10+ Thanksgiving Recipes to Make Your Holiday Feast Easy and Delicious

Thanksgiving is a special time to gather with family and friends over a delicious meal.

Preparing a great Thanksgiving dinner can feel overwhelming, but having easy and tasty recipes helps make the day more enjoyable.

You can create a memorable feast with simple recipes that everyone will love.

Whether you are new to cooking or want to try something different, you’ll find ideas to make your holiday meal stress-free and satisfying.

1) Classic Roast Turkey

Start by patting your turkey dry with paper towels.

This helps the skin get crispy when cooking.

Rub salt and pepper all over the turkey, inside and out, to add flavor.

Stuff the cavity with onion, carrot, and celery.

Add herbs like sage and thyme for a nice aroma.

Place the turkey in a roasting pan.

Roast your turkey in a preheated oven at 325°F (163°C).

Cooking time depends on the bird’s size, usually about 13-15 minutes per pound.

Baste occasionally to keep it juicy.

Ingredients

• 1 turkey (12 to 14 pounds)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 celery stalk
• Fresh sage and thyme

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Pat turkey dry. Rub with salt and pepper inside and out.
3. Stuff cavity with chopped onion, carrot, celery, sage, and thyme.
4. Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
5. Roast, basting occasionally, about 13-15 minutes per pound.
6. Check temperature; it’s done when the internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
7. Let rest before carving.

2) Sausage and Sage Stuffing

Sausage and sage stuffing adds rich flavors to your Thanksgiving meal.

Cook savory breakfast sausage until browned, then mix it with dried bread cubes and fresh herbs like sage.

Vegetables such as onions and celery add nice texture and depth.

Soak everything in broth and sometimes add eggs for a soft texture.

Bake it until the top is golden brown and crispy.

You can use store-bought stuffing cubes or make your own from dried bread.

Ingredients

• 1 pound breakfast sausage
• 8 cups dried bread cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, then remove excess fat.
3. Add onion and celery to the skillet; cook until soft.
4. In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, sausage mixture, and sage.
5. Whisk broth and eggs together; pour over the bread mixture.
6. Stir gently to moisten all the bread.
7. Transfer to a greased baking dish and cover with foil.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 more minutes until golden brown.

See more about making this traditional dish at Sausage and Sage Stuffing – The Night Owl Chef.

3) Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving side dish that everyone loves.

You want them smooth, rich, and a little buttery.

Use Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes for a creamy texture.

Warm dairy, like milk or cream, makes the potatoes extra soft.

Add butter for flavor and salt to bring out the taste.

You can reheat them gently in the oven if you want to make them ahead of time.

For tips on making perfect mashed potatoes, check out this creamy mashed potatoes recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Salt to taste
• Pepper (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel and cut potatoes into chunks.
2. Boil in salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
3. Drain and mash the potatoes until smooth.
4. Warm the milk or cream and butter, then mix into the potatoes.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

4) Crisp Skinned Spatchcock Turkey

Spatchcocking your turkey means removing the backbone and flattening it.

This helps the turkey cook more evenly and faster.

Flattening the bird lets the heat reach every part better.

Both white and dark meat cook perfectly without drying out.

Season the turkey with your favorite spices or a chili crisp butter for an extra kick.

Roast the bird skin-side up on a rack or vegetables to keep the skin crispy.

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (10-14 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Optional: chili crisp butter or other seasonings

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Remove the turkey’s backbone with kitchen shears.
3. Flatten the turkey by pressing down on the breast.
4. Pat skin dry and rub with olive oil or butter.
5. Season all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
6. Place skin-side up on a roasting rack or bed of vegetables.
7. Roast for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until skin is crispy and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
8. Let rest 15 minutes before carving.

5) Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a simple and classic side dish for Thanksgiving.

It uses green beans with a creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions on top.

You can make it quickly with just a few ingredients.

Use canned or fresh green beans.

Adding crispy onions last makes it crunchy and delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (14.5 oz) green beans, drained
• 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup crispy French fried onions
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix green beans, soup, milk, salt, and pepper in a baking dish.
3. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
4. Sprinkle fried onions on top.
5. Bake 5 more minutes until onions are golden.

6) Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Making your own cranberry sauce is quick and easy.

You just need cranberries, sugar, and water.

You can also add orange juice or cinnamon for extra flavor.

Cook the sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves.

Add the cranberries and let them simmer.

The berries will pop and the sauce will thicken in about 10 minutes.

Once it cools, your sauce is ready to serve.

It tastes fresh and homemade, perfect for your Thanksgiving meal.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces (340 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 cup (7 ounces; 198 g) sugar
• 1/2 cup (118 ml) water
• Optional: 1/2 cup orange juice, cinnamon, or orange zest

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir until sugar dissolves.
3. Add cranberries and optional ingredients.
4. Simmer for 10 minutes until cranberries burst and sauce thickens.
5. Remove from heat and cool before serving.

For more tips, check out this easy cranberry sauce recipe. The World’s Easiest Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce

7) Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a classic dessert many look forward to at Thanksgiving.

It has a smooth, creamy filling made with pumpkin, spices, and eggs.

Sweet spices like cinnamon and ginger give it a cozy flavor.

Make your crust from scratch or buy a pre-made one to save time.

To get a perfect crust, bake it with pie weights or dried beans until the edges start to brown.

This helps keep the crust from getting soggy.

For extra flavor, add a simple caramel pecan topping.

It adds a nice crunch and sweetness to your pie.

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream or sweetened condensed milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Line the pie crust with parchment paper or foil, fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges brown.
3. Whisk pumpkin, eggs, sugar, spices, salt, and cornstarch until smooth.
4. Pour filling into crust, bake for 40-50 minutes until set but slightly jiggly in the center.
5. Let cool before serving. Add caramel pecan topping if desired.

For a full pumpkin pie recipe, check this great pumpkin pie recipe.

8) Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is a classic dessert for Thanksgiving.

It has a rich, sweet filling made from corn syrup, brown sugar, and pecans.

The buttery, flaky crust holds everything together.

You can make it ahead of time so it’s ready when guests arrive.

The texture is chewy and crunchy thanks to the pecans.

Use dark or light corn syrup for the best flavor.

Add a touch of vanilla for a nice aroma.

Serve it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked pie crust
• 1 cup light or dark corn syrup
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups pecan halves
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Place pie crust in a 9-inch pan.

3. In a bowl, whisk eggs, corn syrup, sugars, melted butter, vanilla, and salt.

4. Stir in pecans.

5. Pour filling into crust.

6. Bake for 55-60 minutes until set but slightly jiggly in the center.

7. Cool completely before slicing.

You can find a full pecan pie recipe at Sally’s Baking Addiction.

9) Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish. It is creamy and rich with a sweet, crunchy topping.

You can choose a topping with pecans and brown sugar or use marshmallows, depending on your taste. This dish is easy to prepare ahead of time and helps make holiday cooking easier.

Mix sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, and a bit of spice like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Add your favorite topping before baking.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked sweet potatoes (mashed)
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl.

3. Spread mixture into a baking dish.

4. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top or cover with marshmallows.

5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbly.

10) Buttery Dinner Rolls

Buttery dinner rolls make a great addition to your Thanksgiving table. They are soft, light, and have a rich buttery flavor.

Enjoy them warm from the oven. These rolls are perfect for soaking up gravy or spreading with butter.

Making them at home is simple and rewarding. Many people add a bit of garlic butter on top for extra flavor.

You can find easy recipes that use just a few ingredients, like the soft butter dinner rolls recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

2. Mix in butter, egg, and salt.

3. Gradually add flour. Knead until the dough feels smooth and elastic.

4. Cover the dough. Let it rise for 1 hour until it doubles in size.

5. Shape the dough into rolls. Place them on a baking sheet.

6. Let the rolls rise for another 30 minutes.

7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes. The rolls should turn golden brown.

8. Brush the warm rolls with melted butter before serving.