Need something delicious to make for Thanksgiving? I’ve got you covered.
I’ll tell you a secret: growing up, I hated Thanksgiving food.
My friends and I would joke that we’d rather just have chicken fingers and fries.
Later, I realized that it wasn’t Thanksgiving food in general that I didn’t like, it was just the food being served at my extended family’s Thanksgiving (sorry to any of my cousins reading this!).
Sure, powdered mashed potatoes and canned green bean casserole are convenient, but we can do better 🙂
And if you’re looking to impress guests with dishes that are flavorful, sometimes unconventional, and still relatively easy to prepare, this list has got you covered.
With everything from flatbread appetizers to roasted grape stuffing to delicious apple desserts, these recipes will add so much flavor to your Thanksgiving table.
1. Hot Honey Goat Cheese Flatbread with Roasted Grapes
This flatbread is a perfect appetizer or side dish for the holidays. Or just enjoy it yourself for lunch! That’s what I did when I first made it.
2. Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Butternut squash is a great way to really elevate the flavor to your mac and cheese dish this Thanksgiving. It gives the mac & cheese a burst of warm, fall flavor. It also adds plenty of nutrients, like vitamin C and fiber.
3. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
While this dish is traditional for Thanksgiving, I love it as a side dish for any holiday meal. It’s a great way to add flavor to vegetables and make green beans fun.
4. Roasted Grape Stuffing with Candied Walnuts
Every Thanksgiving needs a good stuffing recipe. And this one is a 100 out of 10. The candied walnuts add a delicious sweetness and crunch to the recipe too. Plus, these quick candied walnuts can be made in just about 10 minutes.
5. Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice, Feta & Roasted Almonds
Meet your dream Thanksgiving side dish. Full of different flavors and textures, this stuffed acorn squash has got it all. You take a perfectly roasted and caramelized acorn squash and stuff it with a blend of even more delicious foods.
6. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Oranges
You have to try this delicious side dish. It’s full of so many amazing textures and flavors. It starts with crispy Brussels sprouts. Bacon is also cooked in the oven. Then, orange segments are added. Freshly shaved parmesan cheese is added on top for an awesome salty and savory addition. And lastly, everything can be dipped in the most dreamy maple tahini dressing. It’s made with just tahini, maple syrup and orange or lemon juice. I could literally drink it!
7. Kale & Walnut Stuffing
Whether you need a new Thanksgiving side or are just looking for a delicious dish for a crowd, this Kale & Walnut Stuffing is for you.
8. Roasted Hot Honey Feta with Za’atar Pita Chips
This might be one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten. It’s sweet, salty, savory and spicy all in one.
It starts with roasting a block of feta cheese, which makes the cheese even softer and creamier. It also brings out the saltiness and flavor of the cheese. Then, honey is added to the roasted feta. I chose to use hot honey. The little kick of spice combined with the sweet honey is so good.
9. Apple Beignets
These Apple Beignets are such a fun and delicious way to use apples. Yes, apples do add nutrients and fiber to these beignets. But we’re not eating them for those reasons. And it’s so important to me that you know that that’s perfectly okay.
10. Roasted Tomato Soup with Parmesan Croutons
It’s truly not fall until you’ve had tomato soup with some kind of cheesy bread. I love this dish for Thanksgiving because it’s the perfect way to utilize those end-of-season tomatoes. It’s a time when you can still get tomatoes, but want something a little more hearty and warming.
11. Orange Juice and Maple Glazed Carrots with Feta, Pistachios, and Orange Yogurt Sauce
These take carrots to the next level. They’re glazed with an incredibly delicious orange juice and maple sauce. Then, they’re topped with salty feta cheese and crunchy pistachios. Everything is on top of a sweet orange yogurt sauce. The flavor combination is unreal.
12. Rainbow Crunch Salad
Full of so many flavors and textures, this sweet and savory salad does not disappoint. It’s a Thanksgiving staple.
13. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Chocolate chip. Pumpkin bread. If you’re thinking that sounds really good, I promise, it tastes even better than you think. And when all foods fit in your diet, delicious dessert like this is a must. Cue all the cozy vibes with this one: warm, gooey, chocolate-y pumpkin bread.
14. Roasted Mushroom Flatbread with Arugula and Balsamic Glaze
This flatbread looks fancy but couldn’t be easier to make. And it’s the most delicious way to celebrate Thanksgiving.
15. Crispy Carrot Fries
I don’t think I’ll eat carrots any other way again after eating these Crispy Carrot Fries. Once you try them, I think you’ll feel the same.
