70+ Fantastic Thanksgiving Recipes for Family Gatherings

Need Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas? This is the ultimate list of Thanksgiving appetizers, main courses, side dishes, desserts and cocktails for the holiday season!

It’s Thanksgiving Week! I’ve put together some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes that I’ve shared over the years here at Blackberry Babe.

I know that planning Thanksgiving menus for family gatherings can be stressful, but I’m confident you can find all of the easy recipes you need for your guest list here! 

For me, a Thanksgiving table is *mostly* about the side dishes. But of course, I’ve included some awesome main dish recipes for turkey lovers and non-turkey lovers!

I know that planning for Thanksgiving can be stressful. Truly, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is being together! If that means that you skip homemade cooking and order your entire meal from the grocery store or the local deli, that is just fine. 

I think these easy Thanksgiving recipes below are perfect for a low stress Thanksgiving!  hope that you have a wonderful holiday with friends and family members, filled with great food!

My first cookbook, A Crowded Table, is packed full of holiday recipes like these! It’s now available for order here.

Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

I like to start my Thanksgiving celebration with a handful of appetizers. I like to keep my Thanksgiving appetizers simple, just providing a few things to snack on so folks don’t ruin their appetite!

I recommend providing a simple charcuterie tray and a dip, like this Easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip. If you want to put in some extra effort, here are a few more ideas for an easy Thanksgiving appetizer! 

• Bacon Jam: This is a great make ahead choice. Serve with crackers and soft cheese.
• Candied Bacon Baked Brie: A real showstopper that everyone loves!
• Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs: A great way to use up more cranberry sauce.
• Pumpkin Fluff Dip: Serve with graham crackers or fruit!
• Cranberry White Chocolate Bites: A sweet, healthy bite.
• The Easiest Creamy Pumpkin Soup: A wonderful sit-down appetizer made from canned pumpkin.
• Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese: This appetizer is super elegant!
• Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts: A retro appetizer that gets devoured.
• Spicy Ranch Cheeseball: Turn this into a turkey cheese ball by sticking pretzel sticks in the back in a fan shape! 

If you’re hosting a large crowd, consider putting together a Grazing Table for 40. It uses all-Aldi ingredients and is pretty affordable!

Thanksgiving Main Course Recipes

I am fairly traditional, and love to serve turkey for a classic Thanksgiving meal. 

Remember, you should buy about one pound of turkey per person attending your Thanksgiving feast.

Whether you want to smoke your turkey, fry it, air fry it, or bake it, I have you covered:

• Deep Fried Turkey: This Deep Fried Cajun Turkey is my absolute favorite way to prepare my Thanksgiving turkey.
• Oven Braised Turkey: Followed closely by these Oven Braised turkey legs (for dark meat lovers!) If you don’t like turkey legs, you can substitute a turkey breast.
• Grilled Turkey Breast: If you’re a grill master, I think you’ll love my Juicy Grilled Turkey Breast with Italian Marinade.
• Smoked Turkey: If you prepare to smoke your bird, I have a great tutorial on how to smoke a whole turkey here. For smaller gatherings, try my Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast.
• Air Fried: If you have an air fryer, consider making this Air Fryer Turkey Breast! It only takes about one hour. This recipe gets rave reviews!

Have a lot of leftovers? Make sure to save your turkey and cranberry sauce Thanksgiving leftovers for these easy Cranberry Turkey Sliders!

If turkey isn’t your thing, you can still put together a special Thanksgiving main course! Here are my recommendations for non-turkey Thanksgiving Main Courses:

• Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Merlot Sauce: A simple, affordable main with a seasonal sauce. 
• Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Fig Sauce: The sauce on this beef tenderloin is a show stopper!
• Grilled Flank Steak with Caramelized Onion Sauce: This savory flank steak can be seared on the grill or in a large skillet!
• Apple Cider Braised Chicken Thighs: This is a simple skillet dish that just tastes like autumn!
• Cranberry Thyme Crusted Salmon: A simple, elegant dish you can make in a jiff!
• Praline Glazed Salmon: This showstopper salmon plates beautifully!
• Double Smoked Ham: This double smoked ham is basted in an easy glaze and smoked to perfection.
• Holiday Rib Roast with Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Pan Sauce: This is the ultimate holiday dinner, but a total splurge.
• Roasted Rum Glazed Ham: This is a fun recipe with a beautiful presentation!
• Easy Marry Me Chicken: This easy skillet chicken breast recipe is amazing with mashed potatoes and comforting sides.

Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

For side dishes, plan on serving least 3-4 options.

I like to serve about a ½ cup per person for each side dish provided.

My preference is to serve two vegetable side dishes and two starch side dishes.

If you have leftover cranberry sauce, consider using it in this Easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip or Banana Cranberry Bread!

Starchy Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

• Cheesy Corn Casserole: My favorite Thanksgiving casserole. It’s always a hit! 
• Caramelized Onion and Bacon Mashed Potatoes: A traditional Thanksgiving dinner has to have mashed potatoes! 
• Crispy Roasted Purple Potatoes with Shallots and Chives: This recipe is absolutely gorgeous!
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: A basic mashed potato recipe made in the InstantPot.
• Mexican Corn Bake: Cheesy corn with peppers!
• Jiffy Sweet Corn Spoon Bread: This is like cornbread pudding. It’s so good!
• Sweet Potato Soufflé with Toasted Marshmallow Topping: Toasted marshmallows elevate this dish!
• Caramelized Pearl Onion Couscous: The caramelized pearl onions make this a beautiful dish.
• Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing (a traditional stuffing): This stuffing recipe starts with boxed stuffing.
• Savory Cornbread Dressing: This is a totally homemade stuffing with a southern twist! 
• Goat Cheese Twice Baked Potato with Herbs: A super elevated twice baked potato recipe!
• Smoked Mac and Cheese: Smoking a turkey? Smoke the side dish too!
• Smoked Hasselback Potatoes: These are beautiful and make use of your smoker if it’s already lit!
• Dinner rolls

Vegetable Side Dishes for Friendsgiving: 

• Cranberry Pecan Brussels Sprouts Salad: A beautiful raw brussels sprouts salad.
• Cabbage, Radish, and Apple Slaw: Sweet and tangy slaw with gorgeous colors!
• Glazed Green Bean Bundles: An elegant way to serve fresh green beans.
• Kale Salad with Apples and Bacon: Everyone loves this fresh, healthy salad!
• Autumn Broccoli Salad: This is a seasonal twist on classic broccoli salad.
• Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts: Perfectly crispy roasted brussels sprouts for an elegant side.
• Drunken Mushrooms: These are super savory mushrooms that make a bit of gravy! 
• Classic Green Bean Casserole: Easy to make and loved by most!
• Annie’s Fried Cinnamon Apples: My Mom’s traditional fried apples recipe.
• Creamy Asparagus Casserole: Roasted asparagus with a creamy, Hollandaise inspired topping.
• Puff Pastry Wrapped Asparagus: This asparagus recipe is gorgeous and doubles as an appetizer!
• Air Fryer Carrots: Use rainbow carrots to make a super beautiful dish.
• Stuffed Crockpot Apples: Made in the slow cooker. These present beautifully! 
• Thyme Garlic Mushrooms: A wonderful savory topper for your turkey. 
• Southern Green Beans Casserole: A savory green bean casserole topped with a savory stuffing crust. 
• Easy Cranberry Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette (topped with roasted sweet potatoes): This is a beautiful seasonal salad recipe!
• Sweet Potato Casserole: A fun twist on the traditional casserole!
• Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan and Rosemary: A great way to use your air fryer for a healthy side dish.

My first cookbook, A Crowded Table, is packed full of holiday recipes like these! It’s now available for order here.

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

And of course, we have to finish our Thanksgiving meal with a sweet treat! 

Want something other than the traditional pumpkin pie for your Thanksgiving Dessert? Here are my favorite Thanksgiving dessert options on the site!

• Pecan Pie Cheesecake: This is the best cheesecake for Thanksgiving! It has a brown sugar base and is topping with sticky pecan pie filling.
• Easy Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting: Easy cake that starts with a spice cake mix
• Pecan Pie Cobbler: Easy to make with a simple biscuit topping. 
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake: A beautiful cake with a cream cheese layer swirled through it.
• Easy Cranberry Buttermilk Pie: This pie is so, so beautiful!
• Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake: An easy dessert that works in the flavors of the season! 
• Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust: If you want to go homemade for your pumpkin pie recipe, this is the one! 
• Butternut Squash Pie: One of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts! 
• Maple Walnut Pie: Maple syrup sweetens this pie. Feel free to substitute pecans for some or all of the walnuts!
• Stuffed Crockpot Apples: This recipe is the perfect addition for dessert or a side dish! 
• Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar
• Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake
• Easy Peach Dump Cake
• Walnut Apple Dump Cake: An easy alternative to apple pie. 
• ​Maple Blueberry Crisp: A great blueberry Thanksgiving dessert! 

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

I firmly believe that you should have a cocktail in hand while you’re cooking for Thanksgiving! My three favorites are these Cranberry Moscow Mules, Rosemary Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail and this Caramel Apple Sangria made with white wine.

If you want to start the day off right, these Cranberry Mimosas are perfect!

I have even more Thanksgiving cocktail ideas in my post “10 Thanksgiving Cocktails to Truly Be Thankful For!”