10 Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas for the Perfect Feast [2024]

Need some fresh Thanksgiving Menu ideas? Look no further: our list contains over two dozen menus you can follow or mix and match to create the ideal Thanksgiving celebration.

From easy make-ahead meals for small families to Southern feasts with plenty of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes – numerous recipes and ideas here can help you create the ideal feast – now all that remains is to add the decorations!

Make Thanksgiving easier this year without cluttering your kitchen by cooking all your favorites outdoors with our Grill-Lover’s Thanksgiving Menu, perfect for outdoor grilling. Need to impress?

Try going big with our Over-the-Top Thanksgiving menu or give the Spicy Thanksgiving Menu a go if you want some spicy flavors. With ideas from across the nation and inspiration available at your fingertips, any celebration can be as elegant (or simple) as desired and still become an amazing feast!

A Grill-Lover’s Thanksgiving Menu

Grilling doesn’t just have to be reserved for warm-weather gatherings – Thanksgiving may be the ideal occasion to bring out the Weber: wood chips can add incredible flavour to turkey meat while freeing up oven space for creating other delectable side dishes like potatoes and cornbread.

Cocktail:

• M5 Sidecar

Main Course:

• Grilled Citrus-and-Spice Turkey

Sides:

• Cast-Iron Hasselback Potatoes
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
• Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter

Desserts:

• Ginger Pumpkin Pie
• Salted Caramel-Apple Slab Pie
• Brioche Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Butterscotch Sauce

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving is all about welcoming one another together, not marginalizing anyone at the table. Why not celebrate inclusivity this Thanksgiving with an exquisite vegetarian dinner everyone will savor? Check out these classic vegetarian dishes instead.

Starters:

• Corn Fritters
• Ricotta and Strawberry Toast

Main Courses:

• Fresh Herb Spoon Rolls
• Spicy Lemon Cauliflower
• Fresh Cranberry-Apple Relish
• Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Beet and Squash Salad
• Bibb-and-Citrus Salad
• Orange Carrots with Yogurt-Parsley Dressing
• Baked Two-Cheese Rigatoni

Dessert:

• Apple Blossom Tart
• Fall Apple Cranberry Pie

A Classic Thanksgiving Menu

For traditionalists, this menu has everything they could ever ask for an assortment of entrees, starters, and sides you have been anticipating since last Thanksgiving! Packed full of traditional favorites with modern enhancements for maximum flavor and deliciousness, we wouldn’t be surprised if your family doesn’t fall head over heels in love with these Thanksgiving menu ideas!

Main Course:

• Seasoned Roasted Turkey with
• White Wine and Rosemary Gravy

Sides:

• Fresh Herb Stuffing
• Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Homemade Marshmallow
• Parker House Rolls
• Corn Salad With Bacon and Honey
• Composed Waldorf Salad

Dessert:

• Pecan Slab Pie
• Fruit and Nut Trifle

A Chesapeake Coastal Thanksgiving

According to Ryan, Travis and Ryan Croxton of Rappahannock Oyster Co. have created an exceptional menu of simple Southern-coastal cuisine–with plenty of local oysters, naturally–that predates any of them. In other words, why make any improvements when the dishes already taste amazing?

Drinks

• The Croxtons enjoy refreshing sparkling wine or brut Champagne to accompany their meal. If you can afford it, why not indulge with one or two bottles of Nyetimber or your preferred bubbly?

Main Course:

• Simple Herbed Turkey with Easiest Ever Gravy—loads of butter keep the meat moist, and handfuls of flavorful, fresh herbs keep it simple and tasty.

Sides:

• Oyster Stuffing with Bacon-Scallion Cream Sauce
• Bourbon Yams
• Lima Bean and Corn Succotash
• Oyster Pie
• Crab Cakes
• Nana’s Famous Corn Pudding

Dessert

• Cranberry Walnut Shortbread Bars

Decadent Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving only comes once yearly, so don’t skimp on the butter, cheese and hearty sides this Thanksgiving. This menu incorporates seasonal flavors in an irresistibly delicious manner-from an elevated squash dish bursting with goat cheese and tart poached cranberries to an extravagant Hasselback potato gratin that bursts with flavor at every bite (and crevice!); your guests are bound to leave your table without their buttons fastened!

Starter:

• Herbed Cheese Ball

Main Course:

• Butter-and-Herb Roast Turkey

Sides:

• Brussels Sprouts with Pickled Shallots and Hazelnuts
• Roasted Squash with Goat Cheese and Poached Cranberries
• Scalloped Oysters
• Hasselback Potato Gratin

Dessert:

• Cranberry Tart
• Double-Crust Apple-Cheddar Pie

Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Menu

Slow cookers simplify life by providing us with almost every imaginable Thanksgiving course (plus many everyday recipes). Even your turkey can be cooked using an extra large one and our herbed chicken recipe below! Please don’t waste time or energy by leaving some dishes cooking while working on other recipes; doing it now could save both!

Main Course:

• Herbed Chicken with Beets and Brussels

Sides:

• Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Stuffing
• Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Dessert:

• Slow Cooker Pecan Bread Pudding

Vegan Thanksgiving Menu

If you and/or your family/friends are committed to eating vegan, our menu provides delicious (truly delectable!) options for everyone at the table.

Starters:

• Thanksgiving Harvest Salad
• Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

Main Course:

• Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Sides:

• Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
• Vegan Mac and Cheese

Dessert:

• Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Traditional American Thanksgiving Menu

Joe Randall–coauthor of A Taste of Heritage: The New African-American Cuisine in Savannah–maintains tradition when creating his Thanksgiving menu.

Main Course:

• Butter-Roasted Turkey with Giblet Pan Gravy

Side Dishes:

• Cornbread Dressing with Sage and Pork Sausage
• Mom Pan’s Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Sun-Dried Cranberry Salsa
• Southern-Style Green Beans

Easy Thanksgiving Menu

Make life easy this year and opt for low-lift recipes that deliver flavor without taking over all your free time – perfect if you want a sip of bourbon with Grandpa or to impress guests by creating elegant table settings without lifting heavy objects!

Main Course:

• Turkey Roulade Three Ways

Sides:

• Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing
• Brussels Sprouts Gratin
• Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potato-and-Cauliflower Salad

Desserts:

• Sweet Potato Snickerdoodles
• Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cookie Crust
• Grape Slab Pie

Friendsgiving Menu

Bringing holiday cheer to the community doesn’t have to be a solo event this year! Instead, host an easygoing feast like Erin and Ben Napier’s BYOCACD (Bring Your Chair and Covered Dish) party, with plenty of delectable dishes that everyone can share – assign recipes among your friends- or go big and cook everything yourself!

Main Course:

• Red Chile and Orange-Glazed Turkey

Sides:

• Erin Napier’s Skillet Cornbread
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Squash Casserole
• Braised Greens
• Grape Salad
• Cheesy Rice

Dessert:

• Bourbon-Pecan Pie