22 Must Make Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

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The holiday season is on its way and I’ve got 22 Must Make Thanksgiving Recipes to make your menu planning a cinch this year! Whether you are cooking for just your family or a giant feast, I’ve got you covered with a delicious selection of mains, sides, and desserts that are sure to impress.

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22 Must Make Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

22 Best Thanksgiving Recipes For 2022

Can you believe it’s almost turkey day again already!?! There is nothing better than a big juicy turkey with some classic mashed potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts on Thanksgiving! It’s iconic holiday food at its best. And I love cooking for Thanksgiving!

In fact, over the years I’ve developed a number of family favorites to share with you. So every recipe I’ve included in this year’s selection is a tried and true crowd pleaser. But the best part is that all my recipes are crafted to be as tasty as possible and as simple as possible so that anyone can make a delicious holiday meal.

There is something here for everyone. With a variety of ways to cook a turkey from in the air fryer to brined. Not to mention, lots of sides and desserts. Some classics you may know like roasted carrots and others you don’t like pumpkin roll. So have a look and let me know what you think! I hope you have a wonderful holiday and this list of my favorites inspires you this Thanksgiving!

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Bacon Wrapped Scallops

These jumbo melt-in-your-mouth Bacon Wrapped Scallops are definitely one of the most decadent appetizers out there, and the perfect treat for the holidays. To top them off, these incredible morsels are then drizzled with luscious melted garlic butter, all ready for you to enjoy in about 30 minutes.

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World’s Best Cranberry Sauce

Your Thanksgiving table is not complete without this Cranberry Sauce made from scratch in just 20 minutes. Fresh or frozen cranberries, a hint of nutmeg, lots of orange juice and zest and a bit of vanilla complete this incredible cranberry sauce.

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Apple Stuffed Pork Loin

Stuffed with sweet apples caramelized in butter and brown sugar, then seared to perfection creating a crispy crust that is then covered in an orange juice mixture to bake, this juicy Apple Stuffed Pork Loin is amazing! It’s a simple recipe and perfect for the holidays or a weekend dinner!

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Bourbon Glazed Baked Ham

This Baked Ham is glazed with a bourbon, orange juice and brown sugar glaze and studded with cloves. It's delicious and incredibly flavorful, the perfect sweet and savory holiday dinner!

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Spatchco*ck Turkey

Save time and oven space this holiday season with my foolproof recipe for Spatchco*ck Turkey! Learn how to spatchco*ck a turkey, cook it in half the time, and with only a handful of ingredients. This turkey is ready in less than 2 hours, freeing up precious oven space to make delicious sides or desserts for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

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Easy Roasted Turkey Legs

These Easy Roasted Turkey Legs are the perfect alternative to roasting an entire turkey! Made with only 3 simple ingredients, this recipe is no fuss, no muss and there's no tricky carving required!

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Air Fryer Turkey Breast

My Air Fryer Turkey Breast is a true time saver! Made in half the time, with only 4 ingredients, you can say goodbye to holiday stress and hello to your new favorite cooking method!

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Brined Roast Turkey Breast

This Turkey Breast is wet-brined overnight, for maximum flavor and moisture, basted in butter then roasted to perfection. This Brined Roast Turkey Breast is what Thanksgiving dreams are made of!

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Roast Beef

Learn how to make perfect Roast Beef with this foolproof recipe! Featuring instructions to cook your roast to any temperature you prefer, this is a guaranteed winner for any special occasion you host. Whether it's family or guests, I've got you covered for a gorgeous dinner table centrepiece.

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Potatoes Au Gratin

A classic dish of Potatoes Au Gratin, that will have you hooked at first bite. They're perfect for your Holiday table or even just a Sunday supper. Thinly sliced potatoes, smothered in a creamy sauce and topped with cheddar and Parmesan cheese. So good to the very last bite!

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Honey Roasted Carrots

A super simple recipe for tender Honey Roasted Carrots using only a few staple pantry items. These Roasted Carrotsare delicious with an incredible honey caramelized finish, perfect side dish to any meal, but also ideal for any holiday!

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Honey Roasted Butternut Squash

Using only a handful of ingredients, this Honey Roasted Butternut Squash is one of the best side dishes for any Holiday or weekday dinner. It's a seasonal favorite enjoyed by many that is both healthy and satisfying.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

This Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic Thanksgiving casserole with a crispy cornflake pecan topping and marshmallows. Sweet, crispy and delicious! A must have on your Thanksgiving table!

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Baked Mac and Cheese

This easy homemade Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is the ultimate classic comfort food. We’re talking decadent creamy macaroni with the most incredible cheese sauce. Total soul-food and always a crowd favorite!

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Easy Cornbread Recipe

This Easy Cornbread is your newest counter top staple with its crispy edges and soft inside. It's good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner as either an accompaniment to some hearty, meaty meals or devoured all on its own with a bit of butter and honey. We get our rich color from cornmeal, which lends us the flavor that the bread is named after!

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Corn Casserole

The perfect balance of savory, sweet, rich, creamy, and buttery.This Corn Casserole recipe is incredibly easy to put together, super customizable, and essential for your holiday table!Made with a short list of simple ingredients, this casserole can be made in advance and is the ultimate comfort food side dish.

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Delicious Mashed Sweet Potatoes made with only 4 ingredients! Easy, creamy, comfort food. The perfection addition to your holiday table!

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Classic Pumpkin Pie

This Classic Pumpkin Pie is creamy, sweet and luscious! Completely homemade from the crust to the creamy filling. It's utterly delicious and bursting with flavor! It also freezes well! Perfect for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving table!

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Pumpkin Pie Bars

These simple to make Pumpkin Pie Bars feature a shortbread crust and a creamy pumpkin filling, making these bars the perfect grab-and-go treat. If you're looking for that perfect pumpkin pie taste without having to make a rolled out pie crust, give this incredibly delicious dessert a try.

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Pumpkin Roll

This classic Pumpkin Roll truly is irresistibly delicious, loaded with pumpkin and spices and filled with the best spiced cream cheese filling. It's so good, it will be gone in seconds!

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Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad is a staple for your holiday table! It's super simple to make and a favorite with kids and adults alike. This American classic is made with sour cream, miniature marshmallows, sweetened coconut, pineapple, mandarin and maraschino cherries. The flavors are absolutely incredible!

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22 Must Make Thanksgiving Recipes (23)

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Treat yourself and your family for Thanksgiving this year with this decadent Chocolate Pecan Pie. This chocolatey version of the classic Pecan Pie is the ultimate low-effort dessert. It's irresistibly fudgy with an intense chocolate flavor and loaded with pecans. I'm talking pie perfection and the only Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe you'll ever need!

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Other Great Recipes To Try

  • Pumpkin Maple Cornbread
  • 22 Cozy Fall Soup Recipes
  • 22 Favorite Labor Day Recipes
  • 50+ Best Ground Beef Recipes
  • Cheesy Potato Casserole
22 Must Make Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What are the top 10 foods for Thanksgiving? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

What to make 2 days ahead for Thanksgiving? ›

Dishes you should definitely make in advance
  • Thanksgiving stuffing. "We always make my mom's sweet potato stuffing ahead of time. ...
  • Casserole. "Pretty much anything with 'casserole' in the name is built for being made in advance." — ...
  • Mise en place. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Turkey and chicken stock. ...
  • Most desserts. ...
  • Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Dinner rolls.
Nov 14, 2023

What is the most loved Thanksgiving dish? ›

America's different regions can favor different local cuisines, and Thanksgiving dinner provides no exception. While turkey is the top selection in every region, side-dish challenger mashed potatoes are tied for first place in the Midwest (both winning 85% of matchups) and West (both winning 79%).

What is the most popular side dish served at Thanksgiving? ›

Casseroles – green bean, corn and more – were the most searched overall. Green bean casserole was the overall winner, with 18 states counting it as the most-searched side dish.

What is a must for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

What to cook the night before Thanksgiving? ›

I get the stuffing ready the day before. I saute the chopped onions and celery, mix them with the bread cubes, chicken stock, herbs, and seasonings, taste to be sure the seasoning is ok, and then put the stuffing into the greased casseroles. I make the pumpkin and pecan pies the day before as well as the apple pie.

What should I 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.

How to make Thanksgiving dinner easier? ›

Here are a list of things you CAN use as shortcuts in thanksgiving cooking without sacrificing too much quality:
  1. Stuffing mix.
  2. Canned cranberry sauce.
  3. Canned pumpkin pie filling.
  4. Prepared broth.
  5. Frozen pie crust.
  6. Fried onion strings.
Nov 21, 2022

How many sides for Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What do most people eat the night before Thanksgiving? ›

If any night is the most critical, it's the night before, when many Americans will bake pies and prepare reheatable dishes, like casseroles and soups, so that Thursday morning doesn't dissolve into chaos.

What can I do on Thanksgiving without plans? ›

Here are some suggestions for how to spend your day.
  • At-home spa day. For once you have a whole day free. ...
  • Volunteer. It's a classic for a reason. ...
  • Do a deep clean. ...
  • Cook something special. ...
  • Hang out with some strangers. ...
  • A movie marathon. ...
  • A long walk (or run, or hike) ...
  • Say “yes” to pity invites.
Nov 20, 2023

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

Top 10 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  1. Holiday Stuffing. This easy recipe for Holiday Stuffing is our number one must-have Thanksgiving side dish!
  2. Best Mashed Potatoes Ever. ...
  3. New Green Bean Casserole. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  5. Baked Cranberry Sauce. ...
  6. Cauliflower Blossom. ...
  7. Butternut Squash Mash. ...
  8. Creamy Corn for a Crowd. ...

What are the 3 most popular food dishes served on Thanksgiving? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
  • Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.
Nov 2, 2022

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

A traditional Thanksgiving in the United States has got the classics. We're talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving is often referred to as "Turkey Day," but as it turns out, the bird isn't the true star of the dinner table.

What is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and though the turkey (or ham) might take top billing, everyone knows the sides are the true stars of the table. What would our national holiday be without stuffing and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, green beans and rolls?

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