53 Thanksgiving Recipes We Turn to Year After Year
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Preparing and hosting a literal feast is hard enough without scouring the internet for the best Thanksgiving recipes—so we’ve done the work for you. From classic roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes to modern sides and desserts, this collection has everything you need to build the perfect Thanksgiving dinner menu.
If turkey is nonnegotiable, you’ll find roasted, grilled, and smoked options here, along with guides on turkey cooking times and turkey carving. Prefer a vegetarian Thanksgiving? We’ve got menus for that too. Of course, no holiday table is complete without the real stars: Our top-line Thanksgiving side dishes include buttery dinner rolls for soaking up gravy, tangy green beans, and golden cornbread stuffing.
We didn’t forget about holiday cocktails, appetizers, or desserts either—our pies, cakes, and other sweets ensure the meal ends on a high note. And when the day is done, our turkey leftover recipes guarantee more than just sandwiches. Ready to plan your ultimate Thanksgiving? Let’s dig in.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens1/53Charred Brussels Sprouts With Warm Honey Glaze
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling Tim Ferro2/53Maple-Butter-Glazed Turkey
“My kids told me to stop trying new methods,” lamented one holiday fussbudget. But “everyone said this was the best turkey they ever had.” The victor went on: “I didn't realize until serving how much deconstructing the turkey ahead of time reduces stress levels when carving—it is SO much easier.” Watch food director Chris Morocco make it here.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi3/53Simple Is Best Stuffing
This easy stuffing recipe is flavored with the melodic combo of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. It’ll be a staple at your Thanksgiving feast for years to come.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne4/53Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
We love traditional pumpkin pie as much as the next holiday-starved food obsessive. But eating this lighter-than-air alternative is like biting into a pumpkin-spiced cloud.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman5/53Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes
No list of Thanksgiving foods would be complete without a pile of perfect, velvety mashed potatoes. As for how long to boil potatoes before mashing, we’ve got the lowdown on that too.
Alex Lau6/53BA’s Best Green Bean Casserole
This may be BA’s Best, but that doesn’t mean we’re opposed to a few shortcuts. Store-bought fried onions are astonishingly delicious, which means one less thing to worry about on Thanksgiving Day.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni7/53Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski8/53Fancy Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Thought you couldn’t improve on canned cranberry sauce? This homemade version is just as sliceable and jiggly and fun, with deep fruit flavor and a pretty topping. Or, if you’re feeling less-than-extra this year, our easiest cranberry sauce is always a hit.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriot9/53Best-Ever Apple Pie
This is not your average apple pie. Reducing the liquid from macerated apples with apple cider and a vanilla bean makes a syrup that delivers huge flavor to the filling. Looking for more intel? Read all about the best apples for apple pie.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman10/53BA’s Best Mac and Cheese
This homemade macaroni and cheese is our Platonic ideal: Deeply cheesy and creamy, with a crunchy, flavor-packed panko topping. But maybe you like an extra gooey version? Or one that’s all crispy edges. We each have our proclivities.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski12/53Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey
If you’re willing to forgo the big roast turkey presentation, you can’t do better than this Thanksgiving recipe. Breaking down the bird into parts allows you to cook everything on a sheet pan with ease and ensures each section cooks to its optimal doneness.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco13/53Tadka Turkey and Gravy
Thanks to its high smoke point, ghee is an ideal fat for basting Thanksgiving turkey; pair the golden bird with both tadka (a spiced clarified butter sauce) and peppery gravy for maximum flavor boost.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni, gravy boats by Base Ceramics14/53Make-Ahead Gravy
If you loathe the idea of the gravy being the last thing you do before serving, let this pre-made turkey gravy recipe give you some peace of mind.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht15/53BA’s Best Pecan Pie
In this rendition of the Thanksgiving dinner favorite, we focused on the things that matter most: the deep flavor of toasted pecans, a caramelly custard, and the flakiest, most buttery pie crust ever.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco16/53Festive Red Cabbage and Radicchio Salad
This sweet-sharp vinaigrette pairs well with bitter chicories (radicchio, endive, frisée), but feel free to use another type of lettuce or sturdy salad green if you like.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni17/53Sour Cream and Onion Hasselback Potatoes
Generous swooshes of homemade onion dip provide a soft landing for tiny, crispy Hasselback potatoes. Is it a side dish or a Thanksgiving appetizer? You decide.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Ines Anguiano18/53Cornbread Cheddar Biscuits
Sure, you could make the world’s best buttermilk biscuits. Or, you could make these cheddar cornbread ones. Or how about garlic-bread-inspired biscuits? Or stuffing-flavored biscuits? So many holiday flavors, so little time.
Photography by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco19/53Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake
This mashup of pumpkin cheesecake and Basque Cheesecake is packed with fall flavor and just the right amount of unexpected, which means it’s a perfect addition to the holiday table.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Gerri K Williams20/53Arroz Verde With Spiced Mushrooms
Photograph by Aaron Barton, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon21/53Colossal Crème Brûlée
This oversized crème brûlée can easily steal the spotlight on your Thanksgiving dessert spread, so pies: be warned. Since it’s served in one big dish, there’s no fussing over individual ramekins.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks22/53Rice Pilaf With Lemony Brown-Butter Mushrooms
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe23/53Sweet Potato Tian
Thin rounds of sweet potato—not yam!—baked until tender and crispy-edged in a warming five-spice brown butter might be our new favorite way to serve this holiday favorite.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski24/53Dry-Rubbed Turkey Breast
Consider this a companion to our classic Dry-Brined Turkey recipe for folks needing extra white meat for large crowds or Thanksgiving leftovers. Though it also works well for smaller holiday gatherings, and for groups who prefer white meat only.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards25/53Cinnamon Apple Crumb Pie
“I make this recipe all the time,” declared one maker of this absolute showstopper. “It is definitely my favorite pie of all time!” Another deemed it “superb!” And said it was “visually beautiful and [they] would be making this [their] go-to apple pie recipe.” Want to find out what they’re on about? You gotta click through.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Thu Buser26/53Upside-Down Cornbread
This surprising side is a reinvented take on classic cornbread, with salty cheddar cheese in the batter, a caramel corn topping, and hot honey butter for a finishing touch.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni27/53Green Beans With Almond Butter Sauce
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea28/53Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Whip
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski30/53Cranberry Orange Sauce With Cinnamon
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco31/53Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
Give classic French potatoes au gratin the old heave-ho in favor of this mash-up, which borrows from the twice-baked potato canon for its hefty dressings.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni32/53Smoked Turkey With Spicy BBQ Rub
Looking for some new ideas for your Thanksgiving meal? Consider the smoker. Cooking your turkey outdoors has some serious benefits—freeing up precious oven space, for one. Not to mention, the smoker transforms the dry brine into a fabulous “bark,” imbuing a notoriously bland bird with big BBQ flavor.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski33/53Cornbread Dressing With Sausage and Corn Nuts
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Leng34/53Green Beans and Mushrooms With Crispy Shallots
Looking to opt out of the traditional casserole but still want a recipe for green beans on the menu? This lighter, brighter take is made entirely on the stovetop.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Gerri Williams36/53Buttery Milk Buns
These fluffy buns combine the classic folded-over shape of Parker House Rolls and the pillowy texture of a milk bread dough—perfect for your holiday table.
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe38/53Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Gochujang Brown Butter
Crispy brussels sprouts, sweet-spicy gochujang, and nutty brown butter make this the side dish everyone will come back to.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio39/53Brown Butter and Sage Parathas
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio41/53Tahdig With Cranberries and Herbs
Dress up the classic Persian crispy rice dish with cranberries and woody herbs for a festive feel. Saffron gives it a vibrant yellow color.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca42/53Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry With Cheddar and Golden Raisins
Alex Lau43/53Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Brown butter and rosemary are a timeless pairing for mashed roasted sweet potatoes that never fails. Either make your own breadcrumbs or use store-bought to save time.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers44/53Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake
This fun addition to your Thanksgiving menu is half brown sugar streusel, half spiced pumpkin cake, and all kinds of delicious. Using canned pumpkin purée makes it a breeze.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro45/53Make-Ahead Sausage and Caramelized Onion Stuffing
The best food for Thanksgiving includes plenty of components you can prepare in advance. This make-ahead stuffing, which is chock full of sausage and melty caramelized onions, can be baked a day before serving.
46/53Pull-Apart Sour Cream and Chive Rolls
Looking to impress? Take it from one reviewer of these pillowy dinner rolls: “This is probably the most professional-tasting thing that ever came out of my kitchen.” It’s simply one of our best Thanksgiving recipes. Need flavor options? How about Squishy Garlic Dill Rolls?
Photograph by Rana Duzyol, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua47/53Easy-Fancy Pear Galette
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski48/53Squash and Radicchio Salad With Pecans
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng49/53Chorizo and Calabrian Chile Stuffing
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni50/53Cheesy Corn Pudding
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio52/53Sweet Potato Cake With Salted Cream Cheese Frosting
