The Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023Make your Thanksgiving feast one to remember.
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Planning the perfect holiday menu just got a little easier. We scoured our collection of reader-submitted recipes to find the best Thanksgiving dishes. From classic crowd-pleasers to twists on old favorites, we guarantee you’ll find everything you need for the big day. You’ll find appetizers, drinks and starters near the front, main dishes and sides in the middle, and desserts near the end.
Still stuck on what to make for the big day? Take our quiz to find out which Thanksgiving theme fits your personality!
The Best Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
Many Thanksgiving gatherings go on all day. Keep your guests well-fed with an appetizer spread. In this collection, you’ll find snacks such as cranberry meatballs, apple-pecan baked brie and a hummus turkey that are easy to make and even easier to eat.
The Best Thanksgiving Drink Recipes
Elevate your Thanksgiving menu with a signature drink. In this collection you’ll find both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, including cider, punch, coffee and more.
The Best Thanksgiving Soup Recipes
Start out your meal with a comforting bowl of soup. In this collection, you’ll find harvest ingredients—like squash, potatoes and apples—that give the course a festive feel.
The Best Thanksgiving Salad Recipes
Make room on your dinner table for a Thanksgiving salad. This light, veggie-packed course is a refreshing addition to creamy sides and decadent desserts. In this collection, you’ll find fresh greens as well as grain-based salads.
The Best Thanksgiving Roll and Bread Recipes
Breads, rolls and biscuits are an essential addition to your Thanksgiving feast. They’re perfect for creating a turkey sandwich or sopping up excess gravy. In this collection, you’ll find an assortment of baked breads—many of which feature fall flavors, like sweet potato and pumpkin.
The Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
For many, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a golden-brown, roasted turkey. In this collection, you’ll find our best-loved turkey recipes. From herb-roasted breasts to brined birds, you’re sure to find a show-stealing recipe.
The Best Non-Turkey Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes
Turkey is usually the Thanksgiving Day all-star, but there’s no reason you can’t break from tradition. In this collection, you’ll find alternatives to turkey, such as chicken, lamb, beef and pasta.
Get our best non-turkey Thanksgiving main dish recipes here.
The Best Thanksgiving Mashed Potato Recipes
Creamy, chunky, whipped or smashed—there’s no denying mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving mainstay. Whip up the perfect batch with one of our best recipes. In this collection, you’ll find old family recipes, slow cooker favorites and fun, new twists.
The Best Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Recipes
On a typical day, it would be rare to find both potatoes and sweet potatoes on the dinner table. But at Thanksgiving, all bets are off. In this collection, you’ll find our favorite sweet potato recipes—mashed, glazed, baked in a casserole and more.
The Best Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce Recipes
Cranberry sauce is one of those dishes that easily unites an entire meal. Whether smothered atop a turkey breast, mixed with mashed potatoes or eaten all by itself, it’s a welcome addition to the Thanksgiving table. In this collection, you’ll find sauces, chutneys and relishes.
The Best Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole Recipes
Whether you prefer it smothered in thick gravy or dressed in something a little lighter, green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving Day necessity. In this collection, you’ll find both traditional recipes as well as unique takes on the classic dish.
Get our best Thanksgiving green bean casserole recipes here.
The Best Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts Recipes
When dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, Brussels sprouts get a whole new status. In this collection, you’ll find crazy-good recipes for sauced, roasted, baked (and more!) Brussels sprouts.
The Best Thanksgiving Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Macaroni and cheese is delicious any day, but it’s a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving table. Try it dressed up with seasonal flavors, like butternut squash, or enjoy it as is. In this collection, you’ll find a mac and cheese recipe to fit any menu.
The Best Thanksgiving Gravy Recipes
Whether you like it drizzled over just your turkey or drowning out the entire plate, gravy is a Thanksgiving must. In this collection, you’ll find tried-and-true recipes, make-ahead gravies and more.
The Best Thanksgiving Squash Recipes
Celebrate the harvest with one of fall’s most adored veggies: squash. Try it roasted, baked, pureed and more. In this collection, you’ll find recipes for acorn, butternut, pumpkin and other squash varieties.
The Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes
The most iconic Thanksgiving side dish, stuffing (or dressing if you’re in the South) is a quintessential addition to your dinner table. In this collection, you’ll find our favorite stuffing recipes made with cornbread, wild rice, day-old bread cubes and more.
The Best Thanksgiving Casserole Recipes
Your Thanksgiving feast isn’t complete without at least one cozy casserole gracing the dinner table. In this collection you’ll find hearty favorites—like sweet potato casserole or scalloped corn—as well as new, unexpected recipes.
The Best Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Recipes
There’s a reason Perry Como mentions homemade pumpkin pie in “Home for the Holidays”—it’s a classic! In this collection, you’ll find our favorite pumpkin pie recipes—plus a few recipes inspired by the colorful dessert.
The Best Thanksgiving Apple Pie Recipes
Ahh, apple pie. When topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s practically perfection. In this collection, you’ll find classic recipes plus some unusual favorites (cheddar cheese crust, anyone?).
The Best Thanksgiving Pecan Pie Recipes
Ooey-gooey, filling and oh-so-decadent…what’s not to love about pecan pie? In this collection, you’ll find several original ways to make the yummy dessert.
The Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Pie is the typical Thanksgiving dessert, but that doesn’t mean you can’t serve another treat! In this collection, you’ll find tortes, tarts, trifles and more that deserve a spot on your table. Bonus: Try this turkey cake pan for an over-the-top holiday spread.
The Best Thanksgiving Cake Recipes
Cake is good any time of the year, including Turkey Day. Try one of our seasonal favorites, like cranberry cake or praline pumpkin cake. In this collection, you’ll find layer cakes, sheet cakes and cupcakes.
The Best Thanksgiving Cookie Recipes
Thanksgiving is giving Christmas a run for its money in the cookie category. In this collection, you’ll find our favorite fall cookies recipes, such as pumpkin spice drops, walnut pillows and date swirls.
The Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
The big day is done—phew! Now it’s time to put all of those leftovers to work. In this collection, you’ll find ways to use up leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and more.
