26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (2024)

If you're anything like us, planning for your Thanksgiving spread starts days (sometimes weeks) in advance. And after trying out many successful, and some unsuccessful, recipes, we've narrowed down a list of our absolute favorites that always make an appearance at our holiday tables. These are the Thanksgiving recipes our editors swear by.

01of 26

Citrus-and-Butter Turkey

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (1)

The recipe holds a secret tip for the crispiest turkey skin you'll find, and it's guaranteed to be a go-to for years to come. The trick? Butter-soaked cheesecloth that's draped over the bird while roasting. The addition of three different citrus fruits makes for a bright and moist bird that's packed with flavor.

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02of 26

Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (2)

No one can resist perfectly baked mac and cheese that's creamy, rich, ooey-gooey, super cheesy, with those crispy browned cheese edges —and this recipe delivers.

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03of 26

Anthony Bourdain's 'Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style'

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (3)

Anthony Bourdain’s version of chef Joël Robuchon's famous mashed potatoes is even creamier than the original — and it comes together in just an hour.

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04of 26

Cranberry-Walnut Stuffing

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (4)

Tart cranberries and toasted walnuts add flavor and a crunch to this crowd-pleasing holiday side dish. Rustic hunks of toasted bread form the backbone of this stuffing; a buttery sautéed mixture of onion, celery, herbs, and cooked sausage fills it out with rich flavor.

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05of 26

Potatoes au Gratin

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (5)

This elegant take on au gratin potatoes features red potatoes, onions, and two types of melty cheese.

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06of 26

Simple Smoked Turkey

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (6)

Smoking a turkey yields juicy and tender meat. The keys to success are seasoning the bird with a dead-simple saltwater brine, then controlling the temperature of the smoker for even cooking. The added bonus of smoking the Thanksgiving turkey? It frees up the oven for sides and pies.

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Herb-Scented Mashed Potatoes

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (7)

To make these creamy, rich, and delicious potatoes, steep fresh rosemary, sage, and garlic in a combination of milk and cream, then add that fragrant mixture into boiled and riced potatoes. To take it to the next level, brush the mashed potatoes with butter and broil before serving, creating a deliciously light and crispy potato crust on top.

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08of 26

Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (8)

Fresh herbs, two kinds of citrus, and a honey-za'atar vinaigrette give this charred carrot salad bright flavors.

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09of 26

Shredded Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (9)

Shredded brussels sprouts become delightfully caramelized in the oven, then get taken to the next level when tossed with Parmesan.

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10of 26

Roast Turkey with Chestnut-Apple Stuffing

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (10)

This classic turkey is rubbed with an aromatic shallot-sage butter, then stuffed with a nutty chestnut-apple stuffing. It's the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and is guaranteed to be a hit.

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11of 26

Best-Ever Turkey Gravy

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (11)

This simple, silky-smooth gravy stays lump-free with a trick of loosening the roux with a splash of broth before whisking it into the pot.

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12of 26

Chocolate Pecan Pie with Bourbon

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (12)

This is a pie that has it all. Fragrant toasted pecans, rich chocolate, and caramel-y bourbon come together in harmony for a beautifully balanced dessert.

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13of 26

Deep-Fried Turkey Brined in Cayenne and Brown Sugar

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (13)

Make this beautifully moist, crispy deep-fried turkey recipe and you may never roast your bird again.

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14of 26

Port-Cranberry Sauce

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (14)

In this version of cranberry sauce, the sweet-tartness of the cranberries is enhanced with the addition of port, orange juice, and orange zest.

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15of 26

Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli with Cranberry Agrodolce

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (15)

A quick, high-temperature oven roast yields crispy, golden brown brussels sprouts and almost-charred, smoky broccoli — and the dish comes together in less than 30 minutes.

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16of 26

Spatchco*cked Smoked Turkey

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (16)

Sweet, tangy, and succulent thanks to Rodney Scott's smoky dry rub and spicy mopping sauce, this turkey is easy to tackle.

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17of 26

Chocolate Pie

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (17)

This chocolate pie is a favorite, no matter the time of year. So it only makes sense to bring out this crowd-pleaser for Thanksgiving. It's a simple, cozy recipe that can be dressed up for extra flare.

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18of 26

Red Skin Potato Mash

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (18)

No need to peel potatoes here! Keeping the skin intact gives this fluffy, creamy potato mash a nice added crunch alongside thinly slicedscallions.

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19of 26

Pecan Pie Bars

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (19)

Pecan pie bars have all the virtues of pecan pie without the need to roll out a crust — and we're here for any ways to save on steps this Thanksgiving. Plus, you can cut them as you like and serve them as part of a dessert spread.

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20of 26

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Onions with Mushroom Lardons

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (20)

A duo of alliums — shallots and pearl onions — become irresistibly sweet when roasted, making them the ideal partner to slightly bitter brussels sprouts. Bacon, the usual star in recipes like this, is replaced with lardons made from king oyster mushrooms, making this an ideal vegetarian side dish that even meat lovers will enjoy.

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21of 26

Roasted Beets and Charred Green Beans

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (21)

Top Chef star, Kristen Kish, pairs roasted beets and cast-iron-charred haricots verts with vinegar and hearty herbs (oregano and thyme) to make this salad. It is an homage to the jarred pickled beets and green bean salad she ate as a kid.

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22of 26

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Stuffing

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (22)

Swiss chard lends a pleasant earthiness to this hearty stuffing; meaty chestnuts add texture and richness. Choose high-quality crusty bread for this recipe to ensure a fluffy texture and crisp top.

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23of 26

Whole Roasted Carrots with Garlic

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (23)

Simple, yet delicious, this whole-roasted carrot recipe can be made for any occasion and is the perfect pairing for Thanksgiving dinner where rich dishes usually take center stage.

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24of 26

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (24)

Thick, meaty slab bacon turns these brussels sprouts into a hearty side; the spritz of lemon juice at the end adds brightness.

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25of 26

Green Beans with Cremini Mushroom Sauce

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (25)

This green bean casserole has been a favorite in the Food & Wine Test Kitchen for over 20 years for a reason. First published in 2001, this simple recipe uses cremini mushrooms for an added level of savory flavor.

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26of 26

Classic Pumpkin Pie

26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (26)

A must at every Thanksgiving table, this Classic Pumpkin Pie recipe is the perfect way to end your meal. It's simple and delicious, and the pie crust recipe can be used for a variety of different pies.

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26 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Editors Make Every Year (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 most popular food dishes served on Thanksgiving? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
  • Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.
Nov 2, 2022

What are the top 10 Thanksgiving foods? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

What is the key ingredient to a perfect Thanksgiving Day dinner? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

What was the original Thanksgiving meal? ›

There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

What is the most unpopular Thanksgiving food? ›

Jones shared the following on the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving foods ranked by percentage of how many participants didn't like them:
  • Coleslaw — 25.57%
  • Pumpkin pie — 24.28%
  • Mashed potatoes — 18.66%
  • Macaroni and cheese — 17.47%
  • Carrots — 16.98%
  • Apple pie — 16.29%
  • Corn — 15.50%
  • None of these, I like them all.
Nov 13, 2023

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

What is served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

This is usually a mix of traditional Thanksgiving food and Black culture. You'll see the classic Thanksgiving dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing paired with collard greens, yams, mac and cheese, and other traditional Black dishes.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What size turkey for 10 adults? ›

“So, for 10 people you should prepare a 20-pound turkey. Home cooks should expect to yield 40 percent of a cooked bird, and between dark meat and white meat preferences, the yield will shrink even further,” DiSpirito says.

What was missing from the first Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Turkey was not on the menu.

Instead, it is believed the pilgrims feasted on things such as lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squash, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese.

What president refused to declare Thanksgiving a holiday? ›

Thomas Jefferson was famously the only Founding Father and early president who refused to declare days of thanksgiving and fasting in the United States.

What president made Thanksgiving a holiday? ›

President Abraham Lincoln had declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday in November in 1863 and tradition dictated that it be celebrated on the last Thursday of that month.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

FoodTimeline library Food Timeline> What does the average American eat for Thanksgiving? If you ask the "average" American today what he eats for Thanksgiving he will likely answer turkey & stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pies (yes, plural!).

What are 4 common foods at Thanksgiving? ›

Of course, everybody knows that a traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of turkey, ham, green been casserole, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, etc.

What is the most popular Thanksgiving dish? ›

One popular dish is turkey. Turkey is usually the main dish of Thanksgiving. It is roasted and served with stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.

What is the most popular dish at Thanksgiving? ›

While turkey is the top selection in every region, side-dish challenger mashed potatoes are tied for first place in the Midwest (both winning 85% of matchups) and West (both winning 79%). Southerners are more likely than Americans overall to choose stuffing or dressing in matchups (84% vs 77%).

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