Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is no small task. You’ve got to perfectly roast a turkey, cook up everyone’s favorite sides and make a pumpkin pie for dessert. Add to that the multitude of friends and family arriving at your house all afternoon, peeking their heads into the kitchen to see how the meal is coming along and you’ve got more than enough to keep yourself busy! That’s why we like to whip up a few crowd-pleasing appetizers for the big day—think dips, deviled eggs and just about anything wrapped in puff pastry. Although they require a bit more planning and preparation, pre-dinner bites are always worth the extra effort. Even the simplest ones like bruschetta, shrimp cocktail or oven-roasted nuts will go a long way in keeping your guests full and happy—giving you more time to work on the big feast.

Not sure where to start? Kicking things off with a little cheese and charcuterie is always a good idea—and this snacking board has it all. Piles of crunchy vegetables, stacks of fruit, slices of cheese and folds of turkey meat are tucked alongside the easiest candied nuts, an extra-herby cheese ball, a sweet potato spread with a little marshmallow swirl and—the showstopper—a baked Brie in the shape of a pumpkin.

The flavor of the butternut squash is highlighted by a pinch of nutmeg in this easy, classic recipe.

This crispy round of baked cheese, with its warm melty interior, makes the perfect party appetizer, especially when paired with a ruby-red cranberry sauce. Both the cheese and the sauce can be prepped a day (or two!) ahead, so it's simple to pull together right before serving. It scales easily for a crowd – arrange two or three rounds on a platter with sauce for dolloping and a variety of crackers and crudité for dipping.

Ree Drummond’s charcuterie board bites turn classic meats and cheeses into easy, festive nibbles perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer spread.

Katie Lee’s creamy burrata and sweet fig appetizer pairs rich cheese with luscious fruit for a simple yet elegant start to your Thanksgiving feast.

Perfect for a holiday appetizer, these tasty little cups are packed with warm, creamy and cheesy onion dip. Simply spoon a savory mixture of caramelized onions, herbs and three cheeses into crispy store-bought phyllo shells and air-fry them until they’re golden brown and bubbling. They’re delicious and convenient anytime, and particularly ideal for busy get-togethers when the oven is tied up with things like holiday roasts and sides. Bonus: You can make and freeze them up to 2 weeks ahead of time.

These “tortellini” aren’t made with pasta — they're thin slices of cured meat folded around a simple ricotta-and-pesto filling. They’re perfect for a quick and eye-catching appetizer and as delicious as they are simple. You’ll need just three ingredients, and you can fold up a bunch in about 10 minutes. We opted for salami here, but you could use almost any thinly sliced cured meat. Serve these as bite-size treats on their own, as part of a charcuterie board or remove the toothpicks and serve them atop toasted baguette or on a bed or arugula with a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

There's no better way to celebrate the holidays than with a luxurious appetizer in hand. Valerie goes all in and makes these wow-worthy bites completely from scratch but, if you need to save some time, you could easily use store-bought crackers instead of baking your own.

This is the easiest spinach artichoke dip you’ll ever make! Everything goes into a baking dish and straight into the oven all at once—even the frozen spinach and artichokes. We like to finish the dish with a sprinkle of panko and a quick run under the broiler for a crispy top. But you can skip it if you’re short on time. Serve this with sturdy chips or baguette slices for dipping.

Fruit and cheese make the perfect pre-dniner duo. These bites wrap sweet figs and tangy goat cheese in puff pastry — for the perfect bite-sized snack.

The best part of this twist on pigs in blankets isn't the roasted Brussels sprouts, buttery puff pastry or even the pleasantly salty prosciutto: It's the Parmesan cheese that is cleverly pressed into the dough while rolling, then sprinkled on top before baking.

These simple crostini take only 15 minutes to make, but their bright color makes a lasting impression.

Craving a bite that's both savory and sweet? These miniature cheese wheels are toppled with chopped walnuts and bacon bits — then drizzled with maple syrup.

These olives deep-fried and stuffed with sausage and parmesan cheese for a yummy surprise!

This cheese-stuffed bread bowl has built in dippers, thanks to a few clever cuts — no crackers required.

This creamy dip has all the sausage-and-mushroom flavor of stuffed mushroom caps — perfect for any gathering.

Get ahead with this delicious appetizer that you can make the night before. The creamy cheese is coated in toasted pine nuts for a nice, rustic finish.

Ree Drummond's easy three-ingredient appetizer is a perfect bite for guests to snack on when they arrive. She tops Club-style crackers with Parmesan cheese, wraps them in bacon and bakes until crisp.

Giada's stuffed mushrooms are sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

These trendy crostini have bacon belts. And not only are they fashionable (har har), but the bread soaks up the bacon drippings as they bake, making it golden and crunchy. Eat them warm, no dipping required.

This beloved starter is always popular and, with this 5-star recipe, it's ready in just 15 minutes, too.

This spicy dip is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Serve it with crisp crudité for the perfect pre-Thanksgiving bite.

This gooey cheese is a classic appetizer that no one can resist — and with a homemade fig compote, everyone will be coming back for seconds (and thirds)!

Ina's hearty squash soup is so easy to make, and you probably have one of its key ingredients in your pantry right now; pumpkin puree helps give this soup is amazingly creamy texture.

Tart goat cheese and herbs are hidden by a shell of pomegranate seeds, turning your appetizer platter into something spectacular.

When you need an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer for holiday entertaining, try pigs in blankets. We wrap premade pizza dough around sausages and sprinkle with poppy seeds before baking. Even the dipping sauce is easy; simply serve with mustard.

Those aren't croutons on top of this creamy spiced-carrot soup — they're bits of curry-flavored, crispy fried tofu.

These tiny phyllo cups are one-bite dips. You'll layer cream cheese, smoked cheddar and roasted squash for a sweet, savory and smoky bite.

Alton Brown caramelizes Vidalia onions until they're sweet and tender before adding them to the broth, making this soup extra rich and flavorful.

Bright, juicy pomegranate seeds complement creamy Brie cheese in these bite-sized apps.

Brie isn't the only cheese worth baking. Cheese curds get perfectly melty inside golden brown puff pastry for a comforting starter.

Thanks to the air fryer, not only does puff pastry get perfectly golden brown and flakey, the overall cook time is a fraction of what it would take in a standard oven. Layered with pesto, sundried tomatoes and marinated artichoke hearts, this crowd-pleaser is loaded with flavor and festive charm.

You only need three ingredients (and 45 minutes) to make this easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Better yet, these sweet-and-savory bites are delicious warm or at room temperature, which means you can make them before your guests arrive.

Traditional creamy potato-leek soup is updated in this recipe from Food Network Magazine with the addition of homemade croutons and crisp bacon.

Serve this strudel with honey on the side. It will cut through the strong blue cheese as a touch of sweetness to balance out the salt.

Split pea soup is an old-fashioned favorite and Ina Garten's version is as easy to make as it is comforting and classic.

French onion soup just got even more satisfying. You'll love this classic in creamy, cheesy dip form. And don't be surprised when you find yourself eating the bread bowl, too!

Surprise guests by serving this squash soup in a hollowed-out pumpkin for holiday entertaining. A range of toppings like pepitas, croutons and crisp prosciutto completes the festive bowls.

Katie's deviled eggs are simple, classic and easy to prepare.

This homemade creamy mushroom soup sure beats the canned variety; it's flavored with bits of ham and dry sherry, and it's ready in under an hour.

Butternut squash stands up to being battered and fried and a hot honey is the perfect addition to brighten up the flavor.

Take butternut squash soup to the next level by adding a shrimp and sliced almonds for a nutty crunch.