These 19 Thanksgiving Recipes Are the Real Reason Everyone Shows Up

Thanksgiving may be about gathering with loved ones, but let’s be real—the food is the real star of the show. These 19 recipes are the kind that keep everyone coming back for seconds and maybe even thirds. From savory sides to unforgettable desserts, this roundup has all the dishes that will leave your guests raving. If you’re looking to impress this Thanksgiving, these recipes are the reason everyone will show up—and why they’ll never want to leave.

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

These Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts are the kind of modern side dish that will keep your Thanksgiving meal exciting. The tangy balsamic glaze perfectly complements the roasted sprouts, making them an instant hit on the table. This dish guarantees the food will be the main topic of conversation. After tasting them, no one will be thinking about anything else.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions bring a new, flavorful twist to a Thanksgiving classic. The garlic and crispy onions make this dish a standout, replacing small talk with praise for the food. This is the side dish that will have guests talking about seconds instead of straying from the conversation. Expect compliments long after the meal is over.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

These Apple Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for Thanksgiving mornings, offering the warm and comforting flavors of fresh apples and cream cheese frosting. They’ll distract your guests with their irresistible sweetness, ensuring all the talk revolves around the food. These rolls will leave everyone reminiscing about the holiday for years. After just one bite, there’s no turning back.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup blends autumn’s best flavors into a warm, inviting dish. As a starter, it keeps everyone focused on the meal with its combination of sweet apples and savory squash. This soup adds a touch of comfort to your Thanksgiving table, making conversation about anything else unnecessary. One spoonful, and they’ll be hooked.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread brings a burst of flavor to your Thanksgiving table with its blend of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and poppy seeds. Its vibrant taste will steal the spotlight from any other distractions. Quick to prepare, this bread will be the bright spot of your holiday spread. Long after dessert, your guests will still be talking about it.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

Buttermilk Brined Turkey

Buttermilk Brined Turkey takes center stage at your Thanksgiving feast with its juicy, tender texture, thanks to a flavorful brine. This dish will keep everyone talking about the meal and nothing else. The moist, herb-infused turkey will have your guests praising your cooking well after the plates are cleared. Serve it once, and they’ll be back next year for more.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Brined Turkey

Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Cranberry Apple Stuffing brings together sweet and tangy flavors that will keep the focus squarely on the food. The unique mix of cranberries and apples makes this stuffing the star of the Thanksgiving table. It’s the dish that steals the spotlight from the turkey and has everyone asking for more. Expect it to be the new holiday favorite.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts offer bold, fragrant spices that elevate your Thanksgiving meal into something unforgettable. The exotic flavors will be the main point of conversation, keeping your guests talking about food instead of anything else. These sprouts will surprise everyone with how perfectly they fit into the holiday spread. They’ll wonder why Brussels sprouts haven’t always been this exciting.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Spiced Shortbread Cookies infused with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon provide the perfect ending to your Thanksgiving feast. These cookies keep all attention on the food, with their warm spices and buttery texture making guests ask for seconds. They’ll be the sweet treat everyone remembers when dessert rolls around. After the last bite, all talk will be about these cookies.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Parsnip Potato Soup

Parsnip Potato Soup offers a creamy, hearty dish to warm up your Thanksgiving meal. Its rich combination of parsnips and potatoes keeps the conversation focused on the food, with no room for off-topic discussions. Topped with bacon and cheddar, this soup will become the holiday staple everyone looks forward to. One bowl and it’ll be the soup everyone wants every year.
Get the Recipe: Parsnip Potato Soup

Butterscotch Apple Crisp

Butterscotch Apple Crisp delivers a crunchy, sweet ending to your Thanksgiving feast, rivaling any traditional pie. The combination of tart apples and a rich butterscotch sauce will keep everyone’s attention on dessert. This dish is so comforting, it’ll have guests raving about it long after dinner ends. One taste, and they’ll be begging for more.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Apple Crisp

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a must-have side dish that keeps your Thanksgiving meal grounded in comforting flavors. The rich, savory combination of Yukon gold potatoes and brown butter garlic sauce ensures everyone is talking about how delicious they are. No one will want to talk about anything else. One bite, and your guests will forget about the turkey.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Blackberry Crumble Pie

Blackberry Crumble Pie brings together sweet blackberries, a buttery crust, and a spiced crumb topping for a dessert that stands out at Thanksgiving. The rich flavors will ensure all conversations are about how it outshines the usual holiday pies. Serve it with ice cream, and your guests will be asking for seconds before the meal is even over.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Crumble Pie

Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

Brown Butter Roasted Pecans are the ultimate snack for keeping your Thanksgiving guests focused on the flavors. The sweet and savory bite of these pecans will keep the conversation about food and nothing else. These roasted pecans will be remembered long after the meal ends, becoming a favorite holiday snack. Serve them, and watch them disappear.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus offers a fresh, crisp side dish that’s light and flavorful. Its simplicity lets the conversation stay on the food, not the effort behind it. This dish will have guests appreciating the clean, bright taste and asking how something so simple can be so good. Everyone will be clamoring for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies are the decadent sweet ending that keeps everyone talking about dessert. The buttery shortbread and rich caramel make sure the only debate is about who gets the last one. These cookies will be the highlight of your Thanksgiving dessert table, with guests reaching for seconds before they’re even finished.
Get the Recipe: Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Spiced Pear Cobbler

Spiced Pear Cobbler combines juicy, spiced pears with a buttery biscuit topping, offering the perfect conclusion to a Thanksgiving feast. The cozy flavors will keep all attention on the food, making it impossible to talk about anything else. Serve this cobbler, and watch it become the favorite dessert everyone looks forward to. It’ll be the dessert that guests ask for year after year.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Pear Cobbler

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast brings a sophisticated yet simple option to your Thanksgiving menu. The crunchy hazelnut topping pairs beautifully with the tender turkey, keeping guests focused on the meal. The nutty flavors will be the highlight of your holiday table, ensuring everyone leaves talking about the food and nothing else. By the end of the meal, the only topic will be how good it was.
Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts adds a sweet and tangy twist to your Thanksgiving table, standing out from the usual fare. The combination of pomegranate molasses and walnuts will keep everyone talking about the food and asking for the recipe. This unique dish will steal the spotlight from the turkey, ensuring the conversation stays on the flavors.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts