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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner

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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner - A roundup of Never Enough Thyme's best recipes for your Thanksgiving menu planning.

Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner - A roundup of Never Enough Thyme's best recipes for your Thanksgiving menu planning. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/thanksgiving-menu-ideas/

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

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!

Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner - A roundup of Never Enough Thyme's best recipes for your Thanksgiving menu planning.Click to Tweet

Best of the Best Thanksgiving Menu Planner

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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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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Recipe for the famous Rich's Department Store (Atlanta) Puff Pastry Cheese Straws. Sharp cheddar and Parmesan encased in light, flaky puff pastry. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/puff-pastry-cheese-straws
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/spicy-white-bean-dip/

Main Dishes

Turkey and Southern Cornbread Dressing
An authentic recipe for traditional southern cornbread dressing and an easy turkey cooking method.
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Turkey and Southern Cornbread Dressing - An authentic recipe for traditional southern cornbread dressing and an easy turkey cooking method. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/turkey-and-southern-cornbread-dressing
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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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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Pork Loin with Creamy Celery Sauce - A lovely pork loin served with a luscious creamy celery sauce is perfect for a special occasion dinner. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/pork-loin-creamy-celery-sauce/
Pork Loin Stuffed with Prunes and Apricots
Make use of succulent dried fruit in this stuffed pork loin. A great choice for a dinner party.
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Pork Loin Stuffed with Prunes and Apricots - succulent dried fruit make this stuffed pork loin a great choice for a dinner party. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/pork-loin-stuffed-with-prunes-and-apricots/

Side Dishes - Vegetables

Sweet Potato and Pecan Stuffing
Unseasoned bread cubes combine with sweet potatoes, pecans, raisins, celery, and onions in this perfect Thanksgiving side.
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Sweet potatoes, pecans, raisins, celery, and onions combine with unseasoned bread cubes in this stuffing recipe perfect for your Thanksgiving table. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/sweet-potato-pecan-stuffing/
Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese
Roasted butternut squash tossed with pecans and blue cheese.
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Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese - delicious roasted butternut squash tossed with pecans and blue cheese. Perfect Thanksgiving side dish. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/butternut-squash-with-pecans-and-blue-cheese/
Copper Pennies
Marinated carrots, onions, and peppers that may be used as either a side dish or salad.
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Old Fashioned Copper Pennies is a marinated carrot, onion and pepper recipe that may be used as either a side dish or salad. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/copper-pennies/
Green Beans with Bacon and Onions
Nutritious, convenient frozen green beans are combined with caramelized onions and bacon in this delicious side dish.
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Old Fashioned Southern Green Beans
My low and slow method for cooking Old Fashioned Southern Green Beans with a beautiful, smoky ham hock broth for flavoring.
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Old Fashioned Southern Green Beans with smoky bacon in a small bowl resting on a kitchen towel.
Baked Acorn Squash
Tender, sweet, and buttery baked acorn squash is the perfect side dish for a Fall dinner.
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Baked Acorn Squash - tender, sweet, and buttery baked acorn squash is the perfect side dish for a Fall dinner. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/baked-acorn-squash/
Peas with Lettuce
Tender fresh English peas cook with green onions and soft lettuce leaves.
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Peas with Lettuce - Fresh English peas cooked with chicken stock and tender young lettuce is a great early springtime side dish. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/peas-with-lettuce/

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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/apple-cranberry-salad-and-a-thanksgiving-recipe-roundup/
Carrot and Dried Cranberry Salad
This Carrot and Dried Cranberry Salad updates the standard recipe with dried cranberries, vanilla yogurt, and toasted pecans.
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This Carrot and Dried Cranberry Salad updates the standard recipe with dried cranberries, vanilla yogurt, and toasted pecans. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/carrot-and-dried-cranberry-salad/
Broccoli Salad
A fantastic summer salad with a sweet-tangy dressing, bacon, broccoli, and dried cranberries.
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Broccoli salad featuring crisp, fresh broccoli florets, bacon, dried cranberries, and sunflower kernels with a sweet and tangy dressing. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/pear-salad-with-blue-cheese-dressing/
Warm Vegetable Salad
Warm new potatoes and green beans tossed with a lemon-garlic dressing.
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A delicious Warm Vegetable Salad with red skinned potatoes and green beans tossed in a tangy lemon-garlic dressing. Great year round side dish! From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/warm-vegetable-salad/
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/not-quite-classic-waldorf-salad/
Sunshine Salad
Sunshine Salad is a traditional gelatin salad made with lemon jello, crushed pineapple, shredded carrots, and chopped nuts.
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Sunshine Salad is a traditional gelatin salad made with lemon jello, crushed pineapple, shredded carrots, and chopped nuts. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/sunshine-salad/
Lime Congealed Salad
A very southern, lime congealed salad with crushed pineapple, celery, nuts, and marshmallows
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A favorite, Lime Congealed Salad, with lime jello, cream cheese, pineapple, nuts, celery, and marshmallows. Great as a side dish or dessert. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/lime-congealed-salad/
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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. From @NevrEnoughThyme http://www.lanascooing.com/pollys-pink-stuff-raspberry-jello-mold/

Side Dishes - Other

Kumquat Dried Cherry Chutney and Cranberry Orange Relish
A deliciously unusual chutney featuring a less used member of the citrus family along with the more traditional cranberry relish.
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Baked Fruit
Hot, baked, spiced fruit. Great for winter holiday dinners.
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Baked Fruit is a great Thanksgiving side dish of baked winter fruits with brown sugar and spices. A nice complement to the savory sides. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/baked-fruit/
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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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Chocolate Little Layer Cake sliced to reveal the layers presented on a glass cake plate.
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/chocolate-chocolate-cake
Berry-Glazed Chocolate Cake
A decadently rich chocolate cake topped with a raspberry glaze and chocolate icing.
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Berry Glazed Chocolate Cake - a moist devil's food cake topped with a raspberry glaze and chocolate icing. Perfect for any celebration. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/berry-glazed-chocolate-cake/
Never Fail Pound Cake
A classic, old South pound cake recipe with the tang of buttermilk.
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Never Fail Pound Cake - a classic old southern recipe for pound cake with the tang of buttermilk. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/never-fail-pound-cake-with-warm-berry-compote/
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.
Raspberry Filled Jelly Roll
An old-fashioned jelly roll! A thin, yellow cake layer filled with raspberry jam, rolled and dusted with powdered sugar.
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Raspberry Filled Jelly Roll - rolled and filled sponge cake sprinkled with powdered sugar. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/raspberry-filled-jelly-roll/
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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/cream-cheese-filled-pumpkin-roll/

Desserts - Pies & Cobblers

Pecan Cheesecake Pie
Pecan Cheesecake Pie - This luscious dessert is essentially a cheesecake on bottom with a pecan pie on top. So much deliciousness in one bite!
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Apple Patchwork Cobbler
Apples, cinnamon, cardamom and orange liqueur topped with a patchwork arrangement crust.
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Apple Patchwork Cobbler - A delicious cobbler containing apples, cinnamon, cardamom and orange liqueur topped with a patchwork style crust. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/apple-patchwork-cobbler/
Gingerbread-Apple Cobbler
This gingerbread apple cobbler has layers of apple pie filling, soft gingerbread and crunchy pecan streusel for an easy to prepare, family friendly dessert.
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This gingerbread apple cobbler has layers of apple pie filling, soft gingerbread and crunchy pecan streusel for an easy to prepare, family friendly dessert. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/gingerbread-apple-cobbler/

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. From @NevrEnoughThyme 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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Serve these Hot Curried Georgia Peaches along with pound cake and butter pecan ice cream for a delightfully different dessert. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/hot-curried-georgia-peaches/
Chinese Chews
A very old recipe for a traditional Christmas bar cookie featuring dates and nuts.
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Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska - Cold ice cream on top of pound cake, covered with warm meringue. Best of both worlds!
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Baked Alaska - A very old-fashioned dessert. Cold ice cream on top of pound cake, covered with warm meringue. Best of both worlds! From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/1960s-flashback-baked-alaska/
Old-Fashioned Southern Teacakes
An old-fashioned southern cookie - not too sweet and utterly delicious.
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Teacakes are an old-fashioned southern cookie - not too sweet and utterly delicious. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/old-fashioned-southern-teacakes-and-a-lifetime-of-food-memories/
Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
A spicy, old-fashioned cakelike gingerbread with a tart-sweet lemon glaze.
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Moist and cakey old-fashioned gingerbread scented with warm spices and topped with a sweet-tart lemon glaze. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/old-fashioned-gingerbread-with-lemon-glaze

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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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. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/turkey-noodle-bowl/
Turkey Tetrazzini
Great way to use up those Thanksgiving turkey leftovers!
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Use up your Thanksgiving leftover turkey in this classic Turkey Tetrazzini casserole. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/turkey-tetrazzini/
Turkey, Mushroom, and Potato Soup
Use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make this satisfying turkey soup.
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Use up your Thanksgiving leftovers to make this satisfying and delicious turkey, mushroom, and potato soup. From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/turkey-mushroom-and-potato-soup/
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! From @NevrEnoughThyme https://www.lanascooking.com/thanksgiving-leftovers-apple-cranberry-quesadillas/

More Recipe Roundup Posts on Never Enough Thyme:

Thanksgiving Menu Recipe ideas from Other Bloggers:

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