Don't do chips if your family is anything like mine. We open a bag and don't stop eating until it's gone. Not what you need before a big meal

What about raw veggies and dip? Easy and not too filling. You could have a couple different dips, classic ranch and something more interesting.

We eat late on Thanksgiving - around 6pm. So, we make a large antipasti platter that people can nibble on in the afternoon. Cured meat, brie en croute, pate, olives, marinated artichokes, radishes, grapes, etc.

Our favorite thanksgiving appetizer is stuffed mushrooms! We've done all sorts of fillings, but it's become a tradition (and one of my favorites). We also do a baked brie with apricot preserves and almonds inside a puff pastry shell. Getting hungry now!!

Oo, I second the stuffed mushrooms! And this may be a little non-Thanksgivingy, but I like to serve tabbouleh with small toasted pita triangles at my get-togethers. The fresh herbs are light and bright and don't seem to weigh folks down before the main festivities.

Raw veggies and ranch dressing is a favorite app in my family.
Well... that and wine.

I logged in just to suggest stuffed mushrooms and it seems as if I wasn't alone! I personally don't like them but whenever they are around people go nuts. Plus they're pretty easy to make, travel well, and can be made the day before.

In our family, we put out pistachios. They are a little bit of work to eat, so that slows folks down a bit. Another favorite pre dinner snack is cheese pennies, a cheesy cracker made with cheddar, butter, flour and rice krispies. Very tasty. Any southern cheese cracker recipe would likely give you similar results.

I was just going to suggest weird pickles! Pickles are generally too sour for people to fill up on tons before a meal, but they can be refreshing. A little mild, creamy cheese (or even drained sour cream) with some homemade crackers and an assortment of pickled things, sweet, sour, spiced, and spicy, would be perfect. Could be as simple as lemon-marinated veggies or as fancy as imported salt-cured olives and homemade fermented cucumber dills.

Spicy and mild radishes with butter and sea salt are also a favorite snack in our household. Plain blanched veggies with homemade aioli would also be fantastic. Don't forget to include some waxy boiled potatoes!

Smoked salmon might work - it's generally a crowd-pleaser, not too scary, and you can provide options. Last T-day I did a platter with 2 varieties of salmon, baguette slices and melba toasts, sour cream with horseradish and creme fraiche with lemon as toppers, and some dill and lemon slices. Our guests really enjoyed it!

Why not consentrate your creativity on presentation? That way the framiliar flavors are there but, you get to have some fun too. You could do shrimp cocktail shooters or radishes with a little piped herbed butter,etc. etc.

bacon-wrapped dates? so delicious, easy, and a little more interesting than a veggie platter. plus, they're pretty tame, so your family should eat them.

I second the bacon-wrapped dates. We stuff the date with a whole toasted almond for a little crunch.

MINI HOT DOG APPETIZER
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brandy or apple juice concentrate
1 package cocktail hot dogs
Mix all ingredients together; Put into crock pot on low for several hours.

Yes, relish tray! You can put out some black olives from a can and sweet pickles from the grocery store for your boring relations, and add some artisinal watermelon rind and spicy peppers or whatever exotic pickley things you'd like to try. Tasty and fun, but not very filling.

Another vote for stuffed mushrooms...I was in charge of appetizer last year and they were a hit! Check out Smitten Kitchen and the Pioneer Woman for some fun varieties.

I did hand salads last year. Just bundles of arugula with a slice of pear wrapped in prosciutto. I saw the recipe here last year. http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/lastminute-appetizer-prosciuttowrapped-arugula-132831

Apricots stuffed with amaretto cheese and an almond.

Stuffed mushrooms.

Mini caprese kabobs.

Wine.

Timely question!
I, too, have been assigned Thanksgiving appetizers. To complicate it, I won't be home the night before, but could bring a crock pot. Keep those suggestions coming! Can I make stuffed mushrooms ahead and warm them in a crock pot?

brie en croute and deviled eggs. simple and easy

Cheese Straws, made traditionally or made with puff pastry.

Fancy crudite
Pate of some sort
a single cheese
crackers

I do oysters on the half shell with mignonette. Now, it does take some effort in shucking them, but they are a crowd pleaser and not filling at all.

I was on chips and dip duty last year, so I brought caramelized onion dip, pimento cheese, and hummus, with veggies, pita, and kettle chips. All super easy to throw together ahead of time, and gave a wide variety of flavors for the pickier eaters. My in-laws had never heard of pimento cheese, which completely surprised me!
I second the deviled eggs suggestion--you can do some traditional ones, and spice up some with wasabi, or toss in some bacon, there are endless variations that can make a classic more interesting!

Roasted sashito peppers with sea salt and roasted Brusselsprouts with chili oil drizzled on them

Baked brie w/ maple syrup/brown sugar and topped with toasted walnuts or almonds served with toasted crostini - always a hit!

Blue cheese- or goat cheese-stuffed dates; sugared and/or spiced nuts

sun-dried tomato pesto with pita chips go over well

Bruchetta!

Our tradition is onion dip (liptons) with chips and veg. I pushed it by trying a dip made with caramelized onions. Good luck to you, messing with tradition is a wonderful/terrible thing.

Deviled eggs. There is a great recipe somewhere on this site for sriracha deviled eggs. Though if your family is unadventurous then I would go with something more traditional.

Or cream cheese crab dip. I love that stuff!!!

Fingerling potatoes wrapped in bacon.

@BisforBaking: I was also going to suggest caramelized onion dip. It's the current favorite in my family. I soften the onions in olive oil, add balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and curry powder and let everything come together, then serve over softened cream cheese with rice crackers, toasted pita triangles or any other type of cracker/chip. Hummus is another favorite, and very easy to make (for a healthier version than store-bought). Also, you can use the same crackers/chips for both. :) Raw veggies like baby carrots, bell pepper strips and broccoli florets also go great with the hummus.

Something even simpler: a dish of Kalamata olives served alongside toasted almonds and sharp Cheddar cheese with rice crackers. I toast the almonds on a skillet over a low flame, and add black pepper, a dash of salt, and dried oregano. You can try your own combination of spices & herbs. I absolutely LOVE the combination of olive/almond/cheese. Yummm!

Rosemary nuts, bacon wrapped dates, lacy Parmesan chips dipped in raspberry jalapeno ambrosia, and pumpkin hummus dressed with pomegranate seeds

I am bringing a log of young goat cheese over which I will spread a jar of Fig spread with chopped Marcona almonds over that together with rainforest crisps (crackers wih cranberries and hazelnuts )
it is amazing and so easy!
Bring a pretty disy.

I had never heard of cheese pennies. What an interesting idea. cheese cracker baked at home?
When I was growing up the only cheese crackers we had came in a box.

Every Holiday we make a great cheese ball that everyone expects now. It is sooo easy!!! finely chopped dried beef (Hormel in a jar) "frizzled" in 2 Tblspns. butter. - Cool. One 8oz. pkg softened Cream Cheese, 2 Tblspns Horseradish. Mix and Chill. Serve with "Sociables" Crackers.