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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes

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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes - A roundup of my best recipes for your Thanksgiving menu planning.

Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday! Are you ready? Just in case you need some ideas, I've put together my Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner.

Collage showing some of the recipes featured in the roundup post with text overlay.

I started with a few of my favorite pre-dinner nibbles and then went on to the main event - the turkey and cornbread dressing! Or if you prefer stuffing, I've also included a recipe for you.

And if turkey isn't your "thing," there are a few recipes for alternatives. You'll also find a selection of great side dishes from salads to vegetables.

And no Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without a few fabulous desserts. I even included some of my favorite recipes for using up the leftovers.

At the end of the post there are links to several other bloggers' recipe suggestions for Thanksgiving. Hopefully, together, we can help you fill out your menu.

I'd love to know what you're planning to cook for the big day and if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask away!

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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes

Appetizers

Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie
Some of my favorite southern ingredients in one simple little bite!
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Phyllo Cups with Pepper Jelly and Brie - delicate phyllo pastry filled with pepper jelly and brie, baked and topped with pecans, country ham, and jalapeno. https://www.lanascooking.com/phyllo-cups-pepper-jelly-brie/
Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls
Spicy, herby, cheesy sausage balls wrapped in bacon and served with a peach-Dijon dipping sauce.
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Puff Pastry Cheese Straws
Recipe for the famous Rich's Department Store (Atlanta) Puff Pastry Cheese Straws. Sharp cheddar and Parmesan encased in light, flaky puff pastry.
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Puff Pastry Cheese Straws mounded on a serving board.
Hot Artichoke Spread
A hot appetizer with artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese
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Vintage recipe for Hot Artichoke Spread - A hot dip made with chopped artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese. https://www.lanascooking.com/hot-artichoke-spread/
Spicy White Bean Dip
A spicy white bean dip great for enjoying along with your favorite college football game!
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Add this Spicy White Bean Dip to your next tailgate menu or serve as an appetizer or snack for any occasion. https://www.lanascooking.com/spicy-white-bean-dip/

Main Dishes

Oven Roasted Turkey with Gravy
A simple method for cooking a beautifully moist Oven Roasted Turkey with golden, crispy skin and instructions for making the best pan gravy.
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Oven Roasted Turkey with Gravy on a white serving platter.
Southern Cornbread Dressing
My cherished family recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing is wonderfully moist and seasoned with onions, celery, and sage.
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Southern Cornbread Dressing in a white baking dish.
Stuffed Turkey Breast
A stuffed, rolled turkey breast filled with Italian bread, dried cranberries, shallots, celery, pine nuts, and Italian sausage. Perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving gathering.
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Sliced stuffed turkey breast on a serving tray.
Marinated Pork Loin
Marinated Pork Loin - lean pork loin marinated in a flavorful blend of ingredients then roasted until succulent and juicy.
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Marinated Pork Loin - lean pork loin marinated in a flavorful blend of ingredients then roasted until succulent and juicy. From @nevrenoughthyme https://www.lanascooking.com/marinated-pork-loin/
Pork Loin with Creamy Celery Sauce
Pork Loin with Creamy Celery Sauce - A lovely pork loin served with a luscious creamy celery sauce is perfect for a special occasion dinner.
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Sliced Braised Pork Loin with Creamy Celery Sauce on a serving plate.
Apricot and Prune Stuffed Pork Loin
Succulent dried fruits make this Apricot and Prune Stuffed Pork Loin a great choice for a dinner party or an alternate entree for holidays!
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Sliced Apricot and Prune Stuffed Pork Loin on a serving tray.

Side Dishes - Vegetables

Sweet Potato and Pecan Stuffing
This Sweet Potato and Pecan Stuffing with sausage, raisins, celery, and onions is a perfect choice for your Thanksgiving table.
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Sweet Potato and Pecan Stuffing in baking dish.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Southern heritage recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole with pecan streusel topping. Always on our Thanksgiving table but great for any festive occasion.
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Sweet Potato Casserole in a serving dish with vintage serving spoon.
Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese is a delicious flavor combination and a perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving menu.
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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese in a serving bowl.
Copper Pennies
Old Fashioned Copper Pennies is a marinated sweet and sour carrot, onion, and pepper recipe that may be served as either a side dish or salad.
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Copper Pennies salad in a decorative cut glass bowl.
Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
These Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans will have your house smelling amazing and your mouth watering with anticipation.
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Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans with ham hocks in a serving dish on a tabletop.
Baked Acorn Squash
Baked Acorn Squash - tender, sweet acorn squash baked with butter and brown sugar is the perfect side dish for your Fall dinner.
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Baked Acorn Squash on a baking sheet with a chef's knife in the background.

Side Dishes - Vegetable & Fruit Salads

Apple Cranberry Salad
This Apple Cranberry Salad is light and refreshing with autumnal flavors of apple, cranberry, and walnuts. A lighter side dish for your Thanksgiving table.
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This Apple Cranberry Salad is light and refreshing with autumnal flavors of apple, cranberry, and walnuts. A lighter side dish for your Thanksgiving table. https://www.lanascooking.com/apple-cranberry-salad-and-a-thanksgiving-recipe-roundup/
Carrot Cranberry Salad
This 15-minute Carrot Cranberry Salad will please even the pickiest eaters. It's packed with healthy crunch from carrots and toasted pecans.
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Carrot Cranberry Salad in a serving bowl on a kitchen towel.
Broccoli Salad
Pure vintage comfort food and the perfect side dish for any summer party. Guests always ask for the recipe!
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A wooden spoon holding a bite of broccoli salad.
Pear Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Fresh, sliced pears topped with tangy blue cheese dressing and toasted slivered almonds.
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This Fresh Pear Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is composed of sliced pears topped with tangy blue cheese dressing and toasted slivered almonds. https://www.lanascooking.com/pear-salad-with-blue-cheese-dressing/
Not Quite Classic Waldorf Salad
Not Quite Classic Waldorf Salad - my version of the classic waldorf salad using apples, pecans, celery, and dried cranberries.
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Not Quite Classic Waldorf Salad - my version of the classic waldorf salad using apples, pecans, celery, and dried cranberries. https://www.lanascooking.com/not-quite-classic-waldorf-salad/
Sunshine Salad
Sunshine Salad is a traditional gelatin salad, or congealed salad, made with lemon jello, pineapple, carrots, and chopped nuts.
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A serving of sunshine salad on a small china plate.
Lime Congealed Salad
An old fashioned southern favorite, Lime Congealed Salad stands in as a fantastic salad, side dish, or dessert.
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A serving of Lime Congealed Salad on a red lettuce leaf.
Blueberry Jello Salad
An old-fashioned southern jello salad with blueberries and pineapple topped with a sweetened cream cheese and sour cream mixture.
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This blueberry jello salad is an old-fashioned southern recipe with blueberries and pineapple topped with a sweetened cream cheese and sour cream mixture. https://www.lanascooking.com/blueberry-jello-salad/
Strawberry Banana Jello Mold
A refreshing summer jello mold with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, sour cream, and nuts.
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This Strawberry Banana Jello Mold is a refreshing summer-y jello salad with strawberries, bananas, and pineapple. https://www.lanascooking.com/strawberry-banana-jello-mold/
Polly’s Pink Stuff (Raspberry Jello Mold)
Polly's Pink Stuff - A retro recipe for a festive raspberry jello mold. My grandmother's holiday specialty served for every Christmas and Easter dinner.
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Polly's Pink Stuff - A retro recipe for a festive raspberry jello mold. http://www.lanascooing.com/pollys-pink-stuff-raspberry-jello-mold/

Side Dishes - Other

Kumquat and Dried Cherry Chutney
Kumquat and Dried Cherry Chutney is an elegantly delicious accompaniment for your Thanksgiving dinner. Perfect with turkey!
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Kumquat and Dried Cherry Chutney in a cut glass serving dish.
Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce
Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce - The recipe couldn't be easier. Pop everything in the slow cooker and six hours later you have applesauce!
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Bowl of applesauce with a basket of fresh apples on a kitchen towel.

Desserts - Cakes

Caramel Layer Cake
Southern caramel layer cake - moist yellow cake layers topped with a caramel frosting. A favorite of everyone in our family.
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Southern caramel layer cake - moist yellow cake layers topped with a caramel frosting. A favorite of everyone in our family. https://www.lanascooking.com/caramel-layer-cake
Chocolate Little Layer Cake
Heritage recipe for Chocolate Little Layer Cake, a regional specialty from southwest Georgia. Tiny yellow cake layers filled with boiled chocolate frosting.
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Completed Chocolate Little Layer Cake on a cake stand.
Chocolate-Chocolate Cake
Light chocolately cake layers with a luscious, rich cocoa frosting.
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Chocolate-Chocolate Cake - light chocolately cake layers with a luscious, rich cocoa frosting. https://www.lanascooking.com/chocolate-chocolate-cake
Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake
This Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake is made with a rich, buttery batter of pumpkin and warm fall spices, topped with a sweetened buttermilk glaze.
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Pumpkin Pound Cake on a wooden board with a spoon and serving plates.
Classic Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
A spiced pumpkin roll with sweet cream cheese filling. Perfect dessert for any fall dinner.
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Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Roll - A spiced pumpkin roll with sweet cream cheese filling. Perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert menu. https://www.lanascooking.com/cream-cheese-filled-pumpkin-roll/

Desserts - Pies & Cobblers

Pecan Cheesecake Pie
This luscious Pecan Cheesecake Pie offers a cheesecake layer on bottom with a pecan pie on top. So much deliciousness in one bite!
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A slice of Pecan Cheesecake Pie on a serving plate with a fork alongside.
Apple Patchwork Cobbler
Apples, cinnamon, cardamom and orange liqueur topped with a patchwork arrangement crust.
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Apple Patchwork Cobbler in a baking dish with serving plates in the background.
Gingerbread Apple Cobbler
This gingerbread apple cobbler takes advantage of a boxed mix and canned pie filling for one of the easiest, tastiest desserts of the fall!
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A white serving bowl filled with cobbler and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Desserts - Other

Charlotte Russe
A light, creamy, combination of eggs, whipping cream and whiskey. A traditional Southern dessert typically served for Christmas holidays
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Charlotte Russe is a creamy dessert combination of eggs, whipping cream and whiskey. Traditionally served at Christmas and holidays. https://www.lanascooking.com/charlotte-russe/
Hot Curried Georgia Peaches
Peaches spiced with curry, cinnamon, and cloves, served with butter pecan ice cream.
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Curried peaches over pound cake with a scoop of ice cream.
Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
Moist and cakey old-fashioned gingerbread scented with warm spices and topped with a sweet-tart lemon glaze.
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A serving of old fashioned gingerbread with lemon glaze on a serving plate.

Leftovers

Asian Inspired Turkey Noodle Bowl
A brothy bowl of noodles using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, pasta, lime, hot chili sauce, cilantro, green onions, and soy sauce.
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Noodles, turkey, and accompaniments in a white serving bowl.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Use your leftover turkey in a classic tetrazzini casserole
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Classic Turkey Tetrazzini in a casserole baking dish with a red kitchen towel in the foreground.
Turkey, Mushroom, and Potato Soup
Use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make this satisfying turkey soup.
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Turkey Mushroom and Potato Soup in a vintage serving bowl with a spoon.
Apple Cranberry Quesadillas
A fantastic use for your Thanksgiving leftovers! Apple pie filling, cranberry sauce, pecans, and jack cheese combine for a delicious treat.
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Apple Cranberry Quesadillas - make a fun, fruit-filled apple cranberry dessert quesadilla from your Thanksgiving leftovers! https://www.lanascooking.com/thanksgiving-leftovers-apple-cranberry-quesadillas/

More Recipe Roundup Posts on Lana’s Cooking:

Collage showing some of the recipes featured in the roundup post with text overlay.

More Thanksgiving Menu Ideas ...

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About Lana Stuart

Lana Stuart is the cook, writer, and founder of Lana’s Cooking. Lana has been cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove and started this blog in 2009 to share her delicious home cooking recipes. You'll find about 700 recipes here so there's sure to be something your family will like!
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