On Thanksgiving, the main dish is pretty straightforward, but it’s deciding what to serve with the roasted turkey that can pose a problem. If you’re looking to try some new Thanksgiving dinner recipe I’ve got 27 recipes (appetizers! side dishes! desserts!) for you to browse.
Appetizer Ideas
Thanksgiving dinner is usually an all-day affair so it’s nice to have some choice appetizers and snacks on hand for guests (and the cook!) to nibble on! Here are a few Thanksgiving snacks and bites to have out while everyone is waiting for the turkey.
Cheese Board | What better way to kick off Thanksgiving Day than with an epic cheeseboard? Learn how to assemble a beautiful cheese board that might just steal the show (sorry, turkey!).
Easiest Crudites Platter from Take Two Tapas | Forget the boring carrot sticks and celery – this beautiful crudites platter is almost too pretty to dig into… almost. Jennifer shows you how to assemble the platter along with tips for prepping the veggies plus some delicious dips to go along with them.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms | Stuffed mushrooms are always a hit especially if they’re stuffed with goat cheese and topped with a crispy topping.
Roasted Red Pepper Basil Pinwheels | Who doesn’t love a retro pinwheel? This version has pesto cream cheese with roasted red peppers all rolled up in flour tortillas. Make them ahead and keep them in the fridge for an easy Thanksgiving appetizer.
Apple & Sage Pork Sausage Rolls | I like to make these in the morning and leave them out for snacking while Thanksgiving dinner is being made. They’re delicious hot but great at room temperature, too. They are addictive savory bites!
Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles from Fox and Briar | These elegant puff pastry bundles are filled with fresh asparagus, prosciutto, and nutty Gruyere cheese. That golden flaky puff pastry looks delicous.
Onion Dip | In my opinion, no holiday celebration is complete without an onion dip. This is my amped up version complete with caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and roasted garlic and the best part is that you use your slow cooker to caramelize the onions. This dip is best if you make it ahead so it’s one less thing to think about on the big day.
Pimento Cheese Dip | This is another easy dip recipe that you can make ahead and just pull out of the fridge with some crackers or chips. Plus, if there’s any leftover, it makes for a decadent spread for a toasted bagel the next day.
Thanksgiving Dinner Soup Recipes
Serving a creamy soup inspired by fall flavors is an elegant and delicious way to start a Thanksgiving dinner. Here are a few inspired soup recipes for the season most of which can be made ahead and warmed up on Thanksgiving Day. Serve them in bowls as a starter or serve them up as mini soup shooters as a fun appetizer.
Creamy Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup | This creamy soup is made with roasted butternut squash and white beans, which helps thicken the soup. Flavored with sage it’s a great way to kick off the big dinner.
Mushroom and Leek Soup | Mushroom and leeks go together like peas and carrots! This easy soup is rich with mushroom flavor with just a touch of cream for a little decadence.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup – from Chili Pepper Madness | I love this recipe because it has a kick of heat from cajun seasoning instead of the regular cinnamon and nutmeg you see with other recipes. For something unexpected, this pumpkin soup would be a great choice.
Autumn Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup – from Once Upon a Chef | If you feel like skipping the sweet potato casserole this year and switching things up use the sweet potatoes to make this cozy soup.
Thanksgiving Side Dish Inspiration
If you’re tired of the same old side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner I think you’ll find some inspiration here! Creamy gratins, easy mashed potatoes, and lots of creative roasted vegetables are just a few of the side dish ideas to try.
Roasted Cauliflower Gratin | Roasted cauliflower baked in a rich and creamy bechamel sauce. Colleen, a GGG reader, says “I just made this for Canadian Thanksgiving and it was incredible! Thank you! The onion and roasted garlic definitely took this to the next level of flavour. This is a keeper.”
Brussels Sprouts Gratin | Or, if you love brussels sprouts, this delicious gratin side dish is one of my favorites. Readers love it, too! Mindy, a GGG reader, says “I made this for our Canadian Thanksgiving. Let me just say… a complete hit!”
Easy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes | I believe the best mashed potatoes are over-the-top mashed potatoes with plenty of cream and butter since I only make them a few times a year. Plus, these crock pot potatoes save room on the stove – the potatoes cook in the crock pot until they are fork-tender. Or, if you want to switch things up try my Creamy Potato Leek Casserole.
Lemon-Honey Glazed Carrots | Quick! Easy! Low-Maintenance! These are just a few superlatives to describe these carrots because they seriously take maybe 20 minutes start to finish.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots | Deeply caramelized brussels sprout and shallots are an easy side dish and hold well at room temperature. Forgiving side dishes on Thanksgiving are always a good thing.
Green Bean Potato Salad | This isn’t a mayo-laden potato salad but, instead, it’s a combination of fresh green beans with Yukon gold potatoes pulled together with a simple Dijon vinaigrette. Serve it warm or at room temperature for an unexpected Thanksgiving side dish.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Arugula Salad | The contrast of sweet potatoes with the lightly bitter arugula is a delicious combination in this salad. If you’re looking to try a new salad side dish this year this would be a great choice.
Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges | It doesn’t get any easier than these roasted sweet potato wedges. They’re lightly seasoned and so delicious! Or, try my Roasted Parmesan Potatoes which are easy to make, too.
Roasted Radishes with Red Onions | This easy roasted vegetable side dish is beautiful and delicious. Raw radishes have a bit of a peppery bite, but when you roast them the flavor mellows and they turn subtly sweet.
Roasted Green Beans with Bacon | There’s a reason I’m sharing so many roasted vegetable side dishes – they’re so easy! So, here’s one more for you: a simple roasted green bean dish with bacon. I mean, there’s bacon – do I need to say more?
Creative Desserts that Aren’t Pie
I like pie, but I usually leave the pie-making to people who really love it and, instead, opt for other types of desserts that have an element of surprise. There’s a lot of familiar flavors here – pumpkin, cranberries, and pecans – but turned into desserts that don’t need a homemade pie crust.
Cranberry Apple Crisp | Tart cranberries and sweet apples topped with a simple oatmeal crisp topping. Serve this easy dessert with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream.
Pumpkin Pudding Parfaits | All the flavors of pumpkin pie but served up as a pudding. This is a dessert you can make ahead for Thanksgiving – the pudding needs time to set up and chill in the fridge – so all you have to do when it’s dessert time is add some whipped cream.
Dark Chocolate Pecan Bars | I love chocolate pecan pie, but I hate making pie crust. These dessert bars have all the richness and pecan flavor without having to roll out dough. Plus, you can make them ahead and then slice and serve!
Pumpkin Cheesecake | Okay, so this decadent cheesecake might be a bit labor intensive, but all of it can be made ahead. It’s basically a classic New York-style cheesecake with a pumpkin-twist and a gingersnap cookie crust. It’s creamy, rich, and great way to end the big meal.
Cranberry Pie Bites | These pie bites aren’t necessarily for Thanksgiving day, but a treat to make the day after. I realized that there’s always a ton of cranberry sauce leftover every year, so I made these a few years back as a way to use up the extra cranberry sauce. They’re sweet and tart and super easy to make with store-bought pie dough.
Happy Cooking & Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
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