When Thanksgiving guests are due any minute, I’m usually juggling dinner, drinks, and a dozen last-second details. These eight Publix appetizers are what I’d grab to get something on the table before the doorbell rings.
Prices were checked at a Publix in Atlanta on November 7; they vary by store and change with each week’s ad.
1. Publix Deli Jeweled Brie Platter Mini
When the doorbell rings early, this ready-to-serve French Brie platter can go straight from the refrigerator to the table. The 20-ounce spread serves four to six and includes peach-and-honey-glazed Brie, almonds, cranberries, seasonal fruit, and crackers.
Taste: The Brie is soft and creamy, with subtle sweetness from the glaze and tart little pops of cranberry. Almonds and crackers supply crunch, while the fruit keeps the combination fresh.
Make It Better: Set out extra crackers and add a light honey drizzle if you want the platter to look more abundant.
Parting Thoughts: For a small gathering that needs an elegant centerpiece fast, this earns its spot.
2. Publix Deli Buffalo – Style Chicken Breast Dip
Buffalo dip earns valuable table space when your crowd prefers bold, casual appetizers. This refrigerated 16-ounce tub combines chicken, Neufchâtel cheese, hot sauce, and sour cream, and its microwave-safe container makes heating straightforward.
Taste: Warm, it turns creamy and gooey, with a savory chicken flavor and a noticeable buffalo-style kick. The heat has enough dairy richness around it to stay approachable, though spice-averse guests may pass.
Make It Better: Spoon it into a serving bowl and offer celery, crackers, or scoop-shaped tortilla chips; green onions or blue cheese make easy finishing touches.
Parting Thoughts: Game-day-food devotees will happily hover near this one.
3. Shrimp & Surimi Platter, Small, 40 Oz, Ready to Eat – $20.99
For a lighter counterpoint to all the cheese and pastry, this chilled 40-ounce seafood platter serves about 10. Medium shrimp, surimi, and tangy cocktail sauce arrive ready to eat, so there is no last-minute cooking.
Taste: The shrimp are firm, while the surimi is softer and flakier. Cocktail sauce brings the familiar tangy bite that keeps the seafood from tasting plain.
Make It Better: Keep the platter chilled until serving, then add lemon wedges for guests who want extra brightness.
Parting Thoughts: Seafood eaters get a classic starter, and the host gets one less pan to manage.
4. Publix Deli Garden Fresh Vegetable Platter Mini
A crisp vegetable tray is especially welcome before a rich Thanksgiving meal. This refrigerated 24-ounce mini serves four to six with carrots, celery, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, and a choice of ranch or blue cheese dip.
Taste: The vegetables provide clean, fresh flavors and plenty of crunch, with tomatoes and cucumbers adding a juicier contrast. Ranch is familiar and creamy, while blue cheese gives the platter a sharper edge.
Make It Better: Add a bowl of hummus alongside the included dip to give dairy-free guests another option.
Parting Thoughts: Even committed cheese lovers tend to appreciate something fresh between richer bites.
5. King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Soft Pretzel Bites
My low-effort move for hungry kids and casual grazers is opening these 10.2 ounces of shelf-stable pretzel bites and adding a dip. They require no preparation and are easy to scatter around the appetizer table without creating extra work.
Taste: Each bite balances the brand’s familiar sweetness with a salty pretzel note. The texture is soft and chewy rather than crusty, which makes them particularly easy to snack on.
Make It Better: Serve them with mustard, queso, or beer cheese so guests can steer the bites savory.
Parting Thoughts: They are not the fanciest choice here, but their easygoing appeal is useful in a mixed-age crowd.
6. Publix Deli Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
Turkey and cranberry give these refrigerated pinwheels an unmistakably Thanksgiving-friendly angle. The 5.4-ounce individual option rolls oven-roasted turkey, cheddar, dried cranberries, spring mix, and cream cheese inside lavash for an immediate, no-cook snack.
Taste: Savory turkey and cheddar meet sweet-tart, chewy cranberries, with cream cheese smoothing the contrast. The lavash stays soft around the creamy filling and fresh spring mix.
Make It Better: Arrange the slices closely on a small plate so the individual package reads as a purposeful appetizer rather than a deli lunch.
Parting Thoughts: Anyone who wants holiday flavor before the main meal will understand the assignment.
7. Publix Puffs, Brie & Raspberry
Flaky puff pastry wrapped around Brie and raspberry preserves looks far more involved than it is. The frozen 12-count package goes into the oven and is ready in 13 minutes, making it handy when you want one genuinely warm appetizer.
Taste: The pastry bakes up flaky around melted, creamy Brie and sweet-tart raspberry preserves. Almonds add a nutty note and a little crunch to the soft center.
Make It Better: Time these for shortly before guests arrive and garnish the finished tray with fresh berries for an easy polished touch.
Parting Thoughts: Sweet-and-savory appetizer fans are likely to reach for seconds, so one box may disappear quickly.
8. Publix Deli Deviled Egg Platter – from $6.99
Nothing says Southern holiday table quite like deviled eggs, and this refrigerated platter removes the peeling, mixing, and piping. Sizes serve four, 10, 18, or 28, with creamy filled egg halves and a black olive garnish ready to present.
Taste: Firm egg whites hold a smooth, creamy yolk filling. The flavor can lean sweeter or more vinegary than homemade versions, so it may not win over guests who are particular about their family recipe.
Make It Better: Serve the eggs well chilled and transfer them carefully to your own platter if you want a more personal presentation.
Parting Thoughts: Convenience makes these worthwhile for a crowd, though deviled-egg traditionalists may prefer to make their own.
