If you're looking for a complete Thanksgiving menu that features everything: Fall-inspired holiday appetizers, side dishes, salads, main courses, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast, you've come to the right place. This holiday menu includes proven, tried, and true Thanksgiving dishes (our top 50 holiday recipes) that have been reader favorites for years (I've been publishing recipes since 2012). Impress your family and friends by trying some (or all!) of these dishes for your next Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving party. Give them a test run before the turkey day and see how you like them!
This menu highlights traditional Fall ingredients that we associate with Thanksgiving: green beans, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, acorn squash, pumpkin, pecans, cranberries, Brussels sprouts, and, of course, poultry (turkey, chicken, or duck). And so much more!
What makes this Thanksgiving menu different from others is that many of the dishes I've selected have a unique twist to them while still featuring traditional and classic Thanksgiving ingredients but in a slightly new way. Most holiday recipes here are super easy to make. They all make a beautiful presentation and will add vibrancy and festive colors to any holiday menu! Are you ready to try some of our 50 best Thanksgiving recipes?!
Table of Contents
Jump to:
- My other Thanksgiving Recipe Collections
- Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes
- Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Thanksgiving Salads
- Thanksgiving Stuffing
- Thanksgiving Main Courses
- Thanksgiving Gravy
- Thanksgiving MEATLESS Main Courses
- Thanksgiving Pasta Dishes
- Thanksgiving Desserts
- Thanksgiving Day Breakfast
- Bonus Recipes
- What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
My other Thanksgiving Recipe Collections
- If you're looking for side dish recipes to add to your holiday feast, check out my 60 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes collection.
- If you're looking for festive, colorful, and fresh Thanksgiving salads, check out my collection of 30 Best Thanksgiving Salads.
- For a MEATLESS, VEGETARIAN holiday menu that features many vegetarian holiday main dishes and side dishes, don't miss my 40 Best Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
This selection includes my most popular holiday sides that use classic Thanksgiving ingredients, such as butternut squash, acorn squash, Brussels sprouts, green beans, pecans, pumpkin seeds, apples, and more.
- Butternut Squash Pasta Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Green Beans with Pine Nuts
- Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries
- Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Gruyere cheese, Garlic, and Bacon
- Green Beans for Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
- Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies (Green Beans and Butternut Squash) with Bacon and Pumpkin Seeds
- Parmesan Spaghetti Squash, Spinach, and Bacon with Pine Nuts
- Stuffed Butternut Squash with Feta Cheese, Spinach, and Bacon
Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes
If you want to prepare your holiday potatoes in a slightly different way than regular mashed potatoes, give these recipes a try for your upcoming Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving:
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Thanksgiving side dishes certainly take center stage on turkey day, overshadowing even the turkey (at least for me and my family). But let's not forget about appetizers. Here are reader-favorite apps that feature traditional holiday ingredients, such as cranberries, pecans, and apples.
Thanksgiving Salads
Thanksgiving salads deserve a separate category on the menu as they are not quite side dishes (even those you can serve them as sides). These festive salads are bursting with colors and will add a festive look to any holiday table!
- Apple Spinach Salad
- 30-Minute Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Christmas Salad
- Winter Vegetable Salad with Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, and Beets
- Broccoli Cashew Salad with Apples, Pears, and Cranberries
- Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans
- Beet Salad with Spinach and Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
- Fall Harvest Salad with Apples, Pecans, Spinach, and Maple-Lime Dressing
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, Pomegranate
- Beet Salad with Spinach, Cashews, and Goat Cheese
- 15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Fall Harvest Salad
- Mango Salad with Spinach and Blueberries
- Winter Fruit Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
- Berry Spinach Salad with Blueberries and Raspberries
- Spinach and Fruit Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Thanksgiving stuffing comes in many forms. I actually prefer to cook stuffing not inside the turkey but in a separate side dish. It's a safer cooking practice and also prevents stuffing from getting mushy. And, what about stuffing butternut squash or spaghetti squash instead, as carrying vessels of this traditional Thanksgiving staple? Try these stuffing recipes below for your next holiday menu, and you might never do traditional stuffing the old way again:
- Italian Sausage Stuffing with Apples, Cranberries, Pecans, and fresh herbs
- Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Southwestern Ground Beef Stuffed Butternut Squash
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms
Thanksgiving Main Courses
While turkey is a traditional main course, it seems like everyone already has their own preferred way of cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving. Cooking the turkey takes a long time but it is a pretty easy, straightforward process. If you're looking for some alternative holiday main dishes, you might like my very popular Roast Duck, Cornish Hens, and some other less traditional main courses.
- Roast Duck Recipe
- Roasted Cornish Hens
- Duck Breast with Cranberry Sauce
- Creamy Chicken Orzo with Butternut Squash and Spinach
- Lamb Chops with Mustard-Thyme Sauce
- Autumn Chicken Dinner with Roasted Vegetables
- Spaghetti Squash with Chicken, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Feta Cheese
- Chicken and Wild Rice with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Mushrooms
- Garlic Butter Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
- Garlicky Lamb Chops with Cranberry Balsamic Reduction
- Mediterranean Salmon (One-Pan, 30-Minute Meal)
- Trout with Garlic Lemon Butter Herb Sauce
Thanksgiving Gravy
Here are 2 creamy sauces that go with just about anything: turkey, duck, chicken, cornish hen, pasta, vegetables, etc.
Thanksgiving MEATLESS Main Courses
Below is a selection of tried and true meatless main courses that have been popular with the readers of this food blog. These vegetarian Thanksgiving main dishes include Autumn ingredients, such as butternut squash, pecans, sweet potatoes, and more.
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
- Vegetarian Enchiladas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, and Bell Pepper
- Black Bean and Butternut Squash Casserole
- Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans
- Roasted Butternut Squash with Feta and Spinach
- 30-Minute Ravioli and Sweet Potato Veggie Skillet
- Creamy Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach
- Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi (One-Pan, 20 Minutes)
Thanksgiving Pasta Dishes
Consider these delicious pasta recipes as Thanksgiving sides or even as the main course. All of these pastas feature Fall-inspired seasonal ingredients that will make a perfect addition to your holiday menu.
- Fall Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
- Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Shells Stuffed with Sausage, Spinach, and Tomatoes
- Butternut Squash Pasta Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
- Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans
- Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage
- Creamy Ground Turkey Pasta with Butternut Squash and Spinach
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
Thanksgiving Desserts
The Thanksgiving menu is not complete without desserts. Every family has their own favorite recipe for a pumpkin pie or a pecan pie. Consider adding these simple desserts to your regular menu:
Thanksgiving Day Breakfast
Don't forget to make something seasonal, Fall-inspired, and special for the Thanksgiving Day Breakfast. Here is a mix of both savory and sweet breakfast recipes that are sure to set you in the mood for the Thanksgiving dinner later.
Bonus Recipes
Creamy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with Orzo and Spinach
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage, Spinach, Dried Cranberries, and Pecans
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, and Pumpkin Seeds
What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Maybe it's from this menu, or it's something else. Either way - let me know in the comments what you're cooking this Thanksgiving!
In an effort to appeal to vegetable haters, I find that sugared butternut squash and sweet potatoes with warm spices might be a gateway flavor profile. I am so impressed with the collection of salads, sides, and meatless dishes you have featured in your Thanksgiving Menu. These dishes demonstrate your talent for taking those simple one ingredient sides like squash or Brussels sprouts (which some of us are sure we hate) and combining them with a complimentary palette of berries, nuts and greens (and sometimes bacon or sausage) making them a perfect balance of savory and sweet. I discovered the power of maple syrup, Ponzu + stone ground mustard for pan roasted sprouts about 10 years ago. and more recently converted a squash hater with Tahini, and maple syrup. as a dressing for oven roasted cubes of butternut. I bookmarked your Roased Butternut & Sprouts salad with cranberries and pumpkin seeds a year ago and I'm looking forward to sharing it with family at this year's dinner.
Hi Molls, thank you so much for your kind words and for recognizing the effort I put into creating this menu! I absolutely love blending sweet and savory flavors, and glad you enjoy this approach to cooking and serving veggies too. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! 🙂
I made several of Julia’s Thanksgiving recipes, which were all fantastic! I can not wait for the Christmas season lineup of recipes!
Veronica, thank you very much for sharing your feedback - so glad you're finding the recipes you like on my site! ❤️
Happy Thanksgiving. Keep those recipes coming. They are easy, yummy, affordable, and healthy!
Thank you, Chris, for your encouragement! 🙂
I plan on trying these. Any suggestions on Brussels sprouts substitution?
Roasted green beans or broccoli!
Can you make it easier to actually get to the recipe? So many ads and so hard to read. You scroll down and I get pop ups and then the page just goes blank?!
Cynthia, you can try using "jump to recipe" button at the top of all my recipes to go straight to the recipe card.
Your recipes are amazing! My favorite is actually sweet potato casserole (which you don't have, LOL). Would love to see your version of it!
Teresa, thank you! 🙂 I definitely should add sweet potato casserole to my recipe repertoire!
All your dishes look so colorful. Thanks for sharing these great recipes Julia. I've tried a few and they all have been a hit!
Tracy, I love to hear that! 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to share your super positive feedback! 🙂
Julia, I already have quite a few of your recipes saved into my FB folder for this Thanksgiving, but this menu is very helpful. Thank you!
Sandra, I hope you use this menu for the upcoming Thanksgiving and let me know how the dishes turn out! 🙂
The menu looks great. I already know I am making several side dishes you included (I have been making them for years now). I just signed up for your recipes by e-mail, and look forward to new ones. 🙂
Lindsay, I am glad to have you here! 🙂 Let me know how the dishes turn out if you try them!