Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes Vintage Thanksgiving Recipes Every Southerner Needs to Make This Year By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer If anything can be called classic, it's Thanksgiving dinner. From the roasted turkey to the cornbread dressing, the pumpkin pie to the green bean casserole, there are a number of traditional dishes that make an appearance year after year, decade after decade. Since we don't mess with these staples, the recipes are what we'd call fine-tuned perfection. Well, pull out the antique china and gelatin mold. We're revisiting some retro Thanksgiving recipes that have graced Southerners' tables for over 50 years. Think old-school favorites like sliced sweet potato pie and molded cranberry salad, as well as forever classics like spoonbread and corn pudding. These vintage Thanksgiving recipes are here to make your Thanksgiving meal just a touch more nostalgic. 01 of 42 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Buttermilk Spoon Bread This delicious Thanksgiving recipe is the perfect cross between hot cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing. 02 of 42 Sweet Potato Rolls Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls Get crafty with your sweet potatoes this year and make warm and fluffy bread rolls. These Are The 84 Best Cyber Monday Deals You Can Score On Amazon For Under $100 03 of 42 Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Hoping to elevate your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Just add bacon. 04 of 42 Scalloped Oysters Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Scalloped Oysters You can't go wrong with serving the Southern classics; Scalloped Oysters are a surefire crowdpleaser. 05 of 42 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 sweet and spicy pecan topping on this recipe adds a scrumptious texture to the root vegetables. Plus, it's a topping you can use year-round on everything from salads to macaroni and cheese. 06 of 42 Savory Corn Pudding Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding Don't ever let Thanksgiving commence without corn pudding, we say. This favorite comes in many (albeit similar) versions, including this more savory recipe with chopped onions and fresh thyme. Try our Tee's Corn Pudding for a slightly sweeter take. 07 of 42 Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing Ultra-smooth, incredibly moist, and passed down through the family, Aunt Grace's cornbread dressing is so good that it just had to be shared with us (and readers) by our travel editor. The trick? Using four types of bread. Trust us, it makes a difference. 08 of 42 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots A classic combination dressed up for the holidays, this Brussels-and-bacon casserole might just give green bean casserole a run for its money. 09 of 42 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole If you're wondering why this is on the list, you're surely not from these parts. Crunchy, creamy, and cheesy, this casserole is a Turkey Day non-negotiable. 10 of 42 Grits Dressing Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Grits Dressing When this cornbread-free dressing recipe graced Southern Living pages over 25 years ago, it stirred the proverbial pot, to be sure. But if we're swapping out a cornmeal-laden version for anything, it's going to be for grits. (Who says there isn't room for both?) 11 of 42 Classic Candied Yams Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Candied Yams Candied yams aren't as favored on the Thanksgiving spread as they once were. Back before sweet potato casserole reigned supreme, these lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet yams were a Southern staple. 12 of 42 Sliced Sweet Potato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream On a special occasion like Thanksgiving, an antique version of sweet potato pie feels just right. This double-crust, old-fashioned pie might look ordinary on the outside, but when it's sliced, the inside reveals vibrant orange layers of sweet potatoes flecked with spices and sweetened with sugar and sorgham syrup. 13 of 42 Smoked Turkey Breast Jody Horton Recipe: Smoked Turkey Breast Let the brine (and smoker) do the work. This classic smoked turkey is full of autumnal flavors like apple cider, fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage. 14 of 42 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Thanksgiving calls for at least one enticingly sweet side dish. This retro favorite combines every classic topping—marshmallows, pecans, and cornflakes—for a creamy, crunchy, gooey finish. 15 of 42 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole Creamy and savory, and with a bit of crunch at the end from crispy fried onions, this old-fashioned green bean casserole hits all of the tried-and-true notes. 16 of 42 Apple-Bourbon Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Apple-Bourbon Pie Sure, apple pie is classic. But this rendition from our 1995 November issue is anything but ordinary. Bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts give it a festive zing. 17 of 42 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Wonderfully easy, these make-ahead rolls can be set to go before the in-laws come into town. Like our icebox dinner rolls, these yeast rolls will always be a Thanksgiving staple in the South. The recipe first made its mark in our November 1995 issue. 18 of 42 Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel Recipe Somewhere, a Southerner is always making a case for including sausage in a dish. This cornbread dressing recipe proves that he or she is usually right! 19 of 42 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Collards are like good Thanksgiving guests. They don't get in the way, but definitely add something to the occasion. (In this case, the sideboard.) Southern to the bone, collard greens with ham hocks are too easy and delicious to pass up. 20 of 42 Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts Tina Cornett Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts Find a more festive Thanksgiving casserole, we pose. Using Thanksgiving turkey and adorably-cut cranberry-pecan crust, this pot pie takes an old-school classic and renders it fall-tastic. 21 of 42 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Once upon a time, we sent the Southern Living Test Kitchen on a mission to discover the easiest, most fantastic pumpkin pie recipe in all the land. And they succeeded. If you thought homemade pumpkin pie was difficult to pull off, think again. 22 of 42 Best Pecan Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Best Pecan Pie This Texas-based recipe feels straight from the archives. "A lady from Houston just grabbed me and hugged me with tears in her eyes," says the purveyor of this pecan pie, Becky Wolfe. "She said she hadn't had pie like this since her mother passed." 23 of 42 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Iain Bagwell Recipe: Herbed Wild Rice Dressing It's wild, that's for sure. In Louisiana, rice-based dressings are a common occurence—lend it to Cajun cooking's love for the grain—and this rice dressing recipe makes a case for broadening beyond cornbread. 24 of 42 Hot Cranberry Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Hot Cranberry Bake This simple, crisp-like dessert is like having holiday heaven on speed dial. Quick and easy, it's a classic we brought back from an issue dated almost three decades ago. 25 of 42 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Southerners love nothing more than piling seasonal vegetables into a casserole dish, covering them with cheese, and topping it all with something crunchy. This gratin uses pumpkin, butternut squash, and russet potatoes. 26 of 42 Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy Greg DuPree Recipe: Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy Cover all of your Thanksgiving needs with this old-fashioned, wonderfully basted turkey. Spices like sage, thyme, and fennel seeds do most of the work. 27 of 42 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Iain Bagwell Recipe: Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Talk about a festive demeanor. These carrots make a bright and cheery addition to the spread. During the holiday season, Southerners will cover just about any vegetable with butter, sugar, and a bevy of festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. 28 of 42 Classic Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Classic Deviled Eggs Somewhere along the line, this favorite Southern snack became a beloved Thanksgiving tradition. Southern cooks pop these in between covering the casseroles and basting the turkey. 29 of 42 Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Published in Southern Living in November, 1990, this recipe has all the makings of a keeper. A version of poppyseed casserole shows up on every Southern table, from time to time, and what better way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey? 30 of 42 Egg Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Egg Custard Pie This old-school pie is delicious and easy to pull off, making it one of our go-tos. The silky smooth custard in this pie is made with eggs and half and half. 31 of 42 Chocolate Pudding Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Pie There are few things more classic than homemade pudding. Chocolate lovers will adore this rich and creamy pie that showcases smooth pudding. 32 of 42 Oyster Casserole Greg DuPree Recipe: Oyster Casserole It may go by many names, but no matter what it's called we love it. Oyster casserole relies on oysters, a rich and creamy sauce, and a crispy topping. 33 of 42 Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing Recipe: Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing Cornbread and squash are synonymous with Southern food. They meet in this dressing for the ultimate holiday side dish. 34 of 42 Fresh Apple Cake Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake Short prep time and fresh fall flavors make this dessert a hit at every function. 35 of 42 Molded Cranberry Salad Hector M Sanchez Recipe: Molded Cranberry Salad Even if it just sits there, pushed to the farthest corner, a congealed salad just wants to be included on Thanksgiving Day. We published our fair share of congealed salads in the 1960s, and we wouldn't mind bringing this cranberry rendition back. 36 of 42 Classic Fresh Field Peas Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas Using both ham hocks and bacon drippings, these fresh field peas don't go subtle on flavor for the day of feasting. 37 of 42 Fennel-and-Potato Gratin Jennifer Davick Recipe: Fennel-and-Potato Gratin Potatoes au gratin grace our Thanksgiving tables as much as mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. This particular gratin feels like fall, thanks to nutmeg and fennel. Check out our full collection of warm, cheesy potato casseroles here. 38 of 42 Broccoli Cheese Casserole Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole It's easy to eat your veggies with this cheesy side. This casserole is super decadent, thanks to the buttery cracker topping and a creamy sauce made with lots of Cheddar cheese. 39 of 42 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Reunion Pea Casserole This casserole isn't short on flavor. Italian sausage, green chiles, and both Cheddar and mozzarella cheese make black-eyed peas and squash so tasty, everyone will want seconds. 40 of 42 Creamed Spinach Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Creamed Spinach This classic steakhouse side is also a stunning addition to the holiday table. Creamy and cheesy, spinach has never tasted so delicious. A sprinkle of toasted pine nuts on top adds a bit of crunch and nutty flavor, that balances the richness of the cream and cheese. 41 of 42 Angel Biscuits Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Angel Biscuits This cross between a buttermilk biscuit and a dinner roll is so light and airy in texture, it might be sent from heaven. Even better, it can be made up to one week in advance, to make your busy holiday cooking schedule a little lighter. 42 of 42 Vinegar Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Vinegar Pie This pie is a Great Depression invention and as such uses only a few pantry staples. Our recipe, elevated with vanilla and honey, makes this old-school pie a simple and elegant dessert to serve alongside all the other classics. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit