Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips Thanksgiving Recipes Our 71 Best Thanksgiving Recipes Of All Time By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 12, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller In November 1966, Southern Living magazine celebrated our first Thanksgiving with a foil-baked turkey, fluffy sweet potatoes, savory string beans, and pumpkin and pecan pies. Years later, the SL Test Kitchen continues to dream up delicious new ways to bring the storied dishes that have graced our tables for generations to life. And while we always welcome new additions to the holiday feast (the skillet cornbread, a new spin on mashed potatoes), Southerners always leave room on the table for the tried-and-true classics that have been passed down for generations and served on our holiday tables for decades. They have stories that are meant to be told (and retold) year after year. To reminisce on Thanksgivings past and keep in mind the Thanksgivings of the future, we have pulled our best recipes. From appetizers to desserts, here are the top picks, pulled together from our favorite Southern Living Thanksgiving dishes over the years. 01 of 71 Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy Greg Dupree This roasted turkey was made with turkey traditionalists in mind. With a crispy, buttery skin and homemade gravy, every bite of this turkey will be delicious and perfectly seasoned. Get The Recipe 02 of 71 Turkey Gravy Greg Dupree Don't forget the gravy! Perfect for pouring on mashed potatoes, dressing, and, oh yes, the turkey itself, we love this homemade, three-ingredient recipe. Get The Recipe 03 of 71 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall For some people, you cannot have Thanksgiving without spoon bread. This Buttermilk Spoon Bread is a delicious cross between a skillet cornbread dressing, cornmeal soufflé, and hot cornbread. Get The Recipe 04 of 71 Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley A little salad never hurt anybody, and this salad is full of fall flavors that are sure to make everyone at your Thanksgiving table grateful. Part of Thanksgiving is celebrating the bounty of food available during the holidays, and this recipe really shines in that department. Get The Recipe 05 of 71 Roasted Turkey Breast Rob Culpepper; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle For a smaller Thanksgiving gathering, or just for people who adore white turkey meat, a roasted turkey breast is a fantastic option. It's quick to cook and still results in juicy, tender meat with the crispiest skin. 06 of 71 Spiced Cranberry Mold Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If you want to have something retro and festive on your table, nothing beats this spiced cranberry mold. It might even get you out of the age-old debate of canned versus fresh cranberries. Get The Recipe 07 of 71 Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall It's not stuffing, y'all; it's called dressing. This cornbread dressing recipe has all the flavors you expect around Thanksgiving with the welcome addition of nutty pecans. Get The Recipe 08 of 71 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood There's nothing sweeter than a homemade pecan pie baked in a cast iron skillet. You may never go back to your pie plate again. Get The Recipe 09 of 71 Parker House Rolls Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman There are few things in life better or more buttery than a Parker House Roll. Garnished with flaky sea salt, these savory bites will not make it through your entire Thanksgiving meal. Get The Recipe 10 of 71 Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The candied, textured, slightly spicy pecan topping on this recipe beautifully complements the root vegetables. A beautiful side dish that tastes just as good as it looks, everyone will be asking for seconds. Get The Recipe 11 of 71 Granny Smith Apple Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns In this recipe, we roast our apples for a deeper, more caramelized version of this classic treat. For an easier Thanksgiving day, you can roast your apples and make your pie crust in advance, so you only have to focus on the assembly the day of. Get The Recipe 12 of 71 Fluffy Corn Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The perfect cross between a custard and a souffle, this Fluffy Corn Pudding recipe is sure to impress. The secret is pureeing some of the corn to create a velvety texture. Get The Recipe 13 of 71 Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The South and sorghum have a history just as rich and deep as the flavor itself. Prepare these muffins the night before Thanksgiving for an easy, stress-free morning. Get The Recipe 14 of 71 Fried Arkansas Black Apples Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall What can we say? Frying makes everything taste better, and this recipe for fried apples is truly delicious. Ready in 15 minutes, this is a Thanksgiving side that will wow without too much work. Get The Recipe 15 of 71 Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero When cooking for a crowd, sometimes it's great to have personal-sized desserts for each guest. These treats will have everyone happy for the holidays in just one bite. Get The Recipe 16 of 71 Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Sometimes, it's a good thing to change up the classics. In this modern collard green recipe, the South's favorite green gets a major update with garlic, bits of sourdough, and a quick boil. Get The Recipe 17 of 71 Deep Fried Turkey with Creole Spices Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Dare to do it deep fried? This is the only recipe you will ever need for a deep-fried turkey. Full of Creole seasonings, this Turkey is a winner, winner turkey dinner. Get The Recipe 18 of 71 Scalloped Oysters Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We let the oysters do all the talking in this recipe. Butter, cream, crackers, oysters, and seasonings are the only ingredients you need to make this classic recipe really sing. Get The Recipe 19 of 71 Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Just when you thought mac and cheese couldn't get any better, we added bacon. Comforting and indulgent, everyone will love this classic side dish coated in crispy breadcrumbs and bacon throughout. Get The Recipe 20 of 71 Baked Brie with Pecans Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If you are in need of a pre-Thanksgiving dinner pick-me-up, look no further than this delightful appetizer. With just a handful of ingredients, this easy recipe is the perfect snack to get your guests ready for the greatness of the dinner to come. Get The Recipe 21 of 71 Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Elevate your side dish game with this roasted carrots recipe that uses rainbow carrots for an extra splash of color. Everyone will eat their veggies if you make this, we promise! Get The Recipe 22 of 71 Grated Sweet Potato Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Let's face it, when it comes to Thanksgiving, it's the sides that usually take center stage, and this simple sweet potato masterpiece is no exception. Throw raw grated sweet potatoes into a cast-iron skillet with your usual casserole components, and you have a simple side that will not disappoint. Get The Recipe 23 of 71 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Are you stressed about this season? Stick to the classics, like this tried-and-true recipe, to help you get through the holiday season stress-free. You can even make this dish ahead to really help free up your time. Get The Recipe 24 of 71 Sweet Potato Rolls Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Mashed sweet potatoes can do glorious things. Warm, light, and rich in flavor—this sweet potato roll recipe will be the talk of the Turkey Day buffet line. Get The Recipe 25 of 71 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Iain Bagwell Is your Thanksgiving menu in need of a bit of freshening up? You might want to think about trying this dressing, which is a bounty of wild rice stuffing loaded with crisp apples and celery, pungent red onion, toasted walnuts, fresh parsley and sage, and buttery sourdough bread cubes. Get The Recipe 26 of 71 Pear Pie Micah A. Leal Everyone should be able to enjoy a piece of pie during the holidays, but with food allergies and intolerances, it can be hard to please everyone. The filling of this pie is dairy free, so it is perfect for your friends and family who cannot consume dairy. Just be sure to use a refrigerated or homemade crust that will suit your guests. Get The Recipe 27 of 71 Shrimp-Stuffed Mirlitons Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This unique squash dish deserves a spot on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Perfectly paired with seafood, this side is sure to impress your guests. Get The Recipe 28 of 71 Tee's Corn Pudding Jennifer Davick Tee's corn pudding is a classic we, and our readers, truly love to put on the table each year. This recipe gives you the rich, airy texture of soufflé for the price of cornbread casserole. Get The Recipe 29 of 71 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings Jim Franco These top-rated, individual desserts taste like a combination of pecan and pumpkin pies. Double the caramel-pecan sauce to drizzle on ice cream and other sweet treats if you want. Get The Recipe 30 of 71 Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Unique candy roaster squash is the perfect veggie addition to your Thanksgiving spread. Available across the Southeast, if it's available in your region, you need to try this cold-weather heirloom. Get The Recipe 31 of 71 Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole Photo: Hector Sanchez Broccoli and cheese might just be one of the most delicious combinations out there, and this recipe takes it to the next level. You will love every bite of this dish from the crispy, cheesy crust to the rich, gooey rice. Get The Recipe 32 of 71 Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox At first glance, this pie looks like your everyday, classic pecan pie, but slice the pie open and you will see it is so much more. We've combined the two favorites of pecan pie and cheesecake in this recipe that never disappoints. Get The Recipe 33 of 71 Easy Squash Casserole Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy Thanksgiving is one of the few times of the year when covering your vegetables in cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, butter, parmesan, and French fried onions is not only acceptable but expected. We love this very classic take on one of our favorite hearty casseroles. Get The Recipe 34 of 71 Sea Island Crab Fried Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This is one of those recipes that you will just fall in love with. Adapted from cookbook author Sally Ann Robinson, this dish is inspired by dishes found in the Lowcountry and Sea Islands. Get The Recipe 35 of 71 Skillet Squash Blossom Iain Bagwell With caramelized edges and an intricate presentation, this Thanksgiving side is pretty enough to stand in as the table's centerpiece. Get The Recipe 36 of 71 Classic Deviled Eggs Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox No holiday is complete without deviled eggs, so here is our recipe to bring to the table. If you are not hosting Thanksgiving this year, bring a dish of these and your host will be mighty grateful. Get The Recipe 37 of 71 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Greg DuPree We love homemade, but we also love easy. You can get the best of both worlds with this pie recipe. With just seven ingredients, you will have the simplest and best pumpkin pie you can dream of. Get The Recipe 38 of 71 Smoked Turkey Breast Jody Horton Sometimes, baking and basting an entire bird is more trouble than it's worth. A turkey breast is a crowd-pleasing way to get that turkey taste without all the trouble. This smoked meat is bursting with apple cider, fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage. Get The Recipe 39 of 71 Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel Iain Bagwell Fennel lovers, rejoice: this Italian-inspired cornbread dressing will certainly earn its spot on your Thanksgiving menu. Using a whole lot of day-old cornbread and a little added sweetness from apples and maple syrup, there is a little something for everyone in this recipe. Get The Recipe 40 of 71 Homemade Mashed Potatoes Diana Miller Mashed potatoes are the one staple we never plan to alter when it comes to our Thanksgiving menu. In this recipe, we add a little bit of cream cheese to give these mashed potatoes a little more savory goodness. Get The Recipe 41 of 71 Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Sometimes you want something that warms your heart and taste buds at the same time. Add a little kick to your Thanksgiving meal this year with a bit of chorizo. Get The Recipe 42 of 71 Angel Biscuits Emily Laurae/Southern Living Bless you if you have been waiting for a biscuit recipe. These biscuits truly taste like they were sent from heaven and will make even your youngest guests happy. Get The Recipe 43 of 71 Cranberry Fluff Salad Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely It is not a Southern get-together without some kind of retro salad. We love this pink stuff for its festive color and its homage to holidays past. Get The Recipe 44 of 71 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Having a Thanksgiving potluck or friendsgiving? You might want to whip up this staple. Rich whipping cream and golden, bubbly parmesan cheese make this dish divine. Get The Recipe 45 of 71 Smashed Baby Red Potatoes Southern Living Crispy on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside, these are the best baby potatoes around. To really bring the flavor to the potatoes, we boil them with rosemary, garlic, and salt to make sure that every bite is full of flavor. Get The Recipe 46 of 71 Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie Hector Sanchez Browned butter with spices lends a deep, nutty flavor to this Southern classic. This recipe makes two pies, so it's perfect for a crowd or great to give to a friend who might need a little more love during the holidays. Get The Recipe 47 of 71 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Emily Laurae/Southern Living This sweet potato casserole is top-rated, and we're guessing it's because of the toppings, which include crunchy pecans, crispy cornflakes, brown sugar, butter, and more. This recipe is a fan favorite, even if some just spoon the marshmallows off the top. Get The Recipe 48 of 71 Slow-Cooker Green Beans Iain Bagwell This green bean recipe frees up precious stove-top space and reminds us of the traditional green beans our grandmothers used to make. Plus, if you have not caught on already, we firmly believe bacon belongs in nearly every Southern side. Get The Recipe 49 of 71 Sweet Potato Biscuits Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller We are sweet on these biscuits. They freeze beautifully and bring a little extra fall flavor to your Thanksgiving meal. Pair with a little orange marmalade and some thinly sliced salty ham for the perfect bite. Get The Recipe 50 of 71 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living No holiday is complete without sausage balls somewhere in the mix! We love these pimiento cheese sausage balls because pimiento cheese makes everything just a bit more Southern. Get The Recipe 51 of 71 Classic Candied Yams Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall These candied yams can be made up to three days in advance. Just make them up to step three, put them in the fridge, and bake them on Thanksgiving day. Get The Recipe 52 of 71 Simple Roasted Turkey Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Turkey is a necessity for Thanksgiving. You really cannot have one without the other, and this recipe is a classic, simple take that even novice cooks can ace. We will also make sure you make just enough for everyone at the table. Get The Recipe 53 of 71 Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Since Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, why not bring the holiday cheer with a beautiful cake? While the traditional Thanksgiving dessert is pie, there is always room for holiday cake. Get The Recipe 54 of 71 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck We know that your mothers and grandmothers have spoonbreads they swear by, but this recipe using fresh corn might just be your way to make the classic your own. With fresh herbs throughout, this is a light, new take on a very beloved classic. Get The Recipe 55 of 71 Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez Any recipe that calls for pimiento cheese and creamed spinach is a dream come true. You can put this delightful mixture into ramekins for a personalized touch or prepare it in a 2-quart baking dish. Get The Recipe 56 of 71 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez Three of our favorite sides got together to revolutionize Thanksgiving dinner. With a delightful cheese sauce to hold everything together, this recipe is one that will stick around long after the holidays. Get The Recipe 57 of 71 Classic Bread Dressing Iain Bagwell It's time to ditch your boxed stuffing and make this homemade dressing instead. This easy recipe is made from scratch with high-quality sourdough bread, fresh parsley and thyme, celery, leeks, and garlic. Get The Recipe 58 of 71 Sliced Sweet Potato Pie With Molasses Whipped Cream Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This pie is the perfect fall bite. Just one taste will make you glad you switched things up this year and decided to do something a little bit different than your usual pumpkin pie. Get The Recipe 59 of 71 Turkey Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make this delicious turkey salad recipe. We think we've mastered this simple salad to make it the best ever. Get The Recipe 60 of 71 Leftover Turkey Hash Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Too much turkey? Leftover turkey hash is the perfect recipe to serve for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. With bright bell pepper, onion, vinegar, and so much more, this recipe is a refreshing way to use your turkey leftovers in a way that isn't tired. Get The Recipe 61 of 71 Leftover Turkey Casserole Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen If you love Thanksgiving food, you can savor it a little bit longer with this casserole. Made with canned cream of mushroom soup, pasta, and many other heart-warming ingredients, you can never go wrong with this staple. Get The Recipe 62 of 71 Grits Dressing Laurey W. Glenn Traditional cornbread dressing is an expected dish on many Thanksgiving tables. In this version, grits replace corn meal in the bread that’s then baked in a cast-iron skillet. The result is crisp and fantastic. Get The Recipe 63 of 71 Mini Pumpkin Pies Micah A. Leal These bite-size pumpkin pies will delight guests who want to sample every dessert. And the individual size makes serving easy. Perfect for after the big meal when guests want to visit with everyone. Get The Recipe 64 of 71 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Laurey W. Glenn Get a head start on the turkey feast with these make-ahead rolls that can be formed in almost any shape. This recipe first appeared in the November 1995 issue of Southern Living. Make the dough, refrigerate, and let it rise at room temperature before baking. Get The Recipe 65 of 71 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Victor Protasio It’s not a Southern Thanksgiving without collard greens. Use the slow cooker to free up the stovetop while these cook low and slow. You can also make these ahead of time and reheat in the slow cooker. Get The Recipe 66 of 71 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This dish is just what our Southern hearts desire. Fall vegetables are served in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s good enough to serve as the main course for vegetarian guests. Get The Recipe 67 of 71 Ham Cheese Ball Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely It’s not Thanksgiving without our favorite classics, and this ham and cheese ball is a throwback to all of the holiday parties of our youth. Smoky cheese, ham, and pecans combine for this ultra-pleasing retro app. Get The Recipe 68 of 71 Collard Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez It’s not a party without dip, and this creamy recipe reinvents beloved spinach dip with collard greens. For those who can’t get enough collards at Thanksgiving (and who can?), this dip is sure to satisfy. Get The Recipe 69 of 71 Cranberry Brie Bites Southern Living What holiday gathering is complete without brie on the appetizer display? These bite-size snacks are warm, creamy, and tart thanks to cranberry sauce. Have these ready to go in minutes. Get The Recipe 70 of 71 Spicy-Sweet Pecans Helen Norman A bowl of these is sure to go quickly at a big family gathering. With a little cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cayenne, and rosemary, they’re downright addictive. Get The Recipe 71 of 71 Chocolate Pudding Pie Micah A. Leal There’s room for more than one pie on the dessert buffet. Don’t leave out this classic chocolate pie. Creamy and dreamy, this decadent dessert scores points for being easy and delicious. Get The Recipe Frequently Asked Questions What is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish? According to Zippia, mashed potatoes are the favored side dish in nine states, making it the most popular choice. Other favorites include rolls and stuffing in four states. What is the difference between stuffing and dressing? Stuffing and dressing are interchangeable terms. In the South, Thanksgiving dressing uses cornbread as its foundation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit