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Best of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes

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ByLana Stuart Published: Last Updated:
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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.

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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 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
If you're a bacon or sausage fanatic, this recipe is for you! You'll get the best of both in this recipe for Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls with Peach and Dijon dipping sauce!
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Bacon wrapped sausage balls and dipping sauce on a wooden board.
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 Dip
This cheesy, Hot Artichoke Dip will have everyone asking for your recipe. Serve it with crackers or crostini and it will be the hit of your holiday parties!
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Finished hot artichoke dip in a baking dish.
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.
The BEST Marinated Pork Loin
A simple, savory marinade creates a roasted pork loin that is moist and flavorful every time!
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Pouring sauce over finished pork loin in a serving dish.
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.
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
This southern heritage recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole has a layer of buttery, cooked sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy pecan and brown sugar streusel.
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Sweet potato casserole in a baking dish with a 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.
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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Copper pennies salad in a serving 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 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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Finished salad in a decorative bowl.
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 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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A serving of congealed salad on a white plate.
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)
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

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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Southern caramel layer cake on a white cake stand.
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
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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A slice of pecan cheesecake pie on a white serving plate.
Apple Patchwork Cobbler
This taste tempting Apple Patchwork Cobbler is made with fresh fall apples, cinnamon, cardamom, and orange liqueur topped with a patchwork style 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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A serving of Charlotte Russe in a crystal dessert dish.
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
You'll love this Old FashionedGingerbread with Lemon Glaze, an old-fashioned moist gingerbread with warmspices topped with a sweet-tart lemon glaze.
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A serving of gingerbread with a vintage fork.

Leftovers

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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Noodles, turkey, and accompaniments in a white serving bowl.
Old Fashioned Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole
Turn those Thanksgiving leftovers into one of the most delicious casseroles ever! Combine chopped roasted turkey and pasta with a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce to create a hearty dinner your whole family will be excited about!
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Turkey tetrazzini in a casserole dish with serving tongs.
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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Leftover turkey 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 …

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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