Where My Southern Thanksgiving Starts
My Southern Thanksgiving Menu is a collection of recipes that my family has been waiting for all year long. These are the dishes that bring everyone back to the table—simple to prepare, rich with flavor, and made with so much love.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the best Thanksgiving meals aren’t complicated; When I’m building our Thanksgiving menu, I’m not just picking recipes… I’m choosing memories, comfort, and the kind of food people linger over long after the meal is done.
Happy Thanksgiving,
How I Plan My Southern Thanksgiving Menu
Planning ahead is the real gift to yourself. A good Thanksgiving menu strikes a balance between classics everyone expects and simple additions that round out the meal. I start by choosing the main dish, then build the sides around it—something creamy, something fresh, something savory, and something that brings a little crunch.
Once the menu is set, I make a quick schedule: what to prep early in the week, what to cook the day before, and what needs attention on the big day. Keeping it simple lets me stay organized and actually enjoy the celebration instead of rushing through it.
Make-Ahead Tips for a Low-Stress Thanksgiving
Warm everything gently. Low oven heat or chafing dishes keep food tender without drying it out.
Prep veggies and herbs early. Chopping onions, celery, sweet potatoes, and herbs a day or two ahead saves so much time.
Make casseroles in advance. Most Southern classics—potato casseroles, cornbread dressing, green beans—can be assembled and chilled until baking time.
Bake desserts the day before. Pies and cakes taste even better once they’ve had a chance to rest.
Create a serving plan. Label platters and bowls so you know exactly where each dish will go.
Thanksgiving Menu Recipes
Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip With Bacon
Made with just 5 ingredients, this Pepper Jelly Cheese With Bacon is the perfect appetizer! It's the perfect blend of creamy, spicy, and a little bit salty, making for an irresistible bite. It only takes a few minutes to put together this flavorful spread, making it a guest and home cook favorite.
Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery
Celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese, bacon, herbs and cheddar cheese are outrageously good! Served as an appetizer or snack, this recipe will surely become a favorite at parties, cookouts and family gatherings.
Creamy Southern Deviled Eggs
Extra creamy deviled eggs are a classic, crowd pleasing appetizer and a must for any southern holiday celebration. This deviled egg recipe is simple to make with no-frills or fancy extras. They are the perfect finger food for holidays, parties and gatherings anytime of the year.
Easy Crock Pot Turkey Breast
Perfectly seasoned with butter, herbs, onions, and garlic, this juicy, tender turkey breast is easy to make in the slow cooker. Crock Pot Turkey Breast is the perfect recipe when you don't want to make a whole turkey, and no oven space is needed!
How To Make Turkey Gravy
Impress everyone at the Thanksgiving table with delicious, homemade gravy that takes just minutes to make! This foolproof recipe is easy to master and will have you making perfect gravy every single time.
Brown Sugar Mustard Baked Ham
Get ready to fall in love with this scrumptious Brown Sugar Mustard Baked Ham! Trust me, after just 15 minutes of prep, you'll have a mouthwatering dish featuring a heavenly combo of whole grain and Dijon mustard, along with the sweetness of Coca-Cola.
Best Creamed Spinach Recipe: Fresh and Easy
Creamed Spinach is a quick, comforting, and absolutely delicious homemade side dish. It's easy to make with simple ingredients, whether pulling together a last-minute weeknight meal or hosting unexpected guests. This recipe brings out the classic, rich flavors of creamed spinach in a lighter, fresher way and is perfect for adding a little extra flair to any meal!
Southern Candied Yams
Candied yams are a classic holiday side dish that's an outstanding addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, but they are also terrific to serve year-round. Sweet potatoes cooked with brown sugar, butter, and warm spices are the star of the show and downright irresistible!
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Southern Cornbread Dressing with celery, onions and just the right amount of seasoning is a tradition during the holidays. Served alongside turkey and drizzled with gravy, this classic dish will be gobbled up by everyone around the table!
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Easy to make Orange Cranberry Sauce is bursting with bold, bright flavors! Fresh cranberries sweetened with honey and maple syrup make this an outstanding no-sugar recipe to serve with turkey or ham.
Southern Pineapple Casserole
Pineapple Casserole is a classic, Southern dish, that's sweet, savory, and has a buttery topping that makes it totally addictive! Served as a side dish for the holidays or as a dessert, this surprising recipe brings together contrasting flavors and textures, making it incredibly delicious.
Southern Style Green Beans
Get ready to dive into the heart of comfort food with this simple Southern Green Beans recipe. Tender, flavorful, and steeped in tradition, green beans Southern style are a down-home delight you won't want to miss! Fresh green beans cooked with bacon and just the right amount of seasoning is the perfect side dish for any meal.
Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole
Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole with caramelized onions and a buttery cracker crust is a fall recipe that's absolutely incredible! It's perfect for Thanksgiving but it's so good you'll want to make it all year long.
Eggnog Pound Cake
Celebrate the holidays with Eggnog Pound Cake, flavored with rich eggnog and warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. There's just something special about homemade pound cake, and this one is an outstanding addition to any holiday celebration.
Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie
Decadent Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie is pure perfection and so easy to make! This no corn syrup recipe combines rich maple syrup with smokey bourbon and pecans to make a pie that's sure to be the star of any holiday gathering.
Easy Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia Salad is a classic recipe that's hard to resist. Make with pineapple, cherries, oranges, coconut, pecans and grapes all wrapped up in fresh whipped cream and marshmallows, is a fruit salad that dreams are made of!
Grandma’s Apple Crisp
This old-fashioned recipe for Grandma's Apple Crisp is loaded with tender apples and a buttery topping that is crispy and sweet. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream for a heavenly comfort food dessert.
Looking For More Thanksgiving Inspiration?
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Thank you! This menu is outstanding, with so many of our family favorites. Your recipes are easy and always perfect. Happy Thanksgiving!
You are so welcome, Julia. I’m thrilled you are here and cooking with me.
Happy Thanksgiving,
~Donya