53 Thanksgiving Recipes We Turn to Year After Year
Preparing and hosting a literal feast is hard enough without scouring the internet for the best Thanksgiving recipes—so we’ve done the work for you. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner might include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans or brussels sprouts, dinner rolls, and pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie. You’ll find some version of all of those here, alongside the recipes we’re especially excited to put on the table right now.
If turkey is nonnegotiable, we’ve got roasted, grilled, and smoked options, plus guides to turkey cooking times and carving the bird. Prefer a vegetarian Thanksgiving? There are plenty of meatless mains and sides too. And if 53 choices sound like about 48 too many, our Classic Thanksgiving Menu maps out the whole meal for you.
Of course, the turkey is only the beginning. Browse our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, then round out the feast with appetizers, cocktails, pies, cakes, and other desserts. And when the day is done, our leftover turkey recipes ensure the feast keeps giving.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling Tim Ferro1/52Maple-Butter-Glazed Turkey
Breaking down the turkey before roasting means more evenly cooked meat, beautifully burnished skin, and dramatically easier carving. A sticky maple-butter glaze makes this an especially handsome centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni2/52Sausage-and-Herb Stuffing
Breakfast sausage makes this classic Thanksgiving stuffing extra savory, while sage, parsley, and thyme keep it firmly in familiar holiday territory. Torn bread gets crisp and golden on top while staying plush underneath.
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Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz3/52Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz4/52Green Bean Salad
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz5/52Sweet Potato Rolls
Mashed sweet potato gives these golden dinner rolls an especially tender, springy crumb—and a gorgeous autumnal hue. Make a double batch if you want enough left over for turkey sliders the next day.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski6/52Fancy Jellied Cranberry Sauce
For people who love the wobble of canned cranberry sauce but want to make their own, this is the answer. It’s sliceable, jewel-toned, deeply fruity, and fancy enough for the chicest Thanksgiving soirée.
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz7/52Candied Purple Sweet Potatoes
Purple sweet potatoes give this nostalgic Thanksgiving side a dramatic makeover. Bourbon, brown sugar, cinnamon, and star anise form a glossy spiced syrup, and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes work too if purple ones are hard to find.
Read more: 12 Types of Potatoes and How to Cook Them
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz8/52Sweet-and-Spicy Squash With Scallion Oil
Ginger, miso, and chile wake up roasted winter squash, while a fragrant scallion oil brings freshness and crunch. It’s an especially good Thanksgiving side when the rest of your menu leans rich and traditional.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni9/52Cheesy Corn Pudding
Part cornbread, part custard, this spoonable Thanksgiving side gets plenty of richness from butter and cheddar. Boxed corn muffin mix keeps the prep exceptionally easy when you’ve already got half a dozen other dishes going.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne10/52Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Traditional pumpkin pie has its place, but this cloudlike alternative makes a compelling case for switching things up. The airy pumpkin filling and crisp crust are especially welcome after a very full Thanksgiving plate.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran11/52Pecan Cream Pie
For the pecan-pie lover who wants to go big: A nut-packed pecan layer, brown sugar custard, tangy whipped cream, and candied pecans make four distinct layers of Thanksgiving dessert excess—in the best possible way.
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz12/52White Chocolate–Cranberry Cake
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski13/52Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco14/52Tadka Turkey and Gravy
Ghee is ideal for basting this golden roast turkey thanks to its high smoke point. A fragrant tadka and peppery gravy push the centerpiece beyond the usual sage-and-butter flavor profile without losing its holiday appeal.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni15/52Smoked Turkey With Spicy BBQ Rub
Taking the Thanksgiving turkey outside does more than add smoky flavor: It frees precious oven space for stuffing, casseroles, rolls, and pies. A dry brine and spicy BBQ rub create a deeply seasoned, burnished exterior.
Read more: The Best Pellet Smokers, Tested and Approved
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski17/52Dry-Rubbed Turkey Breast
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness18/52Mushroom Bourguignon
Vegetarians deserve a real Thanksgiving centerpiece too. Deeply browned mushrooms take the place of beef in this rich, wine-braised bourguignon, resulting in a celebratory main substantial enough to anchor a plateful of holiday sides.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni, gravy boats by Base Ceramics19/52Make-Ahead Gravy
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriot, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Angharad Bailey20/52Classic Turkey Gravy
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi21/52Simple-Is-Best Stuffing
There’s a reason this herb-packed stuffing remains a Bon Appétit Thanksgiving classic more than a decade after publication. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme season craggy pieces of bread with crisp tops and custardy centers.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro22/52Make-Ahead Sausage and Caramelized Onion Stuffing
Thanksgiving rewards anything you can finish early. This savory stuffing, loaded with sausage, caramelized onions, and herbs, can be baked a day before dinner and reheated when you’re ready to serve.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski23/52Cornbread Dressing With Sausage and Corn Nuts
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng24/52Chorizo and Calabrian Chile Stuffing
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman25/52BA’s Best Mashed Potatoes
For classic Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, this is the one. Plenty of butter and dairy turn humble spuds exceptionally silky and rich—the ideal landing pad for turkey gravy and everything else that mingles on your plate.
Read more: How to Boil Potatoes No Matter How You Want to Eat Them
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco26/52Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
When plain mashed potatoes seem too restrained, turn to these scalloped potatoes loaded with bacon, cheddar, sour cream, and scallions. Think potatoes au gratin by way of your favorite twice-baked potato.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni27/52Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco29/52The Gooiest Baked Mac and Cheese
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens30/52Charred Brussels Sprouts With Warm Honey Glaze
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe31/52Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Gochujang Brown Butter
Nutty brown butter and sweet-spicy gochujang turn standard roasted brussels sprouts into a side with considerably more personality. The deeply caramelized sprouts can stand up to all the gravy, stuffing, and mashed potatoes around them.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca32/52Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry With Cheddar and Golden Raisins
For brussels sprouts without the roasting pan, head to the stovetop. Pickled golden raisins bring sweet-tart contrast, sharp cheddar adds savory richness, and lemon zest keeps this quick Thanksgiving side bright.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Leng34/52Green Beans and Mushrooms With Crispy Shallots
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz35/52Maple Bacon Cabbage Wedges
Roasted cabbage wedges crisp at the edges before meeting smoky bacon and maple, creating a sweet-savory Thanksgiving vegetable side with enough personality to steal attention from the turkey.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco37/52Festive Red Cabbage and Radicchio Salad
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Drew Aichele, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran38/52Super Seedy Kale Salad
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski39/52Cranberry Orange Sauce With Cinnamon
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Gerri Williams41/52Buttery Milk Buns
These fluffy buns combine the folded shape of Parker House rolls with the tender texture of milk bread. Their real Thanksgiving purpose, of course, is swiping every last streak of gravy from your plate.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Thu Buser43/52Upside-Down Cornbread
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea45/52Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Whip
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Linden Elstran, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne46/52Glazed Apple Pie Fritters
Somewhere between a cake doughnut and a fried apple pie, these glazed beauties are packed with buttery caramelized apples. No yeast means no proofing, so they’re easier to pull off than their bakery-case looks suggest.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop styling By Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi47/52Lemon Buttermilk Pie
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca48/52Chocolate Mousse for a Party
Photograph by Lucia Bell-Epstein, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, and Prop Styling by Erica Lutz49/52Chocolate-Pumpkin Marble Cake
Photograph by Rana Duzyol, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua50/52Easy-Fancy Pear Galette
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi52/52Upside-Down Martinis for a Crowd
More Thanksgiving ideas
Squishy rolls for mopping up gravy, flaky biscuits for piling on leftover turkey, and a seedy pumpkin loaf to start the day.
