Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas: Main Dishes, Sides and Desserts
Thanksgiving dinner ideas are easier to turn into a menu when you can see how the dishes work together. This collection brings together a buttermilk-brined turkey breast, two non-turkey mains, vegetable sides, creamy potatoes, and two desserts, with preparation notes to help you decide what to make ahead.
Choose the recipes that suit your table, then add any family favorites you wouldn’t want to celebrate without. You can also use this collection to pick just one dish to bring to Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.
These recipes have been kitchen-tested to ensure consistent, reliable results.
Good to Know
Build Your Menu: Choose turkey breast, prime rib, or cider-braised pork as your main, then add one potato dish, two vegetable sides, and a dessert.
Start Early: The bone-in turkey breast needs 24–36 hours to brine, plus thawing time if frozen. Check the make-ahead guide below to see which sides and desserts you can prepare in advance.
Growing up in Canada, we had turkey at Thanksgiving in October and again at Christmas. Those holiday meals are part of what I love about cooking for this time of year: a golden roast, a few favorite sides, and something sweet to finish. I hope you find some inspiration amongst these Thanksgiving dinner ideas.
Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas Menu for Your Main Course
Buttermilk-Brined Turkey Breast
A turkey breast gives you a centerpiece to carve and share without preparing a whole bird. Buttermilk and herbs flavor this roast, which pairs well with both creamy potatoes and vegetable sides.
Plan ahead: The bone-in version needs 24–36 hours in the refrigerator with its brine. If you’re starting with frozen turkey, allow time for it to thaw before that brining window begins. Follow the recipe’s separate guidance if using a boneless breast.
Get the Buttermilk Brined Turkey Breast recipe →
Dutch Oven Prime Rib
If your family prefers beef for Thanksgiving, this Dutch oven prime rib makes a special centerpiece. A browned crust, tender slices, and pan-made au jus pair beautifully with potatoes au gratin, maple-glazed carrots, or braised red cabbage.
Plan ahead: Measure the seasoning ingredients and have the au jus ingredients ready. Roast the beef on serving day, allowing time for resting and making the au jus. Reserve oven space for both the initial high heat and the lower-temperature roasting stage.
Get the Dutch Oven Prime Rib recipe →
Slow Cooker Cider Braised Pork with Cranberries
Pork shoulder, apple cider, cranberries, onions, dates, and thyme come together in this slow cooker main. The sauce stays pleasantly tart rather than sweet, offering another option for a Thanksgiving table without turkey. Serve it with creamy potatoes and your choice of vegetable sides.
Plan ahead: Chop the onions and measure the remaining ingredients ahead of time; refrigerate perishable ingredients separately. Sear and slow-cook the pork on serving day, adding the final portion of cranberries during the last 30 minutes. The slow cooker leaves your oven available for the sides.
Recipe link coming soon.
Thanksgiving Sides
Creamy potatoes, braised red cabbage, and roasted vegetables give you a mix of flavors and textures to serve with any of the mains. Choose maple glazed carrots for a little sweetness or hot honey Brussels sprouts for crisp edges and a touch of heat.
Gluten-Free Potatoes Au Gratin
Layers of thinly sliced potatoes, Gruyère, and herb-infused cream make this a rich side for turkey, prime rib, or cider-braised pork. The sauce thickens without flour, so it’s also an option when you need a gluten-free potato dish.
Plan ahead: Follow the recipe through simmering the potatoes and assembling the gratin, then cover and refrigerate for up to one day before baking. It still needs its baking time on serving day, so reserve oven space for it.
Get the Gluten-Free Potatoes Au Gratin recipe →
German Braised Red Cabbage
Apples and bacon add layers of flavor to this savory, pleasantly tart braised red cabbage. Its deep purple color also brings variety to the Thanksgiving table.
Plan ahead: Make the cabbage a day or two before dinner and refrigerate it. Because it’s a stovetop dish, it’s a useful choice when your oven schedule is already full.
Get the German Braised Red Cabbage recipe →
Maple Glazed Carrots
These roasted carrots combine a buttery maple glaze with warm spice and a finishing squeeze of lime. Choose them when you want a vegetable side with a little sweetness to accompany the savory dishes.
Plan ahead: Trim and peel the carrots in advance, and prepare the glaze the day before. Refrigerate them separately, then roast and finish the carrots on serving day for the best glossy glaze.
Get the Maple Glazed Carrots recipe →
Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts, bacon, and hot honey bring crisp edges, savory flavor, and a little heat to the menu. They’re a good choice alongside creamy potatoes when you want a contrast in texture.
Serving tip: These are best fresh from the oven. Leave room around the sprouts on the baking sheet, and add the hot honey after roasting, as directed in the recipe.
Get the Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts recipe →
Thanksgiving Desserts
Choose a chilled cheesecake that can be ready before guests arrive or pumpkin bars that are easy to portion and share. Either can sit alongside a traditional pie if that’s already part of your family menu.
Coffee Cheesecake
This espresso-flavored cheesecake offers a creamy finish to Thanksgiving dinner. It also gives coffee dessert lovers something different to look forward to after the main course and sides.
Plan ahead: Bake it up to two days ahead, cool as directed, and refrigerate. Add your finishing toppings before serving. Making dessert early also keeps it out of the Thanksgiving Day oven schedule.
Get the Coffee Cheesecake recipe →
Pumpkin Blondies with Pecan Crumble Topping
Pumpkin, warm spices, and a pecan crumble topping make these bars an easy fit for the holiday dessert table. Cut them into portions for sharing at home or taking to a Friendsgiving gathering.
Plan ahead: Bake and cool the bars in advance, then store them according to the recipe. They’re also freezer-friendly; the recipe includes tips for bringing back the crumble’s crispness after thawing.
Get the Pumpkin Blondies recipe →
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What Can You Make Ahead for Thankgiving?
Some of these Thanksgiving dinner ideas can be cooked in advance, while others are better prepared ahead and cooked on the day. Use this guide to divide the work once you’ve chosen your menu.
| Recipe | What You Can Do Ahead | What To Do on Serving Day |
|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk Brined Turkey Breast | Brine the bone-in breast in the refrigerator for 24–36 hours. | Roast, rest, and carve according to the recipe. |
| Dutch Oven Prime Rib | Measure the seasoning ingredients and have the au jus ingredients ready. | Roast, rest, prepare the au jus, and carve |
| Slow Cooker Cider-Braised Pork with Cranberries | Chop the onions and dates. Measure the remaining ingredients and refrigerate. | Sear and slow-cook according to the recipe, adding the remaining cranberries during the final 30 minutes |
| Gluten Free Potatoes Au Gratin | Simmer and assemble up to one day ahead; cover and refrigerate. | Bake and allow the gratin to rest. |
| German Braised Red Cabbage | Cook a day or two ahead and refrigerate. | Reheat for serving. |
| Maple Glazed Carrots | Trim the carrots and prepare the glaze the day before; refrigerate separately. | Roast, glaze, and finish. |
| Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts | Prep the ingredients and leave an oven slot for roasting. | Roast and drizzle with hot honey just before serving. |
| Coffee Cheesecake | Bake up to two days ahead; cool and refrigerate. | Add toppings and slice. |
| Pumpkin Blondies | Bake ahead and store as directed, or freeze for longer storage. | Thaw if frozen; refresh the crumble if needed. |
Check Your Oven Schedule Before Finalizing the Menu
Preparing a dish ahead doesn’t necessarily free up the oven on Thanksgiving Day. For example, the assembled potatoes au gratin still need baking, and the roasted vegetables need their own space and cooking time.
Write down the oven temperature, baking time, and pan size for each recipe you’ve chosen. Include preheating, temperature changes, and resting time. If the oven is looking crowded, choose the stovetop cabbage as one of your sides and have dessert ready in the refrigerator or stored according to its recipe.
Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas FAQs
The cider-braised pork cooks in the slow cooker, leaving the oven available for sides. The braised cabbage is a helpful stovetop choice. The coffee cheesecake can also be baked ahead and chilled. By contrast, preparing the potatoes au gratin or maple-glazed carrots in advance reduces preparation work, but you still need time to cook those dishes.
Pumpkin blondies are easy to portion for a shared dessert table. If you’d rather bring a side, ask the host whether oven space will be available before choosing a dish that needs baking or reheating. Agreeing on that detail beforehand makes serving much easier.
More Seasonal Cooking Inspiration
I hope these Thanksgiving dinner ideas help you put together a menu you’re excited to cook and share.
For more cold-weather menu ideas, browse these Winter Comfort Food Recipes for meals beyond the holiday.
For dinner inspiration throughout the month, visit my Family Meal Plans.
