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. Kale & Toasted Walnut Sourdough 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.
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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Crispy Parmesan Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Smashing Brussels sprouts give you the most crispy, delicious sprout that’s packed with flavor. These specifically are made with parmesan cheese that adds amazing umami flavor.
Once smashed and crispy, dip these in a creamy dip, like spicy mayo or hummus. The combination is amazing!
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. Winter Roasted Vegetable Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
This salad is so ideal. It’s full of seasonal roasted vegetables that add an amazing warmth, and are also just delicious.
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. 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.
15. Pumpkin Pie Pudding
This Pumpkin Pie Pudding is not only pretty surprisingly nutritious, it’s also just really really good.
Essentially, you’ll add a few ingredients to a blender, and you’re good to go. Okay, not essentially… that’s literally all you have to do.
16. California Grape & Brie Pull Apart Sourdough
This year, I made the most incredible pull-apart sourdough situation.
I served it as an appetizer for the holidays and not only was it completely demolished, but my guests were completely enamored with it. They couldn’t believe it was homemade!
17. Double Layer Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies
These Double Layer Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies are a great dessert for the holidays. IMO, they’re actually SO rich, sweet, and satisfying, that you really may want only one at a time.
They’re such a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth in the fall. Gooey, fudge-y texture. Rich, sweet chocolate. And a top pumpkin layer that’s sweet with all the right notes of fall.
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If you want to create a healthy relationship with food, feel better in your own skin, and set the foundation for your kids to do the same, I highly recommend checking out my course, Food Freedom for the Whole Family. It’s my most thorough guide – there’s even an entire section on body image in it!
Check it out here: Food Freedom for the Whole Family.
Not ready for that yet? Check out any of these free resources below:
How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Food blog
I’m an Intuitive Eating Dietitian and This is What I Do When My Body Image is Bad blog
How to Stop Obsessing About Weight While Working Towards Food Freedom blog
