Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I don’t know about you, but I’m getting started on planning out some delicious Thanksgiving recipes for my guests! I love all the traditional Thanksgiving dinner like sweet potato casserole, roast turkey obviously, homemade cranberry sauce, fluffy dinner rolls, green bean casserole and so much more! The best part is that there’s usually so much leftovers, so you can make leftover recipes for a few days after the holiday. There are endless delicious recipes out there and it really was a difficult task narrowing down what I want to make for the holiday meal, so I suggest going with your favorite Thanksgiving recipe and planning the rest around that! The perfect side dish does exist and it can be anything you’d like really.
Here are the best Thanksgiving recipes to make this holiday season.
Mains:
Roast Turkey with Lemon and Garlic
We’re all here for the turkey! I get it! This recipe takes about 4 hours to make including prep time, which isn’t so bad considering the fact that a lot of people spend all day cooking the turkey. Friendly reminder to get your turkey in advance, they go pretty quickly within 48 hours of the holiday. This recipe makes your turkey incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The perfect combination! Make sure to save the pan drippings for your gravy recipe!
Oven Roasted Turkey
How beautiful is this turkey?! She gives a ton of wonderful tips, as well like thawing times. All in all this recipe takes 5 and a half hours, including resting time, which is super important! This is the center of your classic Thanksgiving menu!
Vegetarian Option
For all the vegetarians, I found a meatless turkey roast that is actually so delicious! You can marinate it in your own mixture to keep it juicy and the texture is perfect! Add some fresh herbs and you are good to go! It’s one of the best non-turkey mains for sure!
One Pan Thanksgiving Dinner
Not only does this only take an hour, but it’s perfect if you have a smaller Thanksgiving this year. For instance, if there’s only 2 of you, this is the perfect recipe and the cleanup is minimal!
Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
If you’re not big on turkey, try fish! I’ve heard the Mediterranean based diet is a great way to base your meals off. This recipe has fresh herbs and oranges to go perfectly balanced with the fish.
Side Dishes
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are necessary for every gathering, I think. Especially the holidays! They’re a crowd pleaser and more simple to make than you think! Creamy mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving side that can be considered essential in most homes.
Bacon and Pecan Stuffing Cornbread
I like to have cornbread as an option at my Thanksgiving feast! I think it’s a great fall addition and this twist on the classic recipe is even better than I could’ve imagined.
Green Bean Casserole
Now we’re talking! This is more of a traditional Thanksgiving side dish and it’s easy to make! I love the crunch fried onions on top of the tender green beans, they add for texture and the perfect crunch.
Creamed Spinach
This is one of those side dishes that you maybe forget about, but every time you have it, it’s so delicious! It’s a great way to put vegetables on the table and it pairs with all Thanksgiving foods very well.
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
You can totally have mac and cheese at your Thanksgiving dinner! In fact, it makes everything better! It’s a comfort food and I like the white cheddar option for the cheese, it’s a bit lighter on the stomach.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Squash
There’s a lot going on here, but in the best way possible! We begin with the crispiest brussels sprouts and roasted squash and then it gets topped with dried cranberries and a dijon vinaigrette to keep everything from drying out.
Homemade Dinner Rolls
There are few things better than a pillowy dinner roll. These look so amazing, I wish I could smell them through my screen. They’re great as a side to your table and aren’t difficult to make!
Stuffing
What I like about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. It’s super simple ingredients explained really well and broken down step by step. Cornbread stuffing is another one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for when we need a bite of corn on the table. The stuffing can tend to be the star of the show for a lot of classic Thanksgiving recipes.
Corn Pudding
One of the best recipes I’ve found is for this corn pudding! It’s so decadent and delicious! There’s no way you can only have one helping of this!
Cranberry Chutney
Cranberry sauce is a must for your meal! It keeps everything from drying out and adds a delicious tangy flavor to it all. One of my favorite ways to keep the food moist is by adding a dollop of cranberry sauce, especially to my turkey and Thanksgiving side dishes. Fresh cranberries are the perfect way to add a tangy bite to your holiday table. Good food and great company makes for a fantastic day!
Desserts
Sweet Potato Pie
This is one of the more traditional pies for the holiday! It’s delicious and has the perfect crumbly pie base. Who knew sweet potatoes made for an easy recipe that is so delicious on your Thanksgiving table?!
Apple Pie Cheesecake with Caramel Topping
Excuse me while I devour this entire thing myself. Have you heard of anything more delicious?! It’s perfect for the end of fall, too.
Pumpkin Pie
No thanksgiving is complete without a pumpkin dessert. Specifically, pumpkin pie! This recipe is fantastic and it comes out looking just like the photos!
Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This is another classic Thanksgiving dessert! You can never go wrong with this and the frosting itself is enough to try it!
Pumpkin Custard
This is a great option if you’re not feeling a pie or cake. Custard is always a great option and this embodies fall perfectly!
This post was originally published November 8th, 2022*
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