recipes

31 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas That Are Solid Holiday Gold

Nostalgia never tasted better.
Pumpkin pie with slices on plates topped with whipped cream.
Alex Lau

Planning a Thanksgiving menu is serious work. The expectations are high, and while there’s plenty of room to mix and match, there are certain classic Thanksgiving recipes your guests are always going to expect to see at dinner. We’re talking about buttery mashed potatoes, a crispy-skinned roast turkey looking glorious at the center of the table, and a slice of pumpkin pie—the quintessence of Thanksgiving desserts—to close out the night. So if you’re after a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year, this list of tried-and-true recipes has everything you need and more. You’ll find beautifully charred roasted green beans, sweet and savory casseroles, and all the irresistible turkey stuffings you know you’ve been craving since last November. Sure, there are a lot of recipes in this Thanksgiving menu, but they're all instantly recognizable, delicious, and the best kind of nostalgic—and that’s something to be thankful for. 

  • Image may contain Dinner Food Supper Meal Roast Turkey Dinner Human and Person
    Alex Lau
    1/32

    Easy Roast Turkey with No-Roux Gravy

    It’s important to follow the measurements for the salt and to use a low-sodium stock (or, better yet, a homemade one) for this recipe—otherwise, the gravy could wind up being too salty.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    2/32

    One-Skillet Mushroom Cornbread Stuffing

    This gluten-free stuffing has all the familiar aromatics and flavors baked right into cornbread batter, resulting in a crunchy, craggly, super-savory side dish.

    View Recipe
  • Danny Kim
    5/32

    Turkey Breast with Roasted Broccolini

    You can find Chinese five-spice powder, a combination of star anise, fennel, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and cloves, at many supermarkets. We really like the fresh intensity and balance of the five-spice powder from World Spice.

    View Recipe
  • Alex Lau
    6/32

    Hard Cider Gravy

    Hard cider is really wonderful to cook with: It adds a bit of sweetness, acidity, and a hint of apple. And the leftovers are great in an autumnal cocktail. Check out step-by-step photos here.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox
    7/32

    Sweet Potato Grits

    Edna Lewis once said, “People should really leave grits alone.” We won’t argue with the queen, but Kia Damon’s creamy, custardy roasted sweet potato grits are proof that all rules have exceptions.

    View Recipe
  • Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Rose Daniels and Yia Vang
    8/32

    Blistered Green Beans With Fried Shallots

    It’s impossible to stop eating these green beans.

    View Recipe
  • Alex Lau
    9/32

    Apple–Brown Sugar Pie

    Chilling the filled pie before baking helps it keep its shape; preroasting the apples packs in more flavor.

    View Recipe
  • 10/32

    Pavochon

    Pavochon, a mash-up of pavo for turkey and chon for lechón, is the centerpiece of a Puerto Rican Thanksgiving.

    View Recipe
  • 11/32

    Classic Herb and Fennel Stuffing

    This goes out to all those whose Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without a craggy-topped, herb-infused, crusty-bread-based stuffing.

    View Recipe
  • Alex Lau
    12/32

    Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

    Brown butter and rosemary are the ultimate, timeless pairing for sweet potatoes. Making your own breadcrumbs from sourdough bread shoots this recipe into all-star status, but using store-bought in a pinch is perfectly fine too.

    View Recipe
  • 13/32

    Extra-Buttery Mashed Potatoes

    For this mashed potato recipe, drying the cooked potatoes in the pan means that they'll absorb that much more flavor from your herb-infused dairy.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
    14/32

    Cranberry Orange Sauce With Cinnamon

    This recipe makes a bright condiment for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, but it's also a delicious, zesty topping for a breakfast of steel-cut oats.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    17/32

    Charred Brussels Sprouts With Warm Honey Glaze

    Roasty, toasty brussels soak up this delicious honey sauce, creating a combo you just can’t beat.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
    18/32

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    These creamy, glossy mashed potatoes can be made up to two days before the big night without losing their velvety texture.

    View Recipe
  • Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
    21/32

    Why-Is-It-So-Good Gravy

    A make-ahead gravy gets a remarkable depth of flavor from roasted poultry bones and—surprise!—a sprinkle of MSG.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    22/32

    Classic Potato Gratin

    There's nothing like creamy on the bottom, crispy on the top potato gratin. It's like family in a casserole dish.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni
    23/32

    BA’s Best Pumpkin Pie

    This pumpkin pie recipe features the perfect combination and ratio of spices, which really highlight the flavors of the pumpkin, with sweetened condensed milk to add a decadent richness to the custard

    View Recipe
  • 24/32

    Expertly Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey

    The absolute inarguably best way to cook a well-seasoned, juicy turkey is to break it down into parts, dry-brine it, and roast it on a wire rack in a baking sheet.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni, gravy boats by Base Ceramics
    25/32

    Make-Ahead Gravy

    This do-ahead gravy skips the pan drippings.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman
    26/32

    Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    This easy, perfect mashed potatoes recipe produces the creamiest and fluffiest version of this comfort food classic around.

    View Recipe
  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    27/32

    Very Classic Dry-Brined Roast Turkey

    The brine doesn't just keep the meat juicy—it helps deliver that beautiful browned skin. If you feel like skipping the infused-butter baste, brush occasionally with a light coat of extra-virgin olive oil to get that golden brown skin.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
    28/32

    Parker House Rolls

    A top coat of melted butter and salt makes this Parker House rolls recipe irresistible.

    View Recipe
  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht
    29/32

    BA’s Best Pecan Pie

    No booze, no chocolate, no hard-to-find ingredients in this rendition of the classic pecan pie. 

    View Recipe
  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    30/32

    Rich Turkey Gravy

    While the turkey roasts, it releases tons of concentrated flavor into the pan—this is where the gravy takes on another dimension.

    View Recipe
Explore Bon AppétitDinnerThanksgivingTurkeyPotato