory pepperoni and melty mozzarella cheese make one unbeatable combo. Prepare the dough and marinara a day before the guests arrive to make Thanksgiving cooking a breeze.
Makes: 10 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Bake: 10 mins 425°F per batch
How to Make Pizza Dough
Make your own homemade pizza dough with this easy technique!
Bruschetta
Toasty French baguettes topped with warm, juicy tomatoes make the perfect beginning to a big meal. Best of all, these bite-size favorites are only 30 calories!
Yield: 36 appetizers
Prep: 30 mins
Broil: 4 mins
Italian Popcorn
Hungry? Grab a handful of this delicious popcorn to tie you over. Topped with Parmesan cheese and savory Italian seasoning, this starter will be gone in a snap! Best of all, it's less than 100 calories per serving.
Makes: 1 servings
Start to Finish: 5 mins
Blue Cheese-Apricot Bites
Get your fix of fruit this holiday. The distinctly sweet flavor of dried apricots complements the light, Gorgonzola cheese topper in these delectable bites. Snip rosemary on top for a classic garnish.
Makes: 16 servings
Yield: 16 appetizers
Start to Finish: 25 mins
Turkey-Salad Tartlets
Stomach growling for Thanksgiving turkey ? Gobble up these tasty tartlets before the big meal. Crispy bacon and Dijon-style mustard add big-time flavor to each bite. For color and a juicy burst of freshness, garnish tops with grape tomatoes.
Makes: 30 servings
Yield: 30 tartlets
Start to Finish: 25 mins
Barley-Stuffed Peppers
Low on time? Prepare the barley mixture the morning of your party. Scoop it into hollowed peppers and pop them in the oven 20 minutes before guests arrive. Use green and yellow peppers to add bright color to your buffet table.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 25 mins
Bake: 22 mins 350°F
Saucy Apricot Spiced Meatballs
Tangy-spicy apricot sauce is the secret to these delectable make-ahead meatballs. Prep the under 40 calorie appetizers up to a day ahead, then warm in a slow-cooker for a low-maintenance party treat.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 25 mins
Bake: 15 mins to 20 mins 350°F
Beer & Cheese Fondue
Dip in! Thick and satisfying beer-and-cheese fondue (which, as the name suggests, calls for two kinds of cheese and two cups of beer), adds a hearty start to your affair. Mix ahead and then warm up this appetizer in a slow cooker at dinner time.
Makes: 18 servings
Yield: 4-1/2 cups
Prep: 20 mins
Stand: 30 mins
Creamy BLT Coleslaw
All the flavors -- bacon, mayonnaise, tomatoes, and greens -- without the bread. Make, cover, and chill, then serve to ready your guests for the main course.
Makes: 6 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Chill: overnight
Roasted Tomato Tart
A light and refreshing way to begin dinner, these tomato-topped tarts feature light flavors, such as garlic, ground black pepper, olive oil, and roma tomatoes. A make-ahead dressing features cream cheese, ranch salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.
Yield: 16 appetizer servings
Prep: 35 mins
Bake: 35 mins to 38 mins 400°F
Chill: overnight
Multigrain Mustard Baguette
Transform frozen wheat bread dough into a special Thanksgiving appetizer in no time. With chopped nuts or seeds, an egg, water, and mustard, you can enhance the harvest, wholesome flavors in this easy appetizer.
Makes: 12 servings
Yield: 1 loaf
Prep: 30 mins
Rise: 1 hr
Bake: 25 mins 350°F
How to Roast Garlic
For a delicious baguette topper, smear on some roasted garlic. Here, we show you how simple it is to roast garlic at home.
Veggie Spring Rolls with Chimichurri Sauce
A light shopping trip is all you need to collect the ingredients in this delightful bite. You make the chimichurri sauce from scratch, but you'll be amazed that sweet rice vinegar is the most out-there ingredient. Bonus: This appetizer can be made the morning of and refrigerated for zero on-the-spot prep.
Yield: 6 spring rolls
Prep: 30 mins
Stand: 15 mins to 30 mins
Sweet and Savory Twist Bread
A literal twist of white and wheat bread makes for a pretty, tasty Thanksgiving treat. Chopped raisins, pecans, and cinnamon bring a sweet and crunchy finish to this make-ahead appetizer.
Makes: 24 servings
Yield: 2 loaves (24 servings total)
Prep: 45 mins
Rise: 30 mins
Bake: 30 mins 350°F
Simple Stromboli
Freeze this stuffed-bread Stromboli for up to one month. The ham, mozzarella, spinach, turkey , red sweet pepper, and olive filling will be just as tasty after warming it up the day of your event.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 50 mins
Freeze: Up to 1 month
Stand: Thaw: overnight
Caramel Popcorn
A sweet appetizer? Why not. Low-calorie, sweet-savory popcorn is a cinch to make in bulk and can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
Makes: 18 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Bake: 20 mins 300°F
Browned Butter Toffee Tartlets
Phyllo dough never had it so good. These easy, make-ahead tartlets (you can freeze them for up to 3 months), feature toffee pieces, bittersweet chocolate, and basic baking ingredients stuffed into phyllo dough. It's a touch of sweet before the main course arrives.
Makes: 24 servings
Yield: 24 tartlets
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 15 mins 350°F
Cool: 5 mins
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