Looking for Thanksgiving recipes? There's something for everyone in this collection of Thanksgiving mains, sides, desserts, and more.
Happy Thursday everyone! There's only 2 weeks left before 🍁 🍂 Thanksgiving, so I thought I would post my Thanksgiving Recipe Round Up. I'm sure most of you already have your Thanksgiving Menu all planned out, but just in case I wanted to share a list of some tasty options.
Several dishes on this list are "make ahead" items which will save you precious time on Thanksgiving Day. Just look for a * in front of the recipe which notes it's a make ahead and freezable recipe.
I'm also including a few links for anyone who is on a Gluten Free Diet. Kristy from Mommy Hates Cooking features several Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas, and Lynn, from Lynn's Cooking Adventures is sharing some Gluten Free Thanksgiving Desserts. I also found a link from the Gluten Free Homemaker with several more Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes. Let's get started shall we?
Appetizers & Starters
I always like to have a few appetizers, finger foods and dips available for guests to snack on.
Deviled Eggs, Charleston Cheese Dip, Queso Dip, Hot Corn Dip & Ranch Sausage Stars
Deviled Eggs, Charleston Cheese Dip, Queso Dip, Hot Corn Dip & Ranch Sausage Stars
are a few of my favorite crowd-pleasers. I love using my triple crock pot, because everything stays warm and is easily accessible for guests to serve themselves.
Main Dish
Perfectly Juicy Brined Roasted Turkey with Giblet Pan Gravy: Brining and then roasting a turkey upside down is the perfect recipe for a juicy, flavorful, fool proof Thanksgiving Bird every time!
Honey Baked Ham - If you serve ham along with turkey this Copy Cat version of the famous Honey Baked Ham is perfect. This is my favorite ham recipe that I serve every Christmas and Easter.
Side Dishes
* Ma Maw's Country Cornbread Dressing - Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving without Ma Maw's Butlers homemade cornbread dressing. I love this dressing as much as I love her. I sure do miss Ma Maw, and I think of her every time I make this dressing. This recipe can also be prepared and frozen ahead of time. Just freeze unbaked.
Simple Ooey-gooey 3 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese made quickly and easily in the Instant Pot. Mac and cheese has to be my favorite Instant Pot recipe. It's so simple to make and so creamy. I highly recommend using chicken broth versus water in this recipe. I feel that the chicken broth gives the pasta such a great flavor. This recipe makes a large amount, so you'll end up with plenty of leftovers which reheat nicely.
Creamy Macaroni & Cheese - This mac & cheese recipe is very easy to make and prepared right on the stove (oven space saver). If you're looking for a easy creamy macaroni and cheese I suggest this one.
Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese - This homemade baked mac & cheese is the perfect comfort food dish. I tried this recipe on a whim and my whole family loved it! This recipe is not low fat by any means, but like I always say if you're gonna make it good then you have to go big or go home.
Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese - This homemade baked mac & cheese is the perfect comfort food dish. I tried this recipe on a whim and my whole family loved it! This recipe is not low fat by any means, but like I always say if you're gonna make it good then you have to go big or go home.
Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes - This recipe uses fresh potatoes a basic white sauce and Velveeta cheese. This dish pairs wonderfully with ham.
* Crock Pot Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole - Prepare this cheesy potato dish in your crock pot to save precious oven space. If you want to prepare the dish in the oven you can assemble and freeze it (unbaked) in advance.
Cranberry Orange Sauce - Cranberry Sauce is a must at Thanksgiving and this is my favorite recipe. This sauce combines the flavors or fresh cranberries and orange juice. This sauce can also be prepared days in advance and stored in a air tight container in the refrigerator.
Skillet Fried Cinnamon Apples - Sliced apples that are cooked in a cast iron skillet with butter, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar. Southern Fried Apples are a simple, down home side dish that pair perfectly with any country meal or breakfast.
Sweet & Sour Green Beans - This recipe comes from my late step mother in law, Louise. I had this green bean dish years ago at her Thanksgiving dinner and I've been making it ever since. Some of my favorite recipes are from family members that have passed on. I still think of them every time I prepare and eat these wonderful dishes. They're definitely a gift.
Buttery Crisp Green Beans - Basic steamed green beans that are tossed in kosher salt and a bit of butter. Simple but good.
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots - Fresh steamed carrots that are sauteed in a butter sauce with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Another family recipe from my mother in law.
Baked Brown Sugar & Honey Acorn Squash -Acorn Squash is a winter squash, but baking it with brown sugar, honey and butter reminds me of the flavors of Fall!!!
Southern Cream Peas or lady cream peas are a favorite in the south and a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving feast.
Baked Brown Sugar & Honey Acorn Squash -Acorn Squash is a winter squash, but baking it with brown sugar, honey and butter reminds me of the flavors of Fall!!!
Corn Casserole - is popular side dish in the south and always on our holiday table. It's made with a corn muffin mix, creamed corn, whole kernal corn, sour cream and cheese. You can also use a jalapeno corn bread mix if you want to add a little heat.
Breads & Rolls
* Cake Mix Dinner Rolls - is my favorite dinner roll! I make these for just about every holiday. Who would of thought you could make dinners rolls out of a cake mix. The cake mix gives these dinner rolls a slightly sweet flavor. The dough can be made ahead of time and formed into rolls. Just flash freeze on a baking sheet (to keep them from sticking) unbaked and place in a Ziplock bag. Remove from freezer the day you want to use them. Thaw, rise and continue baking.
Legendary Lion House Rolls - This recipe is a copy cat recipe for the Legendary Lion House Rolls from the Lion House Restaurant in Utah. Each roll is slathered with butter on the inside before rising and baking. This recipes makes a large quantity perfect for feeding a crowd.
* Soft Honey Wheat Rolls - Yummy soft wheat rolls slathered with honey butter. These rolls can also be prepared and shaped ahead of time and flash frozen before rising and baking. When your ready to use them just remove from the freezer, thaw, rise and bake.
Desserts
Lightened Up Pumpkin Pie - This is a lightened up and less sugar version of the classic pumpkin pie, but just as delicious.
This easy Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake has just the right amount of pumpkin and is perfect for Fall. I hope you'll give this recipe a try because it's perfect for fall, but especially for Thanksgiving. For a huge time-saver this pumpkin swirl cheesecake can be cooked a month or so in advance and frozen until Thanksgiving.
This easy Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake has just the right amount of pumpkin and is perfect for Fall. I hope you'll give this recipe a try because it's perfect for fall, but especially for Thanksgiving. For a huge time-saver this pumpkin swirl cheesecake can be cooked a month or so in advance and frozen until Thanksgiving.
This Caramel Topped Pumpkin Cheesecake proves that pumpkin, caramel, chocolate and butterscotch are quite the match in this simple pumpkin cheesecake.
Sliced apples seasoned with cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and apple cider are piled high into a pie shell and topped with a delicious brown sugar crumb topping make up this *Amish Apple Crumb Pie. This pie can easily be assembled and froze unbaked.
* Dulce De Leche Pumpkin Cheesecake - This cheescake has the combination of pumpkin and dulce de leche. A nice change from traditional pumpkin pie. I always prepare and bake this cheesecake ahead of time. Sometimes weeks in advance and freeze it. Just remove from the freezer about 4-5 hours before you will be serving the cheesecake.
Mini Pumpkin Ice Cream Pies: Rich and creamy mini pumpkin ice cream pies that come together quickly and easily with Breyers vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate and butterscotch chips, topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Mini Pumpkin Ice Cream Pies: Rich and creamy mini pumpkin ice cream pies that come together quickly and easily with Breyers vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate and butterscotch chips, topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Southern Sweet Potato Pie - If pumpkin pie isn't for you. Try a slice of Southern Sweet Potato Pie instead. No one will ever know it's sweet potato.
* Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake - Another festive cheesecake with the flavors of pumpkin and gingerbread. the crust and topping are made from crushed gingerbread Oreo cookies. This cheesecake can also be baked ahead of time and frozen until the big day.
If you are looking for a easy no bake pie I highly recommend this Double Layer Pumpkin Pie. This one is easy peasy to prepare and only takes 20 minutes from start to finish. Make ahead and store in your freezer to save time.
If you are looking for a easy no bake pie I highly recommend this Double Layer Pumpkin Pie. This one is easy peasy to prepare and only takes 20 minutes from start to finish. Make ahead and store in your freezer to save time.

Miss Kay's Honey Pecan Pie - My new favorite Pecan Pie!!! Miss Kay's Honey Pecan Pie is the bomb. Who would of thought honey could be so good in a pecan pie. When it comes to pecan pies I always make them the day before I serve them, so the pie has plenty of time to set up.
Southern Pecan Pie - This Southern Pecan pie has been my go to recipe for many many years. That is until Miss Kay's recipe came along. Still a great recipes especially if you don't prefer honey in your pecan pie.
Minnie's Chocolate Pie is the famous pie minus the terrible awful from the book and movie The Help!
This French Coconut Pie has a crackly, crunchy topping and a ooey-gooey, buttery, coconut - vanilla center. This pie is incredible to say the least. It's been quite some time that I found a pie recipe that totally knocks my socks off, but this one did and it's sooooooooooooo simple to make. The best part is you probably have all the ingredients right in your pantry.
This Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie is to die for!!! This decadent peanut butter pie has four delicious layers, a crumbly peanut layer in the bottom of the pie crust, then a homemade vanilla custard is added. The pie is finished off with a fluffy meringue and additional peanut butter topping. This was the best peanut butter pie I have ever eaten (no lie).
This Pumpkin Pie Cake combines the flavors of traditional pumpkin pie with, a cake like bottom and topping, made from a cake mix. This pumpkin flavored cake is a new holiday favorite in our house and nice change from pumpkin pie.
This Pecan Pie Cake is totally made from scratch and filled with toasted, sugary pecans. This cake is like eating a pecan pie, except you're eating a delicious cake!
Moms Fresh Apple Cake: My mother in laws fresh apple cake with apples, pecans and vanilla glaze on top.
Magic Peach Cobbler: Cobbler is perfect anytime of the year and it's perfect because it feeds a crowd. This magic in this peach cobbler is the addition of hot water which yields a crispy sugary topping. Trust me on this one.
The filling in this Overnight Apple Cobbler (also known as slab apple pie) is mixed and refrigerated overnight, then baked low and slow. The result is one of the best flaky apple cobblers you've ever tasted. This dessert is a wonderful thanksgiving dessert especially if you have guests that prefer apples over pumpkin.
Magic Peach Cobbler: Cobbler is perfect anytime of the year and it's perfect because it feeds a crowd. This magic in this peach cobbler is the addition of hot water which yields a crispy sugary topping. Trust me on this one.
The filling in this Overnight Apple Cobbler (also known as slab apple pie) is mixed and refrigerated overnight, then baked low and slow. The result is one of the best flaky apple cobblers you've ever tasted. This dessert is a wonderful thanksgiving dessert especially if you have guests that prefer apples over pumpkin.
Caramel Pumpkin Poke Cake - This scrumptious Caramel Pumpkin Poke Cake is new to my blog as well as a nice change from traditional pumpkin pie. I had this recipe floating in my head for quite some time before I made it. This cake turned out as great as I imagined.
Pumpkin Cake W/Caramel Cider Sauce - This cake is always a big hit every year. The cake is cotton soft with a homemade cider glaze.
* Pumpkin Cake Roll - This is a oldie but goodie of a recipe. I am sure everyone has had a pumpkin roll a time or two. These are great to make ahead of time. Just store in the freezer until you are ready to serve it. Last year was my first year making one all by myself.
This Crock Pot Apple Pumpkin Cake is super simple to make using your slow cooker. The bottom has a apple filling and topped with pumpkin cake. Add a dollop of whipping cream and you have a quick easy dessert.
This Crock Pot Apple Pumpkin Cake is super simple to make using your slow cooker. The bottom has a apple filling and topped with pumpkin cake. Add a dollop of whipping cream and you have a quick easy dessert.
* Fall Pumpkin Bread or Lightened Up Fall Pumpkin Bread - Both are great versions of pumpkin bread and perfect for snacking before the big meal.
Pumpkin Pecan Crunch aka Pumpkin Dump Cake: This Pumpkin Crunch (cake) is a classic fall dessert, loaded with pumpkin, spices and topped with crunchy - cake mix - pecan topping.
This special occasion German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake is a delicious twist on traditional German Chocolate Cake. This is one of my favorite cakes to serve on just about any holiday.
I love sugar cookies for just about any holidays. These cute Turkey Shaped Sugar Cookies start with a sugar cookie dough and decorated with chocolate frosting, Indian & candy corn, edible eyes and fall sprinkles.
These Easy Pilgrim Hat Cookies are perfect activity to keep the kiddos busy while dinner is cooking. Round up the older kids to help out.
These Mini Pecan Pie Muffins are a tiny little piece of heaven and perfect for your thanksgiving get together. If you like pecan pie you will love these.
This special occasion German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake is a delicious twist on traditional German Chocolate Cake. This is one of my favorite cakes to serve on just about any holiday.
I love sugar cookies for just about any holidays. These cute Turkey Shaped Sugar Cookies start with a sugar cookie dough and decorated with chocolate frosting, Indian & candy corn, edible eyes and fall sprinkles.
These Easy Pilgrim Hat Cookies are perfect activity to keep the kiddos busy while dinner is cooking. Round up the older kids to help out.
Fruit & Jell-O Salads
* Strawberry Jell-O Salad - in the south a holiday just isn't a holiday without a jell-o congealed salad. So many variations and everyone always says theirs is the best!!! This recipe has strawberry jell-o, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, pecans (optional) and heavy cream. Congealed salads are best made the night before serving.
Jessie James Decker's Fruit Salad: A family favorite, fruit salad recipe made with fresh cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, apples, strawberries, maraschino cherries, sliced bananas and marshmallows.
Pineapple Jell-O Fluff is a light and fluffy pineapple dessert salad perfect for holidays, get-togehers, potlucks or summer cookouts.
This light and fluffy Peach Fluff Jell-O Salad {vintage cottage cheese salad} is made with just 6 ingredients and the perfect make-ahead dessert for summer cookout's, potlucks holidays and get-together's! So many flavor variations are included with this recipe.
Pineapple Jell-O Fluff is a light and fluffy pineapple dessert salad perfect for holidays, get-togehers, potlucks or summer cookouts.
This light and fluffy Peach Fluff Jell-O Salad {vintage cottage cheese salad} is made with just 6 ingredients and the perfect make-ahead dessert for summer cookout's, potlucks holidays and get-together's! So many flavor variations are included with this recipe.
Ambrosia Fruit Salad - is a staple in every southern household on any given holiday. Fluffy Ambrosia Fruit Salad with pineapple, mandarin oranges, grapes, apples, toasted pecans, marshmallows and coconut folded into plain yogurt and whipped topping. By far one of my favorite simple fruit salads.
Aunt Georgia's Pineapple Pretzel Salad - I made this recipe for the first time last year and it pairs perfectly with ham. I do warn you once you make the candied pretzels it's so hard not to eat them before adding them to the salad, so I suggest making extras.
* Easy Fruit Salad - Diabetic Friendly if you use sugar free pie filling. This recipe can also be made the night before which is a great time saver.
Well there you have it my Thanksgiving Recipe Round Up. I definitely won't be making every dish on this list, but it certainly is a great variety. I hope you found something you liked. Happy Thanksgiving.
Need more recipe ideas? Check out the Recipe Index by Mommy’s Kitchen.
1 comment
That Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole looks incredible. I'll have to make a few of these for my Thanksgiving dinner party next week. Happy Thanksgiving!