50+ Best Thanksgiving Recipes gathers a selection of reliable, crowd-pleasing dishes for your holiday table — from appetizers and mains to sides, salads, vegetarian options and desserts.
Thanksgiving is a time to pause and appreciate what matters most, and for many of us that means gathering around a comforting meal. Whether you host every year or bring a favorite dish, planning ahead makes the day calmer and more enjoyable.
This curated collection of 50+ Best Thanksgiving Recipes includes easy starters, turkey and other mains, classic and inventive side dishes, vegetarian choices and desserts to finish the meal.
Use these recipes to build a menu that suits your family, schedule and tastes — many of the dishes can be prepped ahead so you can spend more time with guests and less time in the kitchen.
Thanksgiving Appetizers
This section offers simple yet elegant starters to set the tone for your holiday dinner.
Easy Crudités Platter
Simple tips for arranging a colorful crudités platter make it an attractive, healthy starter that’s easy to prepare in advance.
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Deviled Eggs with Bacon
Classic deviled eggs get a savory finish with crisp bacon and fresh chives — a creamy, easy-to-serve appetizer.
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Endive Salad Bites with Pears, Blue Cheese, and Pecans
Crisp endive leaves filled with pear, blue cheese and pecans make a refined, make-ahead finger food for holiday entertaining.
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Fall Cheese Board
Assemble a seasonal cheese board with simple tips for pairing cheeses, meats and fruit for an attractive appetizer spread.
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Hot Artichoke Dip Recipe
A cheesy hot artichoke dip with a touch of heat — just six ingredients and easy to serve with crackers or bread.
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Mini Goat Cheese Balls
Creamy goat cheese rolled in pistachios and dried cranberries creates a festive, bite-sized appetizer.
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Orange Sugared Cranberries
Tangy cranberries coated in citrus-scented sugar make a beautiful garnish for boards and desserts.
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Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Savory sausage fills mushroom caps for an elegant, make-ahead appetizer that reheats well.
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Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites
Low-carb smoked salmon bites with cucumber and lemon-dill cream cheese are elegant and quick to assemble.
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Maple Rosemary Roasted Nuts
Sweet maple, fragrant rosemary and a hint of spice elevate roasted nuts into an addictive snack or appetizer.
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Whipped Goat Cheese Fig Bites
Honey- and thyme-scented whipped goat cheese topped with fresh figs makes a sweet-savory party bite.
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Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
The centerpiece for many is turkey, but this collection includes several turkey preparations plus alternative mains if you prefer chicken, pork or ham.
You’ll also find recipes for turkey stock and gravy to complete the meal and make use of the carcass.
Dry Brine Roast Turkey Recipe
A dry-brined turkey yields golden, well-seasoned meat without the hassle of a wet brine — flavored here with orange and rosemary.
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Herb and Garlic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Roasted turkey breast seasoned with herbs and garlic offers juicy slices with less fuss than a whole bird.
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Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast
A boneless turkey breast roasts quickly, yields tender meat and can be served with an optional pan gravy.
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Perfect Spatchcock Turkey
Spatchcocking the bird produces evenly cooked, juicy meat and very crisp skin in less time than a whole roast.
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Easy Homemade Turkey Stock
Make stock from the carcass to boost soups, gravies and sauces — instructions include stovetop and Instant Pot methods.
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Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe
Learn to make rich gravy from drippings, with options using either flour or cornstarch and tips for making it ahead.
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Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken
A lemon-garlic roast chicken provides a flavorful, family-friendly alternative to turkey.
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Pork Loin Roast
A tender pork loin with an optional Dijon cream sauce offers a special, easy-to-prepare main for the holidays.
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Slow Cooker Ham with Maple Glaze
A slow-cooker ham finished with a maple glaze is a hands-off option that stays juicy and flavorful.
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Thanksgiving Side Dishes
No Thanksgiving spread is complete without an array of sides — from classic stuffing and mashed potatoes to lighter, low-carb options.
Below are traditional favorites and fresh variations to round out your menu.
Butternut Squash Casserole with Streusel Topping
A fluffy butternut purée topped with pecan-oat streusel — comforting, make-ahead side that pairs well with rich mains.
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Cauliflower Stuffing (Low Carb)
A low-carb alternative that keeps the savory flavors of traditional stuffing without bread.
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Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce
A quick cranberry sauce brightened with fresh orange — ready in about 15 minutes and ideal with turkey.
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Mashed Butternut Squash
Velvety mashed butternut squash is gluten-free, customizable and pairs well with richer mains.
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Easy Crock Pot Stuffing
Slow-cooker stuffing frees up oven space and develops deep, golden flavor — great for make-ahead prep.
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Garlic Mashed Cauliflower Recipe
A creamy, low-carb mashed cauliflower flavored with garlic and chives offers a lighter alternative to potatoes.
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Homemade Green Bean Casserole
A made-from-scratch green bean casserole with a creamy béchamel and crisp fried shallots for texture.
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Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot mashed potatoes deliver creamy results in minutes, freeing up stovetop space for other preparations.
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Instant Pot, Stove Top)
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes flavored with orange and rosemary; includes Instant Pot and stovetop methods.
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Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe
A silky parsnip purée offers a flavorful, lower-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
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Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Cheesy, herb-scented twice-baked potatoes make a rich, make-ahead side dish that reheats beautifully.
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Port Cranberry Sauce
An elegant cranberry sauce made with port wine, orange and warm spices for a refined side.
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Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potatoes with rosemary and Parmesan caramelize beautifully and require minimal prep.
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping
Fluffy sweet potato casserole with a maple-oat streusel — comforting and easy to assemble ahead of time.
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Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with garlic and a special twist for extra richness — a family-friendly classic.
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Thanksgiving Salad Recipes
Fresh salads provide balance to a rich meal — here are several seasonal, flavorful options.
Arugula Orange Pomegranate Salad
Peppery arugula tossed with orange and pomegranate in a tangy dressing makes a bright, seasonal salad.
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Holiday Salad with Kale, Persimmon and Pomegranate
A festive kale salad with persimmon and pomegranate, finished in a bright apple-cider dressing.
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Pear Salad with Feta and Cranberries
Juicy pears, cranberries, feta and almonds tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette for a crisp, crowd-pleasing salad.
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Persimmon Salad
Sweet persimmons paired with greens and a cider dressing make a quick, flavorful salad.
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Arugula Pear Salad
Peppery arugula with pears, blue cheese and toasted pecans tossed in a champagne vinaigrette makes an impressive side salad.
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Vegetable Sides
Vegetable sides bring color, texture and balance to the plate. Here are roasted, braised and quick options.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Crispy air-fryer Brussels sprouts with lemon and Parmesan are ready in about 20 minutes.
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Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Caramelized Brussels and crispy bacon combine for a savory side brightened with lemon.
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Maple Glazed Carrots
Tender carrots glazed with maple and orange make a simple, crowd-pleasing side.
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Maple Thyme Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, and Parsnips
Roasted root vegetables with maple and thyme create a colorful, naturally sweet side dish.
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Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Simply roasted carrots and parsnips caramelize to sweet perfection and require minimal hands-on time.
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Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan
Roasted green beans tossed with olive oil and finished with Parmesan are a simple, beloved side.
Roasted Root Vegetables Recipe
A customizable medley of roasted root vegetables that’s gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
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Breads and Rolls
Freshly baked breads and biscuits complete the meal, whether you choose cornbread, focaccia or sweet potato biscuits.
Honey Cornbread Muffins
Moist honey cornbread muffins with a dairy-free option make a cozy accompaniment to savory dishes.
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One Hour Rosemary Focaccia Bread
A quick focaccia with garlic and rosemary that’s fluffy and ready in about an hour.
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Sweet Potato Biscuits
Light, fluffy biscuits made with sweet potato add autumn flavor to your bread basket.
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Vegetarian and Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
Plenty of hearty, meatless dishes can stand alongside traditional mains — from grain salads to vegetable casseroles.
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Roasted butternut, quinoa and crisp apple tossed in apple-cider dressing — vegan, gluten-free and meal-prep friendly.
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One Pan Chickpea Broccoli Rice Casserole
A hearty, cheesy one-pan casserole with chickpeas and broccoli that makes a comforting vegetarian main or side.
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Roasted Kabocha Squash with Tahini Dressing
Roasted kabocha seasoned with garam masala and finished with a maple-orange tahini dressing for warm spice notes.
Roasted Pumpkin Apple Soup
Roasted Pumpkin Apple Soup is a wholesome, vegan option made with homemade pumpkin purée.
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Wild Rice Salad with Orange and Pomegranate
A hearty wild rice salad with orange and pomegranate that works as a side or vegetarian main.
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Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
Finish the meal with a classic pie, a crisp, or a seasonal cheesecake — plenty of make-ahead and crowd-pleasing desserts are below.
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Warm apple crisp with cinnamon and an oatmeal crumble — offers gluten-free and vegan options.
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Apple Pie Bars Recipe
Apple pie bars combine a shortbread crust, cinnamon-scented apples and crumb topping for easy, make-ahead serving.
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Classic Apple Tarte Tatin
An easier alternative to pie: caramelized apples baked under a flaky crust and inverted to serve.
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Baked Apples
Warm baked apples spiced with cinnamon are a comforting, make-ahead dessert option.
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Easy Classic Key Lime Pie
A tangy key lime pie offers a refreshing contrast to traditional fall desserts.
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Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe
Individual pumpkin cheesecakes pack seasonal spice and creamy texture into single-serve portions.
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Easy Pear Crumble Recipe
A pear crumble with oat topping is a simple fall dessert with optional gluten-free and vegan variations.
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Pear Pie Recipe
A pear pie with a flaky crust and streusel topping celebrates seasonal fruit in a rustic dessert.
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Pumpkin Pecan Pie
This pie combines creamy pumpkin filling with a crunchy pecan streusel for contrasting textures.
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Pumpkin Pie From Scratch
A classic from-scratch pumpkin pie with a flaky crust and spiced filling for a traditional finish.
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Easy Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin pie bars offer the classic filling with a press-in crust for faster prep and easy serving.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
A pumpkin cheesecake pie blends creamy cheesecake texture with pumpkin spice for an indulgent holiday dessert without a water bath.
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