5-Star Reader Comment
Thank you! This menu is outstanding, with so many of our family favorites. Your recipes are easy and always perfect. Happy Thanksgiving!
Julia
Where My Southern Thanksgiving Starts
This is the kind of Southern Thanksgiving menu I come back to year after year: a good turkey, plenty of familiar sides, something fresh on the plate, and desserts worth saving room for.
Thanksgiving has always meant more to me than the food on the table. I love the cooking, the traditions, and all the dishes we look forward to every year, but the real gift is being together.
It’s having the people you love gathered around the table, being thankful for who is there, remembering those who helped shape the traditions we carry on, and taking time to notice just how much there is to be grateful for.
I’ve learned that the best Thanksgiving meals aren’t about making the most food. They’re about choosing the dishes people actually look forward to and giving yourself enough breathing room to enjoy the day, too. That’s how I build this menu.
Happy Thanksgiving,
How I Build A Southern Thanksgiving Menu
I start with the main dish, then build the plate around it. I want something creamy, something green, something savory, and at least one dish with a little crunch or brightness. That keeps the table feeling generous without every recipe fighting for attention.
Once the menu is set, I work backward: what can be made a day or two ahead, what needs oven space, and what truly has to happen on Thanksgiving Day. That little bit of planning makes a bigger difference than adding one more side dish.
What I Do Ahead For Thanksgiving
Decide what needs oven space first. I always look at the turkey, casseroles, and breads before anything else. That tells me what to make ahead or move to the Crock Pot.
Prep vegetables and herbs early. Onions, celery, sweet potatoes, and fresh herbs can all be handled ahead of time. I don’t want to be chopping three onions on Thanksgiving morning.
Assemble what you can the day before. Casseroles and many side dishes can be prepped, covered, and refrigerated so all that’s left is baking or reheating.
Bake dessert the day before. Pies, pound cakes, and crisps are much happier waiting on you than the other way around.
Set out the serving pieces early. I like knowing exactly which bowl, platter, and spoon each dish is using before the kitchen gets busy.
My Southern Thanksgiving Menu
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.
More Thanksgiving Recipes And Planning Help
The Effortless Host eBook
Hosting doesn’t have to mean stress, long to-do lists, or staying stuck in the kitchen. The Effortless Host is your shortcut to pulling off beautiful gatherings with confidence and ease.
5 Days of Cozy Fall Southern Recipes
GET THIS FREE GUIDE: My best easy Southern recipes for a relaxing fall season.
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