30+ Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas
For 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 recipes, I’ve got 30+ recipes (appetizers! side dishes! desserts!) for you to browse.
Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Appetizers
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 of the best appetizers and bites to have out while everyone is waiting for the Thanksgiving turkey.
Green Onion Dip
Green Onion Dip is a cold dip recipe that you can make ahead – just add your favorite dippers like crackers, veggie sticks, or chips. It’s super creamy and full of fresh flavors.
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
Brie wrapped in puff pastry is a flaky, buttery, warm cheese appetizer perfect for holidays and parties. It’s so easy to make with just four ingredients! Serve it with crackers and fruit for an elegant and delicious easy appetizer.
Raspberry Chipotle Meatballs (Slow Cooker)
Raspberry chipotle meatballs are an easy slow cooker appetizer! Frozen meatballs and a quick 5-ingredient chipotle raspberry sauce simmer in the crockpot for a great snack with tons of flavor.
Pimento Cheese Dip
Pimento cheese is a classic Southern cheese spread made with simple ingredients that, when combined, is hard to resist. It’s simple to make and perfect with crackers.
Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip
This is a super easy dip recipe – just mix, bake, and serve. It’s cheesy, creamy, and perfect with tortilla chips, crackers, and veggie sticks.
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Bundles
These puff pastry bundles are easy to make and switch up with different fillings. Make them with ham and Swiss cheese, or swap them out to change the flavor.
Roasted Red Pepper Pinwheels
These pinwheels are so simple to make and a great appetizer when you need something easy. Plus, you can make them ahead to save time.
Classic Sausage Rolls
Tasty bite-sized pork sausage rolls with apple and sage – make extra because these will disappear fast! I love these because they’re delicious warm out of the oven, but hold up really well at room temperature. They’re also delicious cold from the fridge!
Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms stuffed with warm goat cheese and a crispy breadcrumb topping. Everyone will love them!
Holiday Cheeseboard
Learn how to make a Cheeseboard loaded with cheese, cured meat, and other delicious bites. I’m sharing my tips for the best cheeseboard, including the best base to use and how to pick the ingredients. Make it, and it will be the star of the holidays!
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.
Roasted Acorn Squash Soup
This roasted acorn squash soup is a cozy fall soup. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the squash, and it’s then simmered into a creamy soup flavored with herbs.
Roasted Mushroom Soup
Another creamy soup, but this time with mushrooms! It’s made with meaty roasted mushrooms, aromatics, seasonings, and cream. It’s so cozy, comforting, and easy to make – it’s definitely a fall-season favorite.
Creamy Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup
Butternut squash soup is a wonderful dish for fall, but dealing with the awkwardly shaped squash can be a little intimidating. Look for pre-cut squash in the produce section of your grocery store to save time! Roasting the pre-cut squash brings out a caramelized sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the other ingredients, and the white beans add a creamy texture.
Mushroom and Leek Soup
This mushroom and leek soup is easy to make and is so warm and cozy!
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Save this soup recipe for the days after Thanksgiving – it’s a great way to use up all the leftover roast turkey. It’s easy to make with pantry ingredients – just add your favorite toppings!
Sides Recipes
If you’re tired of the same old side dishes for the Thanksgiving table, I think you’ll find some inspiration here! There are a few of the best Thanksgiving recipes to go with the roasted turkey like creamy gratins, easy mashed potatoes, and lots of creative roasted vegetables.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
This balsamic Brussels sprouts recipe is one of my favorite holiday side dishes. Even the so-called Brussels sprouts haters love them! The sprouts come out tender and caramelized, and the drizzle of balsamic glaze takes them over the top.
Cheesy Bacon Potato Casserole
Bacon Potato Casserole is a delicious and comforting side dish that combines crispy bacon, creamy mashed potatoes, and cheese. It’s like loaded twice-baked potatoes but made easy as a casserole. It’s perfect for holiday meals or any time you’re craving some serious comfort food.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Arugula Salad
Tender roasted sweet potatoes and peppery arugula tossed with a simple vinaigrette, walnuts, and crumbled feta cheese. You can easily double or triple this recipe to serve a crowd.
Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Roasted sweet potato wedges are a great side dish that is quick to make. The potatoes are seasoned with herbs and roasted until they’re tender.
Green Bean Potato Salad
Maybe potato salad isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving side, but this one isn’t your average potato salad. Instead of mayo, tender potatoes and green beans are tossed in a tangy mustard vinaigrette. It’s light and bursting with flavor – the perfect side for other rich Thanksgiving dishes.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Rich and decadent baked macaroni and cheese made with a classic béchamel sauce and two types of cheese. It’s rich, creamy, and a perfect side dish for holiday dinners.
Sautéed Green Beans
This easy recipe combines sautéed green beans with butter, garlic, and lemon for a fresh side dish that pairs perfectly with turkey or ham.
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
Fresh Brussels sprouts baked up in a rich and creamy Gruyere cheese sauce and topped with a crispy bacon and breadcrumb topping.
Lemon-Honey Glazed Carrots
These easy honey-glazed carrots are always a crowd pleaser! If you’re serving a crowd, you can easily double the recipe. It’s really simple.
Easy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Save room on your stove top and use your slow cooker to make mashed potatoes. They are creamy, rich, and go great with lots of holiday main dishes!
Roasted Cauliflower Gratin
Creamy, cheesy roasted cauliflower gratin. This is a rich and decadent side dish that is great for holiday celebrations.
Thanksgiving Desserts
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 are a lot of familiar flavors here – pumpkin, cranberries, and pecans – but turned into desserts that don’t need a homemade pie crust.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Cheesecake bars swirled with pumpkin are the best fall dessert. The cheesecake filling is smooth and creamy and every bite has the perfect amount of fall spices. Plus, you can make them ahead and freeze them.
Dark Chocolate Pecan Bars
Decadent dark chocolate pecan bars with a chocolate shortbread crust. They have a brownie-like texture and are so rich and decadent.
Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Caramel apple cupcakes are filled with caramel sauce and topped with cinnamon frosting. The apple cupcakes are soft and tender and every bite has oozing caramel.
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing
Soft pumpkin cookies topped with cream cheese frosting are full of fall spices. Plus, this no-chill pumpkin cookie recipe is ready in less than an hour.
Banana Bread Pudding
This bread pudding combines bananas, pecans, sourdough bread, and a delicious caramel sauce for a decadent dessert. The custard-soaked bread bakes up soft in the middle and golden on top with crunchy nuts and fresh fruit in every bite.
Cranberry Apple Crisp
An easy-to-make cranberry apple crisp with a brown sugar and oatmeal topping.
Main Dishes
Here are a few of my personal favorites you might like to try! If you’re hosting a smaller holiday dinner, you can’t go wrong with these. Or, if you’re expecting a crowd, try Wolfgang Puck’s brined turkey recipe – it’s my go-to when I want an amazing roast turkey.
Roasted Cornish Game Hens
Roasted Cornish game hens are perfect for a small holiday meal. They’re easy to make and look fancy – not to mention, they’re delicious.
Ham Dinner on a Sheet Pan
If you’re hosting a small gathering and want to skip the big turkey, this sheet pan ham dinner is for you!
I hope you’ve found some new Thanksgiving recipe ideas to try this year!
Happy Cooking 🦃
More Holiday Recipe Collections
- Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
- Sweet and Savory Brunch Recipes
- New Year’s Eve Snack Ideas
- Classic Christmas Cookies
Post updated from the archives. First published in November 2016.