10 Pescatarian Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

Introduction

Delight guests this Thanksgiving with irresistibly fresh and flavorful pescatarian appetizers. Combining seafood and plant-based ingredients, these recipes add a unique twist to your holiday spread. Whether you’re catering to pescatarian diners or simply want some lighter, elegant starter options, these appetizers promise vibrant tastes, simple prep, and an impressive presentation—guaranteed to please any crowd.

Why Pescatarian Appetizers Shine at Thanksgiving

Featuring seafood lets you break away from traditional cheese boards and carb-heavy starters. Think crisp, seared shrimp, savory-smoked salmon canapés, and vibrant ceviche—each bringing a refreshing contrast to classic Thanksgiving fare. These appetizers are easy to prep in advance, pack plenty of protein, and highlight the best of the season’s produce.

10 Delicious Pescatarian Appetizer Recipes

From quick bites to elegant starters, here are ten inspiring seafood-centered options for your holiday table:

1. Smoked Salmon Crostini with Herbed Cream Cheese
   
   Thin baguette slices topped with a zesty dill cream cheese, smoked salmon, and vibrant lemon zest.
2. Shrimp Cocktail Shooters
   
   Chilled shrimp served in individual shot glasses with spicy horseradish cocktail sauce.
3. Mini Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli
   
   Golden, bite-sized crab cakes drizzled with a tangy homemade lemon aioli.
4. Tuna Tartare on Wonton Crisps
   
   Fresh, sushi-grade tuna mixed with sesame, ginger, and avocado, served on crisp wontons.
5. Baked Feta & Tomato Shrimp Skillet Bites
   
   Plump shrimp roasted over feta and cherry tomatoes, finished with parsley and olive oil.
6. Crispy Cod Bites with Caper Remoulade
   
   Lightly breaded, oven-baked cod morsels served with a creamy, tangy caper sauce.
7. Cheesy Spinach & Salmon Stuffed Mushrooms
   
   Plump mushrooms filled with a creamy blend of spinach, cream cheese, and cooked salmon.
8. Cucumber and Smoked Trout Tea Sandwiches
   
   Soft rye bread with a herby yogurt spread and ribbons of smoked trout and cucumber.
9. Seafood-Stuffed Mini Peppers
   
   Mini bell peppers filled with a crab, shrimp, and cream cheese mixture, baked until golden.
10. Citrus Scallop Ceviche Spoons
    
    Fresh scallops marinated in lime and orange juice, cilantro, and jalapeño, served in tasting spoons.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this roundup to effortlessly generate a sorted shopping list—ingredients grouped by grocery section, making your Thanksgiving planning and shopping smooth and stress-free!

Instructions (General Guidelines)

1. Smoked Salmon Crostini: Toast baguette slices, blend cream cheese with dill and lemon zest, spread, then top with smoked salmon.
2. Shrimp Cocktail Shooters: Boil and chill shrimp, mix cocktail sauce, and serve individual portions in glasses.
3. Mini Crab Cakes: Mix crab, breadcrumbs, egg, mayo, and Old Bay seasoning; shape into small patties, pan-fry, and serve with lemon aioli.
4. Tuna Tartare: Cube tuna, toss with ginger, soy, avocado, and scallions; scoop onto crisped wonton wrappers.
5. Baked Feta & Tomato Shrimp Skillet: Layer feta and tomatoes in a baking dish, top with shrimp, bake at 400°F for 15 min.
6. Crispy Cod Bites: Cut cod, bread lightly, bake at 425°F until golden; serve with caper remoulade.
7. Spinach & Salmon Stuffed Mushrooms: Sauté spinach, mix with cream cheese and flaked salmon, stuff into mushroom caps, bake at 375°F until golden.
8. Smoked Trout Tea Sandwiches: Mix yogurt, dill, lemon juice; spread on rye bread, add smoked trout and cucumber.
9. Seafood-Stuffed Peppers: Mix crab, shrimp, cream cheese, stuff into halved mini peppers, bake until filling is bubbly.
10. Citrus Scallop Ceviche: Cube scallops, marinate in citrus juice with cilantro and jalapeño, chill, serve in spoons.

Weekly Meal Planning

These appetizers are perfect for advance prep and batch planning. Schedule these recipes for your Thanksgiving week to auto-calculate total quantities and consolidate seafood, dairy, and bread—all while avoiding ingredient overlaps.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically adds up ingredient amounts across all your selected appetizers
• Organizes your shopping by grocery section for maximum efficiency
• Prevents overbuying and missing key ingredients
• Streamlines prep so you can spend more time with guests

Pro tip: By batching these appetizers with your other planned Thanksgiving dishes, you’ll see overlapping items (like herbs and citrus), reducing waste and saving money!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15-30 minutes per recipe (many under 20 minutes)
Cook/Bake Time: 10-25 minutes depending on the appetizer
Total Time: Most recipes take 30-40 minutes from start to finish (including baking or marinating times)

Recap: Pescatarian Appetizer Perfection

From elegant smoked salmon crostini to zesty scallop ceviche, these 10 pescatarian appetizers are sure to elevate your Thanksgiving table, offering light, flavorful, and memorable bites everyone can enjoy.

Remember: Let CookifyAI handle the shopping list—so you can focus on the fun parts of cooking and gathering this holiday season!