The Best Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I don’t know about you, but I’m getting started on planning out some delicious Thanksgiving recipes for my guests! I love all the traditional Thanksgiving dinner like sweet potato casserole, roast turkey obviously, homemade cranberry sauce, fluffy dinner rolls, green bean casserole and so much more! The best part is that there’s usually so much leftovers, so you can make leftover recipes for a few days after the holiday. There are endless delicious recipes out there and it really was a difficult task narrowing down what I want to make for the holiday meal, so I suggest going with your favorite Thanksgiving recipe and planning the rest around that! The perfect side dish does exist and it can be anything you’d like really.

Here are the best Thanksgiving recipes to make this holiday season.

Mains

Roast Turkey with Lemon and Garlic

We’re all here for the turkey! I get it! This recipe takes about 4 hours to make including prep time, which isn’t so bad considering the fact that a lot of people spend all day cooking the turkey. Friendly reminder to get your turkey in advance, they go pretty quickly within 48 hours of the holiday. This recipe makes your turkey incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The perfect combination! Make sure to save the pan drippings for your gravy recipe!

Recipe/Image: Barney Desmazery c/0 BBC Good Food

Oven Roasted Turkey

How beautiful is this turkey?! She gives a ton of wonderful tips, as well like thawing times. All in all this recipe takes 5 and a half hours, including resting time, which is super important! This is the center of your classic Thanksgiving menu!

Recipe/Image: Bake it With Love

Vegetarian Option

For all the vegetarians, I found a meatless turkey roast that is actually so delicious! You can marinate it in your own mixture to keep it juicy and the texture is perfect! Add some fresh herbs and you are good to go! It’s one of the best non-turkey mains for sure!

One Pan Thanksgiving Dinner

Not only does this only take an hour, but it’s perfect if you have a smaller Thanksgiving this year. For instance, if there’s only 2 of you, this is the perfect recipe and the cleanup is minimal!

Recipe/Image: The Tasting Table

Pomegranate Glazed Salmon

If you’re not big on turkey, try fish! I’ve heard the Mediterranean based diet is a great way to base your meals off. This recipe has fresh herbs and oranges to go perfectly balanced with the fish.

Recipe/Image: Food & Wine

Side Dishes

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are necessary for every gathering, I think. Especially the holidays! They’re a crowd pleaser and more simple to make than you think!

Recipe/Image: Love & Lemons

Bacon and Pecan Stuffing Cornbread

I like to have cornbread as an option at my Thanksgiving feast! I think it’s a great fall addition and this twist on the classic recipe is even better than I could’ve imagined.

Recipe/Image: Miriam Nice c/o BBC Good Food

Green Bean Casserole

Now we’re talking! This is more of a traditional Thanksgiving side dish and it’s easy to make! I love the crunch fried onions on top of the tender green beans, they add for texture and the perfect crunch.

Recipe/Image: The Modern Proper

Creamed Spinach

This is one of those side dishes that you maybe forget about, but every time you have it, it’s so delicious! It’s a great way to put vegetables on the table and it pairs with all Thanksgiving foods very well.

Recipe/Image: Love & Lemons

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

You can totally have mac and cheese at your Thanksgiving dinner! In fact, it makes everything better! It’s a comfort food and I like the white cheddar option for the cheese, it’s a bit lighter on the stomach.

Recipe/Image: Bake it With Love

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Squash

There’s a lot going on here, but in the best way possible! We begin with the crispiest brussels sprouts and roasted squash and then it gets topped with dried cranberries and a dijon vinaigrette to keep everything from drying out.

Recipe/Image: A Beautiful Plate

Homemade Dinner Rolls

There are few things better than a pillowy dinner roll. These look so amazing, I wish I could smell them through my screen. They’re great as a side to your table and aren’t difficult to make!

Recipe/Image: Love & Lemons

Stuffing

What I like about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. It’s super simple ingredients explained really well and broken down step by step.

Recipe/Image: Bake it With Love

Corn Pudding

One of the best recipes I’ve found is for this corn pudding! It’s so decadent and delicious! There’s no way you can only have one helping of this!

Recipe/Image: Insanely Good

Cranberry Chutney

Cranberry sauce is a must for your meal! It keeps everything from drying out and adds a delicious tangy flavor to it all. One of my favorite ways to keep the food moist is by adding a dollop of cranberry sauce, especially to my turkey and Thanksgiving side dishes.

Recipe/Image: The Modern Proper

Desserts

Sweet Potato Pie

This is one of the more traditional pies for the holiday! It’s delicious and has the perfect crumbly pie base.

Recipe/Image: Adam Bush c/o BBC Good Food

Apple Pie Cheesecake with Caramel Topping

Excuse me while I devour this entire thing myself. Have you heard of anything more delicious?! It’s perfect for the end of fall, too.

Recipe/Image: Grits and Pinecones

Pumpkin Pie

No thanksgiving is complete without a pumpkin dessert. Specifically, pumpkin pie! This recipe is fantastic and it comes out looking just like the photos!

Recipe/Image: Insanely Good

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is another classic Thanksgiving dessert! You can never go wrong with this and the frosting itself is enough to try it!

Recipe/Image: The Recipe Critic

Pumpkin Custard

This is a great option if you’re not feeling a pie or cake. Custard is always a great option and this embodies fall perfectly!

Recipe/Image: Lil Luna

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