24 Thanksgiving Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

You’re guaranteed to please your crowd every single year with these highly-rated Thanksgiving recipes. From roasted mains to classic sides and desserts, these four- and five-star dishes will leave your guests craving your cooking for months after the holidays. Recipes like our reliable Herb-Roasted Turkey and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate are fragrant, flavorful and festive recipes everyone will be asking for this Thanksgiving.

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Herb-Roasted Turkey

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This easy method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in an oven-roasted turkey. Make sure you show this beauty off at the table before you carve it. Garnish your serving platter with fresh herb sprigs and citrus wedges for a showstopping Thanksgiving turkey.

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No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole

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Instead of loading up this comfort food side with tons of brown sugar and marshmallows, we have turned to sweet spices, vanilla and inherently sweet dried fruit to enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. A topping of pecans and pepitas replaces traditional marshmallow topping to keep it healthy and add texture and color for a beautiful casserole.

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Beet Salad

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This simple beet salad recipe uses just a handful of ingredients to create a delightful side dish. Roasted beets add a sweet, earthy and aromatic flavor that shines in this side salad.

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

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This easy vegan pumpkin pie gets its structure from aquafaba (the leftover water from a can of chickpeas) whipped up into a meringue-like foam. When it's combined with pumpkin and poured into a gluten-free pecan crust, you would never know beans had anything to do with this vegan pumpkin pie recipe.

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Instant Pot Garlic & Rosemary Roast Pork Loin

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Using an Instant Pot is a game changer for this pork loin recipe. The gravy is rich and flavorful, the meat is moist and perfectly cooked, and it all comes together in a fraction of the time compared to oven roasting.

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The Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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This is our go-to recipe for homemade cranberry sauce. It's simple (just five ingredients!), is lightly sweet without being too sugary and has just the right amount of zesty flavor from orange peel. Plus, it's so easy--it goes from stove to table in just 20 minutes!

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Carrot Casserole

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Carrot casserole is a great holiday side dish that’s both creamy and savory with just a touch of sweetness from the carrots. Coriander and dry mustard add lovely background flavors to the cream sauce. Microwaving the carrots gives them a jump-start in the cooking process and ensures that they’re cooked through. The carrots should all be sliced thinly so they cook evenly. If you have one, a mandoline can make quick work of the slicing, but a good sharp knife will also do the trick.

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Kale Salad with Cranberries

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This easy holiday salad gets its flavor from a sweet citrus dressing that's infused into the kale by massaging the greens and the dressing together with your hands. We like a mix of kale for this recipe, but any type of kale will work.

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Diabetes-Friendly Carrot Cake

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With this luscious take on an all-time favorite, you can fit this low-added sugar cake into your eating pattern.

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Fennel & Meyer Lemon-Stuffed Salmon

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For this simple baked salmon recipe, just order the right size whole salmon from your grocery store or fish market and have them clean and scale it. You can also use two smaller fish (1 to 2 pounds each) and reduce the roasting time by about 10 minutes. If you like, you can opt for other species, such as striped bass, snapper or tilapia.

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Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you're cooking for a crowd--say for Thanksgiving dinner.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate

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This gorgeous warm salad with nutty roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet-tart pomegranate seeds and creamy goat cheese is perfect for any winter meal—from a weeknight dinner to Christmas dinner or any other holiday celebration. The recipe is easily doubled if you are entertaining a crowd: just be sure to spread the sprouts out (use 2 pans if necessary) so they roast instead of steaming.

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Wild Rice Stuffing with Apple & Sausage

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This amazing wild-rice stuffing recipe is bursting with fall flavors, including rye bread, sausage, apples, dried cherries, pecans and fresh herbs.

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Cranberry Buttermilk Pie

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This custard filling is what takes this buttermilk pie recipe to the next level. It tastes like a panna cotta with a bit of attitude from the tang of the buttermilk and a generous sprinkling of cranberries on top.

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Spatchco*ck Turkey with Sage & Thyme

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When it comes to cooking a whole turkey quickly and evenly, spatchco*cking--removing the entire backbone from the bird and splaying it open--is a great technique. This skin on this spatchco*cked turkey gets crispy and browned because nearly all of the skin is exposed. This recipe uses a simple blend of oil, fresh herbs and spices for classic roasted turkey flavor. Look for a small turkey, about 12 pounds, as it fits better in most roasting pans.

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Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

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Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef's knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese.

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The Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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This healthy mashed sweet potato recipe has just 5 ingredients and is dinner-ready in 20 minutes. Using sweet potatoes for this classic side dish adds color to your plate along with a little sweetness and a boost of vitamin A. With classic and simple flavors, it can easily be paired with any of your favorite dishes.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

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The genius hack in this recipe: topping sweet potatoes with marshmallows while they're still piping hot from the slow cooker yields a baked marshmallow topping that's typical with baked sweet potato casseroles.

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Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken Thighs

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To round out this healthy chicken dinner recipe, put some farro on to cook before you start cooking the chicken. Add some steamed broccoli and serve with a glass of pinot noir.

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Apple, Onion & Cranberry Stuffing

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Apples and fresh cranberries add a unique twist to this variation on the classic stuffing. Use fresh sage or rubbed sage in this healthy stuffing recipe; the ground version is too bitter.

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Balsamic Oven-Roasted Carrots

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Roasting carrots in the oven brings out their sweetness, which is enhanced further with a tangy balsamic and maple glaze. Serve these balsamic roasted carrots as an easy weeknight side dish.

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Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

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These scalloped potatoes are surprisingly rich and creamy even though they're made with no dairy (milk, butter or cheese)--vegan comfort food at its best. We use almond milk, herbs and spices to make a flavorful sauce and finish the dish with a crunchy almond topping. This makes a satisfying side dish if you're cooking for dairy-free or vegan diets.

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Apple & Pecan Stuffed Butternut Squash

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Let this cute little vegetarian stuffed squash side dish steal the show at the dinner table! Butternut squash is stuffed with a sweet and savory filling that gets a crispy finish under the broiler. If you can't find small butternut squash, honeynut squash is a great alternative. Shaped much like a butternut squash (but smaller), the honeynut squash has a deep orange skin and sweet flesh.

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Vegan Green Bean Casserole

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Now everyone can enjoy classic Thanksgiving favorites, like this dairy-free green bean casserole. We make a homemade vegan cream of mushroom soup using almond milk for the creamy base that's combined with fresh green beans. Top it off with classic french-fried onions (we have a vegan recipe for that, too!) for a side dish everyone will devour.

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24 Thanksgiving Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

FAQs

24 Thanksgiving Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever? ›

Go for small amounts of cooked squash, sweet potato, white potato, beans and carrots. Try to use whole-grain breads and cereals whenever possible; they are rich in fiber and the B vitamins that are not so abundant in simple carbohydrates (white and refined grains, cereals, flours and starches).

What is the healthiest food for Thanksgiving? ›

Go for small amounts of cooked squash, sweet potato, white potato, beans and carrots. Try to use whole-grain breads and cereals whenever possible; they are rich in fiber and the B vitamins that are not so abundant in simple carbohydrates (white and refined grains, cereals, flours and starches).

What does everyone make for Thanksgiving? ›

While there are plenty of creative ways to cook your Thanksgiving favorites, you can't go wrong with classics that everyone knows and loves. Stuffing, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie: there are so many delicious dishes that deserve a place on the table each year—including the turkey, of course!

What is the unhealthiest Thanksgiving food? ›

Certainly, rolls and stuffing are staples of the American Thanksgiving dinner but beware. These starchy foods are full of sugary carbohydrates, which build up bacteria in the mouth and can lead to cavities. If you still want to indulge, just make sure to have a few drinks of water afterward to wash away food debris.

What to cook first on Thanksgiving? ›

Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning. "The resting process is an absolutely imperative part of the cooking process," Holzman said. Many people overcook their turkeys in the oven and overlook letting them rest, rendering the final product dry and rubbery.

What do you eat Thanksgiving morning? ›

  • Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Tiramisu Overnight Oats. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Breakfast Cookies. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Cranberry Scones. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Cinnamon-Pecan Yeasted Waffles. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Sheet Pan Pancakes. Caitlin Bensel.
Jul 27, 2023

What is a good pre-Thanksgiving meal? ›

Sesame Chicken and Cabbage Salad

Thanksgiving food is more known for being creamy and comforting than bright and crunchy. This speedy chicken salad is packed with flavor and refreshing texture, so it's just right for the days leading up to the holiday.

What do rich people eat for Thanksgiving? ›

A 2018 Business Insider survey found that the top 20% of earners — a household that makes $127,000 per year or more — are more likely to enjoy prepared cranberry sauce, in-bird stuffing and butternut squash. The wealthy eat most of the same things, but some are willing to spend thousands of dollars to dine in luxury.

What is the perfect Thanksgiving menu? ›

  • Cranberry Brie Bites. Kat Wirsing. ...
  • Dry Brine Turkey. PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON. ...
  • Easy Pumpkin Pie. ...
  • Mashed Potato Casserole. ...
  • Creamed Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Classic Stuffing. ...
  • Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Bites.
Nov 15, 2023

What are the three least liked Thanksgiving foods? ›

According to the data, 27% of Americans absolutely hate candied yams. Green bean casseroles (25%) and cranberry sauce (24%) rounded out the top three ranking of most-hated sides.

What can I make for Thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey? ›

Thanksgiving Main Dishes That Are Better Than Turkey
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. Credit... ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St. Jacques.
Nov 10, 2022

How to make Thanksgiving extra special? ›

Write down what you're thankful for.

In all the fun and frenzy, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Dole out black Sharpies and, before digging in, invite each guest to write what they're thankful for on a butcher paper cloth laid over the table.

What is the most important meal on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. A turkey is the center of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, 88 percent of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, with 46 million Turkeys eaten on the holiday.

What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Tofu: Interested in going meatless as a possible new year's resolution? Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

How to have a healthy Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Mix in a few healthy alternatives in your holiday recipes
  1. Use avocado instead of butter in cookie recipes.
  2. Use fat-free yogurt instead of sour cream or mayo in dips.
  3. Top casseroles with roasted almonds instead of deep-fried onions.
  4. Use whole wheat bread or wild rice in stuffing to increase the fiber content.
Nov 18, 2022

How healthy is Thanksgiving dinner? ›

After they gorge, however, their hearts may feel a little differently. The traditional turkey-day feast, replete with fatty, high-cholesterol foods like drumsticks, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing, is generally anything but heart-healthy. Try a healthy roasted turkey and gravy recipe for your Thanksgiving meal.

What can I eat instead of turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much—too much time, effort, and maybe even too much food. For smaller crowds, swap the turkey with chicken, Cornish game hens, or stuff and roast individual quails for each guest, which is very elegant for a plated meal.

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