Easy Thanksgiving Menu Recipes!

The perfect collection of traditional recipes for your Thanksgiving Menu this year. From main dishes to desserts, appetizers to sides, we’ve got you covered! You’ll find the best, easy, crowd-pleasing favorite recipes, everyone loves and looks forward to year after year! 

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The crisp, cool air has arrived and the last of the leaves have begun to fall from our trees. Autumn is finally here! And my taste buds are already getting excited for the upcoming holiday – Thanksgiving! Hands down, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is time filled with family and friends, football and some our favorite foods. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your home or you’re traveling near or far, we’ve put together the perfect recipes for your Thanksgiving Menu this year.

Growing up, our family drove to my Grandparents early Thanksgiving morning and spent the entire day together with our extended family. We’d watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, cheer for our favorite football teams, make blanket forts in the basement and play lots of board games. And we’d feast on the most delicious foods Grandma (and her many helpers) prepared. Now that I have children of my own, we open our home to family and friends for Thanksgiving and its my turn to do the cooking and hosting!

We’ve rounded up the perfect, crowd-pleasing, collection of Thanksgiving Menu ideas and recipes for you. And we’ve included our favorite tips and tricks for planning and hosting Thanksgiving so you can spend more time with those you love and stress less!

Plus, we’ve made a free Thanksgiving Planner just to help you get ready for the big day! It includes a Menu printable, Guest list printable, Shopping list printable and Thanksgiving Cooking Schedule printable to help you stay organized for the big day! Click the link below to grab it!

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Tips for Planning Your Thanksgiving

Here are a few of my favorite ways to make Thanksgiving a little less stressful or hosting any holiday! Breaking it down by action item and having a plan makes all the difference.

1. Make a Guest List

As you are making your list of guests, be sure to ask if there are any food allergies or sensitivities. Knowing special dietary restrictions before your plan your menu is essential. It allows you to plan an inclusive menu from the start.

Besides, guests who have dietary restrictions will be so THANKFUL you were thoughtful and kind enough to ask! If you’re overwhelmed at accommodating their food allergies or sensitivities, be honest and up front so they can plan accordingly.

2. Decide on a Menu

The more work you do ahead of time, the less stress and hassle you’ll have as Thanksgiving approaches. If you’re hosting at your home, you’ll want to start by picking out your recipes, keeping in mind you’ll want a variety of cooking methods so you don’t run out of cooking space and time. Think instant pot, crock pot, oven and stove top and pick a few recipes that can be made a day or two ahead of time.

Again, you’ll want to keep in mind if any of your guests specified food allergies or sensitivities. Don’t forget your littlest guests who will be attending and add a few child-friendly foods to the menu. If you’re traveling, find recipes that will work with your travel plans and ask the host what you can bring.

3. Make Your Shopping List

From your recipes, make a grocery list of what things you need to shop for. Don’t forget to include supplies you’ll need like table settings, napkins and other items you’ll use more of while having guests (paper products like paper towels and toilet paper).

If you’re not hosting, this is a great time to think about something to bring your host as a gift, such as a bottle of wine, new dish towels, candles, etc.

4. Prepare Easy Activities

Aside from rounding up some of our favorite card and board games, I always try to put together a simple trivia game. I come up with Thanksgiving related trivia questions for our guests.

It’s a great way for everyone to mingle and spend time together. We divvy up the guests into teams and the loosing time – well, they get dish duty after the meal.

5. Clean The Fridge

You’re going to need all the fridge space for your Thanksgiving feast! Now is a perfect time to clean out your fridge (it needed to be done anyway, right?)!

6. Cooking Countdown

One of my favorite secrets to enjoying the time I spend with family on Thanksgiving, is to make a cooking countdown.

Sit down with your menu and calculate out how long the different menu items will take to cook so you don’t end up with half of your meal getting cold while the rest finishes cooking.

7. Make Notes

This tip is actually for after the Thanksgiving holiday! Put together your menu, shopping lists and other various notes from planning and preparations and place them somewhere for future reference. Add notes of things that went well, things that could be done differently, etc.

This allows planning for another Thanksgiving (or other holiday) much easier! I slip my notes into a clear sleeve and put it in the back of my recipe binder.

Tips and Tricks for Hosting Thanksgiving

1. Plan it Out

Find a Thanksgiving Menu that allows you to make some recipes a day (or two) before Thanksgiving. Whether it be the potatoes, salads, desserts or vegetables, the more you can make ahead of time, the less you have to do on Thanksgiving.

Don’t forget that your slow cooker or crock pot is your best friend for making lots of food. Anywhere there is an outlet, you can set your food and forget it allowing you to enjoy time with your guests!

2. Double Your Recipe

If time and space allows, make extra food that can be used for leftovers and appetizers later. This is one of my favorite ways to maximize the time I spend with family and minimize the total time I spend cooking and cleaning.

3. Get Everyone In The Kitchen

Get all of your guests involved! If you have someone who loves to make dessert, ask them to do the baking. For those who love to eat but don’t love to cook, ask them to stay in the kitchen after the meal and help with dishes, bring the wine or pick up fresh bread from the local bakery. Delegating tasks will make everyone feel connected and important.

4. Ask The Kids To Help

Giving our kids a part in having guests for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite tips and tricks. Our kids get involved by making personalized name cards for the table, picking the napkins and setting the table.

They help make centerpieces with gourds, ornamental corn and pumpkins from our garden and make turkey hand-print art!

5. Take Time To Be Thankful

I know taking time to be thankful sounds so simple but it often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of making food and entertaining guests.

Taking a few moments to be thankful and count your blessings, is something you’ll remember long after everyone goes home. Being present with those you love is a gift in itself!

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Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes

Thanksgiving Desserts