Hosting Thanksgiving this year? Whether you have a full house or are limiting it to just your family members, this full Thanksgiving Dinner Menu and Recipe Guide is here to make planning and cooking on the biggest food day of the year a breeze.

These are some of the star dishes I plan on serving on Turkey Day, and I hope you do, too!

thanksgiving menu and recipe image guide

thanksgiving menu and recipe guide

Like any holiday, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of family, good food, and cheer. But it can also be stressful — especially if you’re hosting.

Taking the time to plan ahead will make your job as host easier and allow you to enjoy the days leading up to Thanksgiving as well as Thanksgiving day, even if you spend most of it in the kitchen.

Below are my go to dishes to serve during the holidays! They are all very easy to make an include step by step pictures as well as variations to make it your own!

Thanksgiving Courses

  • Cocktail hour: Get everyone in high spirits for the big meal with drinks like my Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Punch!
  • Appetizers: One of my favorite parts of thanksgiving is snacking throughout the day. My family and I always have a couple of appetizers around to snack on while the turkey is roasted in the oven!
  • Entree: It’s not Thanksgiving without a roasted turkey! We’ve perfected our recipe to yield a juicy, tender, crispy-skinned bird that will be the star of your holiday meal.
  • Sides: Some argue that the best part of Thanksgiving is the sides, and we won’t hate it! We’ve included some of our favorite side dishes like homemade cranberry sauce and creamy mashed potatoes that will round out your holiday spread.
  • Breads: You need some sort of bread on your Thanksgiving plate to sop up all of that goodness from your meal!
  • Dessert: No feast is complete without something sweet at the end. These recipes are sure to leave your family smiling and content after such a delicious meal!

Cocktails

resized image of red wine sangria recipe
  • Red Sangria Recipe: Simple and Fruity, this Red Sangria Recipe is perfect for sharing! Made with fresh fruit, red wine, brandy, and pomegranate juice, this delicious cocktail can be doubled or tripled to make entertaining a breeze!
white wine sangria in wine glass with lime slice
  • White wine sangria: Made with strawberries, peaches, and mango juice. It’s perfectly sweet (thanks to the fruit) with a hint of citrus from the limes and oranges.

appetizers

deviled eggs on the white plate
baked blt dip in casserole dish for Thanksgiving menu
  • Baked BLT Dip: A creamy dip made with sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese. Topped with lettuce, tomato and bacon!
a white bowl filled with this caramelized onion dip and the author taking a scoop of it out with a potato chip
  • Caramelized Onion Dip: It’s packed with savory and sweet caramelized onions, sour cream, cream cheese and balsamic vinegar.

main dishes

roasted turkey on large serving tray with thanksgiving sides
  • Roast Turkey: You can’t have a Thanksgiving Menu without the turkey! This homemade roasted turkey is juicy, tender, flavorful with a crispy-skin — what everyone wants in a Thanksgiving bird!
gluten free turkey gravy

Sides

mashed sweet potatoes
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Your Thanksgiving Menu won’t be complete without mashed sweet potatoes! Made with butter and cream to make them super rich! I’ve included two fun variations below to serve these potatoes: A sweet option and a savory option!
corn pudding in baking dish for Thanksgiving menu
  • Creamy Corn Pudding: Made from scratch with brown butter, heavy cream and corn. No boxed jiffy corn mix or canned corn needed!
sausage stuffing in casserole dish
  • Easy Sausage Stuffing: Loaded with fresh herbs, carrots, celery, onions and garlic. The perfect side dish to go with your Thanksgiving meal!
close up shot of broccoli cheese rice casserole
  • Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe: Is made with a rich cheese sauce and loaded with tender broccoli then topped with melty cheddar cheese. This casserole is great on it’s own as a main course or as a stellar side dish.
green bean casserole with crunchy Panko topping for Thanksgiving menu
sweet potato casserole topped with streusel pecan topping
  • The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole: Creamy sweet potatoes baked with a crunchy pecan streusel topping! The perfect easy side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
creamy mashed potatoes in bowl topped with melted butter and herbs
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Make the perfect side dish to go with any meal! Loaded with sour cream, butter, heavy cream AND milk these potatoes are rich, creamy and fluffy!
thanksgiving side dish creamed corn in pan
  • Creamed Corn: Skip the can and make delicious, flavorful creamed corn at home with a few pantry staples. Trust me, you’ll never go back to the pre-made stuff after you try this recipe! It’s perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
honey roasted glazed carrots on large plate with a silver spoon
  • Honey Roasted Carrots: Only 3 Ingredients and made with brown butter and honey then roasted until golden brown. The perfect side dish!
pumpkin mac and cheese in bowl with silver spoon
  • Creamy Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese: Made with canned pumpkin puree! This creamy Mac and cheese is actually healthy! It’s made with half the amount of butter, flour, milk and cheese!
homemade cranberry sauce with orange in a white bowl
  • Cranberry Sauce: Fresh cranberries are cooked with orange zest, orange juice, and brown sugar to create a thick, colorful, sweet, delicious fruit reduction that your guests are sure to love.

bread & Rolls

buttery homemade rolls on white plate for thanksgiving
  • Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls: They are buttery, flakey and perfectly golden brown on the outside. They are the perfect roll to serve alongside your holiday meals, soups or favorite dinners!
corn muffins with a bite out of them on white plate
  • Corn Muffins: Perfect grab and go corn muffins. Soft and buttery on the inside with a crisp exterior! Perfect alongside soups and main courses.
overhead shot of focaccia sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese and herbs
  • One Hour Focaccia Bread: This no-knead focaccia bread recipe comes out soft and fluffy on the inside and golden and crisp on the outside. It’s the perfect bread to serve alongside your Thanksgiving table.

desserts

bite of pumpkin cheesecake bar on a white plate topped with whipped cream for thanksgiving menu
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars: Made with graham crackers and crushed up gingersnap cookies. Topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it is the perfect dessert for fall!
spooning apple crisp out of a white casserole dish
  • Apple Crisp: Topped with a crunchy oat streusel and filled with fresh baked apples, this is sure to be your favorite fall-inspired dessert!
serving coffee cake close up with hand for thanksgiving menu
  • Pumpkin Coffee Cake: Tender spiced cake topped with a thick buttery streusel topping. Perfect for dessert or for a snack!
pecan pie squares on white cutting board
  • Pecan Pie Bars: Made with a buttery shortbread crust and a gooey maple pecan filling.