Are you planning for a Thanksgiving feast? Need some fresh inspiration? Here are our favorite Thanksgiving recipes you must try this year.
Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays. Fall weather is beautiful, and Thanksgiving food is amazing. The day is punctuated by food, family, football, and some more food. We are spending a couple days with my in-laws again this year. I’m cooking up some side dishes and desserts, while Gramma is making the turkey, the mashed potatoes, and the vegetable side dishes.
I know that everyone thinks that their Thanksgiving recipes are the best. I know I do. I don’t mess around on Thanksgiving because we all know what we expect: these traditional recipes that we’ve been making for a long time. Every once in awhile a new recipe will slip in and pass muster with the tradition creators. Who knows? Perhaps something new will cross our paths this year.
But, you can bet that these dishes will be on the table. They are our favorite Thanksgiving recipes that I hope you will try soon.
Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes You Must Try This Year
Turkey-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls.
We start every Thanksgiving morning with these little turkeys. I invented them TEN YEARS AGO when I was just a few days postpartum with my 5th child after an unnamed grandfather handed me cans of cinnamon rolls to bake. I may have cried a few tears over that doesn’t-he-know-I-just-had-a-baby-moment, but by God’s grace was able to redeem it into a family tradition that is very precious to our family.
- Get the recipe for Turkey-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls.
- Pin it for later.
Herbed Stuffing and Pan Gravy
I first made this duo back in 1998 when I cooked a huge feast for all our extended family. The recipe for stuffing and gravy has continued to be my favorite. It’s a classic that is worth giving a try.
- Get the recipe for Herbed Stuffing and Pan Gravy.
- Pin it for later.
Easy Cranberry Sauce
Once upon a time, I argued with my mother-in-law that my husband and children would never eat anything but jellied cranberry sauce. I was wrong.
Since I started reducing our sugar — and thereby making homemade cranberry sauce — my people have shown that they know what’s good. And this sauce would be it. We will all gladly eat it off the spoon. I think I better make a double batch this weekend.
- Get the recipe for Easy Cranberry Sauce
- Pin it for later.
Pretzel Berry Dessert
I have fond memories of my mom making this when I was really little and then we didn’t have it for another twenty years until I foraged through all her cookbooks, looking for it. Since then I’ve made some tweaks to the classic “strawberry pretzel salad” your gramma used to make. It’s the one thing my family requests every Thanksgiving. This year we’re making TWO PANS!
- Get the recipe for Pretzel Berry Dessert.
- Pin it for later.
Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie
I never liked pumpkin pie until my mother-in-law made this one. And then I was sold. I don’t know but there’s something about the graham cracker crust and the candied nut topping that makes this pumpkin extraordinary. My husband was a pumpkin-pie hater, too. Until this pie.
Moral of the story: if you don’t have a pumpkin pie to rave about, you need to try this one.
- Get the recipe for Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie
- Pin it for later.
I love hearing about other people’s traditions. Tell us some of yours in the comments!
What are YOUR favorite Thanksgiving recipes?
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One of the things I like to make are hollowed out oranges stuffed with sweet potatoes that have been cooked, mashed, and have a little orange juice and cinnamon in them for some added sweetness. Then they get topped with mini marshmallows and baked till they are hot.
Another recipe I like is yellow squash casserole made with saltine cracker crumbs, cheddar cheese, eggs, milk, and sliced cooked yellow squash.
My favorite pie is the apple crumb pie I make, but I also make pumpkin pie which I love too.
It depends from year to year what I choose to make depending on how many people are coming. I never have a gigantic crowd; this year will be ten and that’s plenty for me. I used to make so many sides and appetizers that people really had a hard time eating. Last year, I looked at the above picture on this post and just loved the way it looked without a whole lot of other things on the plate so I made exactly what I saw in the picture. I had a small group last year and it didn’t seem necessary to make a huge amount of food. Our plates looked just like in the picture and it was enough for our small group without enough leftovers for a month. This is how I’m doing it again this year; the only difference is I’m also making stuffed mushrooms which is another side I have been making for years. One appetizer and it will be Stromboli. And also soup before the meal – meatball tortellini. I used to make so many appetizers and then the star of the dinner isn’t enjoyed. It took me many years to tame myself into not making enough food for the whole country. Ha Ha
I’m so honored that you planned your Thanksgiving based on one of my pictures! Your menu sounds delicious!
We do stuffed mushrooms on NYE. A tradition and I’ve finally trained a few kids to like them!
Happy Thanksgiving, friend!
My sister always made a stuffed pumpkin, filled with vegetables, nuts and fruits and then drizzled with maple syrup and baked…it was beautiful and aromatic but I never really liked it. She’s due with her first this weekend (!) so she’s not going to be here with us. This year my son’s birthday falls right on thanksgiving so we are building new traditions around that – birthday cake anyone? He’s turning three so balloons are required as well;)
We will venture to my in laws again this year where 26 of us with gather. My MIL provides the traditional components and then the rest of us bring sides and desserts. My husband requests ham as he’s not a turkey lover, so I am bringing that, roasted squash, blueberry pie, pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheese cake, and then an assortment of pickles and relishes that we preserved. Since I truly can’t stand the feeling of being over full, I usually just nibble in the morning and then enjoy a modest plate to taste it all when dinner is served around 2pm. I tend to not love pie, even when I make it, so dessert isn’t my favorite. If I make a cheesecake that may change though;) I really just enjoy the feeling of a full house with chatter and lots of the cousins running around! Growing up we ALWAYS listened to Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant at noon. I’m not sure all my husband’s relatives appreciate the sentiment of the song but it’s an absolute for me, even if it’s in my own kitchen while prepping my contributions. We also love the leftovers, sometimes even more than the big meal.
It all sounds delicious! Happy Birthday to your son!
Thanksgiving is the one meal that doesn’t change from year to year. Something can be added, but the basics MUST be present: turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn pudding, rolls and cranberry sauce. We typically don’t do appetizers or drinks before the meal, but wine may be served with the meal. There’s pie for dessert. The pie can be pumpkin, pecan, apple or sugar cream pie.
I like the tradition of having the same meal year after year.
Amen.