A Classic Thanksgiving Dinner Menu With 10 Recipes

Over 20 years ago, Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer started documenting her family’s recipes on this website. Many of the recipes were Thanksgiving classics that her family had cooked and loved for many years. Since then, these recipes have been enjoyed by millions of readers, and they’re still our favorites. You can find them below, from beautifully roasted turkey, stuffing, and perfect mashed potatoes to the internet’s best pumpkin pie.

Elise says, “I have found that the single thing that makes the biggest difference for making perfect creamy, heavenly potatoes is the type of potatoes you use.”

From defrosting to roasting to making the gravy, here’s all you need to know to make my family recipe for the perfect roast turkey.

Contributor Sara Haas says, “This recipe can be baked in a number of vessels. I’ve used various glass Pyrex baking dishes as well as two round pie plates. Whatever you use, make sure it can hold at least 6 cups.”

Contributor Lisa Lin says, “No marshmallows here! This Thanksgiving casserole gets topped with crunchy pecans instead.”

According to Simply Recipes editors, “For the best consistency, make sure the cranberry sauce is thoroughly chilled before serving so it has time to set up. Making it the day before Thanksgiving gives it plenty of time to chill and saves you a task on the day itself.”

Contributor Alexandra Shytsman says, “Roasting at 425ºF ensures Brussels sprouts are cooked through on the inside, crispy and browned on the outside, and not at all mushy.”

Elise says, “I’ve never tasted any turkey stuffing that has come close to as good as my mom’s. It includes cubed French bread toasted in butter, walnuts, onions, celery, apples, green olives, and is made on the stovetop.”

This is hands-down the best pumpkin pie recipe on the internet.

Elise says, “Most pecan pie recipes I’ve found call for two cups of sweetener—one cup of corn syrup plus one cup of either granulated or brown sugar. I find that just a bit too sweet for my taste. So, for this pecan pie recipe, I’ve dropped the sugar down by half a cup.”

Elise says, “This apple pie is my family’s most requested pie during the holidays. I usually make two of them so we can enjoy one for leftovers. Nothing better than pie for breakfast, right?”