35 Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes: Tried, Tested, and GOBBLED UP.
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for amazing Thanksgiving recipes to add to your arsenal. I like to mix old favorites with a few new recipes each year, just to shake things up — but I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that whatever new thing I’m making is like, THE BEST DISH EVER — because there’s nothing worse than a disastrous Thanksgiving dinner. (As many of you know, I speak from experience.)
With this in mind, I turned to you this year for your favorite Thanksgiving recipes, and I’m sharing the links and your comments about them below. Consider this your crowdsourced Thanksgiving menu. Whether you’re bringing a dish to someone else’s home or you’re solely in charge of the meal, you’ll find everything you could possibly need for a perfect Thanksgiving meal below!
Happy eating!
The Main Course
Source: What’s Gaby Cooking
From: What’s Gaby Cooking
Jade says: ‘What’s Gaby Cooking has, hands down, the best Turkey recipe. Seriously, it’s SO good.’
Source: Food 52
Gin Brined Turkey
From: Food 52
Andrea says: ‘My SIL made our turkey this way last year and it was hands down the best turkey ever. We’ll never make a turkey another way. And no, the gin left no taste on the turkey.’
Source: Simply Rebekah
Amazingly Moist Turkey
From: Simply Rebekah
I say: Rebekah contributed this recipe, and since she’s a host of one of my favorite podcasts, I’m totally going to trust her on this.
Salads
Source: Carlsbad Cravings
Apple Cranberry Bacon Candied Walnut Salad
From: Carlsbad Cravings
Candy says: ‘This was a huge hit!’
Source: Mom’s Kitchen Handbook
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon and Pecorino
From: Moms Kitchen Handbook
Holly says: ‘My family loves shaved brussels sprouts salad for Thanksgiving. Something a little different and ‘fresh’ on the table.’
Source: Taste of Home
Creamy Cranberry Salad
From: Taste of Home
I say: Sue shared this one and I was excited to see it listed — I grew up in the South and fluffy fruit salads were ALWAYS on the Thankgiving table somewhere when I was a little girl. I haven’t seen one in a long time and I have a feeling my kids would love this one!
Sides
Source: Handle the Heat
From: Handle the Heat
Lauren says: ‘If this was the only thing I ate on Thanksgiving Day I’d be a happy girl! And no cream of anything soup, which I’m also a fan of!’
Source: Brown Eyed Baker
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
From: Brown Eyed Baker
Tiffney says: ‘With the oven being used all day, this Mac and Cheese recipe is amazing because it cooks in the crock pot and taste as good as the Loveless cafe. Soo yummy! I always get asked for the recipe when I make this.’
Source: Inspired Recipes
Cider Vinaigrette Roasted Root Vegetables
From: Inspired Recipes
Mary Beth says: ‘This is one recipe but you can really season with anything and roast almost anything!’
Source: Food Network
From: The Pioneer Woman
I say: Becky shared this recipe and since I’ve never tasted anything from The Pioneer Woman that wasn’t terrific, I feel confident this recipe is no exception!
Source: Simply Recipes
Cranberry Relish
From: Simply Recipes
Micki says: ‘My mom made this fresh relish every year. It’s delicious w/ turkey & stuffing, and great to put on leftover turkey sandwiches.’
Source: Food Network
Paula Deen’s Pineapple Casserole
From: Food Network
I say: Pineapple, cheddar cheese, and crackers sounds so weird, but you owe it to yourself to try this deep South staple. It’s AMAZING. I served it in California to my husband’s relatives last year and they thought I was crazy, at least until they tried it. Then it disappeared in minutes!
From: Suburban Turmoil
I say: This is my mother-in-law’s recipe and I am required to make it every year. It’s delicious and you can whip it up a few minutes before you eat. It’s a total kid favorite — All four of our children LOVE this dish.
Source: Epicurious
Pumpkin Gruyere Gratin with Thyme
From: Epicurious
Chelle says: ‘I made this a few years ago and people are still talking about it.’
Source: Genius Kitchen
Cranberry Sauce with Port, Rosemary, and Dried Figs
From: Genius Kitchen
Kathleen says: ‘Buy the best port wine, make the best cranberry relish you’ve ever had. Skip Thanksgiving and eat it on ice cream!’
Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Topping
From: Averie Cooks
Candy says: ‘Not fancy—or healthy—just yummy! The recipe my family loves came from Emeril Lagasse years ago, but this is close. Add some bourbon and cream to the sweet potatoes. Coconut to the topping.’
From: Me.
I say: If you want to go the extra mile and make your own yeast rolls, this recipe is foolproof and tasty.
Source: Cook Eat Paleo
Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard
Source: Cook Eat Paleo
I say: This is my childhood friend Joy’s go-to recipe. I’m a big fan of roasted brussels sprouts, so… YES PLEASE.
From: Suburban Turmoil
I say: Pardon the non-Pinteresty photo, but this was literally taken right before we ate Thanksgiving dinner several years ago. This recipe is basically mashed potatoes on steroids and definitely best saved for very special occasions!
Source: Inspired Recipes
Roasted Acorn Squash with Walnuts and Cranberries
From: Inspired Recipes
Carrie says: This recipe is a ‘must’ for her family, and it’s so easy!
Sausage and Wild Mushroom Stuffing
From: Southern Living
I say: This is my most-requested dish at our Thanksgiving dinners. It is truly decadent and as good as the main course. It calls for a LOT of mushrooms – Don’t skimp on them, because they’re a big part of what makes the bread moist — but I do use half wild mushrooms and half traditional supermarket mushrooms to save a little money.
Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples
From: The Pioneer Woman
I say: This is another favorite from Chelle and it looks amazing.
Source: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole
From: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
I say: Jenny shared this recipe — When a restaurant publishes its own recipe, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be awesome, amirite?
From: Martha Stewart
I say: If you’re determined to slay at your Thanksgiving feast, make time for this dish. It’s labor-intensive, but the results are sooooo worth it. I’ve made it lots of times and shared it before, and several readers have e-mailed me to tell me they’ve made it ever since as well! One note — I add a drizzling of white truffle oil to mine before baking and I really think it takes the whole thing to a whole ‘nother level.
From: Me.
I say: My mom brought this dish for Thanksgiving several years ago and I’ve been making it ever since. It’s one of her friend’s family recipes and you won’t believe how good it is- and how simple it is to make. It tastes like a dessert, really. I LOVE it — and normally, I’m not a big cranberry fan.
Source: Kalyn’s Kitchen
Whole-Wheat Stuffing Muffins
From: Kalyn’s Kitchen
Kalyn says: ‘It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Stuffing Muffins, and now my family asks for them every year!’
I say: I’m a fan of Kalyn’s cooking blog and can’t wait to try these!
From: Food Network
Chelle says: ‘This I made a few years ago and it was really fun. The soup is delicious and the presentation is unique.’
I say: Wow.
Source: Southern Living
Pumpkin Crisp
From: Southern Living
Devry says: ‘I’m not a huge pumpkin fan, but this is wonderful just out of the oven!!’
I say: You literally cannot go wrong with any Southern Living recipe. I’m convinced.
Source: Food Network
Trisha Yearwood’s Pecan Pie
From: Food Network
Mary Beth says: She’s a fan of both this pie and Brown Eyed Baker’s Chocolate Cream Pie. ‘I love these pie recipes,’ she says, ‘and have made them both several times.’
Source: Salty Pie
Black and Blue Mango Pie
From: Backwoods Home Magazine
Karen says: ‘This pie has been a favorite for years in my house. I skip the lattice crust, though, and just do a regular one because #lazy. SO, SO YUMMY.’
Source: AllRecipes
Iced Pumpkin Cookies
From: AllRecipes
Carrie says: ‘I will bring these anywhere I am invited to eat turkey someone else made.’
Source: Betty Crocker
Pecan Pie Bars
From: Betty Crocker
Millie says: ‘This is our “we need something to snack on before dinner” treat.’
From: Better Homes and Gardens
I say: I needed to use some Mexican Chocolate we had on hand a couple of years ago and made this pie for our Thanksgiving dessert. It was a HUGE hit!
From: Me.
I say: This is, quite simply, the best cake I’ve ever made. Moist, dense, rich, heavy cake with an amazing frosting. Bake this when you want to stun someone with your insane baking skills.
Source: Good Housekeeping
Pumpkin Cheesecake
From: Good Housekeeping
Lisa says: ‘Mmmm. Pumpkin cheesecake. Delish.’
And…
My ever-prepared friend Amy Allen Clark from Mom Advice actually makes her entire Thanksgiving feast ahead of time!! Here’s how she does it.
And after you’ve eaten, here’s an idea…
Noni’s Turkey Continental Soup
From: Me
I say: This is my mother-in-law’s incredibly delicious soup recipe — It’s super easy and fast to make and it requires turkey stock, which I make each year with our turkey carcass the day after Thanksgiving and freeze in two-cup increments. Then I use it to make Turkey Continental Soup all winter long! SO. GOOD.
Got more recipes to share? Link to them in the comments of this post!
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