The Best Recipes for Thanksgiving
45+ recipes to get you excited about Thanksgiving! You’ll find all your favorite Thanksgiving recipes here— from main dishes, side dishes, appetizers, rolls, pies, desserts, and drinks.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that I love Thanksgiving! And planning and dreaming up the menu is always my favorite part. Here are some of my best Thanksgiving recipes to both get you excited, and hopefully give you a little inspiration too.
What do you look forward to most on your Thanksgiving plate? I always can’t wait to pour homemade turkey gravy all over my mashed potatoes and stuffing. Mmmm!
Table of Contents
Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Dry-Brine Roasted Turkey
The only turkey recipe you’ll ever need! It’s full of incredible flavor, it’s super moist and juicy, and it has the most beautiful crispy skin. It’s the perfect centerpiece for your next holiday meal.
Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast
This moist, tender and flavorful herb-roasted turkey breast is a great main dish for smaller gatherings.
Citrus Spiced Glazed Ham
This glazed ham made with fresh oranges, Dijon mustard, honey, and cloves is an easy but impressive main dish that’s perfect for a crowd!
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are delicious, so full of flavor and super light and fluffy. Just a few small but important details will take this classic side dish from good to amazing!
How to Make Turkey Gravy
Turkey gravy is a must for Thanksgiving! Let me show you how easy it is to make homemade turkey gravy in just a few minutes, with or without turkey drippings.
Buttery Garlic Green Beans
These simple and flavorful buttery garlic green beans are the perfect veggie side dish! My kids prefer this to green bean casserole, and I have to admit I do too.
Sausage Stovetop Stuffing
This simple and delicious stovetop stuffing recipe is made completely from scratch in just 30 minutes! It’s filled with veggies, fresh herbs and sausage for maximum flavor.
Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce
6 ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to make this bright and flavorful citrus spice cranberry sauce!
Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Casserole
This brussels sprouts and mushroom casserole topped with french fried onions is a twist on the Thanksgiving staple you have to try!
Fall Apple Salad
So many favorite seasonal flavors in one bowl! Mixed greens, crunchy honeycrisp apples, sharp white cheddar, dried cranberries, candied pecans and a quick maple balsamic vinaigrette.
Roasted Acorn Squash with Creamy Sage Sauce
This roasted acorn squash with a slightly sweet garlic and sage cream sauce is the perfect comforting side dish to any fall or winter meal.
Classic Herb Dressing
This stuffing/dressing recipe is made with simple quality ingredients like artisan bread and fresh herbs and only a few minutes of prep work.
Brussels Sprouts & Farro Salad
This hearty and delicious salad is also loaded up with arugula, hazelnuts, dried cranberries, pomegranate, chopped apples and goat cheese.
Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows & Pecans
A delicious and easy appetizer or side dish. They’re a fun twist on the classic sweet potato casserole, so they’re perfect for the holidays and other seasonal gatherings!
Thanksgiving Rolls
No-Knead Crescent Rolls
My mom’s no-knead “fairy” crescent rolls are the lightest and fluffiest white dinner rolls, and couldn’t be easier to prepare.
Soft White Dinner Rolls
This classic soft white rolls recipe requires just 7 ingredients, and they’re easy enough for anyone to make!
Garlic Herb Crescent Rolls
Soft and buttery, with lots of rich flavor and plenty of appeal. Plus, they’re made with my no-knead recipe and are a cinch to put together!
Honey Whole Wheat Rolls
Hearty, but still super light and tender, with delicious flavor. A great accompaniment to any meal!
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
This holiday pecan cheese ball is filled with smoked gouda, dried cranberries and rosemary, and is perfect for entertaining!
French Onion Dip
Once you’ve tried this completely homemade French onion dip, you won’t be able to go back to store-bought or shortcut versions ever again. Because the real thing is just so much better, and very easy to make too!
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
An easy and delicious make-ahead appetizer that’ll be a winner at any party!
Thanksgiving Drinks
Spiced Apple Cider Sangria
A pitcher full of fall flavor, perfect for sharing all season long! It’s made with a simple spiced apple cider reduction, white wine, brandy and lots of fresh apple slices.
Cranberry Gin Cocktail
A simple and delicious holiday cocktail made with gin, leftover cranberry sauce, sparkling water and a sprig of rosemary.
Apple Cider Old Fashioned Cocktail
The classic cocktail with a fun fall twist! You’re just 4 ingredients away from sipping on this cozy but crisp and refreshing beverage.
Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria
A winter red wine sangria for your holiday merriment— with pomegranates and oranges, cinnamon, and a heavy splash of brandy.
Thanksgiving Pies
Classic Pumpkin Pie
You can’t beat classic homemade pumpkin pie! This recipe is smooth and creamy, with great pumpkin flavor and warm spices, all baked into a flaky butter pie crust.
Mile High Apple Pie
If you’re looking for the BEST apple pie, then this stunning deep-dish mile high apple pie is for you!
Chocolate Coconut Pecan Pie
Classic pecan pie gets a super delicious upgrade! This chocolate coconut pecan pie is an incredible combination of flavors, and sure to be a new favorite.
Cranberry Blueberry Pie
A delicious combination of sweet and tart, with a hint of cozy spices, all inside a buttery flaky pie crust. It’s slightly different and very special, and perfect for the holiday season!
Apple Pear Praline Pie
Apples and pears baked together in a flaky butter pie crust and topped with a caramel pecan topping make this apple pear praline pie the perfect fall and holiday dessert.
Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie
Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Homemade salted caramel sauce is the perfect topping for silky smooth and creamy cheesecake. This salted caramel cheesecake with buttery graham cracker crust is the ultimate decadent dessert!
Pumpkin Roll Cake
Soft, spiced pumpkin cake rolled with creamy filling makes a beautiful and delicious fall dessert everyone will love. It’s easier to make than you think!
Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
Serve this beautiful fall cake as it is, or top slices with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to send it over the top.
Pecan Pie Brownies
Fudgy brownies and rich pecan pie filling bake together into one incredibly decadent dessert. I promise you’ll love these pecan pie brownies!
Pumpkin Caramel Poke Cake
There’s a spiced pumpkin cake, homemade caramel sauce, vanilla whipped cream and candied pecans. While this recipe is completely from-scratch (no cake mixes here), it’s still really easy to make.
