15 Dishes Every Southern Thanksgiving Dinner Should Have (2024)

Thanksgiving Recipes
Southern Food
American Cooking Basics

Don't Forget the Cornbread Dressing

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 12/13/22

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15 Dishes Every Southern Thanksgiving Dinner Should Have (2)

A typical Southern Thanksgiving dinner usually includes ham or turkey—sometimes both—along with cornbread dressing, sides, and spectacular desserts. You're likely to find a big layered salad, the quintessential green bean casserole, mashed or scalloped potatoes, and soft dinner rolls or hot buttered biscuits. Construct a traditional holiday meal for your familywith the following menu inspired by the South.

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Balsamic and Honey Glazed Roast Turkey
A balsamic vinegar glaze with orange juice, thyme, andhoneyadds fantastic flavor to whole roasted turkey in thiswinning Thanksgiving recipe. Use white balsamic vinegar if you can find it for its fruity, floral notes that complement the mild flavor of turkey.
See Also
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02 of 15
Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes With Cheese
The slow cooker makes these scalloped potatoes a breeze to fix up, freeing the oven and stovetop up for other dishes. If you're looking for a conventional version, this recipe for baked scalloped potatoes is an excellent option.
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Classic Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes are another Southern favorite. This rich, pecan-topped casserole is one of the more popular preparations. If you prefer a lighter dish—or if you simply have no oven space left—these skillet candied sweet potatoes are an equally tasty alternative.
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Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a popular side dish that is often found on Southern Thanksgiving tables. Bacon and green onions make this macaroni and cheese deserving of a place on your holiday menu. Sliced green onions add color and flavor, but feel free to omit them.
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Classic Southern Cornbread Dressing
Freshly baked cornbread and soft breadcrumbs team up in this homemade dressing. A variety of herbs, onions, celery, and chicken stock add flavor to the traditional Thanksgiving side. Many Southern cooks stew a chicken to make the broth and they often add in some of the diced chicken.
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Instant Pot Collard Greens
These greens are slightly bitter, so they taste even better when cooked with a bit of vinegar, sugar, and seasoned with some spicy hot sauce. Of course, adding some juicy pieces of thick-cut bacon makes eating your greens even more enjoyable.
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Mashed Potatoes
What's a holiday meal without mashed potatoes? These fluffy spuds need no embellishments, but feel free to jazz them up with some herbs, garlic, or nutmeg. The recipe includes some variations and helpful tips for making the perfect bowl.
If you don't have an empty burner, consider these Instant Pot mashed potatoes, or make the stovetop one an hour or so in advance and keep them warm in a buttered slow cooker.
See Also
Southern Thanksgiving Menu: The Best Southern Recipes for Thanksgiving
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Cranberry Gelatin Salad
A gelatin salad is an essential part of a full Southern spread. Even if you're not normally a fan, you're sure to enjoy this cranberry gelatin version.
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Honey Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
Bake these yeasty, airy honey buttermilk dinner rolls in any shape you like. The buttermilk and honey give the rolls soft texture and subtle sweetness.
Dinner rolls can be prepared, shaped, and refrigerated overnight or frozen for longer storage. Either way, plan to give the rolls enough time to come to room temperature and rise before baking.
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Cheddar Cheese Green Bean Casserole
This cheddar green bean casserole is a tasty homemade departure from the classic. Instead of condensed soup, it comes together with a cheese sauce made from scratch. If you prefer all natural ingredients, it's definitely the recipe for you.
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Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie is considered soul food and has shown up at celebrations and holiday tables for decades. This version is old-fashioned and decidedly Southern, with mashedsweet potatoes, plenty of sugar,evaporated milk, and a generous amount of warm spices. If you have fond memories of your grandma's sweet potato pie, this is the recipe for you!
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Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
These classic buttermilk biscuits go with just about any meal. Bake the biscuits just before it's time to eat and make sure there is plenty of softened butter to go around. If you grew up eating Southern biscuits, you know how important it is to butter them while they're hot!
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Scalloped Vegetable Casserole
A colorful vegetable casserole is always a crowd-pleaser. A simple creamy white sauce brings the fresh and frozen vegetables together in a buttery breadcrumb-topped bake.
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Classic Pumpkin Pecan Pie
If you can't decide whether to bake a pumpkin pie or pecan pie, problem solved! This pumpkin pecan pie is truly the best of both worlds, featuring a layer of each classic Thanksgiving dessert. Make a homemade pie crust or use ready-made pie pastry sheets.
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Glazed Spiral Ham
Our recipe for the glaze perfectly complements the salty-sweet flavor of the ham. Taste is important but so often, foods like spiral, pre-sliced hams so easily get dried out when you reheat them. This method, however, will keep your ham succulent and moist.