31 Thanksgiving recipes and menu ideas

Thanksgiving menu ideas

Jump to:

• Thanksgiving starters
• Thanksgiving mains
• Thanksgiving sides
• Thanksgiving desserts

Thanksgiving starters

Crab doughnuts

London's The Chiltern Firehouse's crab doughnuts are a treat to make at home. If you've never tried a savoury one before this is the recipe to try for a Thanksgiving dinner snack.

Kale hush puppies with lemon aïoli

Hush puppies are little American savoury doughnuts in a polenta batter. A classic side dish for seafood, they are also great for parties. These vegetarian kale ones are eaten with an aioli dip and perfect finger food for Thanksgiving.

Fall-apart bourbon ribs

Few things are more satisfying to eat than tender, sticky ribs. This recipe adds a bourbon kick to the sweet glaze, providing a real depth of flavour. It will be a family favourite.

Stuffed mushrooms

Stuffed with leek, thyme, garlic and breadcrumbs, these mushrooms make for a great vegetarian starter or side dish for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving turkey recipes and other mains for Thanksgiving dinner

Easy roast turkey

Impress your guests and learn how to cook the perfect turkey centrepiece this Thanksgiving with our step-by-step guide, including how to make your turkey juicy and tender, and how to store your turkey.

Bay and lemon turkey with buttery leek stuffing

Overnight dry brining in flavoured salt will concentrate flavours, give you juicier meat and help the skin crisp up. Start this the day before, and you'll be laughing come Thanksgiving day.

Maryland stuffed ham

A traditional Thanksgiving favourite in southern Maryland, this unusual recipe from Felicity Cloake stuffs brined ham with a piquant mix of highly spiced greens. Not only does this cut through the rich meat beautifully, but it looks great on the plate. Choose a long, thin gammon joint rather than a wide, fat piece as this will be easier to stuff. You’ll need cheesecloth and butcher’s string for this recipe. The glaze is less traditional (and optional) but will give the ham a nice finish.

Sweet and sour sticky pomegranate ham

A brilliant alternative to turkey, goose and lamb on Thanksgiving Day. The aromas while cooking this ham are sensational; leave the kitchen door open so that everyone can enjoy it.

Perfectly cooked turkey with gravy

Check out our recipe for a perfectly cooked turkey this Christmas and Thanksgiving. Cooking turkey in a foil tent means it will steam in its own juices, resulting in tender meat. Take off the foil and turn up the oven at the end to get crispy skin. Buy extra-large roasting foil for this and make sure you have a large enough roasting tin for the bird.

Potato, squash and sage pie

This recipe for potato, squash and sage pie may take a little longer, but it's super easy and packed full of delicious flavours. It's a great option for a veggie Sunday meal and Thanksgiving dinner.

Maple and bourbon glazed turkey

A different way to present your Thanksgiving turkey. Maple syrup and bourbon give a sweet but mature flavour, and a beautiful bronzed finish. And a few clementines for festive cheer, and you've got yourself a winning recipe.

Vegan butternut squash pie

This warming spiced pie is made with a vegan pie crust and stuffed with harissa-spiced chickpeas, squash and spinach. Any leftovers also make a great lunch the next day.

Beef fillet with spiced pears and chestnut pickle

This recipe for beef fillet with spiced pears and chestnut pickle is easy to make but offers something a little bit different during the colder months. Buy chestnuts ready-peeled for ease.

Chestnut, squash and sweet potato loaf

Check out this vegan chestnut, squash and sweet potato loaf recipe. Precise layering makes this vegan main look really smart, but it’s actually easy to put together. This can be made the day before then heated through before serving for Thanksgiving.

Hot and smoky beef chilli

Best beef chilli fit for a crowd. Made with chipotle chilli and fresh green chilli this is both warming and with a kick. Serve with guacamole and rice.

Thanksgiving side dishes

Baked, spiced sweet potato mash

Don't fancy potatoes this Thanksgiving? Try our spicy baked sweet potato mash instead - it's just as good as roasties. Prep your mash ahead then have it ready to finish off in the oven when people arrive.

Maple barbecue beans

No American BBQ or Thanksgiving dinner is complete without baked beans. Slow-cooked in maple syrup, bacon and yellow mustard, the beans soak up all the smoky sauce.

Cheddar popovers

Just five ingredients are all you need to make these Amerian-style Yorkies. With their distinctive straight sides and puffy top, they get their name from the way they pop over the sides of the muffin tin. You can buy a popover tray from amazon.co.uk or a heavy non-stick muffin tin will do the job just as well. A great Thanksgiving nibble.

Steakhouse-style spinach gratin

This is a different way to eat spinach and a great way to get one of your five-a-day. Make this easy steakhouse-style gratin recipe as a side for a supper with friends.

Mac 'n' cheese with bacon

How do you make mac 'n' cheese better? Add bacon of course! This oozing cheesy pasta bake is also rich with Red Leicester and finished with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Double up the recipe for a family meal or Thanksgiving dinner.

Whisky-and-maple-glazed roast parsnips

Take your parsnips up a notch with a boozy hit of whisky and the sweetness of maple syrup.

Thanksgiving desserts

Pumpkin pie with maple cream

The best pumpkin pie. Designed to impress, this rich creamy pud uses bought pastry, making it easy but still a special bake. Maple cream goes on the side for this classic Thanksgiving dessert.

Pecan pie

Try this sweet 'n' salty recipe for a great dessert or teatime treat, perfect with vanilla ice cream or crème fraîche. One of our favourite traditional Thanksgiving puds.

Black bottom pie

This recipe for Southern pie by Felicity Cloake owes its name to its rich, dark cocoa base and chocolate custard, topped with a rum mousse and a cloud of whipped cream. Pure indulgence, Dixie style.

Deep dish apple pie

An American-style pie with a crisp sugar-crust. Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Easy to make, this is sure to be a new family favourite over the festive season.

Baked raspberry cheesecake

We know you love this classic olive magazine recipe - it's been one of our most popular recipes for years! A classic and really indulgent dessert, baked cheesecake is a crowd pleaser. The fresh raspberries on top cut through the rich body of the cheesecake. An alternative dessert for Thanksgiving dinner.

Chocolate brownie pecan tart

What's better than a brownie? A chocolate brownie-filled tart with a crisp pecan topping. This rich dessert is easily made ahead if you are entertaining. Serve with creme fraiche or ice-cream.

Cinnamon-spiced pecan and cranberry duff

This recipe from Felicity Cloake is a New England take on the traditional British upside-down cake, this is often made with the north-east’s famous apples, but here cranberries and pecans provide a sharp, crunchy counterpoint to the rich, buttery batter. Great served warm with ice cream, or at room temperature with a cup of tea.

Dan Doherty's lemon s’mores meringue pie

This recipe for lemon s’mores meringue pie comes from Dan Doherty of Duck and Waffle and makes for a stunning alternative Thanksgiving Day dessert. S’mores are roasted marshmallows sandwiched between biscuits. Toasted marshmallows added to the filling of this pie give it an extra bump of flavour and a gooey texture.

Mississippi mud pie

An ice cream version of the decadent American chocolate mud pie with crunchy hazelnuts and topped with rich fudge sauce.

Baileys Milkshake (The Dalmation)

An indulgent take on milkshake for grown ups. Baileys and vanilla ice cream, whizzed with Oreo biscuits, make an irresistible drink for the ultimate treat for Thanksgiving Day.