A cozy Thanksgiving dinner can start with turkey, but there is plenty of room for other family favorites. These Thanksgiving dinner recipes bring together glazed ham, tender pork, stuffed chicken, creamy casseroles, fresh salads, and a bright cranberry sauce. You can build a traditional spread or choose a smaller main dish for a quieter gathering.
Start with the centerpiece, then add a few sides with different textures. A crisp salad balances buttery potatoes, while a slow cooker vegetable can help when the oven is full. Pick the dishes your family enjoys and leave enough time to sit down together.
1. Cranberry-Orange Glazed Turkey Breast
A boneless turkey breast roasts with garlic and thyme before a cranberry orange glaze adds a glossy finish. Fresh or frozen berries cook with orange juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Add the glaze after the first roasting stage. Slice the rested turkey for a smaller Thanksgiving gathering with your favorite seasonal sides.
Make cranberry orange turkey breast.
2. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Yukon Gold potatoes turn creamy with butter, warm milk, and sour cream before going into the baking dish. Sharp cheddar, crisp bacon, and green onions add the loaded potato flavors. This is a hearty option when you want mashed potatoes served as a warm, shareable casserole.
Make this loaded mashed potato casserole part of your Thanksgiving spread for the family.
3. Apple Cranberry Stuffing
Day-old bread cubes soak up chicken broth, butter, and eggs in this fruit-filled stuffing. Onion, celery, sage, thyme, and parsley keep the flavor savory, while apples and dried cranberries add sweetness. It is a good match for turkey when you want a familiar side with fall fruit.
Get the directions for apple cranberry stuffing and plan your holiday baking time.
4. Cranberry Orange Glazed Ham
A fully cooked spiral ham warms in the oven before a cranberry orange glaze adds a glossy finish. Brown sugar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and cloves bring sweetness and spice to the sauce. Keeping the ham covered during the first stage helps it stay moist. It makes a centerpiece for a gathering with simple sides.
Serve this cranberry orange glazed ham.
5. Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole
Brown butter gives mashed butternut squash a nutty flavor, while maple syrup and warm spices bring gentle sweetness. A pecan crumble adds a crisp layer over the soft filling. This baked side fits beside turkey and savory stuffing when you want another fall vegetable on the table.
Make room for this brown butter butternut squash casserole on your holiday menu.
6. Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
Honeycrisp apples bring a crisp bite to mixed greens, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. Thin red onion adds a little sharpness. The honey Dijon dressing uses apple cider vinegar, making this a companion for buttery potatoes and warm casseroles at Thanksgiving dinner.
Put this Honeycrisp apple and feta salad together close to serving time for the best texture.
7. Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin cooks gently in a slow cooker with whole berry cranberry sauce, orange juice, and zest. Dijon mustard, garlic, and thyme give the fruit sauce a savory side. A cornstarch slurry thickens the juices before serving. Slice the rested pork and spoon the sauce over it for a dinner that pairs well with vegetables.
Try cranberry orange pork tenderloin.
8. Classic Green Bean Casserole
Canned green beans and condensed mushroom soup keep this familiar casserole simple. Milk loosens the sauce, and a little soy sauce adds savory flavor. Fried onions go into the filling and over the top, giving you soft onion flavor inside and a crisp finish outside.
Bring back a holiday favorite with this classic green bean casserole for the family table.
9. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Mashed sweet potatoes bake with butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs, and warm spices for a soft filling. Mini marshmallows add the sweet topping that many families look forward to each year. This dish brings a holiday flavor alongside turkey, stuffing, and more savory vegetable sides.
Save this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows for a sweet touch on your Thanksgiving table.
10. Maple Glazed Apple and Brie Stuffed Chicken
Thin apple slices and brie fill pockets in chicken breasts, bringing sweetness and a creamy center to dinner. A maple glaze with Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, and thyme adds a bright finish. The chicken is seared before finishing in the oven. Serve it with a simple side so the filling stays the focus.
Make this apple and brie stuffed chicken.
11. Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
Baby spinach, thin apple slices, and dried cranberries bring fresh color to a plate of warm holiday food. Feta adds a salty bite, and toasted pecans give each serving crunch. A honey Dijon dressing with apple cider vinegar ties everything together without hiding the fruit.
Toss this apple cranberry spinach salad just before serving to keep the leaves very fresh.
12. Spicy Cranberry Dijon Pork Loin Roast
A pork loin roast bakes with cranberries, Dijon mustard, honey, and hot sauce for a sweet and spicy dinner. Garlic and broth keep the sauce savory as the fruit softens around the meat. Rest the roast before slicing, then spoon over the cranberry mixture. Choose this when you want a main dish with heat.
Roast spicy cranberry Dijon pork loin.
13. Slow Cooker Honey Butter Baby Carrots
Whole baby carrots soften in the slow cooker with honey, butter, salt, and pepper. Their own juices help form a thin, glossy sauce that coats the carrots lightly. There is no peeling or chopping, so this side keeps prep simple while freeing space in the oven.
Add these slow cooker honey butter baby carrots to your Thanksgiving holiday cooking plan.
14. 5 Ingredient Jiffy Corn Casserole
Whole kernel corn, cream-style corn, Jiffy mix, sour cream, and butter make this short ingredient list easy to follow. The baked casserole has a golden top and a soft center. Letting it rest before serving helps it hold together, whether you scoop portions or cut squares.
Keep this 5 ingredient Jiffy corn casserole handy for a simple Thanksgiving side dish.
15. Slow Cooker Apple Glazed Ham
A fully cooked spiral ham warms gently under an apple jelly glaze with brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider. Cinnamon and cloves add warm spice, while the slow cooker leaves room in the oven for baked sides. Spoon the cooking juices between the slices before serving.
Bring this slow cooker apple glazed ham to your Thanksgiving table this year.
16. Cranberry Apple Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato halves make tidy servings with a filling of apple, dried cranberries, and pecans. Butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon bring the flavors together without losing the fruit. Baking the filled shells again gives you a warm side that feels a little different from a large casserole.
See how to prepare these cranberry apple twice-baked sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner.
17. Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Fresh green beans meet a homemade mushroom sauce made with plain oat milk and vegetable broth. Browned cremini mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme give the filling savory flavor. Vegan fried onions finish the top, so this version still brings the familiar contrast of creamy filling and crunch.
Read the full recipe for vegan green bean casserole before choosing your ingredients.
18. One-Pan Apples and Onion Pork Chops
Bone-in pork chops brown in a skillet before apples, onion, garlic, and thyme join the pan. Chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar create a light sauce around the meat. The apples soften without losing their shape, making a simple sweet and savory dinner. One pan keeps cleanup manageable when you want a meal.
Cook apples and onion pork chops.
19. Butternut Squash Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Roasted butternut squash and quinoa give this salad a hearty base. Dried cranberries, pecans, feta, red onion, and parsley add color and different textures. A maple Dijon dressing coats everything lightly. You can serve it slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled alongside your holiday dishes.
Explore this butternut squash cranberry quinoa salad for another way to serve fall vegetables.
20. Brown Sugar Glazed Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Thin sweet potato rounds sit in overlapping circles with a brown sugar, butter, and maple glaze. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla add warm flavor as the slices bake until tender. The arranged layers look inviting in the baking dish and make a sweet side for a savory holiday plate.
Follow the recipe for brown sugar glazed scalloped sweet potatoes this Thanksgiving.
21. Slow Cooker Apple Butter Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Apple butter coats pork tenderloin with a sweet glaze balanced by Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and cider vinegar. Sliced onion and garlic cook underneath the meat, adding savory flavor to the sauce. Thicken the juices after removing the pork, then spoon them over the rested slices.
Serve this apple butter glazed pork tenderloin with potatoes to catch the extra sauce.
22. Crockpot Southern Bacon and Green Beans
Fresh green beans cook slowly with bacon, onion, garlic, and chicken broth until tender. Cooking the bacon first adds deeper flavor, and a little butter finishes the beans. This is a useful option when you want a savory green vegetable without putting another casserole in the oven.
Check the recipe for Crockpot Southern bacon and green beans to plan ahead.
23. Cranberry Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Salad
Roasted sweet potato cubes bring browned edges to baby spinach, dried cranberries, and crumbled goat cheese. Toasted pecans and red onion add crunch and bite. A maple balsamic dressing brings the sweet and tangy parts together, giving this salad flavor to stand beside rich holiday casseroles.
Build this cranberry sweet potato goat cheese salad when you want a colorful side.
24. Orange Amaretto Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries simmer with orange juice, zest, sugar, and amaretto until they become a glossy sauce. Some berries stay partly whole, giving each spoonful texture. More amaretto goes in after cooking, so this recipe retains alcohol. Chill the sauce to let it thicken, then serve beside turkey or pork for a sweet and tart contrast.
Spoon out orange amaretto cranberry sauce.
Final Thoughts
These Thanksgiving dinner recipes give you choices for both a full holiday spread and a smaller family feast. Choose one main dish, a comforting potato side, a green vegetable, and something fresh. Add stuffing or cranberry sauce if those are favorites at your table, rather than feeling you need every dish.
Before shopping, check each recipe for serving sizes and cooking equipment. Several slow cooker dishes are included, so choose the one that best fits your kitchen. Prepare what you can ahead, dress salads near serving, and give yourself a little breathing room to enjoy the meal with your guests.