Thanksgiving dinner is all about the classics — a well-seasoned turkey, comforting sides, and a spiced dessert to finish. Here are 10 complete Thanksgiving recipes, each with full ingredients and instructions to help round out your holiday table.
1. Roast Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 (12-14 lb) whole turkey, thawed
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage), chopped
- 1 onion, quartered, 1 lemon halved, 4 cloves garlic
- Salt and black pepper, 2 cups chicken or turkey broth
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Remove giblets and pat the turkey dry inside and out.
- Mix softened butter with chopped herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub under and over the skin.
- Stuff the cavity with onion, lemon, and garlic. Place turkey breast-side up in a roasting pan and pour broth into the bottom of the pan.
- Roast, basting occasionally, about 15 minutes per pound, until internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Let rest 20-30 minutes before carving.
2. Herb Stuffing
Ingredients
- 10 cups cubed bread, dried or toasted
- ½ cup butter, 1 onion diced, 3 celery stalks diced
- 2 cups chicken broth, 2 eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (sage, thyme, parsley), salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Melt butter in a skillet and sauté onion and celery 5-6 minutes until softened.
- In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, and herbs.
- Whisk broth and eggs together, then pour over the bread mixture, tossing to coat evenly.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish and bake covered 25 minutes, then uncovered 15 minutes until golden on top.
3. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 head garlic, roasted
- ½ cup butter, ½ cup milk or cream, salt and pepper
Instructions
- Roast garlic at 400°F (200°C) wrapped in foil with a drizzle of oil for 35-40 minutes.
- Boil potatoes in salted water 15-20 minutes until fork-tender; drain.
- Mash with roasted garlic, butter, and milk until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cups crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Blanch green beans in boiling water 4-5 minutes; drain.
- Combine green beans, soup, and milk in a baking dish, stirring to coat.
- Top with half the fried onions and bake 25 minutes.
- Add remaining onions on top and bake 5 more minutes until golden.
5. Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping
Ingredients
- 4 lbs sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
- ½ cup butter, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, ½ cup milk
- 1 cup pecans, ½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup flour, ¼ cup melted butter (topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix mashed sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, eggs, and milk.
- Spread into a baking dish.
- Combine pecans, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter for the topping; sprinkle over the sweet potatoes.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until golden.
6. Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water or orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, sugar, and water/orange juice in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes, until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens.
- Stir in orange zest, if using. Cool before serving; it will thicken further as it cools.
7. Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour, 1 packet active dry yeast, ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup warm milk, ¼ cup melted butter, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar; let foam 5-10 minutes.
- Add remaining sugar, melted butter, egg, and salt; mix in flour to form a soft dough. Knead 8 minutes.
- Let rise 1 hour, until doubled. Shape into rolls and place in a greased baking dish.
- Let rise another 30 minutes, then bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-18 minutes until golden.
8. Turkey Gravy
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pan drippings (or butter), ¼ cup flour
- 2-3 cups turkey or chicken broth, salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat drippings or butter in a saucepan; whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Simmer 5-7 minutes, until thickened to your desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper; strain if needed for a smooth gravy.
9. Classic Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree, ¾ cup sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs, 1 cup evaporated milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, salt
Instructions
- Blind bake the crust at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- Whisk pumpkin, both sugars, eggs, evaporated milk, and spices until smooth.
- Pour into the crust and bake at 375°F for 45-55 minutes, until just set with a slight jiggle.
- Cool completely, at least 2-3 hours, before slicing.
10. Pecan Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust
- 1 cup corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 ½ cups pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Fit the crust into a pie dish and crimp the edges.
- Whisk corn syrup, sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until combined.
- Arrange pecans in the crust and pour the filling over the top.
- Bake 50-60 minutes, until set with a slight jiggle in the center. Cool completely before slicing.
Final Thoughts
These 10 recipes cover the full spread of a classic Thanksgiving dinner, from the turkey and stuffing to the sides, gravy, and dessert. Together, they make for a complete, traditional holiday table.
