Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and indulge in delicious food. Starting the feast with easy appetizers sets the tone, ensuring everyone feels welcomed and excited for the meal ahead.
Thanksgiving Appetizer Trends 2025
As Thanksgiving 2025 approaches, hosts are reimagining their appetizer spreads to reflect modern tastes, global influences, and sustainable choices. This year’s biggest trends blend traditional comfort with creative flair — think familiar favorites with bold, unexpected twists.
Overall, appetizers in 2025 are all about global flavors, plant-forward ingredients, sustainable choices, and beautiful presentation. Social media continues to shape how people entertain, with shareable, visually stunning dishes becoming part of the holiday tradition. Here’s how to bring these trends to your Thanksgiving table.
Classic Deviled Eggs with a Twist
Deviled eggs are a timeless Thanksgiving staple, but in 2025, they’re getting a flavorful upgrade. Instead of sticking to the standard mayo-and-mustard filling, hosts are experimenting with ingredients like smoked paprika, crispy bacon bits, hot honey, or truffle oil.
A major trend this year is the fusion deviled egg — fillings inspired by international flavors such as curry spice, sriracha-lime, or Mediterranean herbs. These bite-sized snacks also align with the “grazing table” trend, making them ideal for guests to enjoy while mingling before dinner.
Simple Cheese and Charcuterie Boards
Cheese and charcuterie boards are still a Thanksgiving favorite, but 2025’s boards are all about creativity and conscious eating. Expect to see plant-based cheeses, locally sourced cured meats, and seasonal fruits like roasted grapes, persimmons, and figs.
Sustainability is also a key theme this year — many hosts are using upcycled ingredients, such as homemade bread crisps made from leftover loaves or pickled vegetables from seasonal produce. Sweet-and-spicy jams, flavored honeys, and infused oils add a gourmet touch that makes every board a conversation piece.
Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Few appetizers feel as comforting as a warm, creamy dip — and spinach and artichoke dip continues to be a crowd-pleaser. For 2025, the trend is all about customization and presentation. Serve the dip in small ramekins or mini cast-iron skillets for individual portions.
Flavor upgrades include adding chili crisp, caramelized onions, or roasted garlic for depth. For a more modern, health-conscious spin, swap traditional chips for roasted vegetable crisps or baked pita made from whole grains. The result is indulgent, but with a lighter, fresher feel.
Crispy Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are having a moment again this year thanks to their versatility and plant-forward appeal. In 2025, fillings have become more adventurous — think harissa breadcrumbs, feta and spinach, or miso butter and panko.
The latest twist is to serve them extra crispy, using air fryers for a golden, crunchy top. They cater beautifully to vegetarians while still appealing to meat eaters, making them a perfect middle-ground appetizer for diverse guests.
Sweet and Savory Baked Brie
Baked brie continues to reign as one of the most elegant Thanksgiving appetizers, and this year’s trend is to add unexpected sweet-and-spicy contrasts. Brie wrapped in puff pastry or phyllo dough remains popular, but toppings like cranberry-chili jam, hot honey with walnuts, or roasted pistachios with orange zest are what make it 2025-ready.
For presentation, smaller individual brie rounds or baked brie cups are trending, offering guests a more personal serving while keeping the spread polished and photogenic.
Sweet Potato Crostini with Za’atar and Labneh
One of 2025’s breakout appetizers combines global inspiration with seasonal ingredients. Sweet potato crostini — thin roasted rounds of sweet potato used as the base instead of bread — are topped with whipped labneh (or Greek yogurt), a sprinkle of za’atar spice, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses or maple syrup.
This dish captures everything trending right now: plant-based appeal, international flavor, bright color, and creative presentation. It’s a perfect bite that feels both familiar and fresh, and it fits seamlessly into modern Thanksgiving menus.
Why These Work for 2025
- Familiar comfort, refreshed flavors: Classic recipes are being reinvented with new textures, spices, and global influences.
- Plant-forward focus: Many appetizers highlight vegetables, grains, and dairy alternatives, catering to a wider range of guests.
- Sustainability and simplicity: Creative use of leftovers, seasonal produce, and upcycled ingredients keeps menus eco-conscious.
- Beautiful presentation: Visual appeal is key — small plates, charcuterie “grazing tables,” and bite-sized options make for effortless entertaining.
The Takeaway
Thanksgiving 2025 appetizers bring together inventive twists and classic tastes. While guests look forward to the comfort of traditional flavors, they also enjoy imaginative, carefully crafted variations. From globally inspired mushrooms and spiced deviled eggs to vegetable-forward dips, today’s Thanksgiving table is generous, sustainable, and designed for sharing.