34 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

These tried-and-true Thanksgiving Recipes are loved by all, from kids to grandparents. We hope these proven recipes will make your Thanksgiving easier and unforgettably delicious.

34 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

In This Article

  • Appetizers
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Did you make this?
  • Thanksgiving Recipes | Dinner Rolls Recipe

Appetizers

While family and friends await the prized turkey dinner, here are crowd-pleasing appetizers to keep the group happy and mingling.

  • Easy Crostini Recipe

    This easy recipe offers apples, brie, and prosciutto for an unforgettable starter to Thanksgiving festivities.

  • Pumpkin Bacon Crostini With Cranberries

    Thanksgiving appetizers just don’t get more festive than this. Super easy and prep-ahead recipe.

  • Sweet Potato Hummus

    Serve up this autumn hummus with pita chips and an array of crackers.

Main Dishes

The main roast takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day, and we have literally the most succulent, savory roasts to make your special dinner absolutely stunning.

  • How to Brine and Roast Turkey (Homemade Gravy)

    After nearly 20 years, we’ve finally settled on THIS specific turkey recipe, and we’re not looking back. This yields the most tender, juicy bird we’ve ever gobbled up.

  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy

    If you’re having a smaller gathering or want a simple turkey breast dinner, this one is super easy and tastes magnificent.

  • Instant pot Whole Chicken

    When choosing chicken over turkey, this pressure cooker whole chicken delivers. Place it under the broiler for a few minutes at the end for gorgeous color.

  • Pistachio Crusted Salmon

    This juicy salmon delivers big flavors with amazing texture. A great alternative or addition to turkey.

  • Sheet Pan Roast Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

    Here’s a super easy meal-in-one, for all the pork tenderloin lovers. Be sure to use tenderloin and not regular loin, for ultimate tenderness.

  • Prime Rib with Au Jus

    If your eaters love a good prime rib, they’re in for a treat when you serve up this succulent, juicy dish.

Side Dishes

Here we go: these are the side dishes that make Thanksgiving meal complete. Only our tried-and-true, decades-long recipes have made the cut in this collection.

  • Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

    So, So much Love has been poured out onto this Sweet Potato Casserole. Everyone loves this dish. Topped with the most irresistible pecan crumble, this gets the most recipe requests.

  • Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

    This has been in our Thanksgiving menu for over 20 years, and it is literally devoured every single year, no matter who is sitting at our dinner table.

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (5 Ingredients)

    Free up the stovetop and oven. Use your pressure cooker to make the quickest, creamiest, more delicious mashed potatoes yet,

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

    This favorite autumn dish is the most flavorful roasted vegetable dish to hit the Thanksgiving table.

  • Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

    Only 3 ingredients and 15 minutes later, you’ll have a cranberry sauce worth slurping up. Nobody can go back to canned sauce after a taste of this.

  • Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

    Looking for a gluten-free stuffing option that tastes outstanding? They’ll love this offering.

  • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

    Melty golden cheese is the canopy for slices of tender potatoes underneath. Make this when you’ve got a big group or a potluck for the holidays.

  • Easy Corn Casserole Recipe

    This was a surprise hit at one of our holiday gatherings, and it’s been a keeper ever since. It’s unbelievably tender and fluffy, with a crispy topping.

  • Wild Rice Pilaf

    This is absolutely a stunner of a side dish that happens to be gluten-free and healthy to boot.

  • Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

    Looking to add some fresh crispy greens to the Thanksgiving table? This is the only recipe you’ll need for that.

Desserts

The finale to a great Thanksgiving feast is, of course, the classic desserts everyone can’t wait to dig into. We always make room for dessert.

  • The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

    This recipe, adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, is arguably the best pumpkin pie in the galaxy. It’s smooth, high, and stunningly flavorful.

  • The Best Pumpkin Cheesecake

    There are no words when you taste this New York style cheesecake. This shows up on our holiday table year after year, and always receives accolades.

  • Best Apple Pie with Flaky Butter Crust

    Apple pie is a classic on Thanksgiving, but this one “takes the pie.” The caramelized glaze makes all the difference.

  • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

    For a simple yet moist cake, you can’t go wrong with this easy bundt cake with all the pumpkin flavors.

  • Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce (Make-Ahead!)

    If you have bread pudding lovers in the midst, they’ll love you for making this moist and flavorful dessert.

  • Dutch Apple Pie

    No need to make a double-crust pie when you can have crunch, crumbling streusel on top! Serve this with vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable experience.

  • Pumpkin Cupcakes

    These are delightfully spiced and super moist and fluffy. A great addition to the dessert table.

  • Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting

    These are moist, tender, and teeming with fall spices. It’s easier than cake or pie, and just as delicious.

  • Pumpkin Spice Trifle

    If you’re headed to Friendsgiving or a larger gathering, this is the dessert to bring. It’s a fabulous crowd favorite.

Drinks

Don’t forget the co*cktails, which all can be made into mock-tails as well. Enjoy the festivities!

  • Easy Apple Cider Sangria

    This is crazy easy and everything fall-inspired.

  • Easy Madras Cranberry Orange co*cktail

    So beautiful, simple, and just tasty.

  • Pomegranate Apple Sangria

    Make the most out of pomegranate season.

  • Easy Sangria Recipe [Ginger Pear]

    Ginger and Pear notes come together for this fragrant drink.

  • Sparkling Cranberry Prosecco co*cktail

    For a bit of sparkling festivity, go for this Prosecco-based beverage.

We hope you enjoyed this hand-picked Thanksgiving collection as much as we loved putting it together for you. If you make ANY of our recipes, please come back and comment/rate them. We absolutely ❤️ hearing from you!

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Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

34 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (35)

Thanksgiving Recipes | Dinner Rolls

5 from 21 ratings

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Ready in about an hour, these rolls are soft, fluffy, easy, and delicious! They're golden on the outside and pillow soft on the inside.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 16

Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients

  • 4 to 4/14 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ TB or, 1 1/2 packages rapid rise (not active rise) yeast
  • 1 ½ tsp table salt
  • ¾ cup water
  • cup whole milk
  • 4 TB salted butter, diced
  • 1 ½ tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • olive oil for brushing during rise
  • 2-3 TB melted butter for brushing after baking

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180F. In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk together 4 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.

  • In a microwavable bowl, combine the water, milk, and butter. Heat in microwave on high until it reaches 115F and butter is melted, a little over 1 minute. Stir.

  • Pour butter mixture into the stand mixer bowl. Add lemon juice. Set mixer with hook attachment and mix on low speed 3-4 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Add a bit more flour as needed to create a dough that is similar to play-doh. (For me, 4 cups of flour is perfect already) Dough should stick together nicely to form a ball, without being overly sticky nor dry feeling. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and rest 5 minutes. Butter a 13×9 baking dish.

  • Roll dough up into a cylinder and cut into 16 equal sized pieces. Keeping dough covered as you work, shape each piece into balls by tucking edges under, pinching them together, and rolling the ball in your palms. Place rolls into buttered baking dish, smooth side up. Turn oven off.

  • Lightly brush tops of rolls with olive oil so they keep moist while rising. Cover with plastic wrap. Place rolls in oven and allow to rise for 25 minutes.

  • Transfer covered rolls to counter and set oven to 375F. Once oven reaches correct temperature, uncover rolls and bake on center rack for 14-16 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with the melted butter. Serve rolls warm. (If you have leftovers, store them in airtight container at room temp. Cover with damp towel and reheat in microwave upon serving.)

Notes

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Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.7g | Protein: 3.8g | Fat: 3.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Cholesterol: 7.8mg | Sodium: 223.5mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 3.7g

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Method: Bake

34 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

Many Americans would regard Thanksgiving dinner as "incomplete" without stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and cranberry sauce. A recipe for cranberry sauce to be served with turkey appeared in the first American cookbook, American Cookery (1796) by Amelia Simmons.

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

  • Mac And Cheese. Before you bring out the pitchforks, hear us out: mac and cheese is incredible in every way but as a Thanksgiving side. ...
  • Rolls. PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: Taylor Ann SPENCER. ...
  • Cornbread. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Scalloped Potatoes. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Creamed Spinach. ...
  • Cornbread Stuffing.
Nov 16, 2023

What is a true Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but the First Thanksgiving likely included wildfowl, corn, porridge and venison.

What is the number 1 rated side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

1. Holiday Stuffing. This easy recipe for Holiday Stuffing is our number one must-have Thanksgiving side dish!

What is the most important meal on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. A turkey is the center of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, 88 percent of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, with 46 million Turkeys eaten on the holiday.

What is the least popular Thanksgiving food? ›

The Least Popular Thanksgiving Foods, Ranked
  • Sweet Potatoes or Yams — 25.12%
  • Stuffing/Dressing. — 22.33%
  • Pumpkin Pie. — 21.44%
  • Carrots. — 16.95%
  • Mashed Potatoes. — 15.45%
  • Corn. — 14.36%
  • Macaroni and Cheese. — 14.36%
  • Apple Pie. — 12.86%

What should I make first for Thanksgiving? ›

Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning.

What do you say instead of "Happy Thanksgiving"? ›

"May all the good things of life be yours, not only on this day but throughout the coming year." "Wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health and good times." "May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday season and healthful, Happy New Year."

What to eat instead of traditional Thanksgiving dinner? ›

25 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
  • 01 of 25. Artichoke Hearts Gratin. ...
  • 02 of 25. Roasted Pumpkin Soup. ...
  • 03 of 25. Roasted Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Crostini. ...
  • 04 of 25. Apple Pie Shot. ...
  • 05 of 25. Citrus Turkey Brine. ...
  • 06 of 25. Bacon-Wrapped Pork Medallions. ...
  • 07 of 25. Tangy Honey-Glazed Ham. ...
  • 08 of 25.
Oct 3, 2023

What food was present at the first Thanksgiving but is rarely eaten now? ›

Culinary historians believe that much of the Thanksgiving meal consisted of seafood, which is often absent from today's menus.

What 3 foods did they eat on the first Thanksgiving? ›

But according to the two only remaining historical records of the first Thanksgiving menu, that meal consisted of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, cod, bass, and flint, and a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

What is the famous meal of Thanksgiving? ›

Most Traditional Thanksgiving Foods. A traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of roast turkey and many sides including stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans and cranberry sauce, with pumpkin pie as dessert.

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