30 Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Turkey gets the spotlight, but the best main dish is the one your crowd actually loves to eat. These Thanksgiving dinner recipes cover every kind of table, from a cranberry glazed whole bird to a slow cooker ham that frees up your oven.

You’ll find 5 turkey ideas, 4 glazed hams, 5 beef roasts, pork, chicken, Cornish hens, duck, lamb, salmon, and 5 vegetarian centerpieces.

Each one links to the full recipe, so pick your showstopper and plan the rest of the menu around it.

1. Cranberry Glazed Turkey

A brine of cranberry juice, orange juice, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves soaks into this whole bird for 8 to 24 hours before it ever sees the oven.

Orange zest butter goes under the skin, then the turkey roasts at 375°F for roughly 10 to 12 minutes per pound. A quick glaze of canned cranberry sauce, orange juice, and dark brown sugar gets brushed on twice near the end.

The pan drippings turn into a cranberry gravy, so nothing goes to waste.

Source details: quichemygrits.com

2. Turkey Wellington

Butterflied turkey tenderloins wrap around a log of jellied cranberry sauce, so every slice has a ruby center.

The roasted turkey cools completely, then gets packed in a mushroom stuffing made with pecans, fresh breadcrumbs, thyme, rosemary, and sage. One sheet of puff pastry seals everything in before a final bake until golden.

You can roast the turkey ahead and refrigerate it, which makes the holiday itself much calmer. It serves 4 to 6, a smart pick for a smaller table.

Source details: thespiffycookie.com

3. Turkey Roulade

Think of this as the whole Thanksgiving plate rolled into one neat log. A boneless turkey breast brines for 8 hours, then gets pounded to half an inch thick.

The filling is a skillet stuffing of sweet Italian sausage, Granny Smith apple, soaked dried cranberries, celery, and fresh herbs. After rolling and tying every 2 inches, it roasts for about 75 minutes to 160°F.

Each slice shows a pretty spiral of stuffing, and it carves far more easily than a whole bird.

Source details: saltpepperskillet.com

4. Sheet Pan Turkey Breast Dinner

Short on oven space or cooking for four? This one pan handles the turkey and three sides at once.

Two boneless, skin-on turkey breasts get rubbed with sage garlic butter and roast at 425°F for 45 minutes. Then homemade brioche stuffing and seasoned green beans join them on the sheet for 15 more.

Last come halved sweet potatoes brushed with maple butter and topped with mini marshmallows, baked just until they toast. Dinner lands on the table in under two hours.

Source details: xoxobella.com

5. Garlic Bread Rolls

Source details: cambreabakes.com

6. Copycat Honey Baked Ham

Skip the pricey store order and make that famous crackly crust at home. A bone-in, spiral cut ham bakes covered at 325°F with honey, butter, and Dijon spooned between the slices.

Once it hits 140°F, a spiced sugar coating with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, paprika, and onion powder caramelizes under the broiler.

The rest of that sugar simmers with pan juices into a thick glaze for one final broil. The edges turn crisp and dark golden, just like the version you’d buy.

Source details: asouthernsoul.com

7. Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Ham

Five ingredients and a low oven are all this holiday ham asks for. Pineapple slices get tucked between the spiral cut slices, then brown sugar and ground cloves are sprinkled over the top.

A can of lemon lime soda goes into the pan, and the ham bakes covered at 275°F for about 90 minutes.

For the last hour, you uncover it and baste every 15 to 20 minutes so the juices cook down into a sticky caramel glaze. One ham feeds about 12.

Source details: afarmgirlskitchen.com

8. Crock Pot Brown Sugar Ham

Oven space is precious on Thanksgiving, so let the slow cooker handle the ham. A 6 to 8 pound spiral cut ham sits flat side down with 2 cups of pineapple juice poured around it.

Brown sugar gets pressed firmly onto the outside to form a crust, then pure maple syrup drizzles over the top.

Five hours on low turns it fall apart tender. Spoon the sweet juices over the slices before serving, and toss the glaze packet that comes with the ham.

Source details: togetherasfamily.com

9. Bourbon Glazed Ham

Studded with about 40 cloves in a scored diamond pattern, this ham looks straight off a magazine cover. The glaze simmers brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, Dijon, fresh orange juice and zest, thyme, and Worcestershire.

A third goes on before baking at 325°F, and the rest gets brushed on every 20 minutes for roughly 2 hours.

A quick trip under the broiler deepens the color at the end. Let it rest 15 minutes, then slice for about 12 guests.

Source details: jocooks.com

10. Prime Rib Roast

If beef is your crowd’s favorite, a garlic crusted standing rib roast is hard to top. The bones are cut off and tied back on for easy carving, and the salted meat rests at room temperature for 3 hours.

A rub of garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil coats the outside. It sears at 500°F for 15 minutes, then finishes at 325°F until it reads 130°F for medium rare.

A 7 pound roast feeds about 12, with horseradish sauce on the side.

Source details: natashaskitchen.com

11. Beef Tenderloin With Garlic Herb Butter

This is the quickest showstopper on the list, and it comes together in under an hour. A 4 pound tenderloin gets tied with twine for even cooking, seasoned, and seared in a cast iron skillet until golden on every side.

Whipped butter blended with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage gets spread over the top.

Then the whole skillet roasts at 425°F for 15 to 20 minutes, until it reaches 125°F for medium rare. It slices into tender, buttery rounds for 8.

Source details: averiecooks.com

12. Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington is a big project, but this version solves the soggy bottom problem. Center cut beef fillet is seared, brushed with Dijon, then rolled in prosciutto and a dry mushroom duxelles.

The clever trick is a thin thyme crêpe wrapped around the log before the puff pastry goes on. It soaks up moisture so the crust stays crisp.

Plan for a few chill sessions between layers. A glossy truffle red wine sauce made with cabernet and port finishes the plate for 6.

Source details: cafedelites.com

13. Cranberry Maple Roast Chicken

Source details: orchidsandsweettea.com

14. Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Pot roast fits a relaxed Thanksgiving, especially if your family prefers comfort food over formal carving. A 4 pound chuck roast gets slathered in yellow mustard and coated in a homemade blend of Italian seasoning, garlic, onion, thyme, and coriander.

It braises in beef broth at 300°F for 4 hours with the lid on.

Then carrots, onion, and potatoes go in for a final hour until everything is fork tender. Shred the beef right into the pan juices and serve 8.

Source details: realsimplegood.com

15. Super Juicy Turkey Baked In Cheesecloth

Source details: serenabakessimplyfromscratch.com

16. Apple Cranberry Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Only six ingredients stand between you and this pretty spiral roast. A marinated pork tenderloin is cut open like a book and pounded to about half an inch thick.

Then it’s spread with a quick filling of chicken flavored stuffing mix, chopped apple, dried cranberries, onion, and water.

Roll it tight, tie it with twine, and bake at 325°F until the center reaches 145°F, about 45 minutes. Each slice shows a sweet and savory swirl, and the roast feeds 8.

Source details: wearychef.com

17. Porchetta

Porchetta is the Italian answer to a holiday centerpiece. A seasoned pork loin gets rolled inside skin-on pork belly, then tied at 1 inch intervals.

The rub is toasted fennel and peppercorns ground with sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, lemon zest, and orange zest. A salt and baking soda rub dries the skin during a 24 to 48 hour rest in the fridge.

It roasts low at 275°F for about 3 hours, then blasts at 500°F until the crackling turns deep golden and crisp.

Source details: stripedspatula.com

18. Garlic Butter Roasted Whole Chicken

A whole roast chicken is a smart swap when your group is small and a turkey feels like too much. Melted butter mixed with garlic, lemon juice, thyme, parsley, and rosemary goes both under and over the skin.

Lemon wedges and rosemary fill the cavity, and the bird sits on carrot, celery, and garlic with white wine in the pan.

It starts at 450°F for 15 minutes, then roasts at 350°F for about 70 more. Expect crispy skin and juicy meat for 5.

Source details: primaverakitchen.com

19. Cranberry Brie Stuffed Chicken

Holiday flavors tucked inside a chicken breast make a fast main for two. Each breast gets a deep pocket filled with cranberry sauce, sautéed spinach with shallot and garlic, and slices of creamy brie.

A few toothpicks keep everything sealed while the chicken sears for 3 minutes per side.

Then the pan moves to a 400°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Dinner is ready in about 33 minutes, and it’s a great use for leftover cranberry sauce or cheese board brie.

Source details: downshiftology.com

20. Roasted Cornish Hens

Mini birds look impressive on a holiday table and roast in about an hour. Two Cornish hens get brushed with olive oil seasoned with rosemary, lemon zest, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

They roast on a bed of potatoes, carrots, and onion, so the vegetables soak up all the drippings.

The oven starts at 450°F, then drops to 400°F for 55 to 65 minutes until the hens hit 165°F. Cut each bird in half with kitchen shears to serve 4.

Source details: spendwithpennies.com

21. Crispy Roast Duck With Orange Glaze

Duck brings rich, crispy skin and a bright citrus finish to the holiday table. A 5 to 6 pound bird is rubbed with coarse salt, garlic, Chinese five spice, and toasted Sichuan peppercorns, then dries in the fridge overnight with orange quarters inside.

It roasts at 425°F with lightly scored skin and gets basted with its own rendered fat.

The glaze reduces orange juice, ginger, soy sauce, coconut sugar, and Shaoxing wine. Two coats in the final 20 minutes leave it lacquered and glossy.

Source details: wenthere8this.com

22. Dijon Herb Crusted Rack Of Lamb

Hosting just two this year? This rack of lamb feels like a restaurant dinner but takes about 35 minutes. The rack gets seared, coated in Dijon mustard, then pressed with panko mixed with lemon zest, mint, parsley, rosemary, and olive oil.

A 10 minute rest helps the crust stick before it roasts at 350°F.

Pull it at 130°F for medium rare, rest it again, and slice into double chops. If the crumbs need more color, a quick broil fixes it.

Source details: coleycooks.com

23. Rosemary Garlic Leg Of Lamb

Only six ingredients go into this slow roasted leg of lamb, and it feeds a crowd of 8. A 5 pound boneless leg gets rubbed with fresh lemon juice, then patted all over with minced garlic, chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper.

It starts at 450°F for 20 minutes to brown the outside.

Then the oven drops to 325°F for 2 to 2½ hours, about 30 minutes per pound, until the center reads 145°F to 150°F. Give it a 15 minute rest before carving.

Source details: recipegirl.com

24. Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots

Source details: kaleforniakravings.com

25. Stuffed Salmon

Picture creamy spinach dip baked right into a salmon fillet. The filling is baby spinach wilted with garlic and red pepper flakes, then stirred with cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

Each fillet gets a pocket cut down the middle and a generous spoonful of that cheesy spinach.

A light brush of olive oil, 8 to 10 minutes at 425°F, and dinner is done in about 30 minutes total. Four fillets make four generous servings, and the recipe doubles easily.

Source details: wellplated.com

26. Elegant Mushroom Wellington

Plant-based guests get a true showpiece with this vegan Wellington. Whole seared portobello caps sit inside a filling of minced cremini, oyster, and shiitake mushrooms cooked with shallots, garlic, rosemary, thyme, tamari, and balsamic.

Toasted walnuts add bite, and onions caramelized in apple cider bring sweetness.

Everything gets wrapped in vegan puff pastry and baked until golden and flaky. It slices into 8 hearty portions, enough for meat eaters to grab a piece too.

Source details: sweetpotatosoul.com

27. Crack Green Beans

Source details: theferventmama.com

28. Maple-Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Source details: kaleforniakravings.com

29. Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Source details: somuchfoodblog.com

30. Whole Roasted Cauliflower

A whole head of cauliflower turns into a dramatic centerpiece when it roasts in a spicy red coat. Mild harissa mixed with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, thyme, and red pepper flakes gets brushed over it in a cast iron skillet.

It roasts covered at 425°F for 30 minutes, then uncovered for 30 more until fork tender.

More sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and fresh cilantro finish it. Slice it into wedges like a cake and pass the rest of the harissa on the side.

Source details: loveandlemons.com

Pick one main, or pair a turkey with a ham or a veggie centerpiece. Then fill out the table with these Thanksgiving side dishes, start the day with a few Thanksgiving appetizers, and save room for Thanksgiving desserts.