Our 28 Best Thanksgiving Recipes Take the Stress Out of Menu Planning (2024)

We scoured our Thanksgiving dinner recipes, including apple pies and mashed potatoes, to bring you this impressive list of our best Thanksgiving dishes. These greatest hits are our top-pinned, top-liked, and top-visited Thanksgiving recipes.

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Old-Fashioned Bread Stuffing

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Thanksgiving is all about tradition, so be sure to add our best Thanksgiving stuffing recipe to your holiday menu. It's got everything you're looking for from this classic side, including celery, onion, carrots, and seasoned bread cubes.

02of 28

Green Bean Casserole

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Frozen green beans, canned soup, and store-bought bread crumbs equal a delicious green bean casserole that is super easy and perfect for busy holidays. It's no wonder this is one of our top-rated Thanksgiving dishes!

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Green Beans and Lime

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It's not green bean casserole, but this veggie dish is still one of our best Thanksgiving recipes. This zesty green bean side dish will quickly become a favorite at your table—parsley, rosemary, lime juice, and a splash of olive oil infuse flavor; chopped hazelnuts add crunch.

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Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Gouda and Crispy Pancetta

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Brimming with cheese, these creamy spuds are the ultimate creative mashed potato recipe. Dinner guests will love this smooth and fluffy side, so be sure to add this recipe to your Thanksgiving menu.

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Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Pecans

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Are sweet potatoes on your Thanksgiving dinner menu yet? They should be! Top creamy whipped sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows and pecans for a new take on the classic sweet potato casserole. Bonus: The dish can be chilled for up to 24 hours ahead, then reheated for a low-stress, make-ahead recipe.

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Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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Here it is: the perfect mashed potatoes recipe. One of our best Thanksgiving recipes, these potatoes are deliciously rich, creamy, and full of robust garlic flavor. Plus, it's one of our top slow cooker recipes of all time.

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Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

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Cranberries and potatoes are Thanksgiving dinner staples, and this Thanksgiving menu idea blends the best of the two. Filled with cranberry relish and walnuts, this six-ingredient holiday side-dish recipe boasts a hint of tangy sweetness and nutty crunch in every bite.

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Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Try a new twist on two classic Thanksgiving dinner ideas: mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Stir in goat cheese to make them extra creamy and delicious.

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Hasselback Potatoes with Seasoned Breadcrumbs

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These wow-worthy spuds take only seven ingredients, and they can be partially prepped 24 hours in advance. Simply cut the potatoes, store in water, and bake this showy Thanksgiving dish the next day.

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Orange-Sage Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

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Make your sweet potato side even sweeter with a glaze made from orange juice concentrate, brown sugar, sage, and thyme. Crumble bacon on top of this Thanksgiving dish for a savory touch that balances the sweetness of the glaze and sweet potatoes.

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Classic Dinner Rolls

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Who doesn't love seeing warm, flaky dinner rolls on the Thanksgiving menu? We love these pull-apart buttery dinner rolls—they're a must-have at every Thanksgiving dinner.

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Buttered Stuffing with Mushrooms

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Spice up your Thanksgiving menu with this fun take on traditional stuffing recipes. Each bite is filled with the flavors of sourdough bread, butter, mushrooms, and white wine.

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Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

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We can't share our best Thanksgiving recipes without including mac and cheese. Warm and creamy, this homemade mac and cheese recipe has everything you love about the bubbly casserole: cheese, cheese, and more cheese! This casserole recipe uses cheddar cheese, American cheese, and cheese soup to give every bite rich, delicious flavor.

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Classic Buttermilk Biscuits

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Flaky layers, butter-browned tops, and a smooth buttermilk flavor make these our go-to Thanksgiving menu biscuits (the fact that they require just 10 minutes of prep time doesn't hurt, either!).

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Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas

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Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of your veggies, like in the carrots, sweet potatoes, and onions here. A brown sugar-rosemary dressing is the under-the-radar star of this Thanksgiving dinner idea.

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Persimmon, Blood Orange, and Pomegranate Salad

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Some Thanksgiving dishes are lacking in fruit, but not this salad. This fruity and delectable side will give your holiday table a pop of color; to save time you can prepare the pine nut-persimmon vinaigrette a few days beforehand.

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Apple Cider Punch

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Don't overlook festive holiday drinks when you're thinking of Thanksgiving dinner ideas; this apple cider punch can be on your table in five minutes. To make it an adults-only option, switch out the grape juice for champagne for an extra sparkly drink.

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Zesty Ranch Turkey

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This Thanksgiving turkey is a must-have recipe. It has a citrusy ranch topper and bakes to golden perfection. Serve it with an extra squeeze of lime.

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Honey Roast Turkey

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Give this best Thanksgiving turkey recipe a burst of flavor by injecting it with seasoned liquid—we put a mixture of honey, sage, garlic, and olive oil directly into the meat before roasting it.

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Classic Roast Turkey

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Making a Thanksgiving turkey is easier than you think! For this best Thanksgiving turkey recipe, all you need is vegetable oil, salt, and pepper for a fully flavored delicious holiday entree.

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Maple-Cinnamon Pumpkin Pie

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Maple-laced pumpkin pie is one of our best Thanksgiving desserts—and the best way to end any holiday feast. Just slice, top with a spoonful of maple whipped cream, and serve to your dinner guests.

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Crumb-Topped Apple Slab Pie

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This cinnamon-spiced apple dessert may not be one of your usual Thanksgiving dessert recipes, but it's one of our most popular recipes of all time! Chopped pecans, rolled oats, and sugar make up the delicious crumb topping that takes this dish from run-of-the-mill to extraordinary!

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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

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In addition to pie, serve up cookies with your spread of Thanksgiving dessert recipes. Pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg turn these cookies into absolute showstoppers. When topped with homemade frosting and a touch of cinnamon, the soft cookies become even more irresistible.

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Sara's Silky Pumpkin Pie

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Nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger add classic spice to this luxurious pumpkin pie recipe, sure to be an immediate Thanksgiving favorite. One bite, and this pie just might replace all of your other go-to Thanksgiving dessert recipes.

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Apple Dumplings with Cider Caramel

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Apple pie is nice, but how can you make it even better? Wrap apples with buttery pastry and serve with a homemade cider caramel.

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Mallow-Praline Sweet Potato Pie

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This sweet potato pie is a great alternative (or addition) to the apple and pumpkin pies on your table. After all, your Thanksgiving menu could always use one more pie.

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Pastry for Single-Crust Pie

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Meet our go-to flaky pie crust recipe. Made with shortening and ready in just 15 minutes, you can skip the store bought crust this year. As one BHG reviewer raves, "This recipe turn out great."

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Pumpkin Brandy Alexander

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End the meal with a sweet co*cktail! This take on a brandy alexander is loaded with pumpkin puree and a dash of pumpkin spice. Garnish each glass with a star anise pod.

Our 28 Best Thanksgiving Recipes Take the Stress Out of Menu Planning (2024)

FAQs

What was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving answer key? ›

Although turkeys were indigenous, there's no record of a big, roasted bird at the feast. The Wampanoag brought deer and there would have been lots of local seafood (mussels, lobster, bass) plus the fruits of the first pilgrim harvest, including pumpkin. No mashed potatoes, though.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

How do you get rid of stress on Thanksgiving? ›

Here a few ways to keep stress at a minimum:
  1. Ask for help. Divide and conquer your to-do list with the help of family member or guests. ...
  2. Take a deep breath. Practice deep breathing. ...
  3. Enjoy the atmosphere. ...
  4. Make time for a turkey trot. ...
  5. Keep the meal manageable. ...
  6. Don't beat yourself up.

What are the top 10 Thanksgiving food? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

What were the first 3 foods eaten on 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.

Which of the following was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving? ›

There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

What are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods in America? ›

Most Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Corn. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Candied Yams. ...
  • Pumpkin Pie. ...
  • Pecan Pie. Complete the meal with a delectable (delicious) pecan pie, a pie that uses pecans (a type of nut) with spices and maple syrup.
Sep 29, 2023

What is the number one side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November.

What is the most popular side dish served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

Mashed Potatoes

And the winner is... mashed potatoes! Rising from second place in 2022, mashed potatoes take the crown for America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Creamy, rich, and comforting, they're the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy, so it makes sense that mashed potatoes came out on top.

Why is Thanksgiving stressful? ›

Creating an ideal environment can bring about stressful demands that come with the holidays – entertaining, shopping, cooking – can lead to mental anxiety or depression. People may feel overwhelmed by the amount of money they will need to spend.

What makes you tired on Thanksgiving? ›

The Turkey-Tryptophan Connection—Is There Really One? Turkey meat contains tryptophan, an amino acid that the body needs to make Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and serotonin, a hormone that helps you relax and—yes, makes you sleepy.

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes the cake as the least favorite Thanksgiving food. It is disliked by more than 31 percent of respondents, according to a survey conducted by SurveyMonkey on behalf of The Vacationer, a travel and vacation content site.

What is a must for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What was going on during the first Thanksgiving? ›

Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, different from today's traditional Thanksgiving feast. They played ball games, sang, and danced.

What are some foods that were probably eaten at the 1621 feast Readworks? ›

According to a letter written by pilgram Edward Winslow the following was likely at the feast:
  • Venison.
  • Fowl, likely duck, geese and pheasant.
  • Shellfish.
  • Beans.
  • Squash.
  • Pumpkins.
  • Fish.
  • Corn, thanks to the Wampanoag, likely served as a porridge.
May 29, 2019

What foods did they eat on 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.

Which foods were probably a part of the first Thanksgiving feast quizizz? ›

They probably ate fowl, like wild turkey, deer, mussels, ducks, corn, beans, lobster, squash and pumpkin. This grand feast is considered the very first Thanksgiving. The colonists and Native Americans ate together and expressed gratitude for the harvest.

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