12 Thanksgiving Recipes: Easy, Delicious & Crowd-Pleasant Holiday Dishes

Thanksgiving is a time for comfort, celebration, and heartwarming food that brings everyone closer. Whether you’re hosting a huge family dinner or cooking for an intimate gathering, planning the perfect Thanksgiving meal can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this complete guide featuring 12 Thanksgiving recipes that cover appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts—everything you need for a memorable holiday feast.

These recipes are simple, flavorful, and made with easy-to-find ingredients. From classic roast turkey to creamy mashed potatoes, buttery rolls, and decadent pumpkin pie, this curated Thanksgiving menu ensures your table is festive, balanced, and unforgettable.

Let’s dive into the 12 best Thanksgiving recipes to make your holiday cooking easy and enjoyable.

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1. Herb-Butter Roast Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (10–12 lbs), thawed
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp rosemary, chopped
• 1 tbsp thyme, chopped
• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 lemons, halved
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Mix butter, herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Pat turkey dry and gently loosen the skin.
4. Rub herb butter under the skin and on the outside.
5. Stuff turkey with lemon halves.
6. Place in roasting pan, pour chicken broth around.
7. Roast 3–3.5 hours, basting every 45 minutes.
8. Rest 20 minutes before slicing.

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2. Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1 loaf day-old bread, cubed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• ½ cup butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp sage
• 1 tbsp thyme
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Sauté onion and celery in butter until soft.
3. Add herbs, salt, and pepper.
4. Toss bread cubes with mixture.
5. Add broth gradually until moist.
6. Transfer to a baking dish and bake 30–35 minutes.

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3. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup butter
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Boil potatoes with garlic until tender.
2. Drain and mash.
3. Heat cream and butter together.
4. Pour over potatoes, mix well.
5. Season and serve hot.

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4. Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb green beans, trimmed
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup crispy fried onions
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Blanch green beans 5 minutes.
3. Mix soup, milk, salt, pepper, and beans.
4. Top with fried onions.
5. Bake for 25 minutes.

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5. Honey-Glazed Carrots

Ingredients

• 2 lbs carrots, sliced
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Steam carrots until tender.
2. Melt butter with honey and cinnamon.
3. Add carrots and sauté 3 minutes.
4. Season and serve warm.

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6. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 lbs potatoes, thinly sliced
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Make roux with butter and flour, slowly whisk in milk.
3. Add cheese until smooth.
4. Layer potatoes in a baking dish, pour sauce over.
5. Bake 1 hour until golden.

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7. Cranberry Orange Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 bag fresh cranberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 orange (juice + zest)
• ½ cup water

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in saucepan.
2. Cook 10–12 minutes until berries burst.
3. Cool before serving.

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8. Buttery Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp yeast
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions

1. Mix milk, yeast, and sugar. Let bloom.
2. Add butter, egg, salt, and flour. Knead 8 minutes.
3. Rise 1 hour.
4. Shape rolls, rise again 30 minutes.
5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes.

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9. Thanksgiving Gravy

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp turkey drippings
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Heat drippings in pan.
2. Add flour, whisk 2 minutes.
3. Slowly add broth.
4. Simmer until thick.
5. Season and serve.

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10. Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 12 oz macaroni
• 3 cups cheddar
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Cook macaroni.
2. Make cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk, and cheese.
3. Combine with pasta.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes.

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11. Classic Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust
• 1 can pumpkin puree
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Whisk filling ingredients together.
3. Pour into crust.
4. Bake 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350°F (175°C) and bake 40 minutes.
5. Cool before serving.

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12. Apple Crisp

Ingredients

For filling:

• 6 apples, sliced
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For topping:

• 1 cup oats
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Mix topping ingredients until crumbly.
4. Layer apples in baking pan, add topping.
5. Bake 40–45 minutes.

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Final Thoughts

These 12 Thanksgiving recipes bring a perfect balance of comfort, flavor, and tradition. With this complete holiday menu—from appetizers to desserts—you’re ready to host a stunning Thanksgiving feast your guests will cherish. Whether you stick to the classics or mix in a few creative twists, these dishes guarantee a warm, festive, and delicious celebration.