Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it’s time to dig out the roasting pan, track down that turkey baster, and, most importantly, plan a menu for the big day. There’s an obvious cast of characters—turkey, stuffing, pie—but sifting through loads of Thanksgiving recipes can be overwhelming.
The most memorable holiday meals feature traditional dishes that guests expect combined with a few tasty twists and special touches to make the menu reflect your tastes. When planning your menu, consider headcount, dietary restrictions, budget, and taste preferences—then you can get planning the dishes. To help make this Thanksgiving the most delicious one yet, we’ve hand-picked our best Thanksgiving recipes to build the perfect spread. Any of these dishes and drinks can be mixed and matched to create your ultimate feast. Choose your favorites from our crowd-friendly cocktails, appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts for a no-stress holiday meal everyone will be thankful for.
Cocktail Thanksgiving Recipes
Big Batch Sangria
This take on Spain’s favorite cocktail lets guests help themselves while you put the finishing touches on dinner. A garnish of fresh cranberries and orange slices adds Thanksgiving flair to warmly spiced red wine with orange liqueur and brandy. One pitcher serves 12 guests, but you can stretch a batch even further by adding your favorite fruit-flavored seltzer for sparkling sangria.
Get the recipe: Big Batch Sangria
Pomegranate Red Wine Cocktail
No need to splurge on pricey wine to pair with your Thanksgiving recipes. This wintry cocktail is delicious and made with bottles at any price point (including any less-than-stellar bottles brought by a guest). It combines fruity red and sparkling white wine with pomegranate juice, cinnamon, and cloves for a festive drink you can enjoy throughout the holiday season. Mix all the ingredients except for sparkling wine up to a day in advance, then serve chilled topped with your favorite bubbly.
Get the recipe: Pomegranate Red Wine Cocktail
Rosé Grapefruit Cocktail
Here’s another way to upgrade Thanksgiving vino: two kinds of freshly squeezed citrus. This refreshing beverage made with grapefruit and orange is a tasty alternative to basic red or white wine. A duo of chilled rosé and sparkling white wine add sophistication to this blushing cocktail that’s perfect for raising a glass to the holiday.
Get the recipe: Rosé Grapefruit Cocktail
Cranberry Cocktail
Calling all cranberry lovers! This year, switch things up by moving the fall fruit from the side dish to the cocktail glass. Cranberry juice and vodka go together like turkey and gravy, but this special occasion-worthy sip elevates the pairing with the flavors of apple and freshly squeezed lime. A garnish of fresh cranberries adds a festive touch and pairs perfectly with the big meal, delivering just the right level of tang to counterbalance rich flavors.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Cocktail
Spiked Hibiscus Cocktail
A glass of this jewel-toned, herbal cocktail makes a beautiful addition to any holiday spread. The base is a fresh ginger and cinnamon-infused hibiscus iced tea that can be brewed and chilled up to two days in advance. To serve, pour the tea mixture into glasses and top with a splash of vodka and optional sparkling water. Or transfer the tea to a pitcher and set out chilled vodka and sparkling water for guests to customize their own cocktail or mocktail.
Get the recipe: Spiked Hibiscus Cocktail
Appetizer Thanksgiving Recipes
Friendsgiving Grazing Board
Start a new holiday tradition with this grazing board that combines Thanksgiving flavors with pub grub favorites. This board works as an appetizer station before the big meal, but it could also be the star of a more casual Friendsgiving get-together. Cranberry-glazed wings and pumpkin pie spiced sweet potato fries stand in for turkey and ‘taters on a platter that can be scaled up or down for any sized crowd.
Get the recipe: Friendsgiving Grazing Board
Brie Filled Dates
This three-ingredient, no-cook appetizer is easy to assemble but special enough for any holiday gathering. Dates stuffed with creamy brie and wrapped in prosciutto are a savory-sweet bite that won’t spoil appetites before the main event. If you have kids who want to help in the kitchen, stuffing and wrapping the dates (which have been pitted and halved by a grownup) are ideal tasks for little hands.
Get the recipe: Brie Filled Dates
Olive and Parmesan Crostini
Get a jump on your Thanksgiving recipes with this appetizer starring homemade tapenade that can be prepped up to two days in advance. The mixture of green olives and prepared giardiniera (Italian pickled veggies) comes together in seconds using the food processor. Refrigerate the spread in an airtight container, then spoon over slices of baguette toasted with Parmesan. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar just before serving adds a touch of earthy sweetness to counterbalance the saltiness.
Get the recipe: Olive and Parmesan Crostini
Cranberry Bacon Wheels
These flaky, savory party starters look so impressive, that you won’t believe how simple they are to roll out. Guests will devour the combo of smoky bacon, green onion, and tangy cranberry sauce—a nod to the holiday—spiraled inside wheels of puff pastry. These awesome apps are make-ahead friendly and delicious when served at room temperature. Or assemble and chill the wheels up to three hours in advance and bake just before guests arrive for a warm hors d’oeuvre.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Bacon Wheels
Blue Cheese Tartlets
Store-bought miniature phyllo cups are the time-saving ingredient that helps get these two-bite tartlets onto the appetizer table in just 10 minutes. They’re bursting with flavor and crunch thanks to a simple filling of chopped, candied nuts and blue cheese crumbles. Any type of candied or roasted nuts works for this recipe. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, goat cheese or feta crumbles can be substituted.
Get the recipe: Blue Cheese Tartlets
Side Dish Thanksgiving Recipes
Orange Glazed Green Beans
Green beans are a fixture on the Thanksgiving table, but let’s be honest, they rarely earn rave reviews. This recipe is a fresh alternative to mushy, overcooked beans or heavy green bean casseroles from holidays of yore. A four-ingredient glaze with garlic, honey, and freshly squeezed orange juice dials up the flavor of crisp-tender beans that maintain a bit of crunch. Best of all, this veggie side cooks in the microwave, saving you valuable stovetop and oven space.
Get the recipe: Orange Glazed Green Beans
Easiest Duchess Potato Casserole
If mashed potatoes with butter are your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner, this rich and savory casserole may become a new holiday staple. On top of being delicious, this clever side spares you the hassle of peeling, chopping, boiling, and mashing. The star ingredient is a box of instant mashed potatoes. Parmesan, egg yolks, and milk add flavor and creamy texture to a slice-and-serve spud casserole that turns gorgeously golden brown in the oven.
Get the recipe: Easiest Duchess Potato Casserole
Five-Ingredient Stuffing
It’s not Thanksgiving without stuffing but making it from scratch can be time-consuming. We enlisted the help of some shortcut ingredients to help streamline prep without sacrificing any of the classic flavors. Store-bought stuffing cubes and pre-chopped veggies give this dressing a head start while another secret weapon—condensed cream of celery soup—adds extra savory richness.
Get the recipe: Five-Ingredient Stuffing
Pimiento Cheese Cornbread Muffins
A taste of the South is baked into each one of these cheesy muffins that fall somewhere in between dinner roll and popover. Store-bought pimiento cheese upgrades boxed cornbread muffin mix for a standout side that will steal the show. In the unlikely event you have some leftovers, slice the remaining muffins in half for two bite slider rolls that take Thanksgiving round two sandwiches over the top.
Get the recipe: Pimiento Cheese Cornbread Muffins
Warm Kale Salad with Cranberries
Packaged salad kits are a handy time-saver on busy weeknights, but they can also come in clutch on Thanksgiving. Just three ingredients level up ordinary kale salad into a warm and cozy side dish. The greens come washed and chopped; simply sauté the leaves over medium heat to coax out an extra tender bite. Fresh lemon zest and juice add a pop of flavor to the included poppyseed dressing. Toss together smoky bacon and goat cheese for an unforgettable vegetable side that hits the table in 15 minutes.
Get the recipe: Warm Kale Salad with Cranberries
Main Thanksgiving Recipes
Miso-Rubbed Turkey with Gravy
If you think all roast turkey tastes the same, this simple but stupendous recipe will change your mind. White miso (look for it in the refrigerated section) is naturally brimming with intense umami flavor. Combined with butter and maple syrup it becomes an irresistible glaze that hits every part of your tongue. Rubbing the mixture directly on the meat as well as on the skin infuses every bite with savory succulence. Stir the drippings into store-bought turkey gravy for an unforgettable main course your guests won’t stop talking about.
Get the recipe: Miso-Rubbed Turkey with Gravy
Easy Garlic and Sage Turkey
Garlic and cheese finishing butter is the secret weapon that gives this impressive turkey an irresistibly bronzed, crispy skin. Make your own by combining softened, salted butter with minced garlic and grated Parmesan, or take some help from the store and buy it already made. Fresh sage and oranges serve double duty as flavor boosters stuffed inside the turkey and a pretty garnish for the serving platter.
Get the recipe: Easy Garlic and Sage Turkey
Easiest Five-Ingredient Turkey
A schmear of mayo is delicious on Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches, but did you know it can also help you cook a golden-brown, never-dry turkey? After all, it’s just oil and egg which help to caramelize the meat. Blended with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs and rubbed all over the bird, mayonnaise adds savory flavor while helping to keep the meat moist and the skin crisp.
Get the recipe: Easiest Five-Ingredient Turkey
Citrus Herb Turkey
Brining is a time-tested technique for adding flavor to mild turkey. We like dry brining—applying salt directly to the bird and letting it rest—because it makes the meat moist and flavorful while taking up less room in the fridge (no need for a giant bucket filled with salt water). The salt works to both season and draw out moisture from the turkey, which is then reabsorbed, resulting in maximum juiciness once it’s roasted. A simple compound butter with fresh herbs and two kinds of citrus imparts even more flavor.
Get the recipe: Citrus Herb Turkey
Foolproof Roast Turkey
We went back to basics for this easy turkey that lives up to its name. It’s a great choice for first-time holiday hosts or anyone nervous about cooking the main course. The simple technique of stuffing the turkey cavity with herbs and garlic and roasting on a bed of aromatic vegetables lets you cross the main course of your to-do list with ease (it’s also a never-fail way to cook chicken). As with any recipe, a reliable kitchen thermometer is key to ensuring every part of the turkey is fully cooked without going over and becoming dry.
Get the recipe: Foolproof Roast Turkey
Dessert Thanksgiving Recipes
Easy Apple Galette
For all the flavor and flaky bite of apple pie without the fuss of making one from scratch, this five-ingredient galette can’t be beat. Rather than rolling out dough, molding it into a pie dish, and messing around with pinching and crimping, a free form galette bakes on a sheet pan. Simply cook the fresh apple and cinnamon filling on the stovetop, spread it on a round of store-bought pie dough, fold up the edges, and bake.
Get the recipe: Easy Apple Galette
Pumpkin Pie with Sesame Caramel Topping
Buying dessert from the bakery section and customizing it with your own tasty additions is a smart strategy for any Thanksgiving host (especially if you don’t love baking). This recipe adds a nutty new twist to everyone’s favorite, pumpkin pie. The key is a topping of homemade caramel sauce spiked with creamy tahini. A sprinkle of sesame seeds is the finishing touch that makes this one-of-a-kind pie look as incredible as it tastes.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie with Sesame Caramel Topping
Baked Alaska
This retro classic is sure to elicit lots of “oohs and aahs” when it hits the table. The freezer does most of the work for this baked Alaska with layers of ice cream, cookies, and pound cake covered in airy meringue. Less than five minutes in a 500-degree oven gives the fluffy peaks a showstopping golden-brown finish that’s sure to end your holiday on a sweet note.
Get the recipe: Baked Alaska
Pear Pie with Streusel Topping
Why should pumpkins and apples have all the holiday fun? Peak-season pears get their turn in the spotlight with this pie that’s destined to become a Thanksgiving mainstay. Cinnamon, ginger, and maple extract add a warm fall flavor to a filling made with fresh, firm pears. A layer of streusel topping gives this rustic pie extra sweetness and buttery crunch.
Get the recipe: Pear Pie with Streusel Topping
Sweet Potato Pie with Praline Topping
A double dose of Southern inspiration makes this Thanksgiving treat one of a kind. Fresh sweet potatoes are the main ingredient in the mousey filling flavored with pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. The finishing touch is a topping of crunchy pralines, which are easy to make from scratch using a brown sugar simple syrup. The result is a baked dessert that tastes like a mashup of pumpkin and pecan pie.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Pie with Praline Topping
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