33 Crowd-Pleasing Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Casseroles
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

What better way to give thanks than to serve up a spectacular Thanksgiving spread? If the Southern Living Test Kitchen hosted Thanksgiving, it would look like this: a crowd-pleasing spread of our favorite family recipes, like Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread, a few daring new additions, including Pumpkin-Spice Magic Cake, and almost everything make-ahead.

We'd invite family, friends, and friends who feel like family—And of course, there would be pie—lots of pie. (Think a trusty trio of Old Faithfuls: Apple, Pumpkin, and Pecan.)

From cooking shortcuts to genius hosting ideas, our editors dedicated every recipe below to help you prepare for Turkey Day so that you can enjoy it. Start with our homemade relish tray, and end with one of our four delicious variations on the Leftover Turkey Sandwich. This feast isn't just about the main event. We have many reasons to be grateful this year, and we're celebrating them all. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Creamed Corn

Recipe: Creamed Corn

This creamed corn recipe is milky, creamy, and perfectly salty. Use fresh corn if it's in season, but frozen will also work. Add chives, whipping cream, and onion to flavor this vegetable—perfect for a Thanksgiving side dish.

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Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

Stir honey, toasted walnuts, and a touch of cinnamon into softened cream cheese. After combined, add the mixture into a Ziplock bag and pipe it into the celery stalks. This simple yet delicious appetizer is ideal before the big Thanksgiving feast.

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Pickled Beets

Pickled Beets
Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham 

Recipe: Pickled Beets

Beets are better when flavored with dried oregano, thyme, and a tangy apple cider vinegar brine. These root vegetables need to simmer and chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours. Use them as a side or on top of another dish.

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Spicy Pickled Carrots

Spicy Pickled Carrots
Photographer Greg DuPree, Food Stylist Torie Cox Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Recipe: Spicy Pickled Carrots

Make these carrots three to four weeks before the big Thanksgiving feast because they will stay fresh in the refrigerator. Using a vinegar brine consisting of vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, and oil, these flavorful carrots can "pickle" alongside other vegetables. Try this recipe on radishes, green beans, or even mini bell peppers.

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Thanksgiving Punch

Thanksgiving Punch
Photo: Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Thanksgiving Rum Punch

The base for holiday punch includes apple cider, cranberry juice, and ginger beer. Add spiced rum and flavor with cinnamon sticks, cloves, honey, and garnish.

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Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing

Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing

Make this dressing recipe two days before Thanksgiving, giving it time to moisten. The various types of bread create a smoother texture in your dressing compared to other recipes. To break up the bread, try using the edge of a wooden spoon.

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Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Switch up your typical green bean casserole for this one with thin, crispy fried leeks as toppings. Separate leeks into different batches, frying each for about one to two minutes. Not only does this casserole taste great, but it looks great too.

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Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cheesy Potato Casserole

This casserole is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and a recipe you'll want to make all year long. Allow egg yolks and cream to get to room temperature before blending them with the mashed potatoes. The white cheddar and Parmesan cheeses combine to create a perfect, cheesy side dish.

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Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding
Emily Laurae / Southern Living

Recipe: Corn Pudding

A classic Southern holiday staple, corn pudding casserole is a cheesy side dish that only requires around 20 minutes of hands-on time. This recipe uses fontina or Swiss cheese, but you can try substituting a different variety. Drain frozen corn, so it doesn't add extra water to your dish.

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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

13x9 dishes, casseroles, easy meals
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

Use fresh steam-in-bag broccoli florets to help this side dish come together more quickly. The butter, cracker, and parsley topping combine to add a crunchy texture to this cheesy casserole. Freeze this dish for last-minute company, or bake it one day before your feast, so it only takes a few minutes to prepare before serving.

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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Add bacon to something, and it becomes an instant crowd-pleaser. You can use compact brussels sprouts for a milder flavoring. After topping it with panko breadcrumbs, your golden brown side dish is ready to serve—just give it 10 minutes to cool.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Add a Thanksgiving twist to a traditional Hasselback potato casserole using sweet potatoes instead. The creamy sauce and chopped hazelnuts add an instant fall-flavor profile to this dish. Bake until crispy on the outside and potatoes are tender on the inside.

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Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Make-Ahead Gravy

Making gravy ahead of time means you'll have a great start to your Thanksgiving preparations. Start the mixture and store it covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. When it's time to serve, reheat the gravy and flavor by stirring in cream, sherry, thyme, salt, and pepper.

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Herb-Rubbed Smoked Turkey

Herb-Rubbed Smoked Turkey
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Herb-Rubbed Smoked Turkey

Use an herb rub to dry-brine the turkey. Buy some in-store or make your own with dark brown sugar, thyme, rosemary, sage, black pepper, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Add butter underneath the loosened turkey skin for a full-flavored dish.

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Cajun Smoked Turkey

Cajun Smoked Turkey
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cajun Smoked Turkey

Cayenne pepper and paprika add a spicy flavoring to this recipe. This dry rub mixture is an easy way to transform your traditional Thanksgiving meal into something memorable for the entire family to enjoy. Dry-brine the turkey the day before you plan to serve it and refrigerate it overnight—This helps the herbs to soak into the meat.

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Smoked Turkey Herb Rub

Smoked Turkey Herb Rub
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Smoked Turkey Herb Rub

Everyone has their preferred method of cooking a turkey on Thanksgiving, but regardless of the method, a dry herb rub adds incredible flavoring to your main course. Try this turkey rub to add a smokey taste.

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French Onion Puff Pastry Squares

French Onion Puff Pastry Bites
Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: French Onion Puff Pastry Squares

Only six ingredients are needed to create these flakey biscuits. Store-bought pastry puff sheets transform into this easy-to-make side dish, ideal for large gatherings or simple get-togethers. Top the biscuits with swiss cheese, onions, and thyme for a beautiful and savory presentation.

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Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans Recipe

Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
Sheri Giblin

Recipe: Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans Recipe

Candied pecans and homemade vinaigrette make this salad special. Winter greens, goat cheese, and apples add a hearty and earthy quality to this fall-inspired dish.

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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Stacy and Joyce's Cornbread Dressing
Photo: Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Southern Cornbread Dressing

You can't have a Southern Thanksgiving without cornbread dressing. This recipe uses cornbread crumble, which adds a sweetness to the dressing, probably because of the sugar. Blended with celery, onions, and sage, you'll have a dressing everyone wants on their plate.

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Mashed Potato Bar

Mashed Potato Bar
Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Mashed Potato Bar

Invite your guests to customize their Thanksgiving meal by setting up a mashed potato bar. Not only is this a fun idea, but it encourages some unique potato creations. Start with a delicious mashed potato base, and the toppings are endless.

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Creamy Turkey Pot Pie Bites

Creamy Turkey Pot Pie Bites
via Campbell's Kitchen

Recipe: Creamy Turkey Pot Pie Bites

Try these mini creamy turkey pot pies if you are entertaining a smaller crowd or want something new this year. Condensed creamy soups and frozen vegetables combine to make a single-dish meal. Top them with traditional pot pie ingredients, and you are ready to serve.

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Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Prepare this delicious and beautiful layered cake up to three days before Thanksgiving. A homemade caramel sauce swirling through the frosting adds extra sweetness to this pumpkin spice cake. Remember to chill cake layers before frosting.

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Ultimate Apple Pie from Buxton Hall

Ultimate Apple Pie from Buxton Hall
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Ultimate Apple Pie from Buxton Hall

Fresh and dried fruit makes this apple pie unlikely anything you've ever tasted. Try making homemade apple butter for an extra special treat. You can add whatever variety of apples you want, but the recipe calls for a mix including Winesap, Mutsu, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp.

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Oxbow Bakery Pecan Pie

Best Pecan Pie
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Oxbow Bakery Pecan Pie

This expertly crafted recipe starts with preparing the pie crust. Add salt to the water, stir to dissolve, and let this mixture chill for 30 minutes. The cold-water mixture should be drizzled over the flour mixture, helping form this light and airy crust.

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Back in the Day Bakery Southern Pumpkin Pie

Southern Pumpkin Pie
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Southern Pumpkin Pie by Back in the Day Bakery

For a professional baking tip, this recipe calls for adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the pie crust, which creates a super flaky crust. The 30-minute hands-on time makes this a great go-to pumpkin pie recipe for the holiday season. Plenty of spices sprinkle the filling mixture for this classic fall treat.

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Butterscotch-Spice Trifle

Butterscotch-Spice Trifle
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Butterscotch-Spice Trifle

Take a break from baking pies this fall, and opt for a butterscotch-spice trifle, which will delight your guest. Remember to refrigerate the trifle for at least four hours, allowing enough time for the cake and custard layers to meld together. Leave the whipped cream topping for just before serving.

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Pumpkin Spice Cake

Pumpkin Spice Cake
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

This cake is for the pumpkin spice fans. This spice cake, combined with a buttery caramel sauce, is a moist treat inspired by a Mexican dessert called "impossible flan." The Test Kitchen recommends a light-colored Bundt pan as the dark-colored pans can get too hot and overbake the cake.

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

This fudge cake is easy to make and highly decadent. Taking the time for the ganache to set in the freezer allows the buttercream to spread over the cake layers quickly. This is more than a Thanksgiving day recipe—you'll want to bake it year-round.

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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Leftover turkey is great for sandwiches. Elevate your post-turkey day meal by making this crisp apple and brie sandwich. It's an easy dish to prepare and something you can make with only a few extra ingredients.

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Turkey, Caramelized Onion, and Gruyère Grilled Cheese

Turkey, Caramelized Onion, and Gruyère Grilled Cheese
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Caramelized Onion, and Gruyère Grilled Cheese

Everyone loves a gooey grilled cheese sandwich. Use some leftover turkey and combine it with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese for a unique spin on this traditional favorite.

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Turkey and Pimiento Cheese Club Sandwich

Turkey and Pimiento Cheese Club Sandwich
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey and Pimiento Cheese Club Sandwich

Use thinly sliced turkey layered between two thick slices of Texas toast to pair with bacon and pimiento cheese for a flavorful Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich. Add tomato, lettuce, and condiments based on your preferences.

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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Your typical turkey sandwich gets upgraded when added to a baguette and layered with fresh mozzarella and pesto sauce. Top with fresh arugula and thin radish slices to complete the dish.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow-Cooker White Chili with Turkey

After the big turkey feast and countless turkey sandwiches, you might want a change of scenery from the kitchen, which means it's time to use the slow-cooker. This chili recipe that uses leftover turkey makes enough to feed a large crowd, including family who may still be visiting for the holidays. Add your ingredients, let it cook for seven hours, and enjoy your warm, comforting dish.

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