These are my very best Thanksgiving recipes that your guests will rave about all year. Everything from roast turkey to southern cornbread dressing to cranberry sauce and caramel cake!
Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday! Are you ready? Just in case you need some ideas, I’ve put together my Best Thanksgiving Recipes.
I started with a few of my favorite pre-dinner nibbles, then moved 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.
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!
Appetizers
Cheddar Pecan Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves
Cheddar Pecan Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves
This Cheddar Pecan Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves is a vintage cheese ring recipe attributed to first lady Rosalynn Carter. Good for any get together!
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Puff Pastry Cheese Straws
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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Hot Artichoke Dip
Hot Artichoke Dip
This retro Hot Artichoke Dip recipe will be the hit of your next party. This blast from the past is still as good today as it was decades ago!
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Spicy White Bean Dip
Spicy White Bean Dip
This quick and easy Spicy White Bean Dip is packed with bold flavors, perfect for game day or any gathering. Ready in just 15 minutes!
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Sausage Balls with Two Dipping Sauces
Sausage Balls with Two Dipping Sauces
Traditional, classic, and always a hit! These Sausage Balls are even better with a choice of dipping sauces.
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Main Dishes
Oven Roasted Turkey with Gravy
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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Southern Cornbread Dressing
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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Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast
Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast
This Rolled Stuffed 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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The Best Marinated Pork Loin
The BEST Marinated Pork Loin
My Marinated Pork Loin recipe uses a simple, savory marinade to create a roasted pork loin that is moist and flavorful every time!
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Apricot and Prune Stuffed Pork Loin
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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Side Dishes – Vegetables and Fruits
Sweet Potato and Pecan Stuffing
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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Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
This heritage recipe for Southern Sweet Potato Casserole features a cooked sweet potato layer topped with a simple pecan streusel.
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Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese
Baked Butternut Squash
Baked Butternut Squash topped with blue cheese and pecans is a deliciously different side dish for your holiday table.
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Old Fashioned Copper Pennies
Old Fashioned Copper Pennies
This delicious vintage recipe for Old Fashioned Copper Pennies is a sweet-sour combination of carrots, onions, and peppers that will keep your guests coming back for more!
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Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
These Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans and ham will have your house smelling amazing and your mouth watering with anticipation.
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Baked Acorn Squash
Baked Acorn Squash
You'll love the delicious caramelized flavors of my Baked Acorn Squash with butter and brown sugar, an easy side dish for a cozy autumn meal.
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Easy Mashed Potatoes
Easy Mashed Potatoes
This Easy Mashed Potatoes recipe is simple, straightforward, and so delicious. You won’t need any fancy tools or appliances, just a pot, a masher, and a spoon.
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Hot Baked Curried Fruit
Hot Baked Curried Fruit
This classic southern Hot Baked Curried Fruit recipe features canned fruits baked to perfection in a rich butter, brown sugar, and curry mixture.
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Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce
Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce
This recipe for Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce couldn't be easier. Pop everything in the slow cooker and six hours later you have applesauce!
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Cheesy Baked Broccoli Casserole
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole has a creamy base with a crisp buttery topping. It’s an easy side dish for family dinners, holidays, or potlucks.
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Side Dishes – Cold Salads
Apple Cranberry Salad
Apple Cranberry Salad
This refreshing Apple Cranberry Salad highlights beautiful autumnal flavors with a counterpoint of blue cheese drizzled with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette (recipe included).
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Carrot Cranberry Salad
Carrot Cranberry Salad
This 15-minute Carrot Cranberry Salad is a twist on the classic carrot-raisin salad with crunchy carrots, toasted pecans, and vanilla yogurt.
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Vintage Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad
This Vintage Broccoli Salad is pure comfort food and the perfect side dish for any occasion. Guests always ask for the recipe!
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Pear Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
This Pear and Blue Cheese Salad features fresh pears topped with blue cheese dressing and almonds for a balance of both sweet and savory.
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Cranberry Waldorf Salad
Cranberry Waldorf Salad
Enjoy a fresh twist on a classic with this Cranberry Waldorf Salad recipe, blending tart cranberries with apples and pecans for a flavorful side.
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Sunshine 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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Lime Congealed Salad
Lime Congealed Salad
A classic Southern congealed salad made with lime jello, cream cheese, crushed pineapple, pecans, celery, and marshmallows that’s equally at home as a side dish or dessert.
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Blueberry Pineapple Congealed Salad
Blueberry Pineapple Congealed Salad
This Blueberry Pineapple Congealed Salad is topped with sweetened cream cheese, sour cream, and walnuts for a wonderfully sweet and tart dish.
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Raspberry Jello Mold (Polly’s Pink Stuff)
Polly’s Pink Stuff (Raspberry Jello Mold)
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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Side Dishes – Other
Squash and Cornbread Casserole
Squash and Cornbread Casserole
Yellow summer squash combine with convenient cornbread mix, sour cream, and onion for a Squash and Cornbread Casserole to accompany any weeknight dinner.
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Old Fashioned Cornbread
Old Fashioned Cornbread
Old Fashioned Cornbread made with white cornmeal, buttermilk, and no sugar (!) is perfect with everything from fried chicken to chili.
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Southern Cornbread Muffins
Southern Cornbread Muffins
Quick and easy Southern Cornbread Muffins ready for the table in under 30 minutes. Serve plain or add a pat of butter and a drizzle of honey!
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Condiments and Extras
Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce
Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce
A must-have for Thanksgiving, my Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce uses 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes to make the perfect sweet and tart condiment.
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Kumquat and Dried Cherry Chutney
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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Classic Southern Jezebel Sauce
Classic Southern Jezebel Sauce
Classic Southern Jezebel Sauce with its spicy sweet heat is so versatile that it's used as a condiment, appetizer, marinade, or dipping sauce!
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Desserts – Cakes
Old Fashioned Southern Caramel Layer Cake
Old Fashioned Southern Caramel Layer Cake
This old fashioned southern Caramel Layer Cake with an easy homemade caramel frosting tastes like a little slice of heaven!
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Chocolate Little Layer Cake
Chocolate Little Layer Cake
This southern heritage Chocolate Little Layer Cake consists of tiny layers baked individually and topped with boiled chocolate icing.
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4 Day Sour Cream Coconut Cake
4 Day Sour Cream Coconut Cake
Try my 4 Day Sour Cream Coconut Cake, a favorite vintage cake mix recipe! You do have to be patient for the reward, but it's worth the wait!
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Chocolate-Chocolate Cake
Chocolate-Chocolate Cake
My Chocolate-Chocolate Cake recipe produces a moist, flavorful cake layer paired with a decadent cocoa frosting for a match made in chocolate heaven.
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Glazed Pumpkin Pound 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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Classic Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Classic Pumpkin Roll
This classic Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling is the perfect dessert for any fall dinner.
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Fast and Easy Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Pumpkin Pecan Crunch Cake
This Pumpkin Pecan Crunch Cake is jam-packed with all the best fall season flavors. You'll mix up this delicious dessert in 10 minutes using cake mix for a shortcut!
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Desserts – Pies & Cobblers
Pecan Cheesecake Pie
Pecan Cheesecake Pie
A delicious grand finale for any holiday meal! Two all-time favorite desserts combine in a luscious Pecan Cheesecake Pie with a cheesecake layer on the bottom and pecan pie on top.
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Apple Patchwork Cobbler
Patchwork Apple Cobbler
This taste tempting Patchwork Apple Cobbler is made with fresh fall apples, cinnamon, cardamom, and orange liqueur topped with a patchwork style crust.
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Gingerbread Apple Cobbler
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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Desserts – Other
Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe is a light, creamy, combination of eggs, whipping cream and whiskey. A traditional Southern dessert typically served for Christmas holidays
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Hot Curried Georgia Peaches
Hot Curried Georgia Peaches
Peaches spiced with curry, cinnamon, and cloves, served with butter pecan ice cream.
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Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze
You'll love this Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze with warm spices topped with a sweet-tart lemon glaze.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Luscious swirls of cream cheese running through these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies infused with all the best fall spices make them an extra special dessert for your holiday dinners.
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Black Walnut Pumpkin Bread
Black Walnut Pumpkin Bread
You'll love this moist, flavorful Black Walnut Pumpkin Bread with warm autumn spices, luscious pumpkin flavor, and fragrant American black walnuts.
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Leftovers
Asian Inspired Turkey Noodle Bowl
Asian Inspired Turkey Noodle Bowl
Use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to create this Asian Inspired Turkey Noodle Bowl – a brothy bowl full of noodles with turkey, lime, hot chili sauce, cilantro, green onions, and soy sauce.
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Old Fashioned Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole
Old Fashioned Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole
Turn those Thanksgiving leftovers into one of the most delicious casseroles ever – Turkey Tetrazzini! Combine chopped roasted turkey and pasta to create a dinner your whole family will be excited about!
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Easy Leftover Turkey Soup
Easy Leftover Turkey Soup
This delicious, hearty, and easy Leftover Turkey Soup with potatoes and mushrooms is topped with a generous amount of cheese and served with crusty bread on the side.
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