Before we dive into the classic mouthwatering Thanksgiving dishes list with traditional recipes, here’s a foreword:
Thanksgiving is all about three things: family, gratitude, and most importantly—food!
It’s that one day a year when we gather with our loved ones, share laughs, reflect on the things we’re thankful for, and completely overeat.
Let’s be real—half of the joy of Thanksgiving is filling your plate with the classic Thanksgiving dishes.
Whether you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving or you’re practically a turkey-carving master, there are a few classic recipes that just make Thanksgiving, well, Thanksgiving.
Let’s walk through these seven must-have Thanksgiving dishes list that will fill your home with warmth, flavor, and the true spirit of the holiday.
Also, these dishes generate Thanksgiving potluck ideas for everyone.
Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with easy-to-follow recipes, a little history, and a whole lot of love.
Let’s dive in!
Seven Best Dishes for Thanksgiving 2024!
1. Roast Turkey with Herb Butter
Okay, let’s start with the star of the show: the turkey. Believe it or not, turkey hasn’t always been the Thanksgiving MVP. In fact, we’re not even sure if they had turkey at the first Thanksgiving in 1621!
But fast forward to the 19th century, by the time Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, turkey was pretty much locked in as the main dish.
So, here’s one of the popular turkey dinner ideas for Thanksgiving!
What You Need:
- 1 whole turkey (12-14 lbs)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 onion, quartered
- 4 cups chicken broth (for basting)
How to Make It:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F.
- Mix the softened butter with rosemary, thyme, and sage, then season it with salt and pepper.
- Rub the herb butter all over the turkey—under the skin, over the skin, everywhere!
- Toss the lemon and onion inside the turkey’s cavity for flavor.
- Roast the turkey, basting every 45 minutes with chicken broth, until the meat thermometer hits 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh (about 3-4 hours).
- Let it rest for at least 30 minutes before carving—patience is key!
2. Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries are one of the few truly American fruits, used by Native Americans for everything from food to medicine.
The Pilgrims likely learned to use cranberries from them, but the sweet cranberry sauce we know today didn’t hit the Thanksgiving table until the 1800s. Now, it’s a must-have for balancing out all the rich flavors with a bit of tartness. No doubt, this is a perfect complement to the main Thanksgiving serving dishes.
What You Need:
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- Zest of one orange
How to Make It:
- Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and zest in a saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the cranberries burst (yes, they pop!) and the sauce thickens, about 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool down, and you’ve got a tangy, sweet cranberry sauce to wow everyone.
3. Green Bean Casserole
Among the famous Thanksgiving food recipes, this dish isn’t as old as the others.
It was created in 1955 by Campbell’s to promote their cream of mushroom soup. But boy, did it stick! It’s easy, creamy, and those crispy fried onions on top are seriously addictive.
What You Need:
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 cups cooked green beans
- 1 cup crispy fried onions
- Salt and pepper
How to Make It:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix the soup, milk, salt, and pepper in a baking dish. Stir in the green beans and half of the fried onions.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then top with the remaining fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes until the top is golden and crunchy.
4. Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing
Thanksgiving stuffing (or “dressing,” depending on where you’re from) has been around since medieval times! The idea of stuffing meat with bread, herbs, and spices was something early settlers brought from Europe. So, this is the traditional stuffing recipe!
By the time Thanksgiving became a thing in America, stuffing was a holiday regular. Although this is not an easy Thanksgiving dinner, it’s one of those sides that you can’t imagine the meal without.
What You Need:
- 10 cups cubed, day-old bread (French or sourdough works great)
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups celery, chopped
- 2 cups onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper
How to Make It:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Add onions, celery, and garlic, and cook until they’re soft and fragrant.
- Stir in the sage and thyme to get that herby goodness going.
- In a large bowl, mix the bread cubes with the veggie mixture. Pour over the chicken broth until everything’s nice and moistened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer it all into a baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden and crispy on top.
Note: If you’re aiming for a Thanksgiving dinner for 4, this will be your best bet!
5. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
This is kind of a trademark for Thanksgiving USA! Sweet potatoes have been part of the American diet since the 1800s. The addition of marshmallows? That’s pure American marketing genius from the 1920s when marshmallow companies figured out they pair perfectly with the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes.
And let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a toasted marshmallow topping with scrumptious recipes for Thanksgiving?
What You Need:
- 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and boiled
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
How to Make It:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mash the cooked sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, milk, and cinnamon.
- Spread the sweet potato mixture into a baking dish and top with mini marshmallows.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the marshmallows are golden and bubbly. Yum!
6. Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin was a staple for Native Americans, and it didn’t take long for early colonists to get creative with it. By the 1800s, pumpkin pie became the sweet ending to a Thanksgiving meal, and we haven’t looked back since. Also, it’s one of the easy thanksgiving dishes. Isn’t it?
What’s Thanksgiving without a slice of this iconic pie?
What You Need:
- 1 pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups canned pumpkin puree
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
How to Make It:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, and spices.
- Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 350°F and bake for another 40-50 minutes. Let it cool, then slice it up and serve with a big dollop of whipped cream!
7. Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
Potatoes are native to South America, and when Europeans brought them over, they quickly became a favorite. By the 1700s, mashed potatoes were a popular dish and part and parcel of the Catholic Thanksgiving traditions. Now, they’re pretty much a Thanksgiving essential. And let’s not forget the gravy—it ties everything together!
Note: the recipe was borrowed from NYtimes Thanksgiving recipes!
What You Need:
- 5 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups turkey drippings or chicken broth
How to Make It:
- Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Drain, then mash with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper.
- To make gravy, melt butter in a pan, whisk in the flour, then slowly add the turkey drippings or broth until thick and smooth.
Wrapping It Up
Thanksgiving is more than just food—it’s about coming together, sharing stories, and giving thanks for the good in our lives.
But let’s face it, the food is pretty amazing, too.
Whether you’re roasting your first turkey or perfecting that pumpkin pie or concocting light Thanksgiving appetizers, the shared Thanksgiving recipes 2024 bring the heart of Thanksgiving to your table.
One bite at a time.
Happy Thanksgiving 2024!
