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Thanksgiving Recipes: 45+ easy and classic dinner ideas to enjoy this year
For this holiday season, plan your menu with these 45+ Thanksgiving recipes. Classic favorites include roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, casseroles, dinner rolls and pies.
By Cookist
141
Late November means only one thing. It's Thanksgiving Day! If you're planning to celebrate this classic American feast by hosting a dinner with family and friends, you can't miss our 45+ Thanksgiving recipes. We've included dinner ideas for everyone, from favorite recipes that no one can pass up, to healthy and tasty ones that are on trend this year.
A good Thanksgiving dinner is nothing without a hearty roast turkey to go with lots of tasty vegetable side dishes such as mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Enjoy these traditional dishes while sipping Thanksgiving cocktails reminiscent of fall flavors. Don't forget to serve creative appetizers you can devour in one bite to start the festivities off right. If you want to make sure your guests will never forget your dinner, end the meal with delicious, festive desserts including pies, cakes, cookies, and sweet treats of all kinds.
Whether you want to celebrate a classic Thanksgiving or an informal Friendsgiving, don't be surprised if you end up with leftover food at the end of dinner. You can continue the festivities the next day by making a handy Thanksgiving sandwich or finding easy and tasty recipes to save the leftovers.
Classic Thanksgiving Recipes
1. Roast Turkey: the classic Thanksgiving recipe for making a juicy, moist roast turkey 
Roast turkey is the classic holiday main dish, especially at Thanksgiving. Juicy and moist on the inside, spread herb butter on a whole turkey, then bake it until golden brown.
Read the recipe 2. Spatchcock turkey: the fastest, juiciest way to cook turkey 
Spatchcock turkey takes the hassle out of roasting. There's no need to truss it, the turkey is easier to carve up, and you'll get outstanding results – crispy skin outside and moist, tender meat inside. It also cuts your cooking time in half. Removing the backbone is easy and means you'll be enjoying your turkey in just over an hour. It's so simple, you'll be wondering why you haven't spatchcocked a turkey sooner!
Read the recipe 3. Mashed Potatoes: the ultimate recipe for the best-ever creamy mashed potatoes 
Mashed potatoes are a creamy, buttery side recipe perfect to serve with any main dish, especially at Thanksgiving. Quick and easy to prepare, it's made with potatoes, butter, milk, and garlic.
Read the recipe 4. Turkey Gravy: the delicious Thanksgiving recipe using pan drippings 
Turkey gravy is a delicious sauce recipe perfect to serve at Thanksgiving. Rich and smooth, it's made from the pan drippings of roasted turkey, butter, flour and herbs.
Read the recipe 5. Homemade Stuffing: the best-ever stuffing recipe for your Thanksgiving meal 
Stuffing is a tasty, versatile recipe perfect to stuff your roast turkey or to enjoy as a side. Part crispy and part tender, it's loaded with chopped bread, fresh herbs, garlic, celery, and onions.
Read the recipe 6. Cornbread Stuffing: a mouthwatering Thanksgiving recipe to try this year 
Moist, tender, crumbly sausage cornbread stuffing is a must-have for any Thanksgiving dinner. It is herby, savory, with just a hint of sweetness thanks to the cornbread.
Read the recipe 7. Cranberry Sauce: the sweet-tart recipe for a classic Thanksgiving side dish 
Homemade cranberry sauce is a classic side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Sweet yet tart, it's made with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice and zest.
Read the recipe 8. Green Bean Casserole: the hearty, delicious holiday side dish to serve this Thanksgiving 
Green bean casserole is a classic recipe to serve as a Thanksgiving side. It's made of green beans cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce, and topped with crispy fried onions.
Read the recipe 9. Sweet Potato Casserole: a creamy, delicious casserole to serve this autumn 
Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe. With its creamy texture and crunchy, buttery pecan topping, you can also make it ahead of time.
Read the recipe 10. Cornbread: the best recipe for tender, moist homemade cornbread 
Cornbread is a classic Southern quick bread you can serve it as a side dish during barbecues. Fluffy and moist, it's buttery, rich in corn flavor.
Read the recipe 11. Dinner Rolls: the homemade recipe for making soft yeast rolls 
Dinner rolls (or yeast rolls) are an easy side to pair with any main dish. With a bit of sweetness, these small round loaves have a buttery, flaky crust, and a soft, pillowy center.
Read the recipe 12. Pumpkin Pie: the traditional, spiced dessert recipe for your Thanksgiving dinner 
Pumpkin pie is a traditional dessert recipe to serve with whipped cream during Thanksgiving. With a thick crust, its filling is made of pumpkin puree, condensed milk, sugar, spices.
Read the recipe 13. Pecan Pie: a fantastic recipe for a classic nutty dessert 
Pecan pie is a classic Southern dessert with a sweet, salty, nutty flavor and chewy texture. It's and old-fashioned recipe you can serve during holiday season.
Read the recipe 14. Apple Pie: the best-ever recipe for the classic American dessert 
Perfect for fall season, this apple pie recipe is made with perfectly sweet-tart Granny Smith apples tossed in sugar and cinnamon and baked in a homemade flaky pastry.
Read the recipe Thanksgiving Appetizers
15. Cranberry Brie Bites: the easy, bite-sized recipe for a delicious holiday appetizer 
Cranberry Brie Bites is a great holiday bite-sized appetizer. The puff pastry is buttery, flaky, with the right balance of sweet, salty from the cranberry sauce and brie cheese.
Read the recipe 16. Fried Mashed Potato Balls: the bite-sized appetizer perfect for holidays 
Fried Mashed Potato Balls are an easy, bite-sized appetizer you can make with mashed potato leftovers. Great for the holidays, they're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Read the recipe 17. Stuffed Mushrooms: the classic holiday recipe for a tasty, vegetarian appetizer 
Stuffed mushrooms are a vegetarian appetizer recipe perfect for holidays such. Easy to make, stuff mushroom caps with cream cheese, chopped mushrooms, herbs and garlic then bake them.
Read the recipe 18. Pumpkin Cheese Ball: a delicious festive party appetizer to make this autumn 
Pumpkin-shaped cheese balls is an easy, creamy appetizer to serve as a party centerpiece. No pumpkin flavored, it's made of cream cheese, bell pepper, rolled in cheddar cheese.
Read the recipe 19. Walnut Raspberry Baked Brie: easy, quick recipe for the perfect holiday appetizer 
Walnut raspberry baked brie is an easy appetizer to serve during holidays. Sweet yet savory, round brie is topped with raspberry jam, walnuts and brown sugar, then baked until melty.
Read the recipe 20. Bacon Brie Crescent Wreath: the tasty recipe for a great holiday appetizer 
Bacon brie crescent wreath is a tasty appetizer recipe, to serve at parties and holiday dinners. Easy to make and assemble, it is a cheesy, savory crescent ring.
Read the recipe 21. Turkey Fruit Platter: the effortless recipe for a funny, fruity Thanksgiving appetizer 
This Turkey Fruit Platter is an easy and fun recipe to serve as an appetizer for kids. It’s fun, healthy, and also kid-friendly as it has a turkey shape.
Read the recipe 22. Fried Mac and Cheese Balls: the effortless recipe for a tasty party appetizer 
Fried mac and cheese balls are a tasty, bite-sized appetizer to enjoy during the holidays. They're cheesy and creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside texture.
Read the recipe 23. Brussels Sprouts Sliders: the delicious keto recipe for a bite-sized appetizer 
Brussels sprouts sliders are an easy, bite-sized, keto appetizer recipe. Used instead of bread buns, roasted Brussels sprouts are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Read the recipe 24. Caramelized Onion Dip: the mouthwatering recipe for a savory party dip 
Caramelized onion dip is the perfect party dip recipe. With its creamy texture and savory, tangy, and lightly sweet taste, this is the best dip with caramelized onions.
Read the recipe 25. Fried Okra: the easy and quick Southern recipe 
Fried okra is a quick and easy Southern recipe to enjoy as a side dish in summer. These fried okra nuggets are super crispy and golden, enough to be known as southern popcorn just because they pop in your mouth.
Read the recipe 26. Classic Cocktail Meatballs: the easy and tasty recipe 
Classic Cocktail Meatballs are a crowd-pleasing favorite. Who doesn’t love a sweet, spicy meatball? It’s easy to prepare ahead of time and is quick enough so that you can make a large batch for your next cocktail hour or party. Unlike other cocktail meatball recipes, this meatballs have a meaty flavor mixed with a rich, sweet and spicy.
Read the recipe Thanksgiving Sides
27. Potato Rolls: the super soft, moist roll recipe made with mashed potatoes 
Potato rolls are a pull-apart holiday side dish to serve with any meal. They're made with mashed potatoes which give a softness, moisture and slightly sweet flavor to the rolls.
Read the recipe 28. Roasted Vegetables: the effortless recipe for a delicious, healthy side dish 
Roasted vegetables are an easy, healthy side dish. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, tender on the inside, oven-roasted vegetables are a nutritious recipe that goes with everything.
Read the recipe 29. Mashed Cauliflower: the delicious recipe for a creamy low-carb side dish 
Creamy mashed cauliflower is a low-carb, keto-friendly, easy dish you can serve on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or enjoy whenever you fancy.
Read the recipe 30. Candied Yams: a classic Southern Thanksgiving dish you don’t want to sleep on 
Candied yams are a delicious side dish from Southern US that's perfect for Thanksgiving. Easy and buttery, yams or sweet potatoes are scented with warming baking spices, and baked until caramelized.
Read the recipe 31. Roasted Carrots: an easy, mouthwatering side dish 
Roasted carrots are a versatile side dish perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Quick and easy, naturally sweet carrots are roasted with garlic, salt and pepper until tender and golden brown.
Read the recipe 32. Roasted Butternut Squash: simple and delicious side dish 
The most important thing about cutting butternut squash before roasting it is to use a sharp, heavy knife. Dull knives are more likey to slip and hurt you. Start by slicing the top (stem end) and bottom off of the squash. This gives you two flat surfaces to steady your squash on. Next, cut the squash in half widthwise, right where the neck starts to bulge out.
Read the recipe 33. Whole Roasted Cauliflower: the low-carb recipe popular among chefs 
Whole roasted cauliflower is a naturally low-carb, keto-friendly recipe to serve as a side or main dish. Crispy on the outside, it's tender and buttery on the inside.
Read the recipe 34. Creamed Corn: the quick, easy recipe everyone will love 
Creamed corn is a quick, easy, tasty side. Tender, sweet corn kernels are mixed in a thick, smooth creamy sauce made by combining the starchy residue of corn, heavy cream, milk and flour.
Read the recipe 35. Roasted Brussels Sprouts: the tastiest recipe for the classic holiday side dish 
Roasted Brussels sprouts are a tasty, quick and easy side dish perfect for the holiday season. Crispy and tender on the inside, they have a rich, nutty, caramelized flavor.
Read the recipe 36. Cauliflower Stuffing: a vegetarian stuffing recipe for a Thanksgiving side dish recipe 
Cauliflower stuffing is a healthy, low-carb recipe ideal for Thanksgiving, even if you're on a keto diet. Packed with flavor, it's a vegetarian alternative to other stuffings.
Read the recipe 37. Broccoli Bacon Salad: the phenomenal recipe for an easy healthy side dish 
Creamy broccoli salad with bacon is a sensationally tasty dish that everyone will love. This is a brilliant recipe to serve for the broccoli skeptic in your life: it's a combo of savory bacon, red onion, sweet raisins and a red wine vinegar-mayonnaise dressing that make this salad hard to resist.
Read the recipe 38. Butternut Squash Soup: a cozy vegan soup recipe to warm you when it’s cold 
Butternut squash soup is an easy, vegan soup perfect for cold seasons. Creamy and velvety, this healthy soup made of butternut squash, herbs, ginger and garlic.
Read the recipe 39. Pumpkin Bread Rolls: the simple recipe for pumpkin dinner rolls 
The Pumpkin Bread Rolls is an easy bun recipe that is a fun fall twist on classic bread rolls. You don’t even need any fancy ingredients.
Read the recipe Thanksgiving Desserts
40. Sweet Potato Pie: the perfect Thanksgiving pie recipe from the American South 
Sweet potato pie is a typical dessert recipe to serve at Thanksgiving. Easy to make, it's made of a pie crust filled with mashed sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and spices, then baked and topped with whipped cream.
Read the recipe 41. Cranberry Pie: the best recipe for a much-loved holiday dessert recipe 
Cranberry pie is an easy dessert recipe to enjoy during holidays. It has a sweet-tart flavor, the filling is juicy and sweet, while the pie crust is buttery and flaky.
Read the recipe 42. Pecan Pie Bars: the delicious recipe for a bite-sized autumn treat 
Love pecan pie? Then you'll adore these phenomenal pecan pie bars. These bite-sized pecan pie bars are fantastic when you're hosting a large group and make a great treat to serve over the holidays. With a rich, buttery, nutty flavor and satisfying crunch, they're hard to resist.
Read the recipe 43. Chess Pie: a decadent, creamy Southern dessert to make for Thanksgiving 
Chess pie is a classic Southern dessert perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's made of a tender pie crust, a sweet-nutty custard, and a crisp browned top.
Read the recipe 44. Buttermilk Pie: a beloved Southern pie recipe for your holidays 
Buttermilk pie is an easy Southern dessert similar to chess pie. Fill a buttery pie crust with a thick, creamy mixture made of buttermilk, eggs, flour, vanilla, butter, and lemon juice, then bake it.
Read the recipe 45. Pumpkin Bars: the sweet yet tangy dessert recipe for your fall 
Pumpkin bars are an easy dessert recipe perfect to enjoy during fall season. They're moist, spiced on the inside and topped with a fluffy layer of tangy cream cheese frosting.
Read the recipe 46. Chocolate Cream Pie: a silky, delicious pie to make for any occasion 
Chocolate cream pie is a delicious dessert perfect for holidays. It's made of a silky chocolate pudding set in a pie crust, topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
Read the recipe 47. Pumpkin Cake: the easy, tasty recipe for a beautiful fall dessert 
Pumpkin cake is an easy dessert perfect for fall season. It's made from a single layer of moist pumpkin cake seasoned with baking spices, then topped with cream cheese frosting.
Read the recipe 48. Apple Crisp: the old-fashioned dessert recipe you’ll love 
Apple Crisp is an easy, old-fashioned dessert recipe ideal for fall. Served with a scoop of ice cream, it has a tender apple filling and is topped with a crispy oat crumble.
Read the recipe 49. Pumpkin Cookies: the perfect iced cookie recipe to make this fall 
Pumpkin cookies are a sweet, lightly spiced recipe perfect for fall season. Crisp around the sides and with a soft, chewy center, these cookies are topped with a smooth glaze.
Read the recipe
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