Create a perfect Thanksgiving Dinner with these Easy Thanksgiving Recipes! From turkey to salads to sides to desserts, these easy Thanksgiving dishes are everything you need to make your Thanksgiving Dinner complete!
Ready to plan your Thanksgiving Dinner? Be sure to use my Thanksgiving Planner to pull dinner off-- minus the stress! And transform those leftovers into something creative with the best Leftover Thanksgiving Recipes.
From the turkey to the sides to the desserts, make a 5-star Thanksgiving Feast with these easy, family-favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.
These recipes have been passed down from generation to generation and have stood the test of time. From classics, like roast turkey and mashed potatoes, to innovative recipes like Twice Baked Butternut Squash and Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, these easy Thanksgiving dishes will make your family's holiday a feast to remember.
Whether you are looking for main courses, side dishes, salads, or desserts, you are sure to find the recipes you need for a delicious Thanksgiving feast.
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Thanksgiving Main Courses
In my book, Thanksgiving Dinner deserves a beautifully roasted Turkey, and my recipe for a Brined Turkey ALWAYS impresses! However, if you have a smaller crowd, a turkey breast is a fabulous option!
Simple Brined Turkey: This is a fool-proof, tried and tested recipe for the BEST turkey you will ever have. The brine really makes all the difference in the world!
Tiffany says, We had an early Thanksgiving and used this brine…it this was the best Turkey ever.
Instant Pot Turkey Breast: This herb seasoned turkey breast is cooked to perfection and is served with an easy gravy made right in the Instant Pot.
Jen says, I have made a turkey breast in my pressure cooker a few times with this recipe. My husband loves it! Today is the first time I made the gravy with it-wow-I did not think it could get better!! Thank you so much!
Turkey Gravy: While not technically a main course, you can't talk turkey without the gravy! My easy recipe for gravy can be made with or without the drippings and is seriously so flavorful.
Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham: If your oven is being used to roast the turkey, the Instant Pot is the perfect vessel to make a small Honey Baked Ham to serve as an additional main course entree.
Beth says, Amazing! A definite hit with the family- will be making this again very soon! Thank you for sharing!
Easy Baked Ham: If you have a large ham, this baked ham recipe is the way to go! It features a sweet and savory glaze that will have your guests begging for ham every year!
Heather shared, This is a great ham for the holiday because it's easy to make and always turns out perfect!
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
These Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes are classics! From potatoes to stuffing to squash to mac and cheese, you won't be able to pick just one!
Perfect Mashed Potatoes: If you want the BEST Mashed Potatoes, this is it. While a bit more time-consuming, this method for making mashed potatoes results in the best tasting, old-fashioned, creamy, and rich mashed potatoes.
Donna shared, This recipe is absolutely amazing! I added the sour cream and my husband gave me raving reviews! Will be making it for Thanksgiving this year!
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes: Free up your stove and oven with these creamy crockpot mashed potatoes that are flavored with Parmesan and Garlic. made entirely in the slow cooker.
As Jillian says, These were so good and SO easy to make!
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Just in case you don't want to pull out your slow cooker or hassle with classic mashed potatoes, these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are so simple to make.
As Heather stated, That was the easiest batch of mashed potatoes I’ve ever made.
Mashed Potato Casserole: This creamy, tangy potato casserole is the perfect way to prep mashed potatoes ahead of time. And these potatoes are so good, you can skip the gravy!
Toni stated This is so good and really easy to make! A huge win for me!
Sweet Potato Casserole: This casserole is the perfect allergy-friendly recipe--and is ABSOLUTELY delicious.
Laura sums up this recipe perfectly, This is far and away from the best sweet potato casserole I’ve ever had! It is just sweet enough without being cloying. And you are right about the apple juice concentrate being essential; the flavor compliments the sweet potatoes perfectly. And no one would be able to tell that this is gluten-free and vegan unless I told them. This may become my new go-to potluck recipe!
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes: A SUPER easy way to dress up sweet potatoes, this recipe has all the taste of a sweet potato casserole but comes together with minimal prep.
I agree with what Lisa shared, So simple and so delicious! I love baked sweet potatoes but this is even better.
Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe: Just like grandma used to make, this bread stuffing hits all the notes of complete comfort food.
As Taylor shares, it is a Thanksgiving MUST! This stuffing recipe is incredible! We will definitely be making it for Thanksgiving this year!
Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole: Full of rice, broccoli, and a cheesy sauce, this is one side dish that makes everyone chow down on their veggies.
Gretchen shared, This recipe is fantastic! Even my picky eaters liked it. And parents with picky eaters know that is saying something!
Twice Baked Butternut Squash: Creamy, buttery, and Cheesy--an inventive way to serve up this fall vegetable. Everyone will sing your praises after one bite of this Squash recipe.
Madelyn says This is delicious. I’ll make it again. Can’t stop going back for just one more bite. Thanks for sharing.
Green Bean Casserole: No cans are needed for this simple recipe for green bean casserole!
Mindy shared, Creamy, flavorful: HOME RUN!
One-Pot Macaroni and Cheese: Macaroni and Cheese is a new addition to my family's feast, but a very welcomed one!
Cindy says, Wow! What a tasty recipe! An easy way to take pasta to the next level…wish l could give it more than 5 stars!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese: I am going, to be honest, if you have an Instant Pot and you like Mac and Cheese, this is a MUST make! Creamy and cheesy--it is the best!
As Gayle says, This was the best mac-n-cheese that I have made in my instant pot! So delicious and creamy, the seasonings and the Swiss cheese added add a nice level of flavor. Thank you for a successful recipe!
Stuffed Acorn Squash: This side dish really is worthy of the center stage! And it is easy to adapt to make it vegan or paleo-friendly!
Truly everyone enjoys this one! Even Susie shared, This is the best fall recipe! Even my husband who claims not to like squash is a fan. I love the filling!
Green Beans Almondine: As Joanne says, One of the simplest and most classic ways to make green beans. Delicious!
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash: Roasted acorn squash with maple syrup and paprika is melt in your mouth tender and a fabulous way to enjoy this seasonal fall vegetable.
Liz says, What a lovely and simple side dish. The maple and paprika were amazing together!
Glazed Carrots: Tender, pan-roasted carrots are glazed with a sweet and savory glaze made from maple, orange, and garlic, for a simple side dish recipe.
Ashley says This is my new favorite way to do roasted carrots — so flavorful!
Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Crispy, crunchy, and finished with a rich glaze, this is the BEST way to eat cooked Brussels sprouts!
In fact, if you THINK you don't like Brussels Sprouts, listen to what Jenni says, I made these amazing brussels sprouts for dinner last night and they were so amazing! My husband was not happy that I was making brussels sprouts and complained about it – but he ate TWO helpings!!! He loved them!!
Homemade Applesauce: Homemade is always best--especially when it is bursting with cinnamon and orchard-fresh apples.
Anna shared that her family loves it so much, she makes it weekly!
Citrus Spiked Cranberry Sauce: This easy side dish adds so much flavor to your holiday feast and is the perfect compliment to leftover turkey sandwiches.
Claire says This is just the best recipe for cranberry sauce. My kids love it and I love it because it isn’t packed full of HFCS!!!
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce: While the stovetop recipe is FAST, the Instant Pot version is hands-off. It is also a bit sweeter than my stovetop recipe, as it is sweetened with brown sugar and maple.
Thanksgiving Salads
These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes are seasonal salads that add some welcome freshness to your Thanksgiving meal.
Brussels Sprout Salad: This will be your new favorite salad EVER--pinky, promise! And it is made with only 5 ingredients in 5 minutes!
Katie shared, So good! My family loved this.
Harvest Quinoa Salad: The Pumpkin Vinaigrette is the STAR of this dish! In fact, Liz says, YUM! Such a perfect fall salad. I love getting pumpkin flavors in the dressing rather than just the salad! So perfect!
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad: Butternut squash stars in this easy Fall Salad with mixed greens, pears, feta, and apple cider dressing.
Betsy shared, This salad has such great autumnal flavors, and I love how it's more of a "hearty" salad and not so "light and bright" (although I love light and bright too). So perfect for fall!
Thanksgiving Breads and Rolls
These easy rolls and bread are perfect for mopping yo your gravy and mashed potatoes. But they also make the perfect vessel for leftover turkey sandwiches as well.
Whole Wheat Rolls: One ingredient makes the world of difference in making fluffy, tender rolls.
Krissy shared, The instructions were so easy to follow and they turned out perfectly! Will be making these rolls a lot in our future!
Sweet Potato Biscuits: These biscuits are light and fluffy thanks to the sweet potato puree.
One review shared, Love all the flavors here, we enjoy this recipe a lot!
Cheesy Cornbread Muffins: A traditional cornbread recipe has been given a whole grain make-over and then is filled with cheese for a delicious twist on cornbread.
Aimee says, These muffins turned out delicious. We had a batch with chili last night, and am using the leftovers with some jam this morning!
Pumpkin Muffins: Who says pumpkin muffins should be reserved for breakfast or snacks?! These easy, delicious muffins are the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving Dinner.
Cheryl shared, My husband was amazed by them and the kids all enjoyed them too! Delicious!!! I will definitely make these again!
Cranberry Walnut Bread: Whether serving on the side of your Thanksgiving meal or using for Leftover Turkey Sandwiches, this bread is a MUST this time of the year.
One reader shared she used it for Turkey Havarti Sandwiches and it went well with the turkey, Havarti and thinly sliced gala apples. Thank you for such an easy but tasty bread recipe.
Thanksgiving Desserts
Once your food has settled and your sweet tooth kicks in, satisfy the craving with one of these delicious classic Thanksgiving Dessert recipes.
Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake: A creamy pumpkin spice cheesecake with gingersnap crust is made in the pressure cooker, for a perfectly creamy dessert.
Kristi says I’ve made this twice now, and it’s been a huge hit! Very tasty and simple, simple, simple! Thank you.
Apple Crisp: While pies may be traditional, this apple crisp is a staple at my family's Thanksgiving dinners.
Lily shared, This apple crisp was amazing, it had so much flavor and was super easy to make, I fell in love with this recipe, this will be a fall staple for us.
Pumpkin Roll: This is hands down my favorite Thanksgiving dessert. From the spiced cake to the cream cheese frosting, this dessert is a home run!
And don't be intimated by making this. Lynda shared, Thanks Kristen - this was amazing. I’ve always been scared to try making a roll, but your instructions were perfect.
Pumpkin Pie: And of course we can not talk about Thanksgiving Desserts without talking about Pumpkin Pie. This homemade pie is PERFECTION!
Natasha shared, This is one of the best pumpkin recipes that I have tried! My husband and kids loved this pumpkin pie, thanks for sharing another awesome recipe!
Dutch Apple Pie: Made with a buttery crumble, a flaky crust, and sweet apple filling, this apple pie is the best apple pie recipe ever!
Kara shared, We loved this so much better than apple pie with a double crust! Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it is simply divine!
Fruit Turkey: More of an appetizer, than a dessert, this Turkey Fruit Platter is the cutest Thanksgiving recipe ever!
Thanksgiving Beverages
Don't forget the drinks! These dressed-up versions of wine and cider are sure to wow your Thanksgiving guests.
Easy Mulled Wine: Red wine is simmered low and slow with aromatic spices and a combination of orange and cranberry juices for a delicious, warming adult beverage. So delicious!
Sandra shared, Not only tasted delicious but smells so good too. I used the slow cooker method. Couldn't be any easier.
Slow Cooker Mulled Cider: A delicious blend of apple cider, cranberry, and orange juice spiced with warm fall spices.
I agree with Erin's statement, Wow, this recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving!
Grab my EASY tips for setting the table and easy recipes for appetizers over on YouTube.
I would love to hear what your favorite dish is in the comments below! And most importantly, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
DJ
Thanks. Happy Holidays to you and yours!? Have a Blessed holiday!
Kristen Chidsey
You too!