12 Thanksgiving Recipes for a Cozy and Delicious Holiday
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is how the house smells — that combination of savory and sweet that fills every room. The turkey roasting in the oven, herbs like rosemary and thyme, shallots caramelizing, and the warmth of cinnamon and cloves from something baking for dessert. It’s these smells that instantly feel like home. Even before everyone gathers around the table, the smell alone seems to say, “This is Thanksgiving.”
Whether you’re hosting a full Thanksgiving feast or bringing a single dish to share, this roundup includes some of our favorite recipes from over the years. From savory main courses and cozy sides to festive desserts, each one is simple enough to make at home yet special enough for the occasion.
We’ve gathered these recipes to help you create a Thanksgiving meal that’s both delicious and memorable — one filled with warmth and those lovely little things that make the day so meaningful.
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Main courses:
Some people like to serve a variety of meats and poultry on Thanksgiving. While I applaud the effort, I like to keep it simple with just a turkey. And hey, it’s one less thing to worry about shopping for and cooking. It gives me more time to spend with friends and family.
If you have vegan friends or family joining your celebration, I’m also including a delicious main dish for them. But, serve them first because it’s so delicious, it also gets eaten by our non-vegan company.
Simple Roasted Turkey With Herb Butter
Over the years, we’ve tried all different kinds of ways and recipes for roasting a turkey. But the one we come back to year after year is a recipe we got from Williams Sonoma back in 2004. I love the combination of butter and herbs, tucked gently under the skin and slathered generously over the top of the skin. The flavor is amazing, and it’s the turkey we’ll be doing again this year.
Simple Roasted Turkey With Herb Butter
Stuffed Acorn Squash
This acorn squash is roasted and then stuffed with wild rice, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, and a few herbs. I chose acorn squash because it is quite substantial and can be served as a main dish when stuffed with wild rice.
Favorite Thanksgiving side dishes:
As much as everyone looks forward to the turkey, in our house, it’s the side dishes that steal the show every year. We always say we’ll make fewer just to simplify things, but somehow the list never gets smaller. It’s a mix of all of our favorites from over the years.
Maybe it’s because I love the variety — all those colors, textures, and flavors sharing the table — but mostly, I think it’s because I can’t imagine Thanksgiving without sending everyone home with their own little leftover kit.
Here are some of my tried-and-true Thanksgiving side dish recipes. These are the ones that make the meal feel complete and the leftovers even better the next day.
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
These brown butter potatoes make a bit of a mess while making them, which is why I make them the day before and then reheat them just before serving. This a recipe passed down by my grandmother, to my mother, and now to me and my sister.
You can brown the butter or just use melted butter. And while they’re delicious both ways, you won’t believe the difference in flavor when you take just a few minutes to perfectly brown the butter.
Crispy Shallots, Mushrooms, and Green Beans
I’m not sure what it is that makes green beans one of my favorite vegetables, but I think it has something to do with the way they transform with just a few simple ingredients. Add crispy shallots, sautéed mushrooms, and a little French butter (the really good kind), and suddenly they’re something special. This recipe might even convince the picky eaters at your table to become green bean lovers.
Crispy Shallots, Mushrooms, and Green Beans
Traditional Savory Thanksgiving Stuffing
Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing is one of those recipes that everyone loves. And almost everyone goes back for seconds. You just can’t go wrong when you combine rustic bread, savory vegetables, a lot of herbs, some good-quality butter, and a little time in the oven.
There are many different stuffing recipes, but stick with a simple traditional one, and everyone will appreciate you for it.
Traditional Savory Thanksgiving Stuffing
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Sriracha Crème Fraîche Sauce
This recipe has become a non-negotiable at our Thanksgiving table. I could skip almost any other dish and maybe get away with it, but not this one. If these roasted sweet potatoes with sriracha crème fraîche sauce didn’t make an appearance, I’d never hear the end of it. The balance of sweet, spicy, and creamy makes it everyone’s favorite, and mine, too.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Sriracha Crème Fraîche Sauce
Maple-Glazed Roasted Carrots
Roasted root vegetables, especially this time of year, are such a treat. These maple-glazed carrots with garlic cloves are no exception. They even taste great at room temperature, which is a bonus while frantically trying to get everything on the table at the same time and keep it all hot.
Easy and Delicious Popovers
No Thanksgiving table is complete without some bread. These easy popovers feel fancy but are surprisingly simple to make. They are light and fluffy rolls and are always a crowd-pleaser. Serve them with some brown sugar and maple syrup butter (from Trader Joe’s), and they’re almost like dessert.
Quick and Easy Cranberry Sauce
If there is one dish that everyone expects on the Thanksgiving table, it’s cranberry sauce. You can use a store-bought version in a pinch, but this is an easy sauce that tastes great. In addition to being delicious, the deep red color will make the presentation on your table look even better.
Quick and Easy Cranberry Sauce
Desserts for Your Menu:
No Thanksgiving is truly complete without dessert. After a table full of savory favorites, there’s something so relaxing about gathering for a slice of pie, a piece of cake, or a sweet bite of any kind. At this point, nobody really needs more food. But the desserts are the part of the meal where you can hang out together, pour another cup of coffee, and enjoy relaxing with your family and friends.
Whether you’re serving a classic pie or a seasonal treat with a little twist, these recipes are the ones we return to year after year. Each one brings a touch of sweetness, a hint of spice, and is the perfect way to end a Thanksgiving feast.
Slab Apple Pie
This recipe was originally my mom’s. And I’ve made a few adaptations over the years, including making it in a more rustic rectangular shape rather than the traditional round version. It also works better for larger gatherings. You can get twelve pieces from the rectangular shape rather than eight pieces from the traditional round pie.
Whether you make it in a rectangular or round shape, you can’t go wrong serving apple pie at Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Pie With a Few Twists
Pumpkin pie is the traditional holiday classic, and Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without one. And while we love and embrace tradition, we’ve added a few twists to this recipe: a Biscoff cookie crust and toasted meringue for a topping.
If you’d like to try some tradition that’s just a little bit different, you can’t go wrong with this fun recipe.
Cranberry Curd Tart With Toasted Meringue
A cranberry curd tart usually has a flaky pie crust. And while I love a flaky pie crust, I opted instead for a shortbread crust, which I think adds a very fun twist to this seasonal dessert. The dark red cranberry curd with the toasted meringue on top makes any table look that much more festive for the holidays.
Cranberry Curd Tart With Toasted Meringue
After everyone has eaten and the kitchen is clean, I’m always reminded that Thanksgiving isn’t just about the food, it’s about the time we spend together with our family and friends. I hope these recipes help you create a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, connection, and a few new memories to cherish.
I’d love to know what your favorite Thanksgiving recipes are, or if one of these becomes a new favorite at your table. Share in the comments or tag me on Instagram @most_lovely_things so I can see what you’re cooking this year!
