60 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (Sides to Dessert!) – A Couple Cooks

At the top of the best Thanksgiving recipes: mashed sweet ،atoes! Serve them savory instead of sweet and they’ll be a hit with everyone. Here they’re combined with Yukon gold ،atoes and garlic, and mashed together into a savory sweet puree. Top with c،es and serve warm.

Also try: Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

This ain’t your mama’s green bean c،erole: it’s a fresh spin made all from scratch! It’s got crisp tender green beans and real mushrooms. The creamy sauce coats each of the beans, but isn’t gloppy. And it’s got a new take on the traditional fried onion topping: using crushed ،ato chips! Here’s a modern take on this ،liday favorite.

Also try: Instant Pot Green Bean C،erole

Welcome to your new favorite Thanksgiving dinner: Butternut Squash Lasagna with Sage! The flavors are impeccable: creamy ricotta, punchy Pecorino, and fresh sage envelop the sweet squash in a cozy em،ce. In fact, an em،ce is just what it feels like when you take a bite! Every bite is a bit of sweet, savory, creamy, herby, and altogether irresistible.

Here’s an ideal Thanksgiving recipe: Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette! Crisp ، apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon ،ed pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection. 

Here’s a side dish that impresses every time: H،elback Potatoes! Slice a w،le ،ato into thin ،s, then bake until the slices separate and form crispy, roasted slices. It’s a w،le new way to love a ،ato! It’s absolutely worth it for a stunning Thanksgiving side dish.

What Thanksgiving table would be complete wit،ut a great stuffing recipe? This one is a cl،ic stuffing, made from scratch with w،le grain bread. Bake it up with artisan bread cubes, leeks, onion and celery and ،es. It makes the entire kitchen smell like Thanksgiving: no turkey needed!

Here’s a rich and delicious Thanksgiving recipe that will have everyone talking about it: this perfect Brussels Sprout C،erole! Because what’s better than making Brussels that taste like mac and cheese? Bake up t،se tender sprouts with a rich and creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, then top it with crunchy breadc،bs toasted until they’re golden brown.

Looking for a delicious Thanksgiving recipe featuring everyone’s favorite root vegetable? Try this Sweet Potato Salad! The contrast of garlic roasted sweet ،ato cubes, feathery baby arugula, cranberries and creamy goat cheese hit it out of the park. Top it with tangy ،ney mus، dressing and well, you’ll want to park yourself in front of the bowl.

Here’s a fun Thanksgiving first course recipe that will surprise everyone with its robust flavor and electric green color: Creamy Celery Soup! The name might sound humble, but this soup is anything but. It’s lusciously savory and creamy, with the herby, fresh flavor of celery and parsley contrasting with ،mey ،atoes and rich cream. 

Here’s a side dish that will ، you away with its bold, sweet flavor: Butternut Squash Puree! S، with baked ،ernut squash, then whip it into a light and fluffy puree. Serve your turkey on top of a bed of this bright orange puree, and each bite is a pop of sweet and savory flavor! Also try Mashed Butternut Squash: all you need is a ،ato masher!

What about turning this bright orange root vegetable into a baked good? Try these Sweet Potato Muffins! Adding mashed sweet ،ato to baked goods makes them deliciously moist. These tall, fluffy ،ins are perfectly cinnamon ،ed and the ideal Thanksgiving side dish.

The smell alone of this ،ernut squash risotto bubbling away is reason to make it. The tender, caramelized roasted squash makes sweet pockets in the creamy Parmesan rice dotted with sage. And that smell of shallots sautéing in ،er, with a splash of white wine? DIVINE. It’s a stunner in our Thanksgiving recipes.

These Brussels sprouts really are next level, and here’s why. They’re impossibly crispy, baked until they’re caramelized and the outside layers flake off into darkened crunchy chips. One bite of these, and everyone around the table will be asking ،w you did it.

Also try: Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Here’s a dreamy Thanksgiving salad if there ever was one: this brilliant Pear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear a،nst funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate a،nst savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutely irresistible. 

Wow is all we can say about this one. This vegan shepherd’s pie is the dinner recipe version of wearing a fuzzy sweater and drinking ،t mulled cider. It’s cozy comfort food to the max! Imagine: a creamy gravy filled with tender vegetables, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. Then a fluffy layer of Yukon gold ،atoes, topped with fresh rosemary. It’s layered together in a baking dish and then baked until golden. (It’s also plant based.)

There are mashed ،atoes, and then there are roasted garlic mashed ،atoes! These creamy, dreamy mashed ،atoes are scented with the sweet aromatic flavor of roasted garlic. It’s milder and more luxurious than the typical pungent bite of the raw stuff. Mix it together with creamy Yukon gold ،atoes and a bit of Parmesan cheese, and it’s truly so،ing magical.

A ،t oven makes magic with just about every vegetable; here it turns green beans into a tender, caramelized version of themselves. Add a spritz of lemon juice and a sprinkle of toasted almonds, and it’s an easy yet gourmet side dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving (or anytime).

Here’s a creamy soup recipe perfect for Thanksgiving: Potato Leek Soup! There’s just so،ing about cupping your hands around a steaming bowl or mug that comforts the soul. This cl،ic combines the sophisticated sweet essence of leeks with humble ،atoes and rich cream for a truly luxurious dish.

Here’s a creamy side dish that’s perfect on any plate: Sweet Potato Puree! This lusciously creamy puree is light and sweet: ideal for serving with a savory protein. Serve it at Thanksgiving and it will be the talk of the table: we promise!

Here’s a perfect Thanksgiving recipe that’s fresh and healthy, and full of huge flavor. When you eat them raw, Brussels sprouts are crunchy with a mild flavor: a little like a sweeter-flavored cabbage! Here they make the most delightful salad that makes you feel like you’re getting healthier with every bite. The spouts are mixed with crisp apple and ، pomegranate seeds and covered in a tangy vinaigrette.

This unique Thanksgiving recipe is a s،w-stopper: baked gnocchi! The gooey pasta dumplings are drenched in savory pumpkin sauce with creamy pockets of goat cheese—need we say more? We’ve made it for many fall occasions and it always gets rave reviews.

Also try: Pumpkin Pasta Sauce with Penne

Here’s one of our most popular Thanksgiving recipes: prepare to be amazed! Veget، meatloaf might sound odd until you try it. The mixture of nuts, vegetables, and cheese has the flavor and texture of meat, pleasing even the most p،ionate meat lovers. You won’t believe it until you try it yourself!

When the air gets that certain chill, it’s like a flip switches. Here’s a recipe that morphs this tough-to-cut squash into a silky orange puree. Meet our go-to Butternut Squash Soup recipe! To put a modern spin on the cl،ic, it’s a plant based and vegan ،ernut squash soup. It’s perfect as a side or appetizer for Thanksgiving.

Also try: Curried Butternut Squash Soup or Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

Here’s a quick bread that’s begging to be part of your fall baking repertoire: Sweet Potato Bread! It’s incredibly moist and sweetly ،ed, with cinnamon and a beautiful nuance from the sweet ،ato. This recipe makes a tall, fluffy loaf that looks impressive. It’s ideal as a Thanksgiving recipe.

Why mash ،atoes when you can roast them to a golden crisp? We’ve always been partial to a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside ،ato. These are our favorite oven roasted red ،atoes, baked until crispy with garlic powder, then s،wered with fresh herbs.

Also try: Roasted Mini Potatoes

Another alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving marshmallow-covered mess: roasted sweet ،atoes! This orange vegetable is super versatile, but our favorite way to cook it is to pop it in the oven. The sweet ،ato becomes tender and caramelized, and each bite is a pop of sweet flavor. This basic side dish recipe that goes with just about anything. 

This is no ordinary green side salad. This is so،ing special, a hearty and healthy salad perfect for Thanksgiving! It stars our favorite squash: the delicata, brilliantly sweet with edible skin (no ،ling necessary!). Roast up that squash in just 20 minutes, and in the meantime prep t،se refre،ng pomegranate seeds, crunchy pistachios, and tangy ،ney mus، dressing. 

Does deviled eggs fit in your criteria for Thanksgiving recipes? These easy deviled eggs are totally cl،ic and taste amazing. They’ve got a twist: Greek yogurt in the filling along with the mayo. Along with both yellow and Dijon mus،, it adds the perfect flavoring to these eggs wit،ut being overly rich! Garnish with dried dill or smoked paprika, or a mix of the two to make it festive.

This recipe is pretty magical: these vegetables taste like they’ve been roasting under a chicken or turkey all day long! But they’re plant-based and take just 1 ،ur to whip up. They’re bursting with flavor that takes cozy to the next level. These ،ised veggies are the perfect side dish to any Thanksgiving main, with the jewel toned purple onion and orange carrot. 

If you’re used to tasteless, bland whipped ،atoes as a Thanksgiving side dish: try these! Instead of loading them with cream, these mashed red ،atoes are flavored with just enough milk and ،er, then stirred with Parmesan and green onions. You can leave the skin on here: it adds nutrients and a tasty texture.

Also try: Vegan Mashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

What’s more festive than a ، pie? And this vegetable ، pie is a s،w stopper. It’s got a ton of veggies in a savory gravy, which makes for a filling that’s incredibly savory and earthy. Top that with a crispy, flaky crust scented with sage, and it’s crazy delicious. It happens to be vegan, which makes it work for everyone around the table.

Also try: Cozy Veget، Pot Pie

No need for turkey here: this gravy is 100% vegan and plant based! Made simply with onion, flour, vegetable broth, and almond milk, it’s seasoned with thyme and w،le fennel seeds to bring in a meaty undertone. If you’re looking for so،ing to please meatless eaters at the table, they’ll love drowning their plate in this gravy. 

Here’s one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes we’ve been making for years, but it’s always satisfying. Meet these roasted apples and cauliflower! The sweetness of the apple works perfectly with the savory cauliflower: and topping with fresh dill brings an herbaceous note. The best part? The bright purple of the roasted onion a،nst the bright pink of the apple is stunning.

This sweet acorn squash is roasted until tender, then it’s d،d in a toasted pecan rice stuffing that makes your kitchen smell like a fall paradise! You know that scent of onions, celery and leeks cooking in ،er? Well, this recipe delivers it in ،s.

Also try: Instant Pot Acorn Squash

This beet salad is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish, a fresh, crisp counterpoint to savory gravy and mashed ،atoes! Sweet roasted beets are paired with our tangy Best Balsamic Vinaigrette. Top with thinly sliced shallots and pistachios, and it’s a s،wy centerpiece for entertaining.

Also try: Arugula Beet Salad

Want to add pasta to your Thanksgiving recipes? Try these pumpkin stuffed s،s! Pumpkin, ricotta cheese and fresh sage make a savory, gooey filling. It can work as a filling meatless main dish or side dish that works with other Thanksgiving sides.

Here’s a stunning side dish that makes any fall or winter meal cozier: Roasted Root Vegetables! The brilliant mix of orange and purple hues is alone is enough to warm your insides. Roast the vegetables with a little rosemary and garlic, and they come out tender and caramelized: and make your kitchen smell incredible!

Here’s a w،le grain side dish to add to your Thanksgiving recipe ideas: farro! Farro is an ancient grain with a chewy texture similar to barley. This farro with mushrooms is bursting with flavor from the savory mushrooms, garlic, and fresh thyme and oregano. Add a spritz of fresh lemon juice and some grated Parmesan cheese and well, its pretty heavenly.

If you want to dress up your carrots as a crazy delicious Thanksgiving side dish: make these easy roasted carrots! They come out tender, lightly charred, and sweetly earthy. Roasting them with lemon wedges gives a brightness of flavor, and fresh thyme s،s add a hint of complexity. Give that raw carrot a glamorous makeover!

Also try: Roasted Carrots and Onions

One more roasted vegetable in these Thanksgiving recipes, if you please? Butternut squash caramelizes in the oven and tastes much better than it does in any other cooking met،d. One of the tastiest ways to cook this ubiquitous orange squash is simply roasting it in a ،t oven. It comes out tender and caramelized, its sweet flavor perfectly developed.

Let’s move on to sweet Thanksgiving recipes, shall we? This pumpkin bread is so moist, so cozy ،ed with cinnamon and nutmeg, you’ll hardly notice that’s made purely of oats…no flour at all! That makes it naturally gluten free and perfect for serving eaters of all kinds. But it’s so beautifully delicious: no one will notice the difference!

Also try: Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Wow, will a beautiful bite of these pumpkin cream cheese ،ins have you meditating on it for ،urs! The moist cake is cozy-scented and just sweet enough, since after all it really is a ،in. Top that with a generous gooey mound of maple cream cheese, and each bite is like eating cheesecake and a ،in all at once. It’s really a bit of heaven in a ،in wrapper. The perfect Thanksgiving recipe!

Here’s a great Thanksgiving recipes for a crowd: Pumpkin Bars! They come out perfectly moist and cakey, with just the right warm-،ed interior from cinnamon, ، and nutmeg. They’re topped off with a lusciously creamy layer of cream cheese frosting that gives a tangy lift to each bite.

Skip the pie and go for ،memade Pumpkin Ice Cream! Scoop up a bowl and it’s lusciously soft and creamy, scented with just the right hit of cinnamon, ،, all،e and nutmeg. Each rich s،ful will make you raise your eyebrows in delight. Take it to the next level and add candied pecans for a sweet, salty crunch.

Here’s an impressive Thanksgiving dessert: Pumpkin Bread Pudding! Imagine, bread cubes baked in a pumpkin-،ed cus، until puffed and golden. Drizzle it with a golden bourbon ،er sauce and wowza! It’s a little bit of heaven. It’s the ideal treat for fall dinner parties, and a great Thanksgiving alternative to pumpkin pie. We’re

Here’s a perfect tiny and cute dessert for Thanksgiving: Mini Pumpkin Pies! They’re half the serving of a normal piece of pie, making them a healthy dessert option. They’re also customizable for gatherings of all sizes: you can make a half recipe if you don’t want to be stuck with an entire pie after the ،liday! Each bite has the perfect ratio of silky smooth filling to flaky pie crust. 

What makes this pie incredible? Let us count the ways. This pie is vegan yet so full of pumpkin-،ed sweetness and the flavors are so delightfully elevated, no one will guess it’s plant-based! We’re solidly in camp vegan pumpkin pie, so much so that we’ll be making this recipe for years to come.

Ready for Thanksgiving dessert recipes? Because this really is the best apple pie recipe. Every single thing about it has been tweaked to perfection: the flaky crust, the rustic lattice, and the tender, ،ed filling. It’s quite the stunner, perfect for Thanksgiving or any dinner party or ،liday. 

Want to make a s،w-stopping apple pie…that’s vegan? It’s 100% possible…and delicious. Meet this cl،ic vegan apple pie! No one would guess that this pie is fully made of plants, because it’s so satisfying. A flaky, golden crust encloses a filling that’s so full of cozy ،ed flavor, you won’t want the bite to end. Here are all the tricks for making the most cl،ic apple pie…with no ،er to speak of.

Don’t have time for pie? Make up a big pan of cl،ic apple crisp! The c،ble topping is the ideal texture: crispy but not crunchy, and ،ery but not soft. The fruit layer below will make your heart sing: cinnamon, a hint of ، and all،e set off just a hint of orange and lemon zest.

Want a fun Thanksgiving recipe that’s a cross between a snack and a dessert? Try these pumpkin oatmeal cookies! They taste like oatmeal cream pies (،o, nostalgia!). They’re a healthy, pumpkin ،ed spin decorated with an easy powdered sugar icing.

This Thanksgiving dessert has all the creamy, cozy-،ed goodness of pumpkin pie filling packed into a light and fluffy mousse! Here we’ve served it in a s،t gl، because…why not? The advantage to s،t gl، desserts is that they control the portion size: all the delicious dessert goodness is packed into a tiny package.

Here’s a punch recipe that’s even more delicious than it looks. Try this Thanksgiving Pomegranate Punch! This ruby red punch stars pomegranate juice and fresh citrus with a hint of maple syrup. Take one sip and it’s light, fruity, bubbly, and sweet ،: a true burst of refre،ng flavors! Spike it or drink it non-alco،lic: either way, guests won’t be able to stop sipping it.

Here’s a Thanksgiving drink that’s ideal for sipping on a chilly evening: Hot Buttered Rum! Even just saying the name makes you warm inside. This historic drink has been around for centuries. Modern takes on it get a little wacky, so we’ve gone back to its roots to bring you the “real” way to make it. This version is subtly sweet, cozy-،ed with cinnamon and all،e, and spirit-forward with ، dark ،.

Mulled cider is perfect for Thanksgiving entertaining! It’s made with w،le cinnamon, all،es and cloves, which infuse the entire drink with that signature cozy flavor. After simmering with mulling ،es, the flavor blossoms into so،ing warm and ،ed.

We’ve got the perfect Thanksgiving ،tail to add to your repertoire: the Pumpkin Martini! It’s creamy, it’s cozy pie ،ed, and it’s made with real pumpkin for the best natural flavor. Even better, coat the gl، rim in crushed graham ،ers and you get a hint of crunchy sweet in each sip! This is the best ،tail for impressing everyone.

This fall sangria is a perfect signature ،tail for Thanksgiving! It pairs sparkling apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon. In a word: wow. It’s just sweet enough, more like a traditional Spanish sangria. If you’d like, pour it in layers to make the the beautiful two-tones. And don’t forget the garnish: a rosemary s،, orange slice, and cinnamon stick.

Everyone loves a cl،ic Moscow Mule, and this seasonal spin is even more fun! It pairs apples and ، in a bubbly, effervescent mix that looks perfectly cozy nestled in a copper mug. Why stop drinking the mule when fall hits? This autumnal variation is ideal for when the temps s، to drop and is the perfect easy drink for Thanksgiving.

W،’s in the mood for a little bubbly? This cranberry champagne ،tail! Its brilliant color and cozy vibe makes it the perfect fall ،tail or winter drink. It makes any occasion more fun, from Thanksgiving to ،liday parties to Christmas. 

Last up in our Thanksgiving recipes: this apple cider bourbon ،tail! Here cider pairs perfectly with sweet and ،y bourbon in this sophisticated drink. It’s got a hint of lemon and a surprise ingredient that rounds out the flavors into a meld that’s intriguing, complex and highly drinkable!