Thanksgiving is one big beautiful excuse to gather around the table, pass warm dishes, and eat your weight in carbs without guilt. Whether you’re team classic or team twist-it-up, this roundup of the best Thanksgiving recipes will make sure your feast feels just right. From juicy turkey to dessert you’ll dream about later, here’s your cozy kitchen game plan.
Table of Contents

The Turkey
Every great Thanksgiving starts with the turkey. Whether you like it juicy and herbed or sweet and glazed, these two standout birds bring flavor and drama to your centerpiece.
Try a butter-drenched white wine roasted turkey with crispy golden skin and tender meat. It’s roasted low and slow with herb butter and a splash of dry white wine for depth. Want something with a little tang? The apple cider glazed turkey brings a sticky-sweet finish to every bite, plus a dry-brine method that keeps it juicy.
Don’t forget to pair your turkey with something cozy like this roasted autumn vegetable pot pie for extra fall magic.

Side Dishes
Let’s be honest. The sides are the real stars. These best Thanksgiving recipes for sides hit every craving creamy, crunchy, savory, sweet.
Go classic with sausage stuffing loaded with caramelized onions and cranberries, or serve a brown butter mashed potato that melts in your mouth. For something fresh, roast Brussels sprouts with bacon or go with a creamy corn skillet that tastes like cozy in a pan.
If you want something playful and beautiful on the table, serve Harvest Cranberry Deviled Eggs as a pop of tang and color that everyone grabs first.

Salads
Balance all that richness with something crisp and seasonal. Think shaved Brussels with apples and pecans, or a warm kale salad tossed in apple cider vinaigrette. These salads don’t sit quietly in the corner they make your plate shine.

Sauces and Condiments
The best Thanksgiving recipes aren’t complete without the extras. Whip up a zesty orange cranberry sauce, sage brown butter for drizzling, or a classic turkey gravy made from those pan drippings. These little touches go a long way.

Spread some of that compound butter on fresh bread or melt it over mashed potatoes and you’ve just leveled up your plate.

Breads
Homemade bread makes any meal feel like love. Soft dinner rolls, sweet cornbread, or flaky biscuits they all deserve a spot in that bread basket. Make extra. No one’s stopping at one.
Try these Brie, Apple, and Fig Crostini for an elegant pre-dinner bite that doubles as your new favorite fall appetizer.

Drinks
It’s a celebration, after all. Shake up a pitcher of cranberry margaritas, or serve apple cider sangria with fresh fruit and cinnamon sticks. If you’re feeling bold, a bourbon maple smash adds warmth to your glass. Cheers to that.
Desserts
Pie is the obvious choice and still the best. But let’s go beyond pumpkin. Try pumpkin cheesecake bars, chocolate pecan pie, or apple crumb pie with a gooey center and crunchy top.
Want something sweet and effortless? These No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls are dreamy little bites of creamy, spiced joy.

Breakfast for Thanksgiving Morning
While the turkey roasts, treat your crew to something warm and sweet. Cinnamon roll casserole bubbling with icing, pumpkin crumb muffins, or a sweet potato hash with eggs will fuel your kitchen marathon.

Throw on some stretchy pants and pour the coffee breakfast deserves its moment too.
What to Do With Leftovers
Now for the best part: the leftovers. Build a Thanksgiving grilled cheese with stuffing and cranberry sauce, make a creamy turkey and wild rice soup, or pile it all into puff pastry for mini pot pies.
That leftover turkey? Try it in this turkey apple chili for a savory-sweet twist that makes next-day lunch feel exciting again.
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Best Thanksgiving Recipes to Try This Year
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 8–10 servings
Description
Thanksgiving is one big beautiful excuse to gather around the table, pass warm dishes, and eat your weight in carbs without guilt. Whether you’re team classic or team twist-it-up, this roundup of the best Thanksgiving recipes will make sure your feast feels just right. From juicy turkey to dessert you’ll dream about later, here’s your cozy kitchen game plan.
Ingredients
- Whole turkey
- Herb butter
- Dry white wine
- Apple cider
- Sausage stuffing ingredients (onions, cranberries, bread)
- Brussels sprouts and bacon
- Creamy corn skillet ingredients
- Apples, kale, pecans
- Apple cider vinaigrette
- Cranberries, orange zest
- Sage, butter
- Pan drippings
- Dinner rolls, cornbread, biscuits
- Brie, apples, figs
- Cranberry juice, bourbon, maple syrup
- Pumpkin, cream cheese, graham crumbs
- Cinnamon rolls, sweet potatoes, eggs
- Leftover turkey, wild rice, puff pastry
Instructions
- Roast your turkey with herb butter and white wine for juicy, golden perfection. Or try an apple cider glaze for a sweet-savory twist. Don’t forget to dry-brine overnight for extra moisture.
- Whip up cozy sides like sausage stuffing, roasted Brussels with bacon, and brown butter mashed potatoes. For a fresh pop, go with a creamy corn skillet or Harvest Cranberry Deviled Eggs.
- Balance the richness with seasonal salads: kale and apple or shaved Brussels with pecans. Toss in apple cider vinaigrette for that bright finish.
- Top your plate with sauces like orange cranberry, sage brown butter, and pan gravy for next-level flavor. Don’t skip compound butter on warm bread!
- Set out a bread basket filled with rolls, cornbread, and biscuits. Or impress with Brie, Apple, and Fig Crostini.
- Cheers with cranberry margaritas, apple cider sangria, or bourbon maple smash. Dessert? Go for pumpkin cheesecake bars, chocolate pecan pie, or no-bake cheesecake balls.
- Start Thanksgiving morning with cinnamon roll casserole, muffins, or sweet potato hash with eggs. And for the grand finale, reinvent leftovers into grilled cheese, soups, or turkey apple chili.
Notes
Make sides and sauces a day ahead to keep things stress-free. Rest your turkey before carving to keep it juicy. Fresh herbs, thoughtful drinks, and leftovers turned genius—these are the secrets to a holiday win.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Holiday Meal
- Method: Roasting and Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 115mg