Your Family Will Riot If You Don’t Make These 21 Thanksgiving Dishes

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Thanksgiving is all about family, and nothing brings them together like a table full of unforgettable dishes. These 21 recipes are sure to keep everyone happy, full, and talking about the food instead of anything else. Whether you’re looking for classics or something a little different, these dishes will keep the peace and the compliments rolling in. Prepare for a Thanksgiving that’ll leave your family demanding an encore next year.

A buttermilk brined roasted surrounded by festive holiday side dishes.
Buttermilk Brined Turkey. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

1. Butterscotch Apple Crisp

A butterscotch apple crumble in a cast iron skillet on a wooden cutting board.
1. Butterscotch Apple Crisp. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This Butterscotch Apple Crisp is the dessert your family didn’t know they needed on Thanksgiving. The mix of tart Granny Smith apples with a rich butterscotch sauce is guaranteed to keep everyone focused on their plates instead of any post-dinner debates. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dish that’s sure to outshine the pies. Once served, don’t be surprised if guests start demanding seconds before you’re even done with your own plate.
Get the Recipe: 1. Butterscotch Apple Crisp

2. Cranberry Apple Stuffing

2. Cranberry Apple Stuffing. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cranberry Apple Stuffing is exactly the kind of side that keeps your Thanksgiving table buzzing about the food, not the small talk. Its blend of sweet apples and tart cranberries adds a bold contrast to the other dishes, making it a standout that no one will want to miss. Easy to prepare and loaded with flavor, this stuffing will have everyone asking why they didn’t make it last year. Watch it disappear before the turkey.
Get the Recipe: 2. Cranberry Apple Stuffing

3. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

A loaf of cranberry orange poppy seed bread on a cutting board.
3. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread brings a pop of bright flavor to your Thanksgiving, making sure it steals the spotlight from the moment it hits the table. With its tart cranberries, zesty orange, and crunchy poppy seeds, this bread will have your guests focused on grabbing another slice instead of debating who gets the last of the turkey. Serve it early, and it’s sure to be a favorite even before dessert arrives.
Get the Recipe: 3. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

4. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

4. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions will quickly become the Thanksgiving side that gets all the attention. The rich garlic flavor and crispy fried onions give this dish a refreshing edge over the usual green bean casserole. It’s simple to make, but the compliments won’t be – expect guests to focus more on asking for seconds than on starting any awkward conversations.
Get the Recipe: 4. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

5. Blackberry Crumble Pie

Overhead shot of blackberry crumble pie with one slice on a serving plate.
5. Blackberry Crumble Pie. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Blackberry Crumble Pie delivers a burst of rich, fruity flavor that will have everyone at your Thanksgiving table praising dessert, not politics. The sweet blackberries and buttery crumb topping are a sure-fire way to keep the mood light and festive. Paired with ice cream, it’ll be the dessert that leaves your guests talking about Thanksgiving for all the right reasons.
Get the Recipe: 5. Blackberry Crumble Pie

6. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

A bowl of butternut squash soup with a spoon on a colorful blue and white plate.
6. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup is the cozy start your Thanksgiving feast needs, ensuring the conversation revolves around food, not family drama. The smooth combination of butternut squash and apples makes this soup both comforting and simple, keeping the focus where it belongs. Serve this, and watch the room fill with contented silence as everyone digs in.
Get the Recipe: 6. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

7. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of brown butter garlic mashed potatoes on a table, next to a serving on a plate.
7. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate side dish to keep your family satisfied and your Thanksgiving running smoothly. The brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that will make this dish the star of the table, without all the fuss. Once your guests taste these mashed potatoes, they’ll forget all about the turkey and ask for another serving.
Get the Recipe: 7. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

8. Spiced Shortbread Cookies

A white plate of a line of Spiced Shortbread Cookies lined up.
8. Spiced Shortbread Cookies. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Spiced Shortbread Cookies are the perfect way to wrap up Thanksgiving, ensuring the conversation stays on sweet notes, not sour moments. Infused with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, these buttery cookies are a warm, comforting dessert that will keep guests coming back for more. By the time dessert is over, everyone will be asking when they can have them again.
Get the Recipe: 8. Spiced Shortbread Cookies

9. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Roasted balsamic glazed brussels sprouts in a black bowl.
9. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts will keep your Thanksgiving guests raving about the side dishes long after dinner is over. Roasted and tossed in a tangy balsamic glaze, these sprouts offer a balance of sweet and savory that makes them impossible to ignore. Serve them up, and don’t be surprised when they steal the spotlight from the main course.
Get the Recipe: 9. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

10. Spiced Pear Cobbler

10. Spiced Pear Cobbler. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Spiced Pear Cobbler brings warmth and comfort to your Thanksgiving spread, keeping guests focused on dessert, not distractions. The juicy, spiced pears paired with a buttery topping make this the dessert that everyone will still be talking about as they leave. Expect it to be the one dish they’ll be asking you to make again next year.
Get the Recipe: 10. Spiced Pear Cobbler

11. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

11. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts will take your Thanksgiving table to a whole new level of flavor. The bold, fragrant spices make this dish stand out in a sea of traditional sides, and it’ll be the one guests can’t stop talking about. Once they try these, Brussels sprouts will never be the same again.
Get the Recipe: 11. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

12. Carrot Ginger Soup

12. Carrot Ginger Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Carrot Ginger Soup is the perfect warming dish to start your Thanksgiving feast, with a kick of spice that keeps the conversation light and the focus on the meal. Its simple preparation makes it a great choice for busy cooks, while the bright flavors will have guests complimenting the food instead of stirring up drama. Expect smiles all around with each spoonful.
Get the Recipe: 12. Carrot Ginger Soup

13. Homemade Cinnamon Twists

13. Homemade Cinnamon Twists. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Cinnamon Twists will keep your Thanksgiving brunch or dessert as light and fun as the conversation should be. Their flaky texture and comforting cinnamon flavor are the kind of treats that get everyone at the table excited for what’s next. Serve these, and you’ll have people asking for the recipe before they’ve even finished the first one.
Get the Recipe: 13. Homemade Cinnamon Twists

14. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

14. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast offers a simple yet impressive centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal, with its crunchy hazelnut topping sure to keep everyone talking about how good the food is. Its tender meat and rich flavor will make this turkey breast the highlight of your holiday, leaving no room for distractions. Expect guests to leave raving about the nutty perfection.
Get the Recipe: 14. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

15. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board

15. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board is the ultimate way to keep your Thanksgiving guests entertained and happy, all without needing to say a word. The variety of meats, cheeses, and crackers will have everyone busy with their plates, making it the perfect appetizer to set the right tone for the meal. This is one dish guaranteed to keep the conversation where it belongs—on the food.
Get the Recipe: 15. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board

16. Easy Oven Asparagus

16. Easy Oven Asparagus. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Oven Asparagus is the side dish that brings a fresh crunch to your Thanksgiving spread without taking your attention away from other dishes. Its simple preparation means you can keep the conversation on the flavors, not the work behind it. This light, flavorful side will be the one guests keep reaching for, leaving everyone impressed with how effortless it tastes.
Get the Recipe: 16. Easy Oven Asparagus

17. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

Three bowls of brown butter roasted pecans on a gray background next to a red tartan cloth.
17. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Butter Roasted Pecans are the holiday snack that’ll have guests too busy munching to worry about anything else. The sweet and savory crunch from the brown butter and honey ensures these pecans will be the snack everyone remembers from Thanksgiving. Once they start, they won’t stop until the bowl’s empty.
Get the Recipe: 17. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

18. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

18. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts adds a sweet, tangy main dish to your Thanksgiving table that’s sure to keep guests talking about the food, not the clock. The combination of pomegranate molasses and walnuts brings bold flavors that stand out from the typical turkey, making this a dish they’ll be asking for instead. After tasting this, the turkey might have to take a back seat.
Get the Recipe: 18. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

19. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

A pan of freshly baked and frosted apple cinnamon rolls on a dark blue background.
19. Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls bring a warm and cozy touch to Thanksgiving breakfast, with the perfect balance of spiced apples and cream cheese frosting. These rolls will be the sweet distraction your guests didn’t know they needed, ensuring that all attention stays on the food. After one bite, no one will be thinking about anything but how good these are.
Get the Recipe: 19. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

20. Parsnip Potato Soup

A bowl of loaded parsnip potato soup topped with bacon and cheddar cheese.
20. Parsnip Potato Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Parsnip Potato Soup is the hearty starter that will warm up your Thanksgiving dinner and keep everyone’s focus on the rich, creamy flavors. The combination of earthy parsnips and potatoes topped with bacon and cheddar is sure to be the hit that everyone talks about long after the meal is done. Serve this once, and it’ll quickly become a holiday favorite.
Get the Recipe: 20. Parsnip Potato Soup

21. Buttermilk Brined Turkey

A buttermilk brined roasted surrounded by festive holiday side dishes.
21. Buttermilk Brined Turkey. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Buttermilk Brined Turkey brings a moist, flavorful twist to your Thanksgiving table, making sure the turkey remains the star of the show. The buttermilk brine locks in flavor while keeping the conversation on how perfectly tender the turkey is, not anything else. After one taste, guests will be asking for your secret to such juicy perfection.
Get the Recipe: 21. Buttermilk Brined Turkey

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