Every year I go through the same routine before thanksgiving: panic-googling my favorite the Thanksgiving dinner recipes that I usually make every year, but never actually write down or print out.
BUT this is the last year I will be doing that. Below are my all time favorite Thanksgiving dinner recipes, so that I can find them next year (haha), and you can also enjoy these recipes without having to scour the internet for tried-and-true five star favorites. These are IMO the BEST thanksgiving dinner recipes out there.
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/easy-no-fuss-thanksgiving-turkey/
OK — This is THE ONLY turkey recipe you need. It’s not fancy. It’s actually pretty easy and fool-proof, which is why I love it. The turkey is moist and flavorful (and fully cooked) everytime. Don and I have hosted Thanksgiving for the past 4 years, and this recipe never disappoints.
Make sure you have a good roasting pan like this one to cook the turkey. There is a lot of dripping and a pan that’s deep enough is crucial. I usually add about an inch of water under the turkey in the pan to keep the drippings from burning. I also use foil to tent the parts of the pan that are not covered by the turkey. That keep the spatters from ending up on the sides of your oven. One year the house filled with smoke from burnt drippings and splatters, and that wasn’t a great start to the Thanksgiving party!
It also helps to get a meat thermometer, like this wireless one with an alarm, so you can enjoy your glass of wine with your family without opening the oven and checking the turkey every 15 minutes.
Thanksgiving Side Recipes
Cranberry Sauce Recipe: https://sugarspunrun.com/homemade-cranberry-sauce
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite foods, and it’s quickly becoming my kids’ favorite too! (thanks to this recipe). We are lucky enough to live next to cranberry bogs, so we get fresh cranberries every year right next door.
The fresh tart cranberries mixed with brown sugar are SO GOOD. Sometimes I replace the Orange juice with apple cider for a more fall twist. I’ll also add a bit of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the recipe if I’m feeling extra festive.
Green Bean Casserole Recipe: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/classic-green-bean-casserole/
This is a classic and it’s absolutely delicious! Just make sure to add mushroom soup and fried onion ingredients to your shopping list so you’re not scrambling at the last minute!
Mashed Potato Recipe: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/how-to-make-mashed-potatoes/
My husband (Don) is in charge of the mashed potatoes, and he has tried different recipes over the years, but this smooth and creamy mashed potato recipe isn’t overly fatty (like some recipes he’s made in the past), and it IS delicious. Especially slathered in Turkey Gravy!
Pan Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe: https://enwnutrition.com/sauteed-butternut-squash
I am a huge squash fan, and I am very picky about how it is prepared. But this recipe? It’s got everything. This is a favorite Thanksgiving Dinner recipe for two reasons:
1. It’s made on the stove top. Your over will likely be overtaken by a giant bird, and there wont be room to roast a squash while the turkey is doing it’s think all day.
2. This recipe is very light and healthy. It’s a nice contrast to the heavy gravy and potatoes and green bean casserole on the table. The roasting adds a wonderful caramel flavor to the squash — it is SO packed with flavor without being heavy.
Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Carrot Cake Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/carrot-cake
Carrot Cake is a favorite around here (though, we skip the raisins). This is my ALL TIME favorite carrot cake recipes, which goes great with thanksgiving dinner (even if only a small piece). This recipe always gets me tons of complements and request for the recipe, and I am forever grateful to tasty.co for creating it!
Fudgey Pecan Cake: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/471118811004245658/
I searched high and low for this recipe on the internet, but I just couldn’t find it. This fudgey, nearly flourless chocolate cake has been one of my all time favorite recipes for as long as I can remember. This recipe is from an OLD (like maybe 40 years old?) Hershey’s cookbook, and the recipes is called “Fudgey Pecan Cake”. A quick google search for this recipe revealed that my photo of the recipe on Pinterest is literally the only evidence this thing exists. So here you go! (& internet: you’re welcome).
You may have noticed: NO PIES. I am not a pie person, and my family also isn’t big on pies. We skip the performative “Pumpkin Pie” cliche and go straight for the cakes!
Let me know in the comments if you make any of these recipes and which one is your favorite! I will be making ALL of them over the next 48 hours. YIKES!
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