Southern Thanksgiving Recipes for a Traditional Holiday Dinner
ByJulia JordanUpdated on
In this post I’ll be sharing over 80 of my Best Southern Thanksgiving Recipes!
Y’all, planning Thanksgiving dinner usually starts with a list of family favorites—and somebody reminding you not to forget the deviled eggs! These Southern Thanksgiving recipes will help you put together a holiday menu filled with comforting dishes, from roasted turkey and cornbread dressing to sweet potato casserole and homemade pie.
At our table, the side dishes get just as much attention as the turkey. There’s always room for baked macaroni and cheese, something green, and a little cranberry sauce tucked beside the dressing. And somehow, even after all of that, everybody manages to save room for dessert.
Whether you’re hosting the whole family or keeping supper small this year, you’ll find plenty of recipes here to choose from. Keep those much-loved traditions, try something new if you’re feeling inspired, and plan a meal that works for your gathering. You don’t have to make everything, friend—just enough of the good stuff to bring your favorite people around the table.
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.
Start planning your Southern Thanksgiving menu with the dishes your family looks forward to every year. Choose your turkey or ham, add a pan of cornbread dressing, then round things out with favorite sides like baked macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and green beans. A little cranberry sauce, a basket of biscuits, and a homemade dessert or two will finish things off nicely. Before that menu gets longer than your grocery receipt, think about how many folks you’re feeding and how much oven space you have. Pick a few dishes you can prepare ahead, put that slow cooker to work, and let guests bring something if they offer. A little planning leaves you more time to enjoy the company—and that’s part of a good Thanksgiving, too!
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. Be sure to have a few “to go” containers handy to send guests home with a plate to enjoy later.
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.
What About Breakfast On Thanksgiving Morning?
Before we get to all of the Thanksgiving meal recipes, I have a question to ask all of you. Do you eat breakfast on Thanksgiving morning? Some folks don’t and some do have breakfast. I think it depends on what time you’ll be having your roast turkey dinner.
I recommend keeping breakfast light and nothing heavy because the last thing you want is to have folks not hungry after you’ve spent days preparing a big holiday meal.
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 baked 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. You’ll love my delicious air fryer turkey breast tenderloin that is ready in 30 minutes for a quick and easy option.
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’t 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 your 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.
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Basic Relish Tray
An assortment of favorite relish tray items for dinner or holiday guests to enjoy
Start your holiday gathering with a chilled crab cocktail appetizer. It’s a refreshing bite before the big Thanksgiving dinner and a lovely addition to your appetizer spread.
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.
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.
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.
We all know that the side dishes are the real star of the Thanksgiving meal. Sorry, Turkey!
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Southern Cornbread Dressing with Sausage, Apple, and Sage
Savory sausage, tender apples, and sage give this moist cornbread dressing a delicious autumn twist. It’s a comforting addition to the Thanksgiving table, especially with a little turkey gravy spooned over the top!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tender turkey Salisbury steaks smothered in onion and mushroom gravy make a comforting main dish for a smaller Thanksgiving gathering. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite holiday sides for a cozy meal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
I hope these Southern Thanksgiving recipes help you plan a holiday meal that feels right at home at your table. There’s something special about bringing out those familiar dishes year after year, especially when a recipe reminds us of someone we love.
Make your favorites, let folks bring a dish, and give yourself a little breathing room to enjoy the day, too. A welcoming table doesn’t have to be fancy, and supper doesn’t have to be perfect to become a wonderful memory.
Thank you for spending a little time in my kitchen. Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving, with plenty of good food and much to be thankful for!
What’s the one dish your family would never let you leave off the Thanksgiving menu? Tell me in the comments—I’d love to hear!
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!
These all look so good, I want to try them all!
That would be a wonderful feast and I’d help ya taste everything!