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The BEST Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

BySamantha Skaggs

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The BEST Thanksgiving Menu Ideas is a collection of amazing Thanksgiving recipes to help you put together the perfect holiday dinner, from turkey and side dishes, to rolls and desserts, to so much more!

Thanksgiving Menu Ideas collage with text and four photos of Thanksgiving recipes including Thanksgiving main dishes and Thanksgiving side dishes.

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'Tis the season to start thinking about your Thanksgiving menu! And in case you need ideas, I've put together a comprehensive round-up of the most scrumptious Thanksgiving recipes.

You'll find turkey in a couple different forms as well as a few other main dish ideas. You'll find a wide variety of mouthwatering Thanksgiving side dishes. You'll find dinner rolls, from shortcut to homemade. And you'll find drinks and desserts -- from pie to cake -- including my foolproof homemade pie crust recipe!

So I hope you're hungry, because it's time to plan that Thanksgiving menu! 🙂

Thanksgiving Turkey + MORE!

  1. MAPLE-GLAZED TURKEY WITH BACON + SAGE BUTTER
Maple-Glazed Turkey with Bacon with sage leaves and fresh cranberries garnishing platter.
Maple-Glazed Turkey with Bacon
This juicy, tender turkey is slathered with sage-infused butter, shingled with crispy bacon, and glazed with maple syrup for the best Thanksgiving turkey you've ever tasted!
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  1. JUICY SLOW COOKER TURKEY BREAST WITH HERB BUTTER
Crockpot Turkey Breast sliced on platter with herbs and gravy.
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
This turkey breast with herb butter is the easiest, most delicious way to cook juicy and flavorful turkey in the crockpot! It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or a regular weeknight dinner when you don’t need an entire giant turkey!
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  1. CORNISH HENS WITH CITRUS GLAZE
Cornish hen recipe with citrus glaze on platter.
Cornish Hens with Citrus Glaze
This easy yet impressive dinner of roasted Cornish hens coated in a sweet and tangy citrus glaze are juicy, tender, and bursting with flavors of fresh orange and lime. Serve each guest a beautiful and delicious Cornish hen to make any holiday meal special!
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  1. THE BEST CROCKPOT HAM
Thick slices of Crockpot Brown Sugar Ham.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
This amazing ham is slow cooked in pineapple juice with a brown sugar glaze featuring Dijon, balsamic vinegar, and honey for an EASY holiday dinner that practically makes itself!
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  1. MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY
Make Ahead Turkey Gravy pouring over slices of turkey breast.
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
This silky, flavorful, and super quick recipe is easy to make, saving the stress of frantically making gravy at the last minute when you're already busy putting together a big holiday dinner!
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Thanksgiving Side Dishes

  1. ULTIMATE CORNBREAD STUFFING
Cornbread Stuffing with Garlic and Herbs.
Ultimate Cornbread Stuffing
This savory, simple Thanksgiving dressing recipe features both French bread and cornbread, customized with garlic and your favorite herbs and add-ins!
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  1. MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, serving spoon suspended over baking dish.
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
These creamy, decadent mashed potatoes are loaded with mellow garlic and fresh herbs and topped with a golden Parmesan crust for a perfect holiday side dish that you can prepare in advance!
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  1. SLOW COOKER MASHED POTATOES
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes, aerial view in crockpot.
Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is easy to prep, hands-off, and great for freeing up stove and oven space…but best of all -- despite the minimal effort -- it turns out creamy, flavorful, and delicious mashed potatoes!
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  1. SCALLOPED POTATO FLAN WITH GRUYERE + GARLIC
Scalloped Potato Flan slice on plate with fresh thyme.
Scalloped Potato Flan
This dish features thinly sliced potatoes layered with garlic and Gruyère cheese, drenched in cream, then baked, overturned, and sliced for an elegant presentation that's perfect for special occasions and holiday dinners!
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  1. OLD-FASHIONED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole in baking dish with missing scoop and spoon.
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
This sweet, creamy, scrumptious sweet potato casserole boasts a fabulously crunchy pecan topping (or you can swap with toasted marshmallows!) for a holiday favorite that will lend nostalgia to any Thanksgiving menu!
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  1. SLOW COOKER SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Crockpot Sweet Potatoes.
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Whipped sweet potatoes are lightly sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with warm spices then topped with toasted pecans for a delicious and effortless addition to Thanksgiving dinner (while freeing up the oven at the same time)!
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  1. TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes ~ the perfect Thanksgiving side dish, featuring a smooth, creamy filling and topped with toasty marshmallows or crunchy pecan streusel | FiveHeartHome.com
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
This perfect Thanksgiving side dish features a smooth, creamy filling and a topping of either toasty marshmallows or crunchy pecan streusel!
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  1. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE WITH BACON
Green Beans with Bacon in a dish with spoon.
Green Beans + Bacon Casserole
Forgo traditional green bean casserole for this delicious holiday side dish that boasts fresh green beans and crispy bacon in a sweet and savory brown sugar glaze!
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  1. GREEN BEAN BUNDLES WITH BACON + BROWN SUGAR GLAZE
Aerial view of Green Bean Bundles lined up on white platter.
Green Bean Bundles
Or get a little fancy by wrapping your green beans in crispy bacon and brushing with brown sugar glaze to turn an ordinary veggie into a savory-sweet, extra-special side dish that's worthy of holidays and special occasions!
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  1. FROM-SCRATCH GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
Green Bean Casserole From Scratch on plate with fresh green beans, homemade mushroom sauce, and breadcrumb topping.
From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole
This creamy, savory, and easy-to-make green bean casserole is loaded with fresh ingredients and topped with a golden Parmesan-Panko crust for a fantastic upgrade to the traditional holiday side dish...and one that’s sure to impress your family and guests!
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  1. CREAMY CHEESY CORN CASSEROLE
Cream Cheese Corn Casserole close-up.
Cream Cheese Corn Casserole
This decadent, comforting side dish features sweet corn mixed with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and (optional) diced jalapeños!
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  1. SLOW COOKER CREAMY CHEESY CORN
Slow Cooker Creamy Cheesy Corn
This rich, creamy side dish is a delectable addition to any holiday menu that also frees up the stove and oven!
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  1. ULTIMATE CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
Ultimate Cornbread Casserole.
Ultimate Cornbread Casserole
The classic side dish rises to the next level, made from scratch with the flavorful additions of bacon, cheddar, and jalapeño!
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  1. SCALLOPED CORN
Aerial view of Scalloped Corn.
Scalloped Corn
This simple, classic side dish is loaded with corn, a custard-like filling, and a topping of buttery crackers, perfect for holiday celebrations or everyday dinners!
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  1. EASY CREAMED CORN WITH PARMESAN
Easy Creamed Corn with Parmesan ~ creamy, decadent corn topped with Parmesan and baked until bubbly | FiveHeartHome.com
Easy Creamed Corn with Parmesan
Sure to become a new favorite side dish, decadent creamed corn is topped with a salty layer of Parmesan cheese and baked until golden and bubbly.
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  1. SLOW COOKER HONEY CINNAMON CARROTS
Crockpot carrots in slow cooker with a honey cinnamon glaze.
Slow Cooker Honey Cinnamon Carrots
This sweet, buttery, and addictive slow cooker side dish is the perfect easy recipe for freeing up the oven and feeding a crowd!
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  1. INSTANT POT HONEY CINNAMON CARROTS
Aerial view of Instant Pot Carrots in pressure cooker with serving spoon.
Instant Pot Honey Cinnamon Carrots
This easy recipe makes sweet, honey cinnamon-glazed carrots in a flash using the pressure cooker!
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  1. ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PARMESAN
Close-up showing Parmesan sprinkled on top.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
These easy-to-prepare Brussels sprouts feature simple seasonings and Parmesan to boost their flavor and a natural sweetness brought out by roasting!
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  1. BALSAMIC ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PISTACHIOS + CRANBERRIES
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic, Pistachios, & Dried Cranberries.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios and Cranberries
These addictive roasted veggies are embellished with balsamic, nuts, and dried fruit for flavor, texture, and a special presentation!
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  1. BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon.
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
This decadent, delicious recipe is loaded with bacon, Gruyere, and crunchy breadcrumbs...the perfect side dish for holiday menus!
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  1. CLASSIC ROASTED ASPARAGUS
Roasted Asparagus ~ simply seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper for a delicious, easy, versatile, springtime side dish! | FiveHeartHome.com
Roasted Asparagus
This easy, classic, and versatile side dish is simply seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and then roasted!
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Thanksgiving Salads

  1. THANKSGIVING SALAD
Thanksgiving Salad.
Thanksgiving Salad
This gorgeous pomegranate, pear, pecan, and brie salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette is loaded with vibrant colors, flavors, and contrasting textures!
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  1. HOLIDAY HONEYCRISP SALAD
Close-up of Christmas salad with red and green ingredients.
Holiday Honeycrisp Salad
This glorious salad is full of flavor and texture, with fresh apple slices, crunchy toasted pecans, chewy dried cranberries, zippy blue cheese, and a tangy-sweet apple cider vinaigrette. It's perfect as a Thanksgiving salad, a Christmas salad, for a dinner party, or as part of a regular weeknight dinner!
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  1. HOLIDAY BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad for the holidays.
Holiday Brussels Sprouts Salad
This festive holiday salad is loaded with sweet apple and pomegranate, toasty walnuts, and blue cheese for a fresh, gorgeous salad to complement any meal!
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Thanksgiving Rolls + Cranberries

  1. WHOLE WHEAT DINNER ROLLS
Homemade Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls.
The Very Best Homemade Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Adapted from our incredibly popular Homemade Whole Wheat Bread recipe, these 100% whole wheat dinner rolls are soft, pillowy, moist, easy to make, and truly the BEST!
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  1. SAVORY HERB + CHEESE MONKEY BREAD
Savory Monkey Bread aerial view of monkey bread coated with herbs and cheese.
Savory Monkey Bread
This savory monkey bread is quick and easy to make and totally customizable, thanks to refrigerated biscuits that are dipped in garlic butter and coated in herbs and cheese for a monkey bread that’s as festive and visually appealing as it is delicious!
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  1. SHORTCUT GARLIC ROSEMARY CLOVERLEAF ROLLS
Quick & Easy Garlic Rosemary Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls.
Shortcut Garlic Rosemary Cloverleaf Rolls
When time is short and homemade isn't possible, frozen bread dough is a quick and easy shortcut ingredient for making lovely dinner rolls...perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday meal or special occasion!
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  1. CRAN-CHERRY SAUCE
Cranberry Cherry Sauce.
Cranberry Cherry Sauce
Sweetened with honey and brightened with citrus, this twist on cranberry sauce strikes a perfect balance between tart cranberries and luscious cherry preserves, making it the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!
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  1. CRANBERRY FLUFF SALAD
Cranberry Pomegranate Fluff Salad ~ a new twist on the classic recipe, loaded with tart cranberries, sweet pomegranate arils, crushed pineapple, toasty pecans, chewy coconut, fluffy marshmallows, and fresh whipped cream for a delicious holiday side dish! | FiveHeartHome.com
Cranberry Fluff Salad
Every Thanksgiving plate needs a dollop of this "salad," loaded with cranberries, pomegranate, pineapple, pecans, coconut, marshmallows, and fresh whipped cream!
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Thanksgiving Drinks + Desserts

  1. SPARKLING APPLE CIDER SANGRIA
Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Cider Sangria in a pitcher
Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria
This festive fall cocktail of white wine, apple cider, and sweet sliced Honeycrisps is perfect for Thanksgiving!
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  1. THE BEST EASY BUTTER PIE CRUST
Butter Pie Crust showing fluted edges.
The Best EASY Butter Pie Crust
This homemade pie crust easy to make with just FOUR simple ingredients, and it turns out amazingly flaky and delicious! It’s truly foolproof (even if you’re not already a pie crust expert) and the ONLY pie crust recipe you’ll ever need!
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  1. BEST PECAN PIE RECIPE
The BEST Pecan Pie.
The BEST Pecan Pie
This recipe is foolproof and perfect every time, with an abundance of toasty pecans floating on a thick, glossy filling in a flaky, all-butter pie crust!
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  1. MINI PECAN PIES
Mini Pecan Pies on plate with zoomed in missing bite.
Mini Pecan Pies
Individually-portioned mini pies are made in a muffin pan, making them cute and fun to eat, and featuring a tender, buttery crust (no rolling pin needed!) and a sweet, nutty filling!
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  1. EASY PECAN PIE BARS
Pecan Pie Bars with shortbread crust and easy homemade filling.
Easy Pecan Pie Bars
With a buttery shortbread crust, gooey nut filling, and crunchy, crackly top, these portable, hand-held treats highlight the best of pecan pie in cookie bar form!
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  1. PUMPKIN BUNDT CAKE
Pumpkin Bundt Cake slice on a plate
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
With flavors of pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, and caramelized cookies, this moist bundt cake boasts a Biscoff swirl and a topping of Biscoff glaze!
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  1. PUMPKIN ICEBOX CAKE
Pumpkin Gingersnap Icebox Cake
Pumpkin Icebox Cake
This easy, no-bake, fall dessert of pumpkin, cream cheese, and fresh whipped cream is layered with gingersnap cookies to transform into soft, creamy cake after chilling in the refrigerator!
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  1. CARAMEL APPLE SHEET CAKE WITH CARAMEL GLAZE
Caramel Apple Cake sliced in pan with caramel glaze and apple garnish.
Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
This sweet, moist sheet cake is loaded with tender apples and topped with gooey caramel glaze…and it's perfect for feeding a crowd!
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  1. EASY APPLE CAKE
Easy Apple Cake aerial view
Easy Apple Cake
A quick, cinnamon-kissed batter is crowned with sliced apples for a sweet and simple dessert!
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  1. CREAM CHEESE CARAMEL APPLE DIP
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
You're just three ingredients away from a sweet and creamy fruit dip that tastes just like caramel apple cheesecake!
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Did I miss any of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes that should be added to this list?

Good luck with your Thanksgiving menu planning and let me know if you have any questions!

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. 🙂

(And pssst...go ahead and bookmark or pin this collection of Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes for ideas on how to use up your leftovers from Thanksgiving -- or Christmas or other holiday meals -- with ideas for leftover turkey, ham, and mashed potatoes!)

Thanksgiving Recipes collage with text and four photos of Thanksgiving menu ideas from Thanksgiving main dishes to Thanksgiving side dishes.

If you enjoyed this collection of curated recipes, you might also like to check out these other round-ups!

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