What’s hitting your table this holiday? Let the Sarah’s Cucina Bella Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipe Guide help you plan.
When you run a site like Sarah’s Cucina Bella for 18 years, you write a lot of recipes, dinner plans and advice for cooking. Since 2005, this site has been a place to find quick and easy recipes for all occasions. And it’s also been a place where I have poured much attention into the making and serving of Thanksgiving dinner. From turkey to gravy to potatoes to sides, I have created recipes for a bit of everything.
But what I haven’t done is compile it all in one place.
That’s where this Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipe Guide comes in. I’ve pulled together options for so many favorites that can be mixed and matched for your perfect Thanksgiving meal — whether it’s ultra traditional, quick and easy or Thanksgiving flavors reimagined.
To use this guide, I would recommend scrolling through with a pen and paper handy. Make note of the recipes that catch your eye. Then hone, mix and craft your perfect menu. Don’t forget to include those family must-have dishes from your own traditions too.
If you are cooking Thanksgiving for the first time, don’t panic. The key to success is keeping it simple. Choose a few dishes — maybe three or four. Test run them, if you can. And then when you plan for Thanksgiving, plan around how long they take to cook.
Now, onto the recipes.
Looking for appetizer recipes? That will be in a separate guide coming soon. Also, is there a category of dish missing from this guide? Let me know in the comments and I will add it!
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipe Guide
The Turkey
Turkey is the standard Thanksgiving main course. But there are so many ways to make it. Here are a few options.
Turkey Alternatives
Sure, turkey is the classic Thanksgiving main course, but it's not your only option. Here are some other Thanksgiving main course ideas.
Garlic Butter Roast Chicken
Rich and fragrant, this recipe for Garlic Butter Roast Chicken is a total winner.
Orange Garlic Roasted Chicken
This Orange Garlic Roasted Chicken recipe yields a flavorful chicken that can be used across several meals — and a carcass perfect for making chicken stock.
Balsamic Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham
This easy Brown Sugar Balsamic Glaze for Ham is a bold, flavorful, sweet finish for a holiday ham. Try it today!
Mediterranean Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Mediterranean Sheet Pan Gnocchi is a delightful mix of flavors and textures. Plus, this easy vegetarian meal comes together so quickly.
Gravy
Foolproof Herbed Turkey Gravy Recipe
This easy recipe for turkey gravy is totally scalable. Make as much as you need, adjusting the measurements as needed to achieve the desired gravy.
Potatoes for the Occasion
Mashed potatoes are the classic, but there are so many ways to enjoy potatoes on Thanksgiving.
Herbed Potato Gratin with Gouda and Romano
Bright and earthy, this Herbed Potato Gratin with Gouda and Romano recipe is an ideal side dish -- not heavy, just satisfying.
Mini Twice Baked Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes
These Mini Twice Baked Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes are great as a side dish and so fun as an appetizer. How would you serve them?
Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Red Onions with Gochujang Seasoning
Sweet and spicy, this sweet potato recipe makes a vibrant side dish for dinners.
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Pancetta Veggie Topping
Break out the sweet potatoes for baking and with up this topping with crispy pancetta and vegetables. This easy meal is a delight.
Green Beans
Green beans are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish. My family has never been into the ubiquitous casserole (check the Betty Crocker website for that recipe!) though so we make green bean dishes in a lot of different ways.
Green Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Got beans? Transform your garden-fresh veggies into this bold, flavorful Green Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette. It will delight your tastebuds.
Carrots
Another traditional Thanksgiving side dish, carrots can take on many delicious forms.
Garlic Parsley Carrots
This elegant, fragrant side dish can be made in about 20 minutes. Easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for special dinners.
Squash
With squash in season, it's no surprise that it hits a lot of Thanksgiving tables. Here's a few delicious ways to make it.
Easy Roasted Delicata Squash
Caramelized and tender, this recipe for Easy Delicata Squash is a lovely way to enjoy this hard squash.
Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Gnocchi
If you like autumn flavors, you will love this recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Gnocchi. It's pillow-y, flavorful deliciousness!
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Puree
This is the easiest recipe for butternut squash ever. It takes a minute to start and just a few more to finish.
Four Years, and Easy Roasted Acorn Squash Mash Recipe
This acorn squash is sweet and rich. Best of all, it's super easy. My son eats as much as he can get out of the shell -- so that's a testament to how kid-friendly this is. Serve it in the squash shell, and it looks pretty impressive too.
Roasted Squash and Grape Salad with Blue Cheese
Sweet, savory, meaty and pungent flavors combine in this satisfying Roasted Squash and Grape Salad with Blue Cheese recipe.
Simple Roasted Butternut Squash
This quick and easy recipe makes a great side dish. Buy the precut butternut squash and cut it down into smaller cube sizes. It will save you a ton of time.
Brussels Sprouts
Pan-Seared Shredded Brussels Sprouts and Apples
Sweet and savory, these pan-seared Brussels sprouts are a wonderful fall side dish.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
This sultry salad combines shredded Brussels sprouts, sweet shallots and carrot and potato, all roasted together simply with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad is then tossed with balsamic vinegar and roasted a little more.
Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
This quick and easy recipe for Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts is a fast and reliable way to enjoy this vegetable as a side dish any night of the week
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
Tangy, sweet and fresh, this shredded Brussels sprouts salad is easy to make and satisfying to eat.
Brussels Sprouts Goma-ae
Sauteed Brussels sprouts are dressed with a toast, sweet dressing in this Brussels Sprouts Goma-ae recipe. It's a delightful side dish.
Hot Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Trendy hot honey adds new dimension to the classic combination of Brussels sprouts and bacon in this easy roasted recipe.
Dressing (or Stuffing)
Is it dressing? Stuffing? Though I never stuff it into the bird, it's always stuffing in my house.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry Sauce is a must for Thanksgiving tables. Here are a few ways to make it.
Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Cinnamon
Tart cranberries are mellowed in this homemade whole berry cranberry sauce featuring apples and cinnamon, which lend a warm flavor. Delightful with your holiday turkey.
Cranberry Salsa
Serve salsa with tortilla chips or as part of a Tex-Mex themed Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner -- or whenever you want. When choosing the hot pepper, choose wisely: A habanero will make this into a very hot salsa; a Serrano or a jalapeno will result in a milder salsa.
Homemade Jellied Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This homemade version of a classic hits our table every year,