The BEST Thanksgiving Recipes EVER (2024)

By Kelly

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Published: Oct 28, 2021

Updated: Feb 13, 2024

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The BEST Thanksgiving recipes for turkey and stuffing, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, gravy, and tips to help you along the way. These recipes are classics for Thanksgiving leftover recipes and Thanksgiving desserts too. They NEVER get old and are so delicious that everyone will go back for seconds (and thirds!) during your Thanksgiving feast. Be sure to pin and save this post for November and December.

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Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

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1. Thanksgiving turkey recipe

One person said, “This is by far the best turkey I have ever made!” Step-by-Step Guide to The Best Roast Turkey. A tried-and-true recipe for making a perfectly cooked and moist turkey every time. A Thanksgiving menu item people look forward to the most!

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2.Smoked Honey Glazed Ham

This is a great way to take a regular cooked ham and turn it into something spectacular by applying a sweet and spicy rub and placing it in a smoker.

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3. Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Chili

You’ve got to taste it to believe it! It actually tastes like pumpkin spice mixed with a spicy and savory chili. Made with pumpkin purée in a slow cooker.

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4. The Perfect Turkey Gravy

Homemade brown gravy is better than packaged any day! Basic All-American Brown Gravy Recipe. Turkey Gravy made from drippings, the only way to do it!!!

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5. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Bacon

Another pinner said, “One bite and you will never go back.” The best green bean casserole EVER!!! Made with butter crackers, sour cream, cheese, and more.

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6. Mashed Potatoes

My Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes recipe is one you will come back to over and over again! Thick and creamy homemade mashed potatoes – Great as a side dish and an absolute staple recipe for the holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas!

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7. Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding

The BEST banana pudding recipe ever!!! I want to lay on the pudding pillow. This is one of our all-time favorite desserts. It’s wonderful any time of year dessert, but it’s especially wonderful for the holidays!

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8. Macaroni & Cheese

One reader said, “This is the best macaroni and cheese I have ever tasted!” Made of ooey-gooey mild cheese, jack cheese, sharp cheese, muenster cheese, Velveeta cheese, and half &half. OMG! Everyone knows that mac & cheese is the must-have pasta on Thanksgiving!

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9. Morning Punch

All fall and winter long, this kid-friendly and adult-friendly Brunch Punch is a hit! A funMorning Punchis a perfect way to kick off a special day.

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10. Pumpkin Risotto

Pumpkin Risotto is such a deliciously comforting fall and winter meal! While it looks elegant enough for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is perfect for a weeknight dinner as well. Topped with goat cheese and cranberries, it’s also a wonderful vegetarian option!

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11. Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakesare tiny pumpkin pies you can eat with your hands. Such a yummy dessert recipe for fall and Thanksgiving!

12. Buttery Ranch Ritz Crackers

Addicting…as the recipe title states, plus they practically scream HOLIDAY SNACKING!

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13. Pumpkin Fluff Pie

No-bake Pumpkin Fluff Pieis a pumpkin cream pie with a graham cracker crust and a Cinnamon Toast Crush twist!

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14. Turkey Cheeseball

This Bacon Ranch Turkey Cheeseball will be a hit at the holiday table! This is a Thanksgiving appetizer you MUST add to your menu!

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15. Homemade Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Delicious homemade Hawaiian sweet rolls, soft, fluffy, and fresh from the oven. Brush top with melted butter, and serve warm. You can also make it into one big loaf! By Linda Bailey (and family)

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16. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

A creamy and cheesy green bean casserole with bacon will be a hit on your holiday table.

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17. Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake

Easy Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake Recipe! Take all 5 ingredients, dump them into a baking dish, and serve it warm with ice cream.

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18. Mini Thanksgiving Pies

Mini Pies for Thanksgiving are a great alternative for your friends and family who can’t decide which kind of pie to have for their Thanksgiving Dessert. They are small enough that you can eat a couple of them! Click the picture for the different mini-pie recipes.

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19. Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

Cream Cheese Corn Casserole. Thanksgiving recipe done right! Simple, decadent, and delicious. Click the picture for the full recipe.

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20. Amish Zucchini Bread

This easy homemade zucchini bread recipe is a no-fuss and no-fail recipe. This is a great recipe to always keep on hand! Make it for yourself, family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

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21. Crock Pot Turkey Breast

ShreddedCrock Pot Turkey Breasts in a delicious gravy! This slow cooker turkey breast recipe is the easiest and tastiest way to cook a turkey breast. No need for a big turkey at Thanksgiving? Try this!

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22. Ham and Cranberry Sliders

These sliders are the perfect way to use any leftover ham or turkey! Or, put them out as an appetizer on Turkey day. Topped with an irresistible glaze!

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23. Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving side dishes are just as important as the turkey! Candied Sweet Potatoes are a traditional side for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas with butter (or margarine), brown sugar, cinnamon, and marshmallows. This is a classic recipe that simply must be served for Thanksgiving!

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24. Brussels Sprouts

This easy Brussels sprouts and bacon recipe will have everyone asking for seconds! Pair this simple and cozy side dish with a roast or even Thanksgiving turkey. An optional air-fryer recipe is included!

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25. Butternut Squash

Roasted Butternut Squash makes an excellent fall-baked side dish. So easy and healthy, this savory squash is a delicious vegetable side you’ll want to make again and again.

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26. Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Look no further for the Best Ever Cranberry Sauce! This easy and delightful recipe takes only 15 minutes to make and a handful of ingredients! Spiced with cinnamon and sweetened with orange juice, it is the best combination of sweet and tart! The perfect complement to your holiday meal!

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27. Apple Pie

This classic apple pie recipe makes the BEST old-fashioned apple pie from scratch! This easy pie has a flaky, buttery pie crust and a sweet homemade apple pie filling. With simple directions for how to make apple pie, including which type of apples to use. Perfect for the holidays!

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28. Broccoli Salad

Everyone needs an easy recipe for Broccoli Salad! This side dish stuffed with bacon, cranberry, pecans (or walnuts), and cheese is a huge crowd-pleaser.

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29. Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan Pie Brownies are fudgy chocolate brownies topped with a pecan pie filling for an irresistible treat. This is a Thanksgiving dessert FAVORITE but is delicious all year long.

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30. Apple Cider Donut Cake

Apple Cider Donut Cake! Baked to perfection in a circle bundt cake pan, brushed with melted butter, and covered in a cinnamon sugar coating.

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Thanksgiving Crock Pot Recipes

Are you running out of space in your oven yet? Consider some amazing Thanksgiving Slow Cooker Recipes instead. A crock pot recipe (or two) will save you so much time!

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FAQs

How can I make Thanksgiving extra special? ›

11 Ideas to Make Thanksgiving 2022 Extra Special in Your Home
  1. Invest in a Warming Tray. ...
  2. Watch for Black Friday Deals Before Thanksgiving. ...
  3. Invest in Artificial Plants for Your Porch. ...
  4. Give Centerpieces a New Home. ...
  5. Install a New Backsplash. ...
  6. Purchase an Electric Gravy Boat. ...
  7. Organize a Mini Pumpkin Hunt.

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

What are the top 10 Thanksgiving dishes in America? ›

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 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 classic Thanksgiving menu? ›

A Traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
  • 01 of 12. A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 12. The Best Turkey Gravy. ...
  • 03 of 12. Grandma's Cornbread Dressing. ...
  • 04 of 12. Baked Ham. ...
  • 05 of 12. Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • 06 of 12. Best Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • 07 of 12. Creamy au Gratin Potatoes. ...
  • 08 of 12.
Oct 18, 2023

How to make a full Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
  1. Simple Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
  2. Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes.
  3. Cornbread Muffins (prepare cornbread batter, bake in a muffin tin, 10 muffins, same temperature, 16-18 minutes)
  4. Apple Walnut Stuffing.
  5. Mushroom Herb Gravy.
  6. Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans.
Nov 9, 2019

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 most eaten meat on Thanksgiving? ›

No surprise here, turkey is the number 1 for the most popular foods served at thanksgiving with about 88% of Americans eating it on the holiday.

What are the 3 most popular food dishes served on Thanksgiving? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
  • Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.
Nov 2, 2022

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

My brother's birthday is November 26, so we usually celebrate it while the family is together for Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving foods include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. These dishes often vary by region and family traditions.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

FoodTimeline library Food Timeline> What does the average American eat for Thanksgiving? If you ask the "average" American today what he eats for Thanksgiving he will likely answer turkey & stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pies (yes, plural!).

What is the basic list for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The meal is salads, condiment plates, beverages ( no alcohol) turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted vegetables, green bean casserole, and desserts.

What were 3 foods that were eaten during Thanksgiving? ›

The first Thanksgiving banquet consisted of foods like venison, bean stew and hard biscuits. And while corn and pumpkin had their place on the table, they hardly resembled the cornbread stuffing and pumpkin pie we feast on today.

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