53 Thanksgiving Food Ideas for an Unforgettable Feast
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For just one day a year, we feast on roast turkey, jellied cranberries, and marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole—dishes so synonymous with Thanksgiving, they earn the exclusive designation of “Thanksgiving food.” Preparing and hosting a literal feast is difficult enough without having to scour the web for the best Thanksgiving recipes, which is why we did that work on your behalf. Tragically, we can’t cook the turkey for you, but we can give you everything you need to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner menu.
While you could stick with a vegetarian Thanksgiving menu and not worry about the turkey at all, for some, the bird is nonnegotiable. For those, this collection includes several turkey recipes, smoked versions, grilled versions, and those roasted in parts. If you want to do some light extracurricular reading, we’ve also got guides on how long to cook a turkey and how to carve that bird.
Still, everyone knows the day’s real highlight will be the Thanksgiving side dishes: cornbread stuffing, dinner rolls (ideal for mopping up turkey gravy), and lemony green beans are always bound to steal the show. And if you’re wondering what to sip and nosh on throughout the day, we highlight a few Thanksgiving cocktails and Thanksgiving appetizers here, but click through to those collections for more.
Thanksgiving desserts? Glad you asked. Again, we’ve henpecked some top choices, but that link you just read right past has all the sweets you could possibly want. As for the next day, our turkey leftover recipes promise much more than your average sandwich. Ready to dive in? Let’s go.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling Tim Ferro
Maple-Butter-Glazed Turkey
“My kids told me to stop trying new methods,” lamented one holiday fussbudget. But “everyone said this was the best turkey they ever had.” The victor went on: “I didn’t realize until serving how much deconstructing the turkey ahead of time reduces stress levels when carving—it is SO much easier.” Watch Chris make it here.
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Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe
Sweet Potato Tian
Thin rounds of sweet potato—not yam!—baked until tender and crispy-edged in a warming five-spice brown butter might be our new favorite way to serve this holiday favorite.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
We love traditional pumpkin pie as much as the next holiday-starved food obsessive. But eating this lighter-than-air alternative is like biting into a pumpkin-spiced cloud.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
Simple Is Best Stuffing
This easy stuffing recipe, or dressing if you prefer, is flavored with the classic combo of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. It’ll be a staple at your Thanksgiving feast for years to come.
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Photograph by Carl Ostberg, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Andrea Bonin
Creamy Butternut Squash and Plantain Soup
Comfort and flavor are at the heart of this velvety soup that’s an ideal first couse for any holiday season dinner party. Fresh ginger and chiles add zest while the crunchy apple garnish offers a bit of relief.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni, gravy boats by Base Ceramics
Make-Ahead Gravy
If you loathe the idea of the gravy being the last thing you do before serving, let this recipe give you some peace of mind.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht
BA’s Best Pecan Pie
In this rendition of the Thanksgiving dinner favorite, we focused on the things that matter most: the deep flavor of toasted pecans, a caramelly custard, and the flakiest, most buttery pie crust ever.
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Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco
Festive Red Cabbage and Radicchio Salad
This sweet-sharp vinaigrette pairs well with bitter chicories (radicchio, endive, frisée), but feel free to use another sturdy green if you like.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Gerri Williams
Buttery Milk Buns
These fluffy buns combine the classic folded-over shape of Parker House Rolls and pillowy texture of a milk bread dough—perfect for your holiday table.
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Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriot
BA’s Best Apple Pie
This is not your average apple pie. Reducing the liquid from macerated apples with apple cider and a vanilla bean makes a syrup that delivers huge flavor to the filling. Looking for more intel? Read all about the best apples for apple pie.
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Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco
Tadka Turkey and Gravy
Thanks to its high smoke point, ghee is an ideal fat for basting Thanksgiving turkey; pair the golden bird with both tadka (a spiced clarified butter sauce) and peppery gravy for maximum flavor boost.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
Mulled Wine
We love a good Thanksgiving cocktail. Throw this one in the slow cooker on warm while you go about your prep work and let the masses help themselves.
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Photography by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco
Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake
This fall-flavored take on Basque Cheesecake integrates a can of pumpkin purée and a handful of warming spices—perfect for a holiday table.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Gerri K Williams
Arroz Verde With Spiced Mushrooms
Bring some brightness to your Thanksgiving dinner table with this dish of herbed rice topped with spiced mushrooms and a lime-y green sauce.
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Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Dry-Rubbed Turkey Breast
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser
Beets and Farro With Honey-Garlic Goat Cheese
This side dish relied on a little help from the grocery store, deploying pre-cooked beets for a stunner of a Thanksgiving recipe.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards
Cinnamon Apple Crumb Pie
“I make this recipe all the time,” declared one maker of this absolute showstopper. “It is definitely my favorite pie of all time!” Another deemed it “superb!” And said it was “visually beautiful and [they would be making this [their] go-to apple pie recipe.” Want to find out what they’re on about? You gotta click through.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni
Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Lean into nostalgia with this marshmallow-topped side dish; it’s an American classic for a reason. We call her “Almost” because the cornflakes add inspired crunch. Feel free to go all in on one topping or the other.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards
Easy Roasted Carrots With Thyme
Round out your lineup of Thanksgiving dishes with a few simple vegetable sides, like these extra-easy roasted carrot coins.
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Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
Smashed Green Beans With Lemony Sumac Dressing
A refreshing green bean salad you can make in advance of the holiday meal? Sounds like a winner. This version gets even better overnight if left to soak overnight.
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Photography by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco
Bourbon-Date Pecan Pie
Chewy dates add a fruity sweet flavor and omit the need for corn syrup in this updated rendition of the classic Thanksgiving recipe.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni
Cheesy Roasted Cabbage Wedges
You may see singed cabbage wedges and burnished hazelnuts in a Grùyere sea and think, “It’ll be too much for food for Thanksgiving!” We’re here to tell you to have seconds on stand-by.
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Photograph by Guang Xu
Chocolate Pecan Pie
In a sea of pumpkin and apple pies, chocolate lovers can have their moment on the dessert table too with this take on a classic Thanksgiving food.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman
BA’s Best Mac and Cheese
This homemade macaroni and cheese is our Platonic ideal: Deeply cheesy and creamy, with a crunchy, flavor-packed panko topping. But maybe you like an extra gooey version? Or one that’s all crispy edges. We each have our proclivities.
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Photography by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco
Apple-Cranberry Tarte Tatin
Bookmark this apple tart for Christmas dessert. With its ruby-red glow courtesy of fresh (or frozen) cranberries, you’ll certainly want to make it again so you can have another slice around the yule log.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni
Smoked Turkey With Spicy BBQ Rub
Looking for some new ideas for your Thanksgiving meal? Consider the smoker. Cooking your turkey outdoors has some serious benefits—freeing up precious oven space, for one. Not to mention, the smoker imbues a notoriously bland bird with big BBQ flavor.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey
Miso-and-Maple-Pecan Butter Mochi Cake
“I have now made this cake five times, and it has turned out beautifully each time,” writes one reviewer of this extra-chewy take on pecan pie. “The mix of maple and miso and the crunch of the pecans is a wonderful contrast to the simplicity of the mochi cake.”
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Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
Brown Butter and Sage Parathas
There’s little better than this buttery flatbread for pinching perfect bites as you make your way through your Thanksgiving plate.
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Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
Tahdig With Cranberries and Herbs
Dress up the classic Persian crispy rice dish with cranberries and woody herbs for a festive feel. Saffron gives it a vibrant yellow color.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Christina Allen
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
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Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Banana Cream Pie
With peanuts ground into the crust and more peanuts strewn across the top, this banana cream pie toes the line between sweet and salty.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers
Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake
This fun addition to your Thanksgiving menu is half brown sugar streusel, half spiced pumpkin cake, and all kinds of delicious. Using canned pumpkin purée makes it a breeze.
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Grilled Vinegar Turkey With Chiles and Rosemary
Free up oven space by taking your turkey outside. Grilled in halves for optimal maneuverability, the bird is then brushed with a zippy chile-spiked vinegar sauce. It might not be a traditional Thanksgiving dish, but it sure will be good.
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Pull-Apart Sour Cream and Chive Rolls
Looking to impress? Take it from one reviewer of these pillowy dinner rolls: “This is probably the most professional-tasting thing that ever came out of my kitchen.” It’s simply one of our best Thanksgiving recipes. Need flavor options? How about Squishy Garlic Dill Rolls?
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
Shoofly Pie
This homey dappled pie would make an excellent dessert for any Thanksgiving table. The pattern comes from a scattering of the flour streusel that thickens the pie’s filling across its surface. If you prefer a glossy top, go ahead and whisk everything together.
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Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Squash and Radicchio Salad With Pecans
Big shavings of Parmesan cheese ground this salad with savory punch, while toasted pecans add crunch, and an orange-mustard dressing offers sweetness and spice.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Glazed Leeks With Pine Nut Salsa Verde
When cooked until tender, doused in a chile-honey-vinegar sauce, and finished with a nutty, herby salsa verde, humble leeks transform into the in-demand side that no one saw coming. Want to add a pop of color? Shower the plate with pomegranate arils.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
Mashed Potatoes With Crispety Cruncheties
Topping this velvety mash with a mix of toasted potato chips and breadcrumbs might be the best thing to ever happen to holiday spuds.
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Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Lemon Meringue Pie
An extra-salty meringue topping brings balance to this tart and tangy lemon pie, which also boasts the crispiest, flakiest crust we’ve ever seen.