45+ Thanksgiving dinner ideas to pull together a stress-free Thanksgiving menu. Including meaty, vegan, and vegetarian recipes for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes, mains, desserts, and drinks, from the classics to the non-traditional!
Whether it’s your first time hosting or you’re a seasoned “professional,” pulling off a successful (and, more importantly, low-stress) Thanksgiving dinner requires a little bit of luck and plenty of planning. With this list of 45+ Thanksgiving dinner ideas, there’s no need to spend hours on the web to pull together your perfect Thanksgiving feast!
Maybe you want to go all out with a traditional dinner and Thanksgiving side dishes, like decadent mashed potatoes and creamy green bean casserole. Or possibly you’re looking for easy Friendsgiving food ideas or solely focusing on vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. Or, perhaps, you have sorted 95% of your Thanksgiving menu and are just browsing for that perfect Thanksgiving dessert recipe or drink idea.
No matter your intentions, this curated list of delicious top thanksgiving dishes is sure to whet your appetite. And hopefully, it will remove some of the stress of the holiday. Moreover, I’ve included a list of my top tips for hosting a stress-free Thanksgiving at the bottom of the post!
To Create The Perfect Thanksgiving Menu You’ll Need
Appetizer and Salads
With a day of eating and merriment, let’s start with the perfect Thanksgiving appetizers. From creamy soups to easy finger food, the perfect cheeseboard, or even a healthy Thanksgiving salad recipe. So here are some easy thanksgiving recipes to get the meal started right!
Cheese Appetizer Platter
Cheese Board
No holiday or special event would be complete without a versatile cheese board. This cheese platter post combines several types of cheese, fruit, nuts, jams/preserves, and extras ready to impress this Thanksgiving.
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Crostini with Your Favorite Toppings
How To Make Crostini
How to make crostini at home in under 20 minutes and just 2 simple steps. Top tips, tricks, and topping recommendations for this crisp, crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving appetizer!
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Broccoli Apple Salad
Easy Cold Broccoli Apple Salad (Vegetarian/Vegan | 5-Minute)
This easy broccoli apple salad uses just a handful of fresh ingredients with a tangy honey-mustard dressing for a crunchy, flavorful, and nutritional sweet and savory salad perfect for the Fall months and as a Thanksgiving salad.
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Looking for more simple Thanksgiving/Fall salad recipes? You may also enjoy this simple Raw Cabbage Cucumber Salad, Celery Salad (Waldorf Apple Salad), Arugula Pomegranate Salad, or Blackberry Spinach Salad.
Dinner Rolls
Quick Dinner Rolls Recipe
These easy homemade dinner rolls are soft, buttery, fluffy, and perfect for impressing as part of an appetizer or practically any main meal! Simple enough for beginner bakers following my step-by-step or make ahead instructions!
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Baked Camembert (with or without Dinner Rolls)
Baked Camembert
This delicious appetizer goes perfectly with your Thanksgiving dinner foods. It combines tear-and-share dinner rolls with baked camembert.
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Cornbread
Easy Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
This easy jalapeño cheddar cornbread is wonderfully light, moist, and flavorful with a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavor thanks to thinly sliced jalapeno and salty, savory cheddar cheese. It's perfect for serving as part of your thanksgiving dinner.
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Pumpkin Soup
Turmeric and Ginger Spiced Pumpkin Soup
This healthy turmeric ginger pumpkin soup is creamy, comforting, and warming – perfect if you're looking for healthy thanksgiving recipes! Best of all, this recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Ready in under an hour on the stovetop with crockpot & Instant Pot methods included!
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Cream of Mushroom Soup
Cream Of Mushroom Soup (Gluten-free, Vegan optional)
Super creamy, rich, and delicious cream of mushroom soup (with tons of recipe versatility) makes for a flavor-packed healthy thanksgiving appetizer. This recipe is gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, and optionally dairy-free & vegan!
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Carrot Soup
Carrot Ginger Soup (Stove, Instant Pot, and Crockpot | Vegan Option)
This carrot ginger soup is creamy, comforting, delicately spiced, and ready in 30 minutes (more/less for Instant Pot and Slow Cooker versions)! Even better, it’s gluten-free, budget-friendly, and can be made with dairy or with coconut milk for a vegan carrot ginger soup!
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Looking for more simple Thanksgiving soup recipes? You might also enjoy this Healthy Roasted Cauliflower Soup or Ginger Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk (GF| Vegan)
Side Dishes
Now, I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, at least, I might prefer well-prepared Thanksgiving side dishes to the “main”. I’d consider a plate full of my favorite thanksgiving food to be primarily made of sides.
Candied Yams
How To Make Candied Yams
No list of Thanksgiving side dishes would be complete without stovetop candied yams in delicious spiced butter, brown sugar, and orange juice syrup. Plus, several variations including using mashed potato and/or adding marshmallows for the perfect sweet potato casserole!
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Green Bean Casserole
French’s Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
This Green Bean Casserole recipe is packed with delicious ingredients, can be easily made vegan and gluten-free, and is a great side dish for any meal, not just for Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite casserole recipes for a reason!
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Au Gratin Potatoes (Potato Casserole)
Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes (Simple & Easy)
Toss thinly sliced potatoes in a rich and decadent cheesy cream sauce, then bake them in the oven until tender in the middle and browned and crisp on top for incredibly easy yet impressive au gratin potatoes (potatoes dauphinoise). It's perfect for the holidays!
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Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
My make-ahead mashed potatoes are creamy and so delicious that you'll never want to try another recipe again! When thinking of the most popular thanksgiving meals, this dish would definitely be featured!
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Brown Gravy (Chicken, Beef, or Turkey Gravy)
Easy Brown Gravy (With or Without Drippings)
This rich and flavorful, easy brown gravy can be made with beef, chicken, or turkey stock based on your Thanksgiving mains, with or without drippings, flavored with herbs like sage or thyme, and thickened with a flour roux – ready to enjoy in about 10 minutes for your thanksgiving table!
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Pulling together a list of vegan and vegetarian thanksgiving recipes? Check out this vegan gravy recipe instead!
Creamed Spinach
The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe
This classic rich and creamy creamed spinach recipe is easy to make with just 8 ingredients (fresh or frozen spinach) in under 30 minutes, making for a simple and delicious thanksgiving side dish.
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While not as traditional of a choice for Thanksgiving foods, you might also enjoy easy creamed corn. Looking for a healthier way to enjoy spinach? Then check out this recipe for Garlic Sautéed Spinach.
Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
A delicious, simple 5 ingredient homemade cranberry orange sauce recipe is a must have for your Thanksgiving dinner table! Plus, 15 ways to use any leftover cranberry sauce!
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Oven Roasted Potatoes
Best Oven-Roasted New Red Potatoes
These oven-roasted red potatoes are packed full of delicious, garlic flavor – and my recipe might just be the easiest way how to make roasted baby potatoes, perfect for considering with your thanksgiving side dishes.
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Smashed Potatoes
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Crispy smashed potatoes (also called crushed potatoes) with just 5 ingredients and a simple method; you'll love this new way to serve up super crispy, flavorful spuds!
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Mashed Sweet Potato
Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
The BEST mashed sweet potato recipe you'll ever need. Whether you want to enjoy the sweet potato mash sweet, savory, creamy, healthy, vegan, paleo, etc., there's an option for you! Best of all, the base mashed sweet potatoes recipe requires just a handful of ingredients and under 30-minutes to prepare as a thanksgiving side dish.
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How to Roast Pumpkin and Make Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin Puree Recipe
This post takes you through how to roast pumpkin (to enjoy as a side dish) and turn it into pumpkin puree for all your favorite thanksgiving recipes, like simple soups and popular thanksgiving desserts!
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Roasted Carrots
Easy Honey Roasted Carrots (Glazed Carrots)
Honey roasted carrots are tossed with honey, oil, and optional herbs, then roasted until tender and lightly caramelized, perfect alongside other sweet and savory thanksgiving foods. Air fryer method included!
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Roasted Cauliflower
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Roasted or grilled cauliflower steaks are juicy and tender in the middle with a crisp, lightly charred, caramelized, and crispy outside. Perfect as a healthy vegan Thanksgiving side dish or main. Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo, etc.!
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Green Beans
Simple Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic
These 10-minute sautéed green beans with garlic (skillet green beans) are tender in the middle and lightly blistered outside for a simple, fuss-free, nutritious, and super tasty side dish! Gluten-free, low-carb, vegan, paleo, whole30, etc.!
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Roasted green beans or air fryer green beans also make for delicious vegetarian thanksgiving recipes, instead. So choose whichever cooking method (or appliance) works best for you.
Roasted Asparagus
Oven Roasted Asparagus (So Easy)
My oven-roasted asparagus are tender in the middle but still maintain a crispy, delicious exterior that makes for a great vegetarian thanksgiving side dish alongside heavier sides.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
These oven-roasted smashed Brussels sprouts are steamed, smashed, and roasted with a lemon garlic dressing. The result is flavorful, crispy Brussels sprouts to be served as a tasty thanksgiving side dish! Plus, this is a dairy-free, meat-free, keto, and vegan recipe, for all to enjoy!
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Parmesan Potato Stacks
Crispy Parmesan Potato Stacks (Muffin Tin Potatoes)
These crispy parmesan potato stacks (aka muffin tin potatoes) are the perfect side dish to impress. They're super crisp on the outside with a tender, creamy middle, simple to prepare, and able to be seasoned/adapted in tons of ways for your thanksgiving table.
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Roasted Veggies
Roasted Vegetables (Meal-Prep Friendly)
How to make a delicious combination of roasted vegetables, perfect for enjoying immediately or refrigerating/freezing for later. A delicious side for your holiday table!
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Mains
When it comes to Thanksgiving main ideas, I quite like a non-traditional thanksgiving dinner “main,” so you won’t find roasted turkey below. You will, however, find an even simpler chicken substitute and several vegetarian/vegan Thanksgiving recipes worthy of being center-place on your holiday table.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
Stuffed Butternut Squash
This delicious Vegan stuffed butternut squash dish works perfectly as a meat-free thanksgiving main (or side), filled with a delicious rice, mushroom and cranberry stuffing to keep you more than satisfied!
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Mushroom Wellington
Vegetarian Wellington
A delicious vegan mushroom wellington with a mushroom, kale, quinoa, chestnut & cranberry filling – for a wonderful vegetarian or vegan Thanksgiving dinner! Plus, it can be made in under an hour and be meal-prepped and heated up on the day!
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Mushroom Risotto
Perfect Wild Mushroom Risotto
Mushroom risotto is a rich and creamy non-traditional vegetarian thanksgiving recipe you can enjoy as a main (or appetizer) in less than 40 minutes.
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Oven Roasted Chicken
The Perfect Whole Roasted Chicken
If you don't want to make a turkey this thanksgiving, why not try this whole roasted chicken instead?! It's simple to prepare, comforting, and wonderfully tender and juicy in the middle with a well-seasoned, lightly crispy skin!
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Air Fryer Roasted Chicken
The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Fresh or Frozen)
This air fryer whole chicken is tender and juicy in the middle, has crispy, well-seasoned skin, is super simple to make, and cooks in about an hour (or 70-80 from frozen!) for perfect results every time!
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Roasted Cauliflower Head
Whole Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
This turmeric roasted cauliflower makes for a delicious and nutritious vegan side dish or main at your holiday table. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and low-carb!
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Lentil Meatballs
Vegan Lentil Meatballs
These lentil & mushroom vegan meatballs can be served in a simple tomato sauce or alongside your choice of veggies. Dairy-free, gluten-free, healthy, and absolutely delicious served with various other dishes.
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Meatloaf with the Best Sticky Glaze
Meatloaf with the Best Sticky Glaze
The best, easiest, classic meatloaf recipe with all the top tips and secrets. It’s tender and juicy in the middle and smothered with a tangy tomato sauce – perfect for roast dinners and special occasions!
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Desserts
At this point in the day, you’ve all probably undone your trouser buttons. Maybe you are sure you can’t eat another bite. But with the right Thanksgiving desserts, the guests will come flocking. Above all, I love to end the day with low-fuss, easy Thanksgiving dessert recipes like the ones below.
Easy French Toast Casserole
Stuffed Baked Apples
A delicious, low-effort sweet treat to please a crowd – custardy inside, crisp along the edges, and sweet with hints of cinnamon, lemon zest, and vanilla. You can even save some for breakfast!
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Baked Apples
Stuffed Baked Apples
These baked apples are cored and stuffed with a simple, hearty cinnamon, oat, maple syrup "apple crisp" filling. Then baked or air-fried until tender, warm, and perfect for serving with yogurt, ice cream, or caramel sauce to end your Thanksgiving feast on a positive note!
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Apple Crisp
The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (Quick & Easy)
This easy apple crisp layers a sweet, tender, lightly spiced apple filling with thick, buttery, crisp cinnamon streusel topping, perfect for enjoying at the end of your Thanksgiving meal!
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Fried Caramel Apples
Fried Apples Recipe (Southern Style)
You've done pies and crumbles – now it's time to give apples a brand-new life with these southern fried apples. Deliciously spiced, they're the perfect fall treat and thanksgiving dessert. You can even enjoy the leftovers for breakfast/brunch the following day.
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Pumpkin Pie
No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie
No list of thanksgiving foods is complete without a pumpkin pie recipe. This is a healthy no-bake, gluten-free, vegan pumpkin pie from scratch or with canned pumpkin puree. This delicious eggless pumpkin pie swaps out regular pastry, dairy, and sugars for a refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and optionally keto, and paleo dessert – perfect for Thanksgiving dessert.
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Banana Bread
Banana Bread
This delicious homemade Banana Bread is the perfect treat and a great way to use up spotty bananas!
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Chocolate Bark
White Chocolate Peppermint Bark (+ Multiple Variations)
This 4-ingredient white chocolate peppermint bark layers milk/dark chocolate with white chocolate and a peppermint candy topping as a simple winter/ fall dessert or snack to enjoy with hot chocolate.
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For a healthier version, check out this recipe for frozen yogurt bark instead.
Candied Pecans (or Walnuts)
Easy Candied Pecans
Easy candied pecans are a delicious sweet and savory snack, salad topper, addition to your thanksgiving cheeseboard, or a delicious dessert! Plus, all you need is a few ingredients and a stovetop or oven for perfect caramelized pecans every time!
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Looking for more non-traditional thanksgiving/fall dessert recipes? You might enjoy these vegan hazelnut truffles, caramel ice cream, or vegan no-bake chocolate Mars cake.
Drinks
With the Thanksgiving food recipes out of the way, your guests still need hydrating. Below are some of my favorite Thanksgiving drink ideas (to enjoy alongside your favorite bottle of white wine/red wine). Even better, while they’re all non-alcoholic, most can be given an adult twist with a splash (or five) of your favorite booze.
Spiced Mulled Apple Cider
Hot Mulled “Spiced” Apple Cider (Wassail)
Enjoy this warming spiced apple cider with a combination of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger – perfect for your thanksgiving table! Plus, it's sugar-free and (optionally) alcohol-free.
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Hot Chocolate
Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate
How to make hot chocolate at home with a simple, ultimate 'base' hot cocoa recipe – perfect for customizing to your needs (sugar-free, vegan, keto, decadent, etc.). Plus, 50+ hot chocolate bar ideas and/or optional add-ins/flavor variations for a large thanksgiving party!
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White Hot Chocolate
White Hot Chocolate (+ Flavors & Toppings)
Prefer white chocolate? Try this homemade white hot chocolate on the stove or in a crockpot with just 3 base ingredients (dairy-free/vegan optional) and tons of optional add-ins and toppings to enjoy at potlucks, parties, and your thanksgiving dinner.
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Cranberry Juice
How to Make Cranberry Juice
How to make cranberry juice at home with just two ingredients (plus water), no juicer or blender, in under 30 minutes on the stovetop! This super refreshing, sweet and tart homemade cranberry juice is packed with flavor and nutrients and can be made with fresh or frozen cranberries as a refreshing thanksgiving drink idea.
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Pumpkin Spice Latte
Hot or Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
How to make pumpkin spice coffee three ways: hot and iced pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin spice Frappuccino. All you need is a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to prepare any of these frugal homemade drinks. Plus, you can prepare them as regular, decaf, keto/sugar-free, or dairy-free (vegan!)
Get the recipe!
Masala Chai
Masala Chai (Indian Spiced Tea | Chai Latte)
Not a fan of coffee but want a warming spiced offering to finish your thanksgiving feast? Try this authentic masala chai (the authentic way) with warming whole spices and fresh ginger for a comforting, aromatic Indian spiced tea.
Get the recipe!
Top Tips For Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner
- Plan, plan, and then plan some more! It’s not enough to just plan your perfect Thanksgiving dinner menu perfectly curated for your guests’ enjoyment (and dietary requirements!).
For a stress-free day, get down to the details, and print or write out all the recipes. And plan out a times “schedule” of exactly when everything needs to be done that you can tick/cross out as you go along. I like to make a plan working backward from when I plan to serve.- Make notes: Make a note of adaptions you made to recipes (with ingredients and cooking times), dishes people particularly enjoyed (or didn’t), etc. Store the recipes somewhere safe, and you’ll reduce stress for next year.
- Plan the logistics: With the above planned, there’s still more to consider as you need to make sure your Thanksgiving dishes are doable. Go through your cupboards to ensure you have enough baking and serving dishes/pans for your Thanksgiving menu (if not, thrifting is great!). Ensure your fridge and freezer have enough space for your groceries. Also, consider the appliances – how many dishes need the oven vs. an air fryer vs. the stovetop, etc.
- Meal prep is your friend: One of the easiest ways to reduce the risk of holiday frazzle is prepping. So, prep ahead anything that you can (cutting veggies, preparing sauces or dessert several days in advance, making any dishes in full that will keep/reheat well).
- Get some helpers: If you’re a type A personality (like me), giving up some control might not be your idea of a stress-free holiday. However, having some helping hands in the kitchen to delegate to when making your Thanksgiving dinner can save time and stress (most of the time, anyway).
- Outsource some prep: If you’re looking for Friendsgiving food ideas, chances are you might be in a bit of a Thanksgiving “potluck” situation. Well, there’s no reason why you can’t do that for the big day, either. Write out your proposed Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas and have your guests choose a dish to bring. It’s a minimal effort on their part but makes a massive difference to the stress of your day as the host.
- Set the table: Do this the night before! And that’s one task you don’t even have to think about. So you can focus on preparing the thanksgiving dinner recipes.
- Set out some nibbles: Even with careful planning and the best intentions, sometimes things can go wrong. So to keep your family/guests at bay set out a cheeseboard or other light nibbles to tide them over in case of delays.
More Recipe Roundups
- 60 Healthy 30-Minute Dinner Ideas
- 30 Hot Lunch Ideas
- 50+ Healthy Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas on the Go
- The Essential Guide to Meal Prep + Meal Prep Ideas
- 50+ Healthy Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
If you try any of these Thanksgiving dinner ideas, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
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