Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year. There’s something about gathering around the table with family and friends, filling your plate with food, and saving just enough room for dessert.
But planning Thanksgiving dinner can also feel like a lot. What should you make for the main course? Which sides actually go together? And how many desserts are enough?
I’ve got you covered. This Thanksgiving menu brings together my favorite holiday recipes for appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, and drinks so you can build a holiday feast everyone will be thankful for. Whether you’re hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner or keeping things small and cozy, you’ll find plenty of options here to create your perfect menu.
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Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Turkey may be the traditional centerpiece, but there are plenty of ways to approach the main course. Whether you’re feeding a crowd, hosting a smaller dinner, or simply want something different this year, these Thanksgiving main dishes have you covered.
Spatchcock Turkey with Citrus-Herb Dry Brine – If you’re feeding a crowd, this Spatchcock Turkey is hard to beat. A citrus-herb dry brine seasons the meat while spatchcocking helps the turkey cook more evenly and gives you beautifully crisp skin. Did I mention this turkey cooks up in just 90 minutes?
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast – For a smaller Thanksgiving gathering my Herb Roasted Turkey Breast is a great option. Fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, and butter keep the turkey moist and flavorful without requiring you to roast an entire bird.
Maple Mustard Turkey Tenderloin – If you’re cooking for two or simply don’t want to deal with a whole turkey, Maple Mustard Turkey Tenderloin brings Thanksgiving flavors to the table in a much smaller package.
Easy Apricot Glazed Ham – Want to skip turkey altogether? This easy Apricot Glazed Ham is a festive alternative with a sweet and tangy glaze made with apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.
Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Leeks and Prosciutto – For something a little more unexpected, this stuffed pork tenderloin combines savory prosciutto, creamy goat cheese, and tender leeks for an elegant holiday main course.
Don’t Forget the Gravy
Homemade Turkey Gravy with Herbs – No Thanksgiving turkey is complete without gravy. This homemade turkey gravy is packed with flavor and is the perfect finishing touch for turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and everything else on your plate.
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Thanksgiving dinner rarely starts right at the dinner table. Give everyone something delicious to nibble on while the turkey is cooking and the drinks are poured.
Baked Brie with Fig Jam – Warm, melty brie topped with sweet fig jam makes an easy appetizer that feels special enough for a holiday gathering.
Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball – A mix of cream cheese and cheddar coarted in chooped cranberries and pistachios this easy make ahead appetizer is perfect for snacking
Mushroom Puff Pastry Tart – Earthy mushrooms and flaky puff pastry come together in this savory tart that’s easy to slice and share while everyone waits for dinner.
Prosciutto Wrapped Dates – Sweet dates filled with creamy goat cheese and wrapped with crispy prosciutto make for an irresistable holiday appetizer
Easy Whipped Ricotta Dip – This creamy whipped ricotta dip comes together quickly and makes an easy appetizer to serve with crackers, toasted bread, or fresh vegetables.
Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs – Classic deviled eggs get a Southern-inspired upgrade with creamy pimento cheese, making these an easy make-ahead appetizer for Thanksgiving.
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip – Creamy whipped feta and tart cranberries make this festive dip perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer spread.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Let’s be honest: these Thanksgiving side dishes might be the best part of the meal . A great holiday table needs a mix of dishes, and this is where you can really build a menu everyone will love.
Potato Side Dishes
Creamy Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes – Mascarpone, Parmesan, butter, and fresh thyme make these mashed potatoes incredibly creamy and flavorful while still feeling like the classic Thanksgiving side everyone expects.
Mashed Potatoes with Leeks РButtery saut̩ed leeks add subtle sweetness and savory flavor to creamy mashed potatoes for an easy twist on the traditional Thanksgiving favorite.
Scalloped Potatoes with Gruyere – Thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes bake in a rich garlic-herb cream sauce before being topped with Gruyere and Parmesan. This recipe is a good choice if you want something a little more elegant than traditional mashed potatoes.
Sweet Potato and Squash Side Dishes
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans – This Thanksgiving classic features creamy mashed sweet potatoes topped with a buttery brown sugar pecan crumble instead of marshmallows. Prepare this one ahead of time to make Thanksgiving meal prep easier.
Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Fresh herbs and garlic give sweet potatoes a delicious makeover that’s perfect if you prefer your Thanksgiving sides a little less sweet.
Sweet Potato Gratin – Thinly sliced sweet potatoes baked with a creamy sauce and Gruyere make this a rich and elegant alternative to traditional sweet potato casserole.
Hasselback Butternut Squash with Garlic Sage Butter – This beautiful Hasselback butternut squash turns a simple fall vegetable into a showstopping Thanksgiving side with browned butter, garlic, and fresh sage.
Roasted Delicata Squash – Delicata squash roasts until tender and caramelized for an easy seasonal vegetable side.
Vegetable Side Dishes
Thanksgiving needs vegetables to balance all those rich casseroles and creamy potatoes. These vegetable dishes bring plenty of flavor without making your menu more complicated.
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots – This homemade take on green bean casserole combines fresh green beans with a creamy mushroom sauce and crispy shallots. It’s everything you want from a Thanksgiving classic with no canned cream of mushroom soup required.
Creamy Corn Pudding – This creamy corn pudding has a smooth texture and plenty of sweet corn flavor, making it a comforting Thanksgiving side that’s guaranteed to have people going back for seconds.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts get even better with salty, smoky bacon and Parmesan. This recipe is an easy way to add a hearty vegetable side to your Thanksgiving menu (and who doesn’t love bacon?).
Balsamic Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of Brussels sprouts while a balsamic maple glaze adds tangy-sweet flavor.
Maple Roasted Carrots – A simple glaze makes carrots into a side special enough for Thanksgiving.
Garlic Roasted Green Beans – If you want a simpler green bean side, these garlic roasted green beans are ready in about 20 minutes.
Honey Roasted Parsnips – Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of parsnips while a honey glaze gives them a beautiful sweet-savory finish that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving table.
Stuffing, Grains and Breads
Butternut Squash and Mushroom Stuffing – Butternut squash, earthy mushrooms, and fresh herbs give this hearty stuffing plenty of flavor and make it a natural fit for the Thanksgiving table.
Pumpkin Polenta with Sage – Creamy polenta gets a fall-inspired twist with pumpkin and fresh sage, giving you a tasty addition to the usual Thanksgiving sides.
Creamy Brie Mac and Cheese – Creamy brie makes this mac and cheese rich, decadent, and completely holiday-worthy. It’s the kind of side dish that tends to disappear quickly once it hits the table.
Garlic and Herb Parmesan Biscuits – Buttery, flaky biscuits flavored with garlic, Parmesan, and fresh herbs are perfect for soaking up turkey gravy.
Thanksgiving Salads
A fresh salad is a great way to bring some brightness to a Thanksgiving plate filled with rich and savory dishes.
Kale and Apple Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette – Hearty kale, crisp apples, and a simple maple Dijon vinaigrette make this a fresh fall salad that pairs beautifully with turkey and all the classic Thanksgiving sides.
Fennel and Apple Salad with Pecans – Crisp fennel, sweet apples, and crunchy pecans give this salad plenty of texture and a refreshing contrast to creamy casseroles and rich potatoes.
Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Apple Cider – Fresh cranberries simmered with apple cider create a delicious cranberry sauce pairs perfectly with turkey and stuffing.
Cranberry Orange Sauce – Fresh cranberries, orange juice, honey and cinnamon come together for a delicilous traditional cranberry sauce.
Thanksgiving Desserts
Turkey day isn’t complete without a good Thanksgiving dessert. Stick with a classic pie, try something new and unexpected, or put together a dessert table with a little bit of everything.
Bourbon Pumpkin Pie– Classic pumpkin pie gets an upgrade with bourbon, adding a subtle kick to your favorite pie.
Cranberry Apple Crumble Pie – Sweet apples and tart cranberries come together under a buttery crumble topping for a beautiful pie that’s right at home on the Thanksgiving dessert table.
Cranberry Curd Tart – This cranberry curd tart has a vibrant color and silky cranberry-orange filling for a true Thanksgiving showstopper.
Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake – This dramatic pumpkin cheesecake has a deeply caramelized top and creamy center, making it an impressive alternative to traditional pumpkin pie (and it’s easier to make than you’d think).
Pumpkin Tiramisu – Pumpkin and fall spices transform classic tiramisu into a creamy, make-ahead dessert that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
Maple Pecan Pie Bars – Maple and pecans come together in these easy bars, giving you all the flavor of pecan pie in a dessert that’s easy to slice and serve.
Easy Apple Pie Bars – These Apple Pie Bars combine cinnamon apples with a buttery oat crust that doubles as the crumble topping. They’re easier than making a traditional pie and are perfect for you Thanksgiving dessert table.
Brown Butter Pumpkin Snickerdoodles -This fall twist on classic snickerdoodles are perfect for adding something casual to your Thanksgiving dessert spread.
Thanksgiving Drinks
A good Thanksgiving drink should feel festive without requiring you to play bartender all evening. Make a pitcher for everyone to enjoy or mix individual cocktails as guests arrive.
Cranberry Apple Cider Punch – A delicious non-alcholic Thanksgiving drink for everyone to enjoy
Apple Cider Bourbon Punch – Apple cider, bourbon, and ginger come together in this easy punch that’s perfect for serving to a crowd.
Apple Cider Mimosa – A simple and classic bubbly cocktail perfect for Thanksgiving.
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour – Your classic whickey sour gets a festive makeover and is perfect for Thanksgiving
Cranberry Old Fashioned– One of my most popular holiday cocktails, pairs well with everything from appetizers to pie.
Cinnamon Old Fashioned – Cinnamon adds a cozy twist to the classic old fashioned.
Thanksgiving Leftovers
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is knowing there’s a refrigerator full of leftovers waiting for you the next day.
Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry – Turn leftover Thanksgiving turkey into something completely different with this cozy Turkey Pot Pie. A creamy turkey and vegetable filling is topped with flaky puff pastry for the ultimate post-Thanksgiving comfort food.
How to Build Your Thanksgiving Menu
You don’t need to make every recipe on this list. The easiest way to plan Thanksgiving is to choose a few dishes from each category and make sure you have a good balance of flavors and textures.
For a classic Thanksgiving dinner, I’d start with:
- 1 main course
- 1 gravy
- 2 potato or sweet potato sides
- 2 to 3 vegetable sides
- 1 stuffing or grain dish
- 1 fresh salad
- 1 cranberry sauce
- 2 desserts
- 1 signature drink
And don’t forget to plan around your oven. If you’re making several dishes that need to bake at the same temperature, choose a few stovetop or make-ahead recipes to keep Thanksgiving Day manageable.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick the recipes your family loves, add a couple of new favorites, and leave yourself enough time to actually sit down and enjoy the meal.
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you make any of these Thanksgiving recipes please be sure to leave a comment and/or give that recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Youtube, Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram or Tiktok, I’d love to see what you guys are making!
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