A list of our favorite , tried and tested Thanksgiving Recipes - find all the best Thanksgiving side dishes, Thanksgiving desserts and the best turkey recipe in one place! Plus tips and tricks on how to make preparing a Thanksgiving meal low-stress!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Our family has the best traditions and we enjoy a day full of fun, food and moments together. Here's a list of all our favorite Thanksgiving Recipes, as well as tips and tricks on what can be made ahead of time to reduce the amount of work in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day!
Tips on Making Thanksgiving Low-Stress
- Choose recipes from trusted sources. Obviously I hope to be a great resource for you and all your Thanksgiving recipes, but there are many wonderful places to find delicious Thanksgiving sides, desserts, etc. Just be sure to choose recipes that you have tried before or those that come from cooks or resources that you trust.
- Make a list and check it twice! Once you've gathered the Thanksgiving recipes you will be cooking, make a shopping list of the ingredients required for your holiday. Don't forget to include the amounts of each - how much butter? how many Brussels sprouts? etc.
- Read recipes thoroughly. In order to plan well, it's important to know the steps in the recipes you choose. Which Thanksgiving recipes can be prepared or prepped the day before? This helps with the next step, which is to make a plan!
- Make a plan. Create a game plan and choose the order in which you'll prepare the Thanksgiving recipes. This helps ensure everything is ready to eat at the same time so nothing gets cold.
Prepare Thanksgiving Recipes days in advance
I start preparing for Thanksgiving days in advance. Here's the flow of what I usually do:
- 5 days before Thanksgiving (Saturday): Transfer turkey from freezer to refrigerator to begin thawing (we usually cook a 20 - 24 lb. bird so it needs days to thaw).
- 4 days before Thanksgiving (Sunday): Prepare homemade dinner rolls and put them in the freezer to thaw and bake on Thursday.
- 3 days before Thanksgiving (Monday): Get all the shopping done! I like to have 99% of the Thanksgiving shopping completed on Monday. Then if I need to send someone out for a few items that I forget later on in the week I'm certain I have mostly everything I need before it sells out!
- 2 days before Thanksgiving (Tuesday): Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Wash, trim and cut vegetables (green beans, Brussels sprouts, etc). Make homemade pie crusts, wrap and chill to make pies the next day.
- Day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday): This is the day I am in the kitchen the longest. I prepare the sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, and stuffing - then store them in oven-safe containers in the refrigerator to re-heat on Thanksgiving. I bake all the pies or desserts (like this flourless chocolate cake). We also brine the turkey and let it sit in a cool place overnight.
- On Thanksgiving: If I do all this prep work in advance, on the day of (after we run our Turkey Trot of course) I just have to roast the turkey, make gravy, roast Brussels sprouts, Saute green beans and warm/bake everything I prepared the days before. So easy!
Helpful Cooking Gear to make Thanksgiving Recipes
Here are some of my must-have kitchen tools to cook Thanksgiving dinner!
- Potato ricer. The key to the creamiest, fluffiest, dreamiest mashed potatoes is using a potato ricer to mash them.
- Turkey Baster. Because it's all about that baste!
- Roasting Pan with a wire rack to roast your turkey!
- Marble rolling pin. I've used this rolling pin for 13 years and counting. Perfect for rolling out pie crusts.
- Thermometer. Using an instant read thermometer is the best way to ensure your turkey is done (and doesn't get over-done)!
- Pie plates. You'll need more than one - trust me!
- Oven-Safe containers. use these to store and then warm the dishes you make in advance.
Make enough for leftovers
Don't forget to plan more food than you really need so that everyone can have their fair share of leftovers. What's Thanksgiving without enjoying leftovers all week long? Here are some yummy ways to use leftovers:
- Make this turkey cranberry sandwich! It's so good!
- Use leftover mashed potatoes to make these potato pancakes.
- This turkey pot pie is delicious and made from scratch.
Turkey & Gravy
The main event on Thanksgiving is always the Turkey! Check out our recipe for the BEST roast turkey and turkey gravy.
Turkey & Gravy
These are our recipes for the absolute best turkey and gravy - which are truly the star of the Thanksgiving meal!
This Roast Turkey Recipe is the absolute best. A flavorful turkey brine, robust aromatics and many tips and tricks results in the most delicious Thanksgiving turkey ever. Learn how easy cooking a turkey can be with our step-by-step photos and video.
This easy Turkey Gravy Recipe is made with only 4 ingredients, including the drippings of our favorite Turkey Recipe. Watch the video and follow our step-by-step instructions to learn how to make turkey gravy from drippings with our quick, easy, fail-proof method!
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Who else thinks the magic of Thanksgiving lies in the sides?! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes.
Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
Who else thinks the magic of Thanksgiving lies in the sides?! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes.
This Best Homemade Dinner Rolls recipe turns out perfectly every time. These easy, soft & fluffy dinner rolls are, slightly sweet and salty, irresistibly buttery and made from scratch. They're easily made in advance, too! I often prepare the rolls and freeze them days in advance, then let thaw and bake on Thanksgiving.
This Easy Sausage Stuffing Recipe is the BEST! This buttery, savory, flavorful, herb-infused Thanksgiving stuffing (dressing) will become your go-to stuffing recipe! Use it to stuff a turkey or bake it on it’s own! To make ahead: prepare the stuffing, cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Then bake on Thanksgiving.
This Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is made with 8 ingredients in 15 minutes on the stovetop (no baking required)! Time to ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this irresistibly creamy, smooth & cheesy homemade recipe!
This oven roasted potatoes recipe is an easy, simple way to make the most delicious crispy roasted potatoes with just a handful of ingredients.
This mashed sweet potatoes recipe is easy to make with 7 ingredients. Sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with cozy fall spices, they’re a delicious side dish perfect for any occasion.
This healthy balsamic roasted Brussel sprouts recipe is an easy vegetable side dish! These Brussels sprouts are oven-roasted in a maple-balsamic glaze until they are crispy and caramelized and SO delicious! To save on prep time, trim, wash and cut the Brussels sprouts the day before you plan to serve them, then you just mix together the sauce and roast on Thanksgiving!
This sweet potato casserole recipe is silky smooth with rich fall spices and perfectly sweetened. A classic holiday side dish, this sweet potato casserole with pecans is topped with a buttery, nutty crumb topping (no marshmallows) and will become a family favorite! To make ahead: prepare the casserole and cover in plastic wrap. Bake on Thanksgiving!
Learn how to make the most delicious oven roasted green beans with only 6 ingredients in 20 minutes. Baked green beans are an easy & healthy vegetable side dish perfect for the holidays or a weeknight meal.
The best Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice you will ever make, and a must-have recipe for your holiday celebrations! This cranberry sauce recipe is made with only 5 ingredients in under 30 minutes, and it can be made ahead of time! I usually make this two days before Thanksgiving and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
These herb-infused garlic mashed potatoes are the best mashed potatoes you will ever eat. They are creamy, fluffy buttery and so insanely delicious you will never make another mashed potatoes recipe again. Plus they’re easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time! Just make them according to the recipe, store them in an oven-safe dish with a lid and warm them up in the oven on Thanksgiving.
These Stovetop Sautéed Cinnamon Apples taste like a warm apple pie, but they come together in 5 minutes and are SO much healthier! This recipe makes a delicious sweet side dish on Thanksgiving, it's best made on the day it's eaten.
This Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon recipe will convert even the most unlikely person into a sprouts lover. Crispy sprouts, salty bacon and sweet & tangy honey mustard come together in an irresistible side dish sure to impress. This Brussel sprouts and bacon recipe is low-carb and gluten-free, made with 8 ingredients in less than 30 minutes! To save on prep time, trim, wash and cut the Brussels sprouts the day before you plan to serve them, then you just mix together the sauce and roast on Thanksgiving!
This is the best baked mac and cheese recipe ever! It’s ultra-creamy, irresistibly cheesy and a perfect side dish for any holiday or a great main dish for a weeknight meal.
This Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe is a healthy & flavorful side dish! Made with only six ingredients in 30 minutes, these baked green beans are so easy and a great way to prepare frozen or fresh green beans! I recommend trimming and washing the green beans a day or two before Thanksgiving - then roasting them just before serving.
This Sautéed Green Beans Recipe with Apple Cider is a delicious Thanksgiving side dish! Made with only 5 ingredients, they’re a healthy and easy holiday favorite that everyone will love! I recommend trimming and washing the green beans a day or two before Thanksgiving - then sautéing them just before serving.
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad Recipe is a healthy and delicious fall salad. Fresh Brussels sprouts, crunchy pecans, sweet and tart apples, crisp beets and creamy cheddar cheese are tossed in a delicious balsamic dressing to make the best Brussel sprout salad ever.
This Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe is a perfect easy & healthy side dish! These crispy roasted sweet potato cubes are made with only 5 ingredients and are paleo, vegan, gluten-free & dairy-free!
This Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples Recipe is a healthy and easy side dish that is perfect for Thanksgiving! These crispy roasted sweet potato cubes and tangy apples are made with only 6 ingredients
This Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! It’s only sweetened with applesauce and is paleo, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free & sugar free! To make ahead: prepare the casserole and cover in plastic wrap. Bake on Thanksgiving!
This roasted butternut squash recipe is a healthy fall side dish that’s easy to make with only 6 ingredients! Baked butternut squash is slightly sweet, creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside with a touch of cinnamon – a perfect holiday side dish! Feel free to peel and dice the butternut squash before Thanksgiving and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
This sweet potato casserole recipe is silky smooth with rich fall spices and perfectly sweetened. A classic holiday side dish, this sweet potato casserole with pecans is topped with a buttery, nutty crumb topping (no marshmallows) and will become a family favorite! Easily made in advance and warmed up on Thanksgiving!
This is the best cornbread recipe you’ll ever eat! It’s sweet and moist with a beautiful crumb, and has bursts of fresh corn in every bite. Plus this Homemade Cornbread is easy to make in 30 minutes – no mixer required.
This sweet potato soup is silky-smooth and slightly sweet with a touch of fall spices. The addition of celery, onion and carrots make this sweet potato soup recipe flavorful and delicious. Plus, it’s easy to make in one pot with an immersion blender or with a standard blender.
These are the best cornbread muffins you'll ever eat! They’re sweet and moist with a beautiful crumb, with bursts of fresh corn in every bite. Plus, these corn muffins are easy to make in 30 minutes - no mixer required. Best served slathered with this cinnamon honey butter
This butternut squash mac and cheese is creamy, cheesy and has butternut squash blended in the sauce for added nutrition and flavor. It’s easy to make in under 30 minutes – you can even save time and energy by using frozen butternut squash (instead of peeling and cutting fresh squash).
Thanksgiving Desserts
What's Thanksgiving without delicious pies and all the flavors of fall? My motto is, there's always room for dessert! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes.
Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Every great meal ends with a delicious dessert! Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes to enjoy as part of your special day!
This is the best Pumpkin Pie Recipe from Scratch! This easy pumpkin pie contains no sweetened condensed milk and is the only pumpkin pie recipe you’ll ever need! I always bake it a day or two ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
This is truly the best Homemade Apple Pie recipe ever! Its flaky, buttery crust is made from scratch, & the apple filling isn’t overly sweet, letting the flavor of the apples really shine! Plus this apple pie is easy to make, with only a handful of simple ingredients!
In this Homemade French Silk Pie recipe, a flaky pie crust is filled with a chocolate cream filling and topped with homemade whipped cream! This chocolate silk pie recipe is made from scratch and tastes even better than Baker’s Square or Village Inn! Plus, it's best when made the day before so it has time to set up!
The best homemade Apple Crumble Pie recipe uses only a few ingredients and is made completely from scratch! It's delicious served a la mode!
This easy cherry pie recipe is made from scratch with 8 ingredients! A fresh cherry pie filling is baked between two layers of homemade pie crust for a delicious dessert, best served, a la mode of course.
This is the best Oreo pie recipe! It's easy to make with 8 ingredients and tastes even better than the beloved Oreo cream pie from Village Inn (or Baker's Square).This easy cherry pie recipe is made from scratch with 8 ingredients! A fresh cherry pie filling is baked between two layers of homemade pie crust for a delicious dessert, best served, a la mode of course.
This Homemade Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie recipe tastes just like classic pumpkin pie! This coconut milk pumpkin pie is a must-make Thanksgiving dessert!
This no-bake Healthy Vegan Chocolate Pie recipe is lusciously creamy and intensely chocolatey! It's like French Silk Pie only better for you! It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan with a refined sugar free option!
No-Bake Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pies are the perfect elegant fall dessert! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, paleo, vegan and SUPER easy to make!
This Homemade All Butter Pie Crust recipe is an easy flaky pie crust from scratch! It’s made with only 5 ingredients in 5 minutes in the food processor! This pie crust without shortening is the BEST pie crust recipe ever!
This Apple Galette Recipe is a delicious fall dessert that is easy to make from scratch (easier than pie). The flaky buttery crust beautifully compliments the lightly sweet apple filling rich with fall spices and a hint of vanilla. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream for a cozy dessert.
This is the best apple crisp recipe EVER! It’s easy to make with only 8 ingredients! A favorite fall dessert that everyone loves! Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Who says pies are the only desserts to be enjoyed on Thanksgiving? This is the best pumpkin cake recipe I've ever eaten. It's moist with a beautiful crumb, an amazing texture, and the perfect amount of fall spices. This pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting is easy to make with simple ingredients, and will become your favorite fall dessert!
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re perfectly sweet with just the right amount of cozy fall spices! These chocolate chip pumpkin cookies are easy to make, and will become your new favorite fall cookie recipe!
This easy & healthy No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe only takes 10 minutes of hands-on preparation and is paleo, gluten-free & dairy-free! It's the best vegan pumpkin cheesecake ever and the perfect dessert recipe to make for Thanksgiving!
I always serve a chocolate dessert option on Thanksgiving. This Best Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe is made with only 7 ingredients and is a delicious & elegant make-ahead treat for any special occasion! It's a great gluten-free option for guests!
Another great chocolate option is this Easy Molten Chocolate Lava Cake recipe! It is made with 6 ingredients in 20 minutes and includes gluten-free options! Check out the step-by-step photos, instructions and video showing how to make the best chocolate lava cakes EVER!
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