In this post I’ll be sharing over 75 of my Best Southern Thanksgiving Recipes!
It’s that time of year, Friends! It is a great time to start planning your traditional Southern Thanksgiving menu for your family’s holiday meal.
Well…as it turns out, I happen to be somewhat of an expert on the Southern Thanksgiving meal. It is my favorite meal of the year. I love every part of it from planning the menu, cooking all of the food and fellowshipping with my friends and family around the dining room table.
Thanksgiving is an important tradition for me and I’ve vowed to make it an annual gathering for the family just as my grandmother did before me.
Southern Thanksgiving Menu
What is a typical Southern Thanksgiving dinner? Traditionally the Southern Thanksgiving meal will consist of turkey, cornbread dressing, a potato dish, a vegetable side, plenty of deviled eggs and dessert options.
There is usually an abundance of food and you’ll want to sample every bit of it. The baked macaroni and cheese is always a favorite dish and you would have to fight me to keep me away from the old fashioned soul food sweet potato pie.
You can count on eating leftovers for a few days after this delicious feast of food. Bellies will be full, laughter will fill the air and somebody will be nodding off for a nap.
Southern Thanksgiving Dinner
Cornbread dressing would likely rank as the most popular side dish at a typical Southern Thanksgiving dinner. Deviled eggs are also a must and it is an unwritten law that you’ll have them or else.
I’m not sure how serious that unwritten law is but I have never risked it and always make a double batch of deviled eggs.
Traditional Southern Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Planning your holiday meal menu is really simple. To begin it depends on how many you’ll be serving dinner to so you can plan for enough food, although that is rarely an issue at Thanksgiving. It is more difficult not to make too much food. So, will you be having a small Thanksgiving dinner or a big one?
I’ve got you covered with plenty of delicious options no matter what size you gathering will be.
Plan out your cooking over several days so that you do not get over-whelmed. This is a big meal and if you’re cooking it yourself then you’ll need a few days.
What Will I Find in this Recipe Collection?
Southern Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
Southern Thanksgiving tables will offer a wide variety of foods from starters through dessert. In my appetizer collection you’ll find cheddar cheese pimento cheese pinwheels, a green olive dip with sour cream and cream cheese, deviled eggs, and other classic recipes that my family loves and yours will too.
Southern Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
Need some easy side dish ideas? Well, I’ve got you covered friend. Find everything that you need below from the cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, collard greens, canned green beans, my ultimate green bean casserole, Southern cornbread dressing, soul food crock pot green beans with a hint of brown sugar that really enhance the flavors, smoked oyster dressing, corn pudding, brussels sprouts, Southern candied yams, creamy mashed potatoes, potato salad, and more of my best recipes for Southern sides for your Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Pro Tip: during the holiday season keep plenty of chicken stock, cream cheese, pecans and seasonings on hand. Southern comfort foods take simple ingredients to make an outstanding Thanksgiving meal. The best part is that it is all made with love, which makes it even more special.
Thanksgiving Main Course Options
In the Southern food collection for holidays below, you’ll find turkey recipes, pork and more for Thanksgiving day. New this year is a delicious air fryer turkey breast tenderloin that is ready in 30 minutes.
The air fryer turkey is an easy recipe that pairs perfectly with those classic Southern side options that I mentioned. I think that you can go wrong with dressing as a perfect side dish with Thanksgiving turkey.
Southern Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Moving on to the dessert table…how about pecan pie, homemade banana pudding, sweet potato pie or a scrumptious cake?
Full Collection of Thanksgiving Recipes
So now that you mouth is watering thinking about all of this delicious food, let’s get to the Best Southern Thanksgiving Recipes, shall we? There is a printable recipe card for each recipe.
Southern Thanksgiving Appetizers
Have a few tasty bites available for your family and guests is always a good idea as they wait on the big meal. Not too many though! You don't want everyone pigging out and risking not eating that delicious dinner you've been working on for days.
Basic Relish Tray
An assortment of favorite relish tray items for dinner or holiday guests to enjoy
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Southern Deviled Eggs
Creamy Southern style deviled eggs with a bit of zing
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Everything Bagel Cheese Log
A delicious and flavorful cheese log appetizer coated in everything but the bagel seasoning.
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Southern Fire Crackers Recipe
Southern fire crackers are saltines marinated in a ranch and spice mix. These amazing spicy crackers are delicious as party appetizers or a snack.
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Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer Recipe
Hot pepper jelly is a Southern classic and makes a wonderful appetizer to share at your next holiday party. Serve with your favorite crackers and enjoy.
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Easy Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Sausage balls are an easy and delicious appetizer that is a favorite at special occasion gatherings
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Spicy Sausage Tarts
Spicy Sausage Tarts are an easy and delicious appetizer with a creamy savory filling with crunchy phyllo shells…the perfect finger food for any occasion.
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Holiday Brie en Croûte
Baked Brie en Croute with fresh cranberry sauce is an easy and elegant holiday appetizer
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Southern Jezebel Sauce and Cream Cheese Appetizer
A sweet and spicy sauce that is the South’s favorite condiment. Use it for appetizers, dipping or cooking!
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Southern Grape Jelly Meatball Appetizers
Grape jelly meatballs are a Southern classic party food. Guests love them.
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Cream Cheese Olive Spread Recipe
This classic cream cheese and green olives spread is delicious for tea sandwiches or use it as a tangy creamy dip for veggie sticks or with your favorite party crackers and chips.
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Baked Pimento Cheese Pinwheels
Delicious and easy to make pinwheels with melty pimento cheese spread.
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Southern Thanksgiving Side Dishes
We all know that the side dishes are the real star of the Thanksgiving meal. Sorry, Turkey!
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Southern homemade cornbread dressing, the official side dish of the holiday table
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Sautéed Fresh Green Beans Recipe with Garlic and Bacon
Amazing fresh green beans sautéed with garlic and bacon with an amazing sweet heat glaze that sets this side dish above all the rest. Enjoy it for your weeknight meals or as part of your Thanksgiving menu.
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Aunt Betty’s Famous Ham Dressing Casserole
Y’all will love my Aunt Betty’s signature holiday dish of Ham Dressing.
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Easy Crock Pot Cornbread Dressing Recipe: Moist and Delicious
Y'all get ready to savor the flavors of the South with my Crock Pot cornbread dressing recipe. This Southern holiday side dish is perfect for everyday meals too and cooks up moist and delicious in your slow-cooker. Serve up the crockpot dressing with roasted turkey or chicken, cranberry sauce, and more of your favorite comfort food sides.
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Sage Sausage Cranberry Pecan Cornbread Dressing
This Sage Sausage Cranberry Pecan Cornbread Dressing is the ultimate holiday side dish! Packed with savory sage sausage, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans, this dressing is bursting with flavor and perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Moist, hearty, and easy to make, it’s sure to become a family favorite on your holiday table!
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The Best Sweet Potato Soufflé Recipe with Raisins, Coconut, and Pecan Oat Streusel Topping
Indulge in the cozy flavors of fall with our delectable Sweet Potato Soufflé recipe! Made from scratch using fresh sweet potatoes, this dish is a delightful blend of creamy sweetness, coconut, and plump raisins. And the pièce de résistance? A heavenly, crunchy pecan oat streusel topping that adds the perfect touch of texture and flavor. It's a mouthwatering autumn treat you won't be able to resist! Perfect for family meals or your Thanksgiving dinner. This tasty sweet side is sure to be a favorite at your holiday table.
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Smoked Oyster Seafood Dressing Recipe
Smoked Oyster Seafood Dressing Recipe with crab and shrimp makes a wonderful side dish for roasted chicken or Thanksgiving turkey.
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Easy Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner
Get ready to savor the flavors of the holidays with this super easy turkey and stuffing casserole that is made with canned turkey meat. This simple Thanksgiving dinner recipe is perfect for one, two, three, or four people. It is also budget friendly giving you a holiday dinner for less than $20.00. Perhaps, best of all, it is ready in under an hour. Serve this tasty casserole with a side or two and you've got yourself a delicious dinner.
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Southern Style Crock Pot Green Beans Recipe
Delicious Southern style crock pot green beans made with fresh green beans in the tried and true traditional way with bacon and the perfect seasonings. These green beans are just like the ones that Granny used to make or the ones you find in the great soul food restaurants. Enjoy these delicious slow cooker green beans for weeknight meals, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas or other special occasion gatherings.
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Julia’s Southern Potato Salad
Creamy and delicious old fashioned Southern style potato salad with a tangy mayonnaise mustard dressing.
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Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole is the sinfully delicious side dish everyone will love. Serve it on occasion as a special treat or for holiday meals
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Green Olive Potato Salad Recipe
Delicious potato salad side dish with green olives and pimentos rather than the traditional pickle versions.
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Country Green Beans
Classic Southern green beans cooked with ham and potatoes are a favorite side dish
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Ultimate Green Bean Casserole
The ultimate delicious green bean casserole for holiday gatherings and celebrations
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Tangy Green Bean Bundles
Tangy green beans bundles are an easy and elegant side dish for family meals and holidays.
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Green Beans with Mushrooms
Fresh green beans and mushroom side dish recipe with garlic and a tasty sauce, perfect for family dinners or holidays
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Southern Candied Yams | Sweet Potatoes
Candied yams are a Southern classic. This side dish is delicious for family meals as well as a holiday tradition.
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Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
A delicious sweet and creamy sweet potato casserole side dish that is perfect for holiday meals.
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Easy Crock Pot Creamed Corn Recipe
Rich and delicious creamed corn made easily in the slow cooker for an amazing side dish.
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Southern Corn Pudding
Delicious classic sweet and savory Southern corn pudding casserole is the perfect side dish for family and holiday meals.
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Classic Southern Broccoli Casserole
Classic recipe for easy broccoli casserole that is creamy, cheesy and delicious with a butter cracker topping.
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Pineapple Casserole
Baked Pineapple Casserole is an old fashioned recipe, just like grandma used to make. Some consider it the perfect side dish with ham, while others may call it a dessert.
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Watergate Salad – The Green Stuff
Classic Watergate Salad, a sweet side dish that is popular at gatherings.
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Southern Ambrosia Coconut Salad
Southern Ambrosia Coconut Salad is a true classic at holiday gatherings, luncheons and other special occasions.
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Sausage and Pear Stuffing
Sausage Pear Stuffing with Pecans is the perfect addition to your holiday menu
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Southern Baked Macaroni & Cheese
The ultimate Southern side dish – baked macaroni and cheese
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Whipping Cream Biscuits
Light, airy, and slightly sweet whipping cream biscuits are the perfect bread option for holiday meals.
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Baked Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Easy sweet potato side dish prepared Hasselback style and oven roasted.
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Southern Tomatoes and Rice
Classic Southern side dish of tomatoes and rice
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Southern Style Collard Greens
Southern Style Collard Greens are a savory soul food meal and a new year’s day tradition throughout the South.
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Basic Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Easy recipe for a basic homemade cranberry sauce to accompany your holiday meal
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Glazed Carrots with Pineapple Recipe
A wonderful side dish of tender carrots and pineapple with a brown sugar and pineapple juice glaze. This glazed carrots side is perfect with a baked ham dinner and takes just minutes to prepare.
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Easy Asparagus Casserole Recipe
A delicious asparagus casserole made with fresh asparagus in a creamy cheese sauce with crumb topping. This casserole is a perfect dish for a meal or as a delicious side dish.
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Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe with Sausage
A family favorite easy recipe for Thanksgiving stuffing with sausage and added flavor from fresh herbs, flavorful stock and bits of sweet apple. This is the perfect side dish to enjoy with your Thanksgiving turkey or with roasted chicken.
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Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
A rich, creamy and delicious Crock Pot macaroni and cheese recipe that your family will love for family dinners or holiday meals. It's delicious!
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Thanksgiving Main Course Option
While turkey is customary at Thanksgiving it is not the only option for a delicious holiday main course.
Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe
How to roast a whole turkey step by step
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Glazed Ham with a Honey Orange Glaze
Southern style holiday ham with a delicious honey orange glaze. This glaze adds just the right touch and is not sweet blending perfectly with the smokiness of the ham.
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Crock Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Delicious juicy turkey on a smaller scale for holiday meals with this bone in turkey breast cooked in your Crock Pot.
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Slow Cooker Ham & Pineapple Glaze
Easy slow cooker ham recipe with a pineapple cooking glaze. This delicious ham recipe is perfect for family meals or small holiday gatherings.
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Grilled Turkey Breast
An easy grilled bone in turkey breast that is moist and delicious, perfect for intimate holiday gatherings.
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Roasted Turkey Breast Tenderloin
Delicious, tender and juicy roasted turkey tenderloins are great for family meals and smaller holiday gatherings. Turkey tenderloins are perfect for Thanksgiving for 2 with plenty leftover for delicious turkey sandwiches.
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Prime Rib
Classic prime rib dinner with all of the fixings is a special treat.
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Roast Turkey Wings
Delicious and tender turkey wings seasoned perfectly that are slow roasted in the oven until the skin is nice and crispy. Enjoy as an appetizer or delicious meal along with your favorite side dishes.
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Breaded Turkey Breast Cutlets
Have an easy turkey dinner using boneless turkey breast cutlets, pan fried and delicious.
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Pork Roast with Orange Sauce
A delicious and juicy marinated pork roast with a fresh orange sauce. This is an easy main course for weekday meals and elegant enough for holidays.
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Herb and Garlic Boneless Pork Roast
A simple and elegant crusted pork roast with herbs and garlic, easy enough for weeknight meals and special enough for the holiday table.
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Turkey Tenderloin Air Fryer
A delicious turkey breast tenderloin recipe that takes just a few minutes of prep and a simple seasoning mix before cooking in the air fryer in a fraction of the time that it takes to prepare a whole turkey. This tender cut of turkey is perfect for Thanksgiving or everyday meals and great for smaller crowds.
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Southern Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Here are a few options for your holiday sweet tooth.
Frosty Cranberry Pie Recipe
A frosted cranberry pie is a delicious no bake holiday dessert that is made with just a few simple ingredients.
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Southern Coconut Cake Recipe
Tender and moist baked from scratch coconut cake
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Hummingbird Cake
Classic scratch made Southern Hummingbird Cake is an old fashioned favorite in the South with it’s unique mix of pineapple, banana, pecans and rich cream cheese frosting.
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Old Fashioned Banana Pudding
Classic banana pudding from scratch with a delicious vanilla custard layered with bananas and vanilla wafers
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Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie
Classic Southern Sweet Potato Pie, a traditional holiday dessert
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Southern Butter Pecan Pound Cake with Praline Glaze
Southern Butter Pecan Pound Cake with Praline Glaze is a wonderful semi-homemade dessert that everyone loves.
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No Bake Layered Cherry Pie
Luscious no bake layered cherry pie dessert with cream cheese.
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Peach Upside Down Cake
Fresh summer peach upside down cake dessert.
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Apple Pie Pinwheels
A simple elegant dessert of apple pie pinwheels served with ice cream and caramel sauce
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Holiday Cranberry Apple Bake
If you need a break from rich holiday desserts, this cranberry apple bake is perfect. A sweet and tart crisp with festive colorful fruits that is delicious warm or chilled.
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Old Fashioned Bread Pudding
Delicious recipe for a classic old fashioned bread pudding dessert.
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Pecan Pie Bubble Up
Pecan pie bubble up is an easy dessert for a crowd. With delicious classic flavors of pecan pie combined with refrigerated cinnamon rolls, this dessert is sure to satisfy those sweet tooth cravings.
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Classic Southern Pecan Pie
Easy recipe for classic Southern pecan pie
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Amazing Coconut Pecan Chess Pie
A true Southern classic dessert, coconut pecan chess pie.
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No Bake Pumpkin PIe
An easy no bake pumpkin pie dessert that is perfect for holidays or anytime of the year.
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How to make the Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
A classic strawberry pretzel salad recipe using fresh strawberries in a beautiful layered dessert consisting of a buttery pretzel crust, a creamy middle layer and a top strawberry Jell-O layer that everyone is sure to enjoy. Serve with whipped cream and a garnish of fresh strawberry for a real Southern treat!
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Easy Fruit Salad Recipe with Vanilla Pudding-5 Ingredients
A classic vanilla pudding fruit salad with a medley of fruits, both fresh and canned, with the creamy vanilla glaze. This delicious fruit salad recipe is a classic and perfect for family gatherings, summer picnics, church potlucks, or any special occasion that you want to contribute a simple, but delicious, dish.
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My biggest tip for planning your Thanksgiving menu is to write it down, plan your shopping trip, and make what you can in advance so that you don’t overwhelm yourself.
A big holiday meal is a lot of work!
It’s all about the sides, darlin’! Diversify your menu with a variety of delicious sides like creamy mashed potatoes, savory stuffing (or dressing as we call it here), green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole with a pecan topping. Don’t forget the rolls and cranberry sauce to round out the meal!
In case you missed it, here are the latest recipes on the blog
Popular Recipes on the Blog
You might also enjoy this recipe for Coca Cola Glazed Ham from South Your Mouth.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m so glad that you did. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. May your holidays be filled with happiness and love!
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Home » Over 75 Best Southern Thanksgiving Recipes
About Julia
Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Carlee
Thursday 12th of November 2020
These all look so good, I want to try them all!
Julia Jordan
Saturday 14th of November 2020
That would be a wonderful feast and I'd help ya taste everything!