55+ Ultimate Thanksgiving Day Recipes

All your favorite and festive Thanksgiving dinner recipes in one place, ready and waiting for you to make them for your family and friends. These dishes combine plenty of pizzazz with a whole lot of simplicity.

Thanksgiving Day Recipes 

This collection of Thanksgiving Day recipes is here to indulge all of your cravings for what I fondly refer to as the beginning of “eating season”.

Of course there’s more to Thanksgiving dinner than turkey, and hopefully I’ve covered it all, starting with what to make for Thanksgiving Day breakfast, especially if you have a houseful of guests to feed.

Hopefully you’ll find the time to relax and enjoy the magic of the season.

Pass the gravy please!

Related: How to Package Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving Day Breakfast 

With all the cooking going on, this might be the last thing you’re thinking of doing the morning of Thanksgiving.  Just remember— it doesn’t have to be complicated to be good! This is also a really great task to put your overnight guests in charge of…people really do love to help!

Here are some holiday worthy breakfast items that won’t spoil your dinner. These are also great to use over the long weekend, while you still have company to feed.

Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Syrup

Easy Pumpkin Pancakes with Homemade Cinnamon syrup are extra fluffy and made from scratch. These pumpkin pancakes and syrup are made from everyday ingredients and the easy answer to a flavor packed holiday breakfast. The homemade syrup recipe is the perfect pairing for pumpkin recipes and both are a great fall breakfast idea.

Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake

This Pumpkin Coffee Cake recipe tastes like a fall celebration. A cozy and generous mix of spices – cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, along with a rich crumb topping make this coffee cake a perfect, seasonal treat.

Pumpkin Smoothies

These creamy pumpkin smoothies are a great way to energize your helpers before starting cooking for the day. Delicious and a great option to go hand-in-hand with a DIY bagel bar.

Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake

Make a delicious treat by swirling in cranberries and making this Cranberry-Orange Coffee Cake. A perfect way to start the day for your family and guests.

Brown Butter -Pumpkin Spice Waffles

I can’t think of a better way to start off Thanksgiving than with a batch of brown butter waffles, spiced with warm pumpkin flavors.  These waffles are naturally enhanced by the nutty complexity of brown butter and taste amazing. A must have with coffee.

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

The classic pairing of sausage and sweet potato come together in this flavor packed Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash. The sweet and salty combination is a welcome bite at the breakfast table.

Pumpkin Brown Sugar Muffins

The perfect little bites of pumpkin to keep your cooking crew satisfied before peeling potatoes. I’ve added walnuts to these, but pecans work great too.

Cinnamon Roll Casserole

A quick and easy breakfast casserole without any of the fuss. This cinnamon roll casserole is sweet, rich and full of flaky layers in every bite.

Streuseled Pumpkin Buttermilk Muffins

These Streuseled Pumpkin Buttermilk Muffins are the perfect answer to a holiday season breakfast. Tangy, moist and with big hunks of crunchy streusel, I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a morning cup of coffee.

Apple Cinnamon Granola

Make a batch of this homemade granola and make it the centerpiece of a yogurt bar for your guests. Eat alone with milk or sprinkled over plain or flavored yogurt.

Sweet Potato Cranberry-Chocolate Muffins

The ingredients are simple on their own, but together these Sweet Potato Cranberry-Chocolate Muffins are a delicious fall symphony. Each flavor compliments and enhances one another making these muffins one of the best tasting bites you’ll enjoy this season.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

This Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake is a delicious reminder why pumpkin and chocolate are the perfect pairing.

Apple Pie French Toast Bake 

This is the perfect make-ahead for Thanksgiving morning and no one will forget their first bite of this apple pie French toast bake!

Pumpkin Cake Donuts

Pumpkin Cake Donuts are here to celebrate the season and turn your regular breakfast routine into something special. The perfect sweet treat with your morning coffee or tea.

Thanksgiving Cocktails

A once a year celebration like Thanksgiving deserves a festive drink. While beer and wine are fine, there’s just something about a cocktail that feels right for this occasion.

Cranberry Spiced Martini

Sweet, spicy and flavorful, this large batch Cranberry-Spiced Martini Cocktail will be the sip of the season at your Thanksgiving cocktail celebration.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

This Pumpkin Pie Martini recipe is a guaranteed hit of any holiday cocktail party. This made for Thanksgiving cocktail puts a whole new spin on what you should be drinking this fall.

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule

When it comes to making Moscow mules, this seasonal pumpkin spice cocktail is going to bring the cheer to all your Thanksgiving party.

Thanksgiving Appetizers

We all get completely immersed in the planning of our Thanksgiving main course and dessert spreads, however, here’s your friendly PSA to not forget about the appetizers.

Serving a pre-dinner bite or two of something delicious is never a bad idea (especially when partnered with one of the above festive cocktails). When it comes down to what to make, I’m a staunch believer Thanksgiving appetizers should look and taste impressive, but be supremely easy to pull off.

Kahlua-Brown Sugar-Pecan-Baked Brie

This Kahlua-Pecan-Brown Sugar Baked Brie is going to rock your next party, gathering or celebration. The brie comes out of the oven gooey and oozing and awaiting it’s sweet and delicious topping. It is a must make any time of the year.

Crab and Chive Puffs

Transform lump crab, puff pastry and cream cheese into the perfect finger food for your gathering.

Maple Glazed Chicken Sausage Bites

The perfect bite-sized party starter with edible toothpicks make the perfect passed appetizer!

Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread

Gooey cheese and bread are always a good idea, but spoon in cranberry sauce and you instantly have a festive, fall appetizer on your hands. This Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread is guaranteed to be the hit of the party.

Fall Harvest Appetizer Board

Pull out all the stops and make a beautifully festive big board of seasonal goodies in lieu of preparing appetizers.

Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

These Italian Stuffed Mushrooms are the perfect party appetizer for any occasion. Put these stuffed mushrooms together early in the day and bake them off right before guests arrive.

Blue Cheese Dip with Caramelized Onions

A blue cheese dip so tasty and addictive, you just might eat it with a spoon. It’s one of the best!

Don’t Forget the Bread

We’re all aware of the heavy-hitter dishes at a traditional Thanksgiving meal — the turkey, stuffing or dressing and the smothered-in-butter mashed potatoes that tend to steal the show. But as you complete your holiday menu, I urge you not to forget the bread. Even with an already-packed table, there’s always room for a bread basket. You’ll need something to mop up that extra gravy anyway.

Dinner Rolls For A Crowd

Makes three dozen rolls, a perfect amount for twelve or less guests. Soft, airy and perfect, these will easily sop up the leftover gravy or salad dressing on a plate without interfering with flavor.

Potato-Sour Cream Biscuits

Sour cream biscuits with potato mixed in makes these made from scratch biscuits the perfect choice for a flavorful, buttery biscuit that does not require yeast or having to roll out dough!

Pumpkin-Sage Drop Biscuits

A classic pairing of ingredients come together with these buttery and flavorful Pumpkin Sage Drop Biscuits. The perfect addition to your holiday meal, but will remain a favorite to be served alongside soups and stews all season long.

Cinnamon-Cranberry Dinner Rolls

Perfect for all the holidays and every dinner in between, these SIMPLE CINNAMON-CRANBERRY DINNER ROLLS need to be on your menu.

No-Knead Onion Rolls

Soft and airy, these No-Knead Onion Rolls are the perfect addition to any holiday dinner and are perfect for leftover turkey sandwiches.

Best Ever Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk biscuits that are the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner side, with tips and tricks on making the best ones ever.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes 

No matter how good the bird is, it’d be a pretty lonely party if it went stag…so enter the entourage of side dishes.

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

This deep, rich make-ahead gravy puts both the turkey and the dressing over the top.

Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash

Olive oil, woody-spiced thyme, freshly grated Parmesan and some necessary alone time in the oven, are all that’s standing between you and this delicious Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Salt and Vinegar Chip Scalloped Potatoes

This scalloped potatoes recipe is unlike any you’ve had before. Salt and vinegar flavored chips add not only the perfect crunch, but also the perfect amount of seasoning to every bite.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Rich, creamy and flavorful in all the best ways. Using the pressure cooker is a tried-and-true method when it comes to making perfect mashed potatoes every time.

Carrot-Parsnip Ginger-Lime Soup

Comforting and creamy Carrot-Parsnip Ginger-Lime Soup needs to grace your Thanksgiving table. It makes the perfect appetizer or starter course, but is filling enough as a main dish. You are going to love the zing of the lime juice in this one.

Slow Cooker Sweet Corn Pudding

Serve this decadent Slow Cooker Sweet Corn Pudding right next to the turkey this season. And if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, it tastes just as amazing the next day.

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole

This Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole tastes like dessert. This sweet potato dish is the perfect companion to any savory meal, especially with its next level crunchy topping. It’s not Thanksgiving without it.

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Adding pumpkin to your mac and cheese gives your cheesy mac a beautiful orange hue, makes the sauce extra-silky, while adding a slightly sweet and earthier taste to the classic.

Creamy Roasted Leeks

Looking for the perfect side dish? These roasted leeks, made in a creamy garlic sauce and seasoned to perfection with thyme and Parmigiano are an unexpected treat.

Fresh Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots

Green beans and bacon are a perfect combination of flavors for Thanksgiving.

Fresh Creamed Corn

An absolute must for Thanksgiving dinner, none of that canned stuff!

The Most Amazing Cranberry Sauce

I can’t even imagine Thanksgiving without this homemade cranberry sauce, it’s absolutely fantastic.

The Main Course

Obviously, the whole event is centered on the turkey and the ever-insatiable hope for perfection. Thoroughly cooked dark meat, moist white meat, both capable of delivering intense turkey flavor and the look of perfect “food art” from the oven.

Mayonnaise Turkey

This Mayonnaise Turkey is self-basting, just one of the reasons it is the best turkey you will ever make. Even the juicy leftovers will have you wondering why you’ve made your turkey any other way. This is the only turkey I’ll make in the oven.

Roasted Maple Glazed Turkey Breast

If you’re having a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving, turkey breast is the way to go. I make this exact same recipe with either a whole (6-8 pound) turkey breast or a half-breast (3-4 pounds). The only thing that changes are the cooking times; about an hour longer for the larger breast. It’s delicious.

Dessert Grand Finale

Thanksgiving dinner is as much about dessert as it is about the turkey. While pie is king, there are so many other things to make. I prefer a dessert buffet full of bars, cookies, cakes and pies. It’s definitely the night to go all out and make sure there is enough to go with the leftovers the next few days.

Upside Down Apple Pie

This Upside Down Apple Pie is a delicious way to celebrate Thanksgiving. The best part…no crust making skills are necessary to make this gorgeous pie. It turns out perfect every time.

Caramel Apple Walnut Crumble

An easy apple crumble recipe you will not be able to resist! The crunchy walnut crumble topping, drizzled with caramel, makes this apple dessert and crumble recipe a winning combination.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

These cozy spiced pies, made in a muffin tin, are just as creamy and sweet as their full-sized friends, but the good news is they bake faster and save you from the having to slice pie at the end of the evening.

Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue 

If you’ve never tried Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue you’re really missing out! It’s creamier than pumpkin pie and it couldn’t be more enjoyable to eat!

Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

This Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze is the perfect Thanksgiving treat.

Pecan Pie Bars

An easier way to enjoy pecan pie – these Pecan Pie Bars are bite-sized, with a short bread crust and made to serve a crowd. No pie skills necessary!

Pumpkin Caramel Bars with Bacon

These Pumpkin Caramel Bars with Bacon are the salty-sweet dessert combination you have been craving. With bacon sprinkled on top and drippings in the pumpkin layer you are in for a treat.

Mini Apple Crumble Pies

Pie skills are NOT necessary for these adorable MINI APPLE CRUMBLE PIES. They are sized perfectly to enjoy after a big meal.

Caramel Apple Cake

This layered, caramel apple cake recipe is a seasonal showstopper – elegant and not too complicated for a cake made from scratch.

Pumpkin Chai Pots de Crème

They are light tasting and a fun alternative to other holiday desserts, also a CINCH to make.  The perfect alternative if you want something different for your celebrations this season. A great option if you’re having a smaller Thanksgiving group.

Cranberry-Apple Cobbler

Sweet apples and tart cranberries make a layer of undeniably juicy and festive looking fruit. However, it’s the buttery topping that puts it all over the top!

Pecan Pie Cobbler

When it comes to Thanksgiving dessert ideas for a crowd, this Pecan Pie Cobbler is the answer to your holiday dessert dreams. There is something amazing about taking the simplicity of cobbler and turning it into the richness of pecan pie.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars

Cream Cheese Cranberry Bars, a rich, holiday cookie bar that resembles a luxurious slice of your favorite cheesecake.

Butterscotch Apple Crisp 

Bring the taste of caramel apples into your kitchen with a well-deserved scoop of this Butterscotch Apple Crisp. Baked to perfection, this chewy and delicious dessert is even better with your favorite ice cream on top.

If you’re craving a pure comfort meal, this Wild Rice Soup with its robust flavor and unique texture is not only visually appealing, but is the sort of thrifty luxury we should all master in the kitchen.

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