If you're hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, need recipes that are quick, or you're just looking to feed your family of 8 (or 15), I've got 35 easy Thanksgiving recipes that will please every crowd. Tried and true, you'll find your entire guide to Thanksgiving here. Trust me, your family will thank you.
Thanksgiving is the equivalent to planning a Half Time show for the Super Bowl. You've got to make sure everything is in place, your timing is impeccable, and the show runs without a hitch (or, at least, no one catches the hiccups). Trust me, with this rundown of Thanksgiving dishes, especially some that can be done ahead of time, you'll earn that trophy at the end of the evening.
Grab the Menu
To make things even EASIER for you, grab my free and downloadable Thanksgiving menu here. It gives you the whole breakdown from appetizers to sides and the main event. It's worth saving, sharing, and printing for the day of!
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Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers
From simple small bites to warming and cozy soup, these Thanksgiving appetizers have something to offer everyone.
CARAMELIZED ONION BRIE CROSTINI
Elegant yet simple; something for guests to nibble on while the turkey cooks.
PEAR AND BRIE FLATBREAD WITH HONEY
Fall flavors with pear and brie, with that subtle touch of honey. Small slices with big appeal.
OVEN ROASTED SWEET POTATO ROUNDS
Thick sweet potato rounds baked then topped with ricotta, honey, and fresh thyme.
BAKED SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP
My personal favorite. Served warm (or cold in a sourdough boule) with crudités, and can be prepped ahead.
ROASTED ACORN SQUASH SOUP
Cozy, warming, and hearty, this soup is the perfect "welcome to my Thanksgiving table" vibe.
Thanksgiving Main Dishes (Minus the Whole Turkey)
No need for the whole turkey if that isn't your thing. We've got lots of options to offer all sorts of tastebuds at your table.
APPLE CIDER BRAISED TURKEY DRUMSTICKS
Cozy, warming, and hearty, this soup is the perfect "welcome to my Thanksgiving table" vibe.
HERB ROASTED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN
The "other" bird for non-turkey families. Juicy, tender chicken roasted in the oven; takes half the cook time.
HONEY GLAZED SALMON
A perfect option for those who'd rather have something lighter; umami, savory, and perfectly flaky.
SLOW BRAISED BONELESS SHORT RIBS
For the family that wants a non-turkey main; low and slow, hands-off
EGGPLANT ROLLATINI
Vegetarian main option so everyone has an option on the table.
Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
The content you've been waiting for. The BEST part of a Thanksgiving meal are the sides, and I've got plenty to choose from.
SIMPLE CLASSIC STUFFING
This is non-negotiable. Easy to prepare ahead of time, then bake when needed. Classic flavors, nostalgia delivered.
GARLIC HERB RED BLISS MASHED POTATOES
Red bliss potatoes with the skin on boiled until fork tender, then whisked with garlic and herbs. A taste of comfort in every bite.
20-MINUTE CRANBERRY SAUCE
Leave the canned stuff at the store. This 20-minute version is sweet, tart, and just the right amount of chunky texture.
EASY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Kid-tested, adult approved! This side dish can double as a main, but will fly off the table pretty fast.
GARLIC BUTTER ROASTED RAINBOW CARROTS
Baby rainbow carrots roasted then topped with a garlic butter sauce. You just can't get more festive than that.
HOMEMADE CREAMED CORN
Nostalgic, creamy, cheesy, and everything you want in a creamed corn. Plus, its made on the stove leaving oven space for other sides.
GARLICKY SAUTÉED GREEN BEANS
Skip the casserole if you dare, these green beans are fast, fresh, and are done in minutes. Blanch, sauté, and serve in no time.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND SWEET POTATOES
Two fall-forward veggies, one sheet plan. Plus, the crispy and salty pancetta adds another dimension of flavor that will leave guests asking for more.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
A family favorite. With enough sweetness to be called a side rather than a dessert, plus a secret ingredient you'll be gobsmacked over (Yes, I said gobsmacked).
Grab the Menu
To make things even EASIER for you, grab my free and downloadable Thanksgiving menu here. It gives you the whole breakdown from appetizers to sides and the main event. It's worth saving, sharing, and printing for the day of!
Thanksgiving Bread and Rolls
There's always room for a side of carbs, and by carbs, I mean breads and rolls. These three options are perfect for this occasion.
GARLIC PARMESAN PULL APART ROLLS
Crescent dough rolled in melted butter and parmesan, then baked in a cast iron until golden and fluffy. Talk about a perfect carb for Thanksgiving.
HERBED GARLIC BREAD
A blend of fresh herbs, butter, and crispy Italian bread baked until dripping with butter. Perfect for slopping up leftover gravy.
PESTO PIZZA PINWHEELS
Slightly different, yet packs a great flavor of pesto. Fluffy, easy to pre ahead of time, and a crowdpleaser.
Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
From pears to apples and pumpkin, I've got a wide variety of sweet treats to round out Thanksgiving menu planning.
PUMPKIN TIRAMISU
A little pumpkin, a little coffee. This tiramisu featuring pumpkin is everything you could want in a Thanksgiving dessert. Plus, you don't need to bake it!
NO-BAKE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS
A classic no-bake cheesecake with a pumpkin twist. The best part? You don't need to bake it! Set it the day before, and serve the day of.
CHEWY BROWN BUTTER PECAN BLONDIES
Brown butter merges with chocolate chips and chopped pecans for a decadent blondie. Perfect for traveling or feeding a small family gathering.
CRANBERRY GALETTE
Tart, sweet, and buttery, this cranberry galette screams Thanksgiving. A little unexpected, but will deliver on flavor with each bite.
RUSTIC APPLE GALETTE
Put your three dozen apples from apple picking to good use with this apple galette. Classic butter pastry dough, topped with thin sliced apples, baked until golden.
PEAR CRUMBLE
Minimal prep, minimal ingredients, with maximum flavor. This is a popular recipe for a reason. Buttery crumble on top of softened and sweet pears.
MINI PEAR PUFF PASTRY TARTS
Pears baked into puff pastry dough, then brushed with brown butter and cinnamon. These take some finesse with the pastry dough, but they always impress.
APPLE PIE CRESCENT ROLLS
Simple crescent dough filled with simmered apples in a brown sugar and butter compote. Rolled, baked, topped with powdered sugar. Everyone will devour these the second they hit the table.
Thanksgiving Cocktails
A little seasonal sip always balances out the dishes on the table. These three are my personal favorite, and always hit time and time again.
PUMPKIN SPICE ESPRESSO MARTINI
Dessert in a glass, or paired with the pumpkin tiramisu for a festive way to end the evening. Classic, elegant, and flavored with a homemade pumpkin syrup.
HONEY APPLE CIDER SANGRIA
Apple cider meets sangria with this cocktail. This can be batched ahead of time, and served in a large pitcher for guests to help themselves.
SPICED PEAR MARGARITA
Muddled pear, tequila, warm spices, shaken then poured into a glass served straight up. You just can't beat these fall flavors.
Thanksgiving Leftovers + Breakfast
Have too much turkey leftover? Hosting a breakfast on Black Friday (pre-shopping)? You need to make these two fan favorite recipes for both of those situations
LEFTOVER TURKEY AND CRANBERRY SLIDERS
These sliders use up the leftover cranberry sauce AND the roast turkey from the drumsticks, layered with provolone and baked until melty and cheesy.
CROISSANT FRENCH TOAST BAKE
A popular recipe on the website for a reason. Torn croissants soaked in a custard mixture, baked then topped with fruit and powdered sugar. Make ahead for an easy bake the morning of.
Thanksgiving Timeline
Here's a sample breakdown of everything you need to know, do, shop, and plan for beginning the weekend before the big day. Looking for a printable recipe checklist? You can use my Thanksgiving menu as a guide!
Helpful Tip: I like to buy a fresh turkey 2-3 days before Thanksgiving rather than storing in the freezer. Additionally, I also don't always want to make a huge turkey, which is why my apple cider braised turkey legs work great here because you don't need a ton of space.
- 5-6 Days Out (Weekend Before): Clear out as much space as you can from your fridge and freezer. Download the Thanksgiving menu and head to the store for items you need to purchase. Mix and freeze recipes like my brown butter pecan blondies and/or the galette pastry dough (if you want to keep this easy, buy pre-made pastry dough - don't stress yourself with having EVERYTHING being from scratch!)
- 2-3 Days Before (Monday/Tuesday): Prepare easily assembled recipes like cranberry sauce, the no-bake pumpkin cheesecake bars, the sweet potato casserole (minus the marshmallows on top - you'll do that the day of and bake). You can also prep the baked macaroni and cheese and spinach artichoke dip, then bake the day of.
- 1 Day Before (Wednesday): Mix the apple cider sangria and let it sit in the pitcher. Marinade the turkey drumsticks in an airtight container or plastic food storage bag. You can also pre-cook the creamed corn so that you can simply reheat on a simmer the next day. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I like to set the table and print out small menus for my guests, because it elevates the vibe a little more.
- Thanksgiving Morning: Drink your coffee and throw on your apron, it's showtime! Around 11am, begin to cook the turkey legs, then let it simmer on a very low flame for the remainder of the time once its done fully cooking. Bake the sweet potato casserole, baked macaroni and cheese, and sauté the garlic string beans.
- 1 Hour Before Guests Arrive: Boil the red bliss potatoes for the garlic herb red bliss mash, prep the garlic parmesan crescent rolls, and bring the cranberry sauce, spinach dip out of the fridge. If you plan to bake the spinach dip, bake it now, and let cool as guests arrive.
Thanksgiving FAQs
I always suggest making the smaller sides that can chill in the fridge and be reheated the morning of. Dishes like cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, and any no-bake desserts. You can also prep the spinach artichoke dip.
This is something I am asked often and it will depend on the size of your table and guests. A common rule is 3-5 sides for approximately 8 people. If you prefer to keep the amount of dishes smaller but have a larger party (like I sometimes do), you can double or triple the recipe.
My pumpkin tiramisu, no-bake cheesecake bars, or my apple pie crescent rolls are pretty awesome as desserts for this holiday.
If you are lucky enough to have a double oven, you can always set the temp of one of them to 300º and keep food warm and rotate through. Otherwise, low simmer on the stove, a slow cooker on warm always works too (think soup or even the turkey legs).
Thanksgiving Hosting Final Thoughts
- Don't stress! Time is on your side when you plan and use the timeline above.
- If it's a struggle to make the appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts, outsource to family and friends! Most of the time, I leave dessert to my in laws, and the stuffing to my aunt, so I can focus on the other things. No harm in asking others to pitch in (they'll likely ask what to bring anyway).
- Make it a hybrid dinner! Make some items from scratch (like the cranberry sauce, creamed corn, and sweet potato), and cater the turkey and mac and cheese. Trust me, there's a million ways to make Thanksgiving accessible!
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