Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes Our 60 Best Thanksgiving Recipes Of All Time By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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 the new additions to the holiday feast (crowd-pleasing sides, show stopping pies, the skillet cornbread, a new spin on mashed potatoes), Southerners always leave room on the table for the tried-and-true classics. The recipes that have been passed down for generations and been in our family–and on our holiday tables–for decades. Not only are they delicious but 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 60 Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy Greg Dupree Recipe: Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy 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. 02 of 60 Turkey Gravy Greg Dupree Recipe: Turkey Gravy 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. 03 of 60 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Buttermilk Spoon Bread 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. 04 of 60 Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad 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. 05 of 60 Spiced Cranberry Mold Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spiced Cranberry Mold 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. 06 of 60 Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing 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. 07 of 60 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie 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. 08 of 60 Parker House Rolls Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Parker House Rolls 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. 09 of 60 Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping The candied, textured, slightly spicy pecan topping on this recipe beautifully compliments the root vegetables. A beautiful side dish that tastes just as good as it looks, everyone will be asking for seconds. 10 of 60 Granny Smith Apple Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Granny Smith Apple Pie 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. 11 of 60 Fluffy Corn Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Fluffy Corn Pudding 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. 12 of 60 Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins 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. 13 of 60 Fried Arkansas Black Apples Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Fried Arkansas Black Apples 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. 14 of 60 Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies 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. 15 of 60 Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets 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. 16 of 60 Creole Deep-Fried Turkey Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Creole Deep-Fried Turkey 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. 17 of 60 Scalloped Oysters Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Scalloped Oysters We let the oysters do the all talking in this recipe. Butter, cream, crackers, oysters and seasonings are the only ingredients you need to make this classic recipe really sing. 18 of 60 Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon 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. 19 of 60 Baked Brie with Pecans Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Brie with Pecans 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. 20 of 60 Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Elevate your side dish game with this roasted carrots recipe which uses rainbow carrots for an extra splash of color. Everyone will eat their veggies if you make this, we promise! 21 of 60 Grated Sweet Potato Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grated Sweet Potato Pudding 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 simple side that will not disappoint. 22 of 60 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole 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 of time to really help free up your time. 23 of 60 Sweet Potato Rolls Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls 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. 24 of 60 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Iain Bagwell Recipe: Herbed Wild Rice Dressing 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. 25 of 60 Pear Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pear Pie 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. 26 of 60 Shrimp-Stuffed Mirlitons Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Shrimp-Stuffed Mirlitons This unique squash dish deserves a spot on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Perfectly paired with seafood, this side is sure to impress your guests. 27 of 60 Tee's Corn Pudding Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding 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. 28 of 60 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings Jim Franco Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings 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. 29 of 60 Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries Unique candy roaster squash is the perfect veggie addition to your Thanksgiving spread. Available across the Southeast, if you are in the region you need to try this cold-weather heirloom. 30 of 60 Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole 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. 31 of 60 Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe 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. 32 of 60 Squash Casserole Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy Recipe: Squash Casserole Thanksgiving is one of the few times of the year that 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. 33 of 60 Sea Island Crab Fried Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sea Island Crab Fried Rice 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. 34 of 60 Skillet Squash Blossom Iain Bagwell Recipe: Skillet Squash Blossom With carmelized edges and an intricate presentation, this Thanksgiving side is pretty enough to stand in as the table's centerpiece. 35 of 60 Classic Deviled Eggs Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Classic Deviled Eggs 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. 36 of 60 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Greg DuPree Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever We love homemade, but we also love easy. You can get the best of both worlds with this pie recipe. In just seven ingredients you will have the simplest and best pumpkin pie you can dream of. 37 of 60 Smoked Turkey Breast Jody Horton Recipe: Smoked Turkey Breast Sometimes, baking and basting an entire bird is more trouble than it's worth. A turkey breast is 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. 38 of 60 Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel 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 of apples and maple syrup, there is a little something for everyone in this recipe. 39 of 60 Homemade Mashed Potatoes Diana Miller Recipe: Homemade Mashed Potatoes 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. 40 of 60 Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo 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. 41 of 60 Angel Biscuits Emily Laurae/Southern Living Recipe: Angel Biscuits 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. 42 of 60 Cranberry Fluff Salad Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Cranberry Fluff Salad 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. 43 of 60 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes 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. 44 of 60 Smashed Baby Red Potatoes Southern Living Recipe: Smashed Baby Red Potatoes 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. 45 of 60 Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie Hector Sanchez Recipe: Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie Browned butter with spices lends a deep, nutty flavor to this Southern classic. This recipe makes two pies, so its perfect or a crowd or great to give to a friend who might need a little more love during the holidays. 46 of 60 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Emily Laurae/Southern Living Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole This sweet potato casserole is top-rated, and we're guessing it's because of the toppings, which includes 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. 47 of 60 Slow-Cooker Green Beans Iain Bagwell Recipe: Slow-Cooker Green Beans 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. 48 of 60 Sweet Potato Biscuits Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits 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. 49 of 60 Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls No holiday is complete without sausage balls somewhere in the mix! We love these pimento cheese sausage balls because pimento cheese makes everything just a bit more Southern. 50 of 60 Classic Candied Yams Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Candied Yams These candied yams can be made up to three days in advance. Just make them to step three, put them in the fridge and bake them on Thanksgiving day. 51 of 60 Simple Roasted Turkey Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Simple Roasted Turkey 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. 52 of 60 Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream 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 cake. 53 of 60 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread 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. 54 of 60 Pimiento-Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez Recipe: Pimiento-Cheese Creamed Spinach 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. 55 of 60 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole 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. 56 of 60 Classic Bread Dressing Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Bread Dressing 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, and celery, leeks, and garlic. 57 of 60 Sliced Sweet Potato Pie With Molasses Whipped Cream Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sliced Sweet Potato Pie With Molasses Whipped Cream This pie is the perfect fall bite. Just one taste will make you glad you switched things up this year and decided do something a little bit different than you usual pumpkin pie. 58 of 60 Turkey Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Turkey Salad 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. 59 of 60 Leftover Turkey Hash Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Leftover Turkey Hash 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 leftovers in a way that isn't tired. 60 of 60 Leftover Turkey Casserole Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Recipe: Leftover Turkey Casserole 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit