Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

These delicious dishes—from savory turkey to sweet pumpkin pie—deserve a spot on your Thanksgiving menu. We love this mix of roasted veggies, fall-flavored desserts and seasonal salads, which highlight autumn's best produce, including winter squash, apples, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Recipes like our Herb-Roasted Turkey and Roasted Honeynut Squash are tasty ways to shake up your Thanksgiving lineup this year.

01of 30

Apple, Onion & Cranberry Stuffing

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

Apples and fresh cranberries add a unique twist to this variation on the classic stuffing. Use fresh sage or rubbed sage in this healthy stuffing recipe; the ground version is too bitter.

02of 30

Herb-Roasted Turkey

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (2)

This easy method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in an oven-roasted turkey. Make sure you show this beauty off at the table before you carve it. Garnish your serving platter with fresh herb sprigs and citrus wedges for a show-stopping Thanksgiving turkey.

03of 30

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (3)

This easy vegan pumpkin pie gets its structure from aquafaba (the leftover water from a can of chickpeas) whipped up into a meringue-like foam. When it's combined with pumpkin and poured into a gluten-free pecan crust, you would never know beans had anything to do with this vegan pumpkin pie recipe.

04of 30

Roasted Honeynut Squash

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

Honeynut squash looks just like mini butternut squash, but on the inside you'll find an even sweeter, deeper orange flesh. This winter squash has only been available at farmers' markets and in select grocery stores for a few years. If you see it, grab a few to try! This simple roasting method enhances the natural flavor of the squash with butter and spices.

05of 30

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (5)

This gorgeous warm salad with nutty roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet-tart pomegranate seeds and creamy goat cheese is perfect for any winter meal--from a weeknight dinner to Christmas dinner or any other holiday celebration. The recipe is easily doubled if you are entertaining a crowd: just be sure to spread the sprouts out (use 2 pans if necessary) so they roast instead of steaming.

06of 30

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

Stuffing is not just for Thanksgiving with this easy chicken and stuffing casserole. And speaking of Thanksgiving, if you have leftover turkey, feel free to substitute it for the chicken in this comforting and healthy recipe. It's also a great use for extra carrots, celery, onions and day-old bread you might have on hand around the holidays. There's no boxed stuffing mix or canned soup in this lighter take on the comfort-food casserole, but it's still super-easy to make. Poultry seasoning helps humble bread to taste like stuffing, while thickened chicken broth takes the place of canned soup. There are plenty of veggies in this one, too, making this a healthy casserole you can feel good about serving year-round.

07of 30

No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (7)

Instead of loading up this comfort food side with tons of brown sugar and marshmallows, we have turned to sweet spices, vanilla and inherently sweet dried fruit to enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. A topping of pecans and pepitas replaces traditional marshmallow topping to keep it healthy and add texture and color for a beautiful casserole.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Onions

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Fresh herbs, onion and bacon sauté alongside Brussels sprouts in this easy vegetable side dish recipe. This savory dish is delicious in the fall and winter months, when Brussels sprouts are in season. If you can find them still attached to the stalk, don't be intimidated--buy them, as they're likely more fresh. Recipe adapted from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters.

09of 30

Melting Potatoes

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (9)

The name for these spuds hints at their creamy interior. Roasting these melting potatoes at high heat ensures they get crunchy on the outside. Then, adding a little broth at the end allows the potatoes to absorb the liquid, making the insides extra moist.

10of 30

Cranberry Crumble Bars

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (10)

These cranberry-orange bars freeze well. Make a batch on a free afternoon and pop them in the freezer so you'll always have a healthy dessert on hand when company calls.

11of 30

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (11)

Typical green bean casseroles bathe ingredients in a heavy cream sauce and top them with buttered breadcrumbs or cheese. Our healthier version saves about 160 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat compared to a traditional recipe.

12of 30

Maple Roasted Carrots

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Roasting brings out the inherent sweetness in carrots--but add a little maple syrup and butter and you have a caramelized vegetable your kids (and you!) will actually want to eat seconds of.

13of 30

Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (13)

Brussels sprouts get crispy and flavorful in the oven when they're "smashed" and seasoned with Parmesan cheese and everything bagel spice.

14of 30

Honey-Roasted Beets

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

Earthy beets turn sweet and tender when they're roasted. Preheating your baking sheet speeds up the roasting time and gives the outside of the beets a quick and flavorful sear. Honey and lemon juice add sweet and tangy notes.

15of 30

Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

View Recipe

In this easy vegetable side dish recipe, sweet potatoes are tossed with maple syrup, butter and lemon juice and are roasted until tender and golden brown. The delicious glaze that forms on these maple-roasted sweet potatoes transform this ultra-simple dish into something sublime.

16of 30

Garlic-Parmesan Melting Potatoes

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (16)

Crispy, buttery, cheesy, garlicky potatoes--what else could you ask for? Serve these melt-in-your-mouth potatoes alongside steak, pork chops, chicken or fish. If you have leftovers, throw them into a breakfast scramble the next morning.

17of 30

Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake with Streusel Topping

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (17)

A dump cake recipe is exactly what it sounds like--you simply dump all of the ingredients into a pan and bake. There isn't a step where you stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture; instead, it goes into the baking pan in three stages and the result is a pudding-like cake with a streusel-like topping. The two parts together are delicious (and you'd be hard-pressed to find an easier fall dessert)!

18of 30

Fried Apple Pie Rolls

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (18)

In this healthy take on apple pie, egg roll wrappers stand in for pie crust, saving you calories and the headache of rolling out dough. We like to use Granny Smith apples because they hold their shape and provide tart balance to the sweet filling. Try dipping these handheld crispy treats in whipped cream.

19of 30

Steamed Fresh Green Beans

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (19)

Steaming (but not for too long!) is a foolproof way to get perfect, crisp-tender green beans, every time. This easy recipe is a great starting point for other flavors or preparations, like adding cooked green beans to a salad.

20of 30

Melting Sweet Potatoes with Maple Butter

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (20)

browning in a hot oven, thick slices of sweet potato simmer in broth and soak up the flavors of maple syrup and lemon. This simple dish is great alongside roasted chicken or pork and makes a great Thanksgiving side dish.

21of 30

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (21)

This stunning winter salad gets its sweet, earthy flavor from roasted beets and balsamic vinegar. Creamy goat cheese and peppery arugula add color and balance, while toasted walnuts add crunch. A mandoline is the best way to get thin, even slices from the roasted beets.

22of 30

Honey-Chile Glazed Baked Brussels Sprouts

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (22)

We jump-start this baked Brussels sprouts recipe by preheating the baking sheet for quick roasting.

23of 30

Apple-Cranberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (23)

The tangy-sweet dressing in this spinach salad beautifully amplifies the apples and cranberries--and the creamy goat cheese transforms it into the perfect salad. Tasters raved about this easy fall salad. If you can't find Pink Lady apples, any sweet, crisp apple is a worthy substitute. Want to make this salad a main meal? Top with some rotisserie chicken, chickpeas or tofu.

24of 30

3-Ingredient Cranberry-Brie Bites

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (24)

Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer

25of 30

Caramelized Onion & Apple Stuffing

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (25)

Caramelized onions are a sweet and savory addition to this healthy stuffing recipe. Choose an apple that becomes tender yet holds its shape when cooked--try Jonagold or Cortland.

26of 30

Roasted Brussels Sprout & Butternut Squash Salad

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (26)

Serve this hearty and healthy fall salad with roasted pork tenderloin, chicken or salmon, or with your Thanksgiving meal. All of the vegetables are roasted on the same pan, so this recipe is easy to prep, and it tastes great warm or at room temperature so it's perfect for holiday buffet tables and potlucks. Cranberries add a sweet-tart edge, while the maple-tahini dressing provides depth.

27of 30

Lemon-Rosemary Melting Potatoes

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (27)

These full-flavored potatoes are a great new approach to your typical potato side dish. The potatoes roast, then "melt" with the flavors of lemon, rosemary and garlic. They're good enough for a special occasion, but easy enough for a weeknight.

28of 30

Yukon Gold & Sweet Potato Mash

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (28)

Classic mashed potatoes get a nutrient boost with the addition of sweet potatoes. This healthy mashed potato recipe can easily be doubled, just be sure to cook the potatoes in a Dutch oven rather than a large saucepan.

29of 30

Spatchco*ck Turkey with Sage & Thyme

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (29)

When it comes to cooking a whole turkey quickly and evenly, spatchco*cking--removing the entire backbone from the bird and splaying it open--is a great technique. This skin on this spatchco*cked turkey gets crispy and browned because nearly all of the skin is exposed. This recipe uses a simple blend of oil, fresh herbs and spices for classic roasted turkey flavor. Look for a small turkey, about 12 pounds, as it fits better in most roasting pans.

30of 30

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

View Recipe

Our 30 Most Popular Thanksgiving Recipes (30)

This creamy cauliflower mash makes a perfect low-carb stand-in for mashed potatoes. Here we take simple mashed cauliflower and mix in garlic, buttermilk and a touch of butter to create a flavorful side dish that has about one-quarter of the calories of typical mashed potatoes. If you like, vary it by adding shredded low-fat cheese or chopped fresh herbs.

Our 30 Most Popular 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 is the most traditional Thanksgiving menu? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

What do most people cook on Thanksgiving? ›

At Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is served with a variety of side dishes which can vary from traditional, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, to ones that reflect regional or cultural heritage.

What are the least favorite Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Other top disliked foods include green bean casserole (disliked by 28 percent), turkey (27.7 percent), stuffing or dressing (26.8 percent), ham (25.6 percent), coleslaw (25.6 percent) and pumpkin pie (24.3 percent).

What is the number 1 Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November.

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

The Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes in the U.S.
  1. Mashed Potatoes.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing. ...
  3. Mac & Cheese. ...
  4. Sweet Potatoes/Yams. ...
  5. Green Bean Casserole. ...
  6. Root Vegetable Dishes. ...
  7. Breads. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. ...
  8. Salads. Allrecipes Magazine. ...
Nov 1, 2023

What is the basic Thanksgiving menu? ›

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner has Turkey, stuffing (also called bread dressing), gravy, potatoes (mashed or scalloped), rolls with butter, green beans or some other cooked green like cabbage or collards, one orange thing (cooked carrots, sweet potato casserole, or squash), something cranberry flavored, and pie ( ...

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

My brother's birthday is November 26, so we usually celebrate it while the family is together for Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving foods include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. These dishes often vary by region and family traditions.

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 served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

This is usually a mix of traditional Thanksgiving food and Black culture. You'll see the classic Thanksgiving dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing paired with collard greens, yams, mac and cheese, and other traditional Black dishes.

What is the most popular meat for Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is a classic main course for Thanksgiving dinner, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to serve it every year.

How many sides should a Thanksgiving dinner have? ›

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 foods do people eat on Thanksgiving for dinner list at least 8? ›

Our Best Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
  • Entrée: Classic Brined and Roasted Turkey. ...
  • Side: Chestnut Stuffing. ...
  • Side: Tarragon Green Beans. ...
  • Sides: Brussels Sprouts With Lemon and Walnuts and Easy Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Sides: Cranberry-Orange Sauce and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Desserts: Classic Pumpkin Pie and Old-Fashioned Apple Pie.
Oct 17, 2022

What are most Americans favorite side dish on Thanksgiving? ›

The Top 5 most popular Thanksgiving side dishes in the U.S., according to the “State of the Sides Report 2023,” are:
  • Mashed potatoes (up from 2nd place in 2022)
  • Stuffing / dressing (down from 1st place in 2022)
  • Mac & cheese (up from 5th place in 2022)
  • Yams / Sweet potatoes (down from 3rd place in 2022)
Nov 21, 2023

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

FoodTimeline library Food Timeline> What does the average American eat for Thanksgiving? If you ask the "average" American today what he eats for Thanksgiving he will likely answer turkey & stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pies (yes, plural!).

What are 3 foods that are eaten on Thanksgiving? ›

Millions of people across the United States will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and cranberries.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5641

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.