67 Thanksgiving Recipes We Turn to Year After Year
For just one day a year, we feast on roast turkey, jellied cranberries, and marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole—dishes so synonymous with Thanksgiving, they earn the exclusive designation of Thanksgiving food. Preparing and hosting a literal feast is difficult enough without having to scour the web for Thanksgiving recipes, which is why we did that work on your behalf. Tragically, we can’t cook the turkey for you, but we can give you everything you need to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner menu.
You could stick with a vegetarian Thanksgiving menu and not worry about the turkey to begin with. But for some, the bird is a non-negotiable. This collection of our best Thanksgiving recipes includes quite a few turkey recipes, like Puerto Rican pavochon and BBQ-rubbed Smoked Turkey. If you want to do some light extracurricular reading, we’ve also got guides on how long to cook a turkey and how to carve that bird. But everyone knows the real highlight is the Thanksgiving side dishes: cornbread stuffing, light and fluffy dinner rolls (ideal for mopping up our best turkey gravy recipe), and lemony green beans that just might steal the show.
If you’re wondering what to sip and nosh on throughout the day, we’ve got some top-notch Thanksgiving cocktails and Thanksgiving appetizers. And if you’re pondering what you’ll be eating for breakfast the day after the holiday, there’s no better place to look than our favorite Thanksgiving desserts. As for the rest of the leftovers, our turkey leftover recipes promise much more than your average sandwich. Ready to dive in? Let’s go.
Alex Lau1/67BA’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 Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman2/67Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes
No list of Thanksgiving food ideas 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.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski3/67Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman4/67Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams6/67Extremely Cheesy Corn Casserole
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi7/67Twice-Baked Potatoes
This easy potato recipe delivers the best of two worlds—perfectly pillowy mashed potato filling and crispy potato shells—in one side dish.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriot8/67BA’s Best 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 apple flavor to the filling of this mile-high apple pie. Looking for more intel? Read all about the best apples for apple pie.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni10/67Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Skip the savory sweet potato casserole in favor of this just-sweet-enough version, complete with toasted marshmallows and crispy cornflakes. It’s an American classic for a reason.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi11/67Parker House Rolls
These rolls are folded and then layered in a baking dish before baking. The result: A perfect envelope for making mini sandwiches with sliced turkey breast.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi13/67Leftover-Turkey Pot Pie
Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon14/67Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Leng15/67Green Beans and Mushrooms With Crispy Shallots
Looking to opt out of the traditional casserole but still want green beans on the menu? This recipe for green beans is made entirely on the stovetop.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski16/67Dry-Brined Turkey With Tangy Honey Glaze
Our best turkey recipe gets dry-brined and then basted with a Worcestershire-honey glaze scented with rosemary and orange zest. Want to try a new flavor palate? We’ve got plenty more Thanksgiving turkey recipes where this one came from.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman18/67BA’s Best Mac and Cheese
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski19/67Cornbread Dressing With Sausage and Corn Nuts
With cornbread and corn nuts, this is our corniest stuffing ever. Overachievers will make their own buttermilk cornbread, but if something’s gotta give, store-bought is fine.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea20/67Cheesy Broccoli Casserole With Butter Cracker Crunchies
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe21/67Roasted 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 Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea22/67Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Whip
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng23/67Stuffing Biscuits
We packed the flavors of Thanksgiving dressing (the herbs, the onion, and lots of black pepper) into these flaky, many-layered biscuits. There is literally nothing better for sopping up gravy. Watch Kendra make them here.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski24/67Lemon Meringue Pie
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni25/67Cheesy Corn Pudding
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi26/67Spatchcock Turkey With Anise and Orange
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni27/67BA’s Best Pumpkin Pie
Like butternut squash soup and apple cider donuts, pumpkin pie is a signature of the fall season. A drizzle of maple syrup combines with just the right ratio of spices to make the earthy-sweet custard in this pumpkin pie recipe.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio28/67Tahdig 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.
Photograph by Kelly Marshall, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio29/67Raw and Crispy Kale Salad With Ginger and Coconut
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi30/67Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
With its lofty peanut butter topping and dense chocolate bottom, this nutty pie recipe gives off major Reese’s vibes.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni32/67The Easiest Glazed Carrots
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski33/67Why-Is-It-So-Good Gravy
This make-ahead gravy gains remarkable depth of flavor from roasted poultry bones and a sprinkle of MSG. Round out the flavors with ginger and a finishing splash of vinegar.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski34/67Banana Cream Pie
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers35/67Pumpkin 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 Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio38/67Smashed Green Beans With Lemony Sumac Dressing
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio39/67Sweet Potato Cake With Salted Cream Cheese Frosting
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro40/67Make-Ahead Sausage and Caramelized Onion Stuffing
The best Thanksgiving menu 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 the day before and reheated just before serving. It’ll make your life so much easier come Thanksgiving day.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio44/67Flaky Cranberry Hand Pies
These hand pies make a wonderful dessert for Thanksgiving, but you could also make them after the holiday to use up leftover cranberry sauce and an extra disc of pie dough.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio46/67Brown Butter and Sage Parathas
47/67Pavochon
Pavochon, a mash-up of pavo for turkey and chon for lechón, is the centerpiece of a Puerto Rican Thanksgiving. Achiote paste gives the roasted bird a deeply burnished hue.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski48/67Squash and Radicchio Salad With Pecans
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski49/67Glazed Leeks With Pine Nut Salsa Verde
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski50/67Fancy Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski51/67Shingled Sweet Potatoes With Harissa
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen52/67Classic Potato Gratin
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski55/67Burnished Potato Nuggets
Photo by BOBBI LIN56/67Cranberry-Lime Pie
This pie has the spirit of a Key lime pie in the guise of a luscious cranberry curd. The contrast between the snappy press-in crust and the tart filling is pure genius.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski58/67Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
This Thanksgiving recipe for creamy, glossy mashed potatoes can be made up to two days before the big night without any fear of flavor loss or decline in texture. Want to make them way ahead of time? Freeze them.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni59/67Smoked Turkey With Spicy BBQ Rub
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey60/67Miso and Maple Pecan-Butter Mochi Cake
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Carla Gonzalez-Hart61/67Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Christina Allen62/67Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
Can’t pick between Southern sweet potato and pecan pies? Make both in one! Corn syrup gives the pie’s pecan topping a gorgeous shine.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott65/67Gravy Mayo
If you’ve ever wondered how to use up your leftover gravy, here’s your answer: the sandwich spread to end all sandwich spreads, the french fry condiment to surpass ketchup once and for all.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski66/67Cheesy Cabbage Gratin
