Need cooking inspiration for the big dinner day this year? Browse this collection of over 20 Thanksgiving recipes that include mains, soup and appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. You find the classics, plus some unique options to make your holiday truly memorable.
Turkey & Carbs
In my family, turkey is always served, but the real stars of the show are the carbs: potatoes and stuffing, with a smattering of other sides. Whether russet potatoes or sweet potatoes, sage dressing or chestnut stuffing, the carbs will always have my heart at Thanksgiving.
Over the years, as it became clear to my mom that turkey was more of a side to the sides at the celebration meal, she started choosing ever smaller turkeys. And one strange holiday season, when it was my turn to cook for an unexpectedly reduced crowd, I discovered the whole turkey breast, and blue skies opened wide and butterflies flitted and puppies scampered. The title of my recipe is Roasting a Turkey Breast for Two, but if you’re a “sides” family like mine, it will easily feed 4 to 6. The reduction in hassle alone — the bird actually fits in a standard fridge for thawing — is worth it.
Homemade mashed potatoes are a non-negotiable must-have at Thanksgiving dinner, and these decadent Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a marvelous choice. So fresh and creamy!
I didn't grow up with mac and cheese on the Thanksgiving table, but oh how I wish I did! Zesty spices and andouille sausage make a crave-worthy twist on our favorite classic cheesy pasta dish. Cajun Mac and Cheese the ultimate holiday comfort food and must-have carb here at Casa SoupAddict.com.
I’m sure that bread pudding sounds like an odd savory dish for Thanksgiving, but it’s actually quite a lovely substitute for stuffing/dressing. A little richer, a little more decadent, Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding with Sausage and Gruyere is a delightful alternative to more traditional stuffing. It’s also make-ahead easy, and a great option to make for a Thanksgiving leftovers meal, because there’s never any stuffing left after Thanksgiving, and we always have to make more!
Probably one of my favorite preparations of sweet potatoes is roasting them with select spices, and topping them at serving with a lovely, herby sauce. Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Sauce is a unique and tasty option for guests who prefer sweet potatoes over russets.
French Onion Mac and Cheese is a unique mash-up that brings the rich flavors of French onion soup to creamy, cheesy macaroni. With a Panko topping and caramelized onions, it’s a crave-worthy dish that shines at holiday and celebratory dinners.
Please don’t run away when you read this: I’m just not a fan of the marshmallowy, dessert-like sweet potato thing that’s famous in some culinary corners. But I am all about the sweet potato, in all of its rich, earthy and savory forms. So, one year I did my own spin with a Savory Sweet Potato Casserole, and the peeps loved it.
I’m not sure if grits are actually a traditional Thanksgiving side dish in any region of the U.S., but if you have nightshade avoiders (and that include russet and Yukon gold potatoes), these Cheesy Grits would make an excellent stand-in.
I love me some carbs, but I do appreciate a good veggie-strong Thanksgiving side, if for no other reason than to cut the heavy carb load now and then. A few bites of something lighter and brighter is very welcome!
This list had to begin with a good cranberry sauce. I know, it’s controversial, because some people love fresh cranberries and some love the jelly stuff shaped like the can it comes out of. But, in the spirit of knowing that you don’t really need a recipe for opening a can, my Instant Pot Spiced Cranberry Sauce takes the fresh fruit and cooks it up quickly with select spices for a zesty take on this famous side. It’s also make-ahead easy!
I was yesterday years old when I learned that it’s a tradition in some Southern households to serve a salad of some sort with Thanksgiving dinner. It’s brilliant. Despite my love of carbs, I could really get behind a green salad as a side option. I think my lightened up Seven Layer Salad is the perfect candidate. It’s a beautiful rainbow in the bowl, and features a creamy salsa vinaigrette instead of the classic goopy mayo dressing.
I have a complicated relationship with Brussels sprouts. It’s probably not hard to guess why. But what I’m not ambivalent about is raw Brussels sprouts leaves. They’re delicious, people! And they make very tasty salads (they’re in the cabbage family, so think coleslaw). This falling-leaning Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apple, Fennel, and Bacon features fall-harvested produce tossed in a tangy, scrumptious honey mustard vinaigrette.
While apples and fennel might sound summery, they're produce that's very rooted in the autumn harvest. In fact, apples are at their very best in November, crunchy, tart, and juicy. Apple Fennel Slaw might not sound like a Thanksgiving side, but its light and sweet-vinegary flavors are the perfect offset for all the carbs.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary but still vaguely Thanksgiving-y, I’ll suggest this Cranberry Quinoa Kale Salad. It uses fresh cranberries to great effect, without dumping a load of sugar on it. Plus it features heart-healthy ingredients like kale, pomegranates, and pistachios, for a delicious, guilt-free option.
I didn’t think much about it until I sat down to write this post, but I’m realizing now that soup on Thanksgiving is a yearly tradition for me. Not for the big meal, but earlier in the day, when you need a bite that’s semi-substantial but also not nap-inducing. But with the smaller celebrations of 2020 (and possibly 2021), soup makes perfect sense to me on the actual Thanksgiving menu. A bowl of any of the following would be very welcome next to my carby sides. I’ve also added a couple of delicious snack options, in case your family gathering is an all-day event and you need to keep the peeps fueled.
If you love winter squash soups, then you have to check-out the version made famous by Panera. Autumn Squash Soup is rich, creamy, and savory all in one bowl. When fall hits, my cravings dive headlong right for this soup. It would be the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving feast!
Mushroom soup can be a challenge to get right, in terms of depth of flavor. Restaurants often cheat with loads of heavy cream, cream cheese, and salt, which does work (especially texture-wise), but also ends up leaning more towards cream cheese soup than mushroom soup. My Hungarian Mushroom Soup is a bit of a project (it’s make-ahead-able!), but delivers big-time on flavor and rich decadence. It’s definitely special-guest soup!
Pumpkin puree is an underrated soup ingredient, imho. It adds a lovely smooth texture, a gentle savory sweetness, and a festive seasonal hue to autumn soups. It creates such a luscious soup base for Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Tortellini Soup here that I'd go so far as to declare this a fancy-pants company soup, even though the whole thing is the opposite of fancy-pants complicated. If you're a late-eating Thanksgiving dinner family, I could totally see this as the noonday meal, with thick slices from a warm, buttery baguette on the side.
Here’s another pumpkin soup that’s holiday celebration-worthy: Creamy Pumpkin Soup. Don’t worry, the homemade pumpkin gnocchis are optional, as the soup stands quite deliciously on its own, but they’re super fun as a cooking project.
Inspired by the viral baked feta trend, this Roasted Winter Squash & Feta Soup blends winter squash with creamy feta, topped with crispy croissant croutons and prosciutto. Perfect as an elegant starter for holiday dinners, including Thanksgiving and Christmas!
I’ve always been curious what goes on at other people’s houses on a big holiday, especially food-wise. We’re nibblers at Casa SoupAddict—snacking throughout the day because it feels like eating a meal takes away from the big event. These Honey Sriracha Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are a tasty, healthy snack (and they’re also a great soup topping, as you can see on the Autumn Squash Soup above)!
This one is a little bit out there, but I first created the recipe because I love salsa so much, and it’s always a sad day when I wave goodbye to the last of my homegrown tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. Cranberry Avocado Salsa is not only a unique and festive replacement, it’s also seasonally appropriate, beautiful in the bowl, and a great way to use up leftover fresh cranberries from the sauce you made.
As someone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth, I never really leave room for dessert on Thanksgiving (carb-coma is already well underway by then; sugar is not necessary, lol), but I also realize that I’m pretty much alone on that one. Our family has no objections to frozen pumpkin and pecan pies (to ease the overall food prep), but I have a collection of pumpkin desserts that are different and holiday-friendly, if you’re looking for something unique.
My Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake with Chocolate Chips could go two ways, either as a coffee cake breakfast treat, or as a lighter option for dessert. Studded with chocolate chips, it’s light and flavorful — perfect for fall!
One season some years ago, I went on a bread pudding kick (after realizing that it’s not what I thought it was lol), and turned lots of things into bread puddings (including the savory dressing above). Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Nutella Glaze is easy to make and, with its decadent Nutella glaze, is a delightful, sweet treat.
If your oven can’t take even one more thing, go the no-bake route. This No-Bake Chocolate Creme Pie with Swirly Meringue is a chocolate lover’s dream, topped with a super-fun and wavy meringue topping that’s a stunner on the holiday table.
I hope you’ve found a few Thanksgiving recipes that will both ease your day and please the family. Here’s to gathering with family and friends over delicious food and good spirits!