Thanksgiving Menu Plan

By Jill Baird · Published September 12, 2023 · 8 Comments

collection of thanksgiving recipes

Here's a collection of some of our Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas to help plan your holiday dinner. It includes everything you need from an easy turkey recipe to rolls and Thanksgiving dessert recipes galore.

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Easy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes To Make With Kids
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Ideas {And More}
Thanksgiving Dinner Sides
Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Easy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

If you need some Thanksgiving Menu Ideas while planning for this year's dinner, check out this collection of traditional Thanksgiving dinner recipes as well as a few you maybe haven't thought of. This list includes all of our favorite Thanksgiving appetizers, turkey dinner ideas (and non turkey entrees), Thanksgiving side dishes, and Thanksgiving desserts galore.

I know how busy the holidays are and sometimes we need easy recipes that can be made in advance or take only a few ingredients. I hope this helps to make your Thanksgiving dinner a success and allows you to spend some quality time with your friends and family.

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Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes To Make With Kids

Thanksgiving is my favorite food holiday and there just isn't anything better than gathering with your friends and family and enjoying everyone's favorites. The best thing about eating with a crowd is that everyone can participate too.

This list is filled with easy recipes that are perfect for young kids to make, too. It's so fun for them to be helpers for the day! That's where I learned to cook, alongside my Mom and Grandma's and I hope to give that to my kids, too.

Thanksgiving Appetizers

I like to have a few appetizers on hand. These are easy recipes you can bust out when everyone is feeling snacky or your need a little something to tide them over until dinner is ready. I love making a big veggie and fruit tray for everyone to snack on. It's a great way to start the day off with something a little lighter. I hope your family loves these appetizers as much as we do.

image for vegetable tray shaped like a bunny

Holiday Veggie Tray Recipe

This Holiday Veggie Tray is full of crisp and colorful veggies, served with homemade ranch dressing on the side. It’s the perfect appetizer to serve at your next holiday party or gathering.

Total time: 30

Fruit Charcuterie Board for breakfast, brunch , baby shower, bridal shower, or holiday dinner idea.

Fruit Board with Dips

This Fruit Charcuterie Board is a great idea for dinner parties and get-togethers all year long. Served with a side of cream cheese dip, it’s a beautiful and simple option that takes very little preparation and is easy to adapt.

Total time: 20

Bacon ranch cheese ball

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is a quick and easy appetizer. It's a 5 ingredient easy cheeseball recipe with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, hidden valley ranch seasoning, bacon bits, and green onions. It's a bacon cheddar ranch cheeseball everyone will love.

Total time: 10

jalapeno artichoke dip served with crackers

Jalapeño Artichoke Dip Recipe

This warm and cheesy Jalapeño Artichoke Dip is simple to make and a total crowd-pleaser. It’s sure to be a hit for your next game day or Super Bowl party, and can be served with any of your favorite crackers, chips or raw veggies.

Total time: 40

Caramel Apple Punch Recipe

This Caramel Apple Cider Punch is the perfect fall drink to make for holiday get-togethers. It's made with apple cider, ginger ale, caramel sauce and fall spices and tastes just as good as it looks.

Total time: 10

Holiday Punch Recipe

This Holiday Punch recipe with ginger ale is bright and cherry, simple to make and doubles as a beautiful centerpiece. It's the perfect drink to make for parties and get-togethers all holiday season long.

Total time: 10

homemade slow cooker wassail drink, recipe for wassail.

Traditional Wassail Recipe

This recipe for Wassail is made with spiced apple cider that’s been infused with baking spices and fresh citrus. It’s the perfect warm and cozy holiday drink to make during the winter months.

Total time: 6

turkeys with candy corns for thanksgiving

Chocolate Turkeys Recipe

These homemade Chocolate Turkeys make the most adorably easy Thanksgiving table decoration. Using simple candies, chocolate-covered cherries and frosting, this recipe will show you how to make delicious edible works of art.

Total time: 1 15

Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Ideas {And More}

Now for the main dish. Roasted Turkey is a great option. If you're cooking for a smaller group or maybe you don't want to fuss with a whole turkey, try a crockpot turkey breast recipe. It's so easy to make and takes only a fraction of the time.

Smoked Turkey and Baked Honey Ham are also favorites at our house. They're really easy to make and sometimes it's just fun to have options. I like to make both when there's a big crowd or I have the time.

Turkey Breast Recipes, on a platter with fruit and garnish

Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

This Herb Crusted Turkey Breast is quick, easy, and makes the juiciest oven-roasted turkey breast recipe. It’s seasoned with butter, fresh herbs, and spices. It's a perfect Thanksgiving turkey for a smaller crowd or if you don't feel like dressing an entire bird. It's so easy to make and turns our tender and juicy every time.

Total time: 1 50

Recipe: How to Cook a Spiral Sliced Ham

These easy step-by-step instructions will guide you through How to Cook a Spiral Ham that is juicy, moist and super flavorful. Add our honey glaze, a couple of your favorite sides and you’ll have yourself the perfect easy, delicious holiday dinner.

Total time: 1 55

how to make smoked turkey recipe, best thanksgiving recipe

Best Smoked Turkey Recipe

This Smoked Whole Turkey is flavored with a simple brown sugar spice rub and cooked low and slow in the smoker until perfectly tender and juicy. It’s an impressive way to save precious oven space and couldn’t be easier.

Total time: 4 50

Thanksgiving Dinner Sides

Now for the sides. Is there anything better than Thanksgiving Sides? There are so many potato recipes to choose from. It's hard to narrow it down but here are our absolute favorites. Some are healthy, some cheesy - there's a little bit of something for everyone.

stuffing recipe from scratch

Grandma's Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing is a classic stuffing recipe that has withstood the test of time. It’s got the perfect balance of chewy and moist, sweet and savory and can be made entirely from scratch, or with some simple shortcuts.

Total time: 2 20

the best sausage and apple stuffing for thanksgiving

Best Sausage And Apple Stuffing Recipe

This is the Best Sausage And Apple Stuffing Recipe. No need to be intimidated with homemade stuffing. This Thanksgiving dressing recipe is easy and turns out great every time. It's a homemade stuffing recipe made with simple and fresh ingredients, maple sausage, fresh apples, and a perfect balance of fresh herbs and spices. It's a must-have for every holiday feast!

Total time: 1 20

cornbread stuffing recipe in a glass baking dish, best cornbread stuffing recipe

Best Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

This savory Cornbread Stuffing recipe is a perfect side dish to serve for Thanksgiving or any other winter holidays. It combines both cornbread and French bread to make the most chewy, moist, flavorful, and delicious stuffing.

Total time: 2 20

leafy green salad with a white bowl

Fall Harvest Salad Recipe

This Fall Harvest Salad is crunchy, sweet, salty and hearty. It’s loaded with apples, feta cheese and candied pecans and tossed in a homemade honey mustard vinaigrette for the perfect Thanksgiving or holiday salad.

Total time: 15

cranberry orange sauce in a saucepan

Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This Cranberry Orange Juice Sauce uses just 5 simple ingredients and puts any store bought canned sauce to shame. It’s sweet and tangy, flavored with orange juice and orange zest, and makes a delicious quick and easy side for any classic holiday dinner.

Total time: 1 10

cheesy potato casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole

This easy potato casserole is a hit for the holidays and dinners with your family and friends. It's so easy to make and everyone loves it!

Total time: 40

scalloped potatoes on fork

Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes

This Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes recipe couldn't be easier. It's an au gratin potatoes crockpot recipe made with russet potatoes, a homemade cream sauce, ans fresh herbs. It's perfect for a family dinner, holidy meal or a great leftover ham recipe.

Total time: 4 10

mashed red potatoes in a large white bowl, ready to be served, ed potato mashed potatoes.

Mashed Red Potatoes Recipe

These Mashed Red Potatoes are pure comfort food and a simple side dish. Mashed with simple ingredients like butter, sour cream, garlic, and milk, they are bursting with flavor and pair well with just about anything.

Total time: 40

Sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel topping

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This Sweet Potato Casserole is rich and buttery with a sweet crunchy pecan topping. It’s a southern classic that can pass as either a side dish or dessert at your next holiday dinner.

Total time: 50

Sweet Potato Casserole in a glass baking dish, covered with marshmallows.

Recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

These Sweet Potatoes with marshmallows is my favorite version of the slightly sweet classic holiday side dish. It’s filled with warmed mashed potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with ooey gooey mini marshmallows.

Total time: 45

fruit salad with fruit glaze

Winter Fruit Salad Recipe

This Winter Fruit Salad is refreshing, simple, stunning and totally delicious. Made with brightly colored winter fruits and finished with a tangy citrus glaze drizzle, this salad makes the perfect holiday dinner side dish.

Total time: 30

Homemade Crescent Rolls in a bowl

Homemade Crescent Rolls

This Homemade Crescent Rolls recipe is Grandma's favorite. They're buttery, soft, and make the perfect side for your holiday meal.

Total time: 1 25

Quick Dinner Rolls Recipe

These Quick Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, buttery and so simple. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a minimal amount of prep to have these ready and on the table in no time.

Total time: 1 30

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Here's the best part: dessert! There isn't anything better than a homemade pie with freshly made whipped cream. It's the perfect way to finish off a great meal....and bonus, pie for breakfast! Yesssss! There are all kinds of great dessert recipes and candy recipes you can have on hand too.

pumpkin pie recipe from scratch

Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe From Scratch

This is the ultimate Pumpkin Pie recipe, complete with step-by-step instructions for making your very own homemade flakey pie crust. It’s smooth and creamy with the perfect blend of pumpkin pie spice all wrapped up in a buttery, flakey crust.

Total time: 1 30

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

This classic Pumpkin Roll is made with a soft and tender pumpkin cake filled with a silky smooth cream cheese filling. It’s an easy, beautiful and delicious fall dessert that is perfect for serving at Thanksgiving, Christmas or anytime in between.

Total time: 1 35

Apple Pie Recipe

This classic homemade Apple Pie is filled to the brim with juicy, buttery cinnamon-spiced apples all baked into a tender, flaky pie crust. Follow this step-by-step Apple Pie Recipe, instructions on how to make everyone’s favorite Apple Pie from scratch in no time.

Total time: 1 45

a slice of coconut cream pie on a white plate

Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

This old-fashioned Coconut Cream Pie is full of creamy coconut custard set in a flaky homemade pie crust and topped with fresh whipped cream and toasted coconut. It’s a must-try for any coconut lover.

Total time: 45

Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

This homemade Chocolate Cream Pie is made with a silky smooth chocolate pudding tucked into a crisp Oreo crust and topped with freshly whipped cream. It’s super decadent with a rich chocolate flavor and is insanely simple to make.

Total time: 40

banana cream pie slice on a white plate

Best Banana Cream Pie Recipe

This Banana Cream Pie uses our homemade flaky pie crust and fills it with fresh bananas and the most creamy, dreamy banana cream filling. Topped with freshly whipped cream, this classic dessert is absolutely heavenly.

Total time: 45

Razzleberry Pie Recipe

This delicious Razzleberry Pie is bursting with raspberries, blackberries and blueberries all baked into a flakey homemade pie crust. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a big dollop of freshly whipped cream for a perfect summer dessert, or make with frozen berries and enjoy all year long.

Total time: 1 30

easy no bake cheesecake

No Bake Cheesecake

This Easy No Bake Cheesecake recipe is the best recipe for a cheesecake. It's simple to make and only takes a few ingredients. It's light and fluffy and oh, so creamy. It's an easy no-bake dessert the entire family will love.

Total time: 1 15

homemade whipped cream, how to make whipped cream

Fresh Whipped Cream Recipe

This Homemade Whipped Cream takes just 5 minutes to make and is worlds better than anything you can buy at the store. It’s super fluffy, lightly sweetened with just a touch of vanilla extract added to make it the perfect accompaniment to pies, cakes, tarts, French toast and more.

Total time: 5

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

This list of our Best Thanksgiving Menus includes every recipe you will need to make a perfect traditional Thanksgiving dinner. All of these recipes are easy and most can be made ahead of time.

« Smoked Turkey

Cheese Twists with Puff Pastry »

Comments

Beth

November 17, 2021 at 11:56 am

This is wonderful with so many options that i'm going to have to do at least 2 Thanksgivings to get through them all! Not complaining, just stating a fact!

Reply
- Jill Baird
  
  November 17, 2021 at 12:16 pm
  
  Thanks for checking them out. Happy Thanksgiving!
  
  Reply
Natalie

November 17, 2021 at 11:12 am

Amazing list. Everything looks super delicious and perfect for Holidays. I'm definitely going to bake that apple pie. Yum!

Reply
- Jill Baird
  
  November 17, 2021 at 12:15 pm
  
  This apple pie is so easy. I hope you love it!
  
  Reply
Jenni

November 17, 2021 at 8:34 am

This is such an amazing list of recipes! You really don't need to go anywhere else, everything I need is right here! Thank you!

Reply
- Jill Baird
  
  November 17, 2021 at 12:15 pm
  
  So glad you enjoyed it!
  
  Reply
Gina

November 17, 2021 at 8:01 am

Wow - what a great resource! That sweet potato casserole looks amazing and I'd love some with a scoop of the orange cranberry sauce on top!

Reply
- Jill Baird
  
  November 17, 2021 at 12:15 pm
  
  I hope you love it as much as we do!
  
  Reply

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