For a classic Thanksgiving dinner, consider roast turkey with savory stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, and rich gravy. Add sides like green bean casserole, or sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, and cranberry sauce. Finish with traditional desserts such as pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie, offering a sweet end to a festive meal. Thanksgiving dinner, a cherished tradition, often comes with the challenge of pleasing a diverse group of guests while honoring classic flavors. Deciding what to serve can be daunting, as hosts strive to create a memorable and satisfying feast. This article addresses these concerns by offering a variety of tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes that cater to different tastes and dietary needs. From the iconic roast turkey to vegetarian options, these dishes ensure everyone at the table feels included and delighted. We also include beloved sides and desserts to complete your holiday spread. In this article, you will discover 11 classic ideas for Thanksgiving dinner that will have your guests lining up for seconds. 11 Classic Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinner Thanksgiving dinner is a time-honored tradition where families gather to enjoy a feast that celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year. The centerpiece of this meal is often a succulent roast turkey, accompanied by a rich, flavorful stuffing that adds depth to the dish. Side dishes play a crucial role, with creamy mashed potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce bringing a balance of flavors. Green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows are perennial favorites, offering comfort and nostalgia. For dessert, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie provide a sweet and satisfying conclusion to the meal. Here are 11 ideas for Thanksgiving dinner your guests will love! 1. Roast Turkey Roast turkey is the quintessential Thanksgiving dish, symbolizing the holiday's traditions and family gatherings. This majestic bird, when cooked to perfection, offers a tender, juicy texture with a rich, savory flavor that's enhanced by various herbs and spices. The skin, crisped to a golden brown, provides a delightful contrast in texture. A roast turkey also acts as a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table, embodying the spirit of gratitude and abundance. Its versatility in accommodating different stuffing and seasonings makes it adaptable to various taste preferences. Moreover, the size of a turkey allows for feeding a large group, making it ideal for family reunions. The act of carving the turkey at the table is a cherished ritual, often passed down through generations. The leftovers, too, are a much-anticipated part of the holiday, lending themselves to creative dishes in the days following Thanksgiving. 2. Baked Ham Baked ham is a popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving, especially appreciated for its sweet and savory flavor profile. Often glazed with a mixture of honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup, and sometimes accented with spices like cloves and mustard, baked ham presents a delightful contrast to other traditional Thanksgiving flavors. The glaze caramelizes in the oven, creating a sticky, sweet coating that complements the salty, rich meat. This dish is particularly suitable for smaller gatherings or as an additional main course to accommodate diverse palates. Its ease of preparation and serving also adds to its appeal, as it can be pre-sliced and arranged attractively on a platter. Baked ham pairs well with a variety of side dishes, from classic mashed potatoes to vibrant, tangy cranberry sauce. It's also a convenient choice as it often comes pre-cooked, reducing the preparation time and effort. 3. Prime Rib Prime rib, known for its luxurious and rich flavor, is an excellent choice for a more upscale Thanksgiving celebration. This cut of beef is tender, juicy, and marbled with fat, which reduces down during cooking to infuse the meat with flavor and moisture. It's typically roasted slowly, allowing the exterior to develop a deeply flavored crust while the inside remains succulently rare or medium-rare. Serving prime rib at Thanksgiving provides a sense of elegance and indulgence, making the holiday meal feel even more special. It's particularly suitable for smaller gatherings where a whole turkey might be too much. The prime rib can be seasoned simply with salt and pepper or more elaborately with herbs and garlic, catering to various taste preferences. Additionally, the au jus or gravy made from its drippings adds another layer of richness to the dish, complementing the other Thanksgiving sides beautifully. 4. Vegetable Lasagna Vegetable lasagna is a hearty and satisfying vegetarian option for a Thanksgiving meal. It layers tender pasta with a medley of seasonal vegetables, rich tomato sauce, and creamy cheese, creating a dish that's both comforting and flavorful. This dish is an excellent choice for accommodating vegetarian guests or for those seeking a lighter alternative to meat-centric main courses. The versatility of vegetable lasagna allows for the inclusion of various vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, spinach, and mushrooms, making it a great way to incorporate fall produce. Its layers of melted cheese and béchamel sauce add a luxurious richness, contrasting beautifully with the tangy tomato sauce. Preparing a vegetable lasagna can be a fun and engaging activity, allowing family members to contribute to layering the ingredients. It also presents beautifully on the table and can be made ahead of time, easing the stress of holiday cooking. 5. Green Bean Casserole Creamy green beans mixed with a can of cream of mushroom soup and fried onions is how you will find this dish in most homes on Thanksgiving. But how do you create the best version of this classic? Ditch the canned soup, of course. This recipe is made with bacon, and cheese, and cream, and garlic, and breadcrumbs, and… and… and… We could keep going, but all you really need to know is that this green bean casserole will be loved by everyone at your Thanksgiving table — even those who try to convince you they don’t like green beans. 6. Sweet Potato Casserole If your mama never lets you have dessert before dinner, this may be an exception as it tastes more like a dessert than a side dish — and it's a vegetable. Sweet potatoes are taken to a whole new level when they are added to this casserole. If you are not already a fan of sweet potato casserole, you will be once you taste this. In fact, you may even want to make two. Soft, creamy sweet potatoes topped with a pecan and marshmallow topping give you everything you need for a perfect side dish. 7. Macaroni and Cheese No homemade macaroni and cheese can be complete without lots of shredded cheese and creamy sauce. And the best part is that you can choose the types of cheeses you want. Try new flavors like smoked gouda, mozzarella, colby, cheddar, and more — get a different flavor every time. Try this recipe and follow the tips for macaroni and cheese that will top the list as the best dish on the table. 8. Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes are simple. And they are the true definition of a classic Thanksgiving dish — perfectly suited for turkey. Since it is never suggested that you go for a boxed variety, consider finding a recipe to create the perfect mashed tater. It is creamy. It is flavorful. It is oh-so-delicious. This recipe calls for a mixture of Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes (top secret tip), as well as butter, garlic, cream cheese, and more. The key to great mashed potatoes is all in how they are cooked so pay attention as you go through the recipe’s instructions. 9. Stuffing — Or is it Dressing? Is there a difference between stuffing and dressing? Simply put, stuffing is cooked inside the bird, and dressing is cooked outside the bird. Both usually involve the same ingredients. You can use cornbread, loaves of bread, baguettes, or whatever tickles your fancy, as long as it is stale or toasted. Combine this with things like celery, sweet onion, sage, rosemary, garlic, vegetable stock, parsley, and other herbs. There are many different recipes to choose from — find one that works for you. Whatever you do, don’t grab a box of stuffing. 10. Glazed Carrots Carrots are one of those things that you either love or hate. But when they are glazed and candied, what’s not to love? This simple side dish fits perfectly as a classic addition to the Thanksgiving table. All you need are carrots, butter, brown sugar, salt, and a sprinkle of parsley. 11. Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin pie is another staple on the Thanksgiving table. Well, the dessert table, that is. Just be sure to prepare in advance because it is going to need some time to set before it can be eaten. And, if you are cooking a bird, planning accordingly is essential. Try your hand this year at a recipe that makes the entire pie from scratch. You may just find that it yields the best results. Eh, while you are at it, you should just make two of these, too. The Role of Your Kitchen Appliances Are you hosting your family and friends for Thanksgiving this year? Are you in charge of bringing a certain dish? Since many people starve themselves all day just for the anticipation of the comforting feast that is to come —- it absolutely cannot go wrong. This puts a lot of pressure on your kitchen appliances. Even if you put all the right ingredients together, you can still find yourself with a dish gone wrong. What if the oven doesn’t bake evenly? What if your burner is acting up and continues cooking when you want it to stop or doesn’t provide enough heat? Or, perhaps the worst, what if your refrigerator doesn’t have the space to hold all the ingredients for all your favorite dishes – or the power to keep it cool while it is stuffed? THOR Kitchen provides you with everything you need to #cooklikeagod, wowing the socks off your Uncle Earl and leaving your Aunt Betty asking questions about how you were able to bring it all together. If you want to impress everyone, you need the right kitchen appliances. So, whether it is a gas range, a new refrigerator, or a dishwasher to clean up after everyone — get everything you need from THOR Kitchen before the cooking and baking commence. Shop online or find a local retailer.
