35 Best Southern Thanksgiving Recipes for Stress-Free Cooking

Finally — a Thanksgiving Turkey that impresses guests 100% of the time. Dependably juicy with a crisp, golden skin that tastes as delicious as it looks. The brine keeps the meat moist (even if it hangs in the oven a little too long), and that herby compound butter delivers a bronzed holiday-table glow so grand, you don't even need the taper candles.

Prep Ahead | Thaw, brine overnight, and you'll carve a tender, flavorful-packed show-stopper without the stress.

Ready to make that turkey jealous? Southern Cornbread Dressing gets an upgrade with bakery white bread and fresh poultry herbs. Buttery onion and celery keep Southern food traditions intact with no-fuss steps. This casserole tastes like Grandma's best and feeds a crowd.

Prep Ahead | Bake cornbread a day or two early, assemble the night before, then reheat covered until steamy.

Sweet Potato Souffle is worthy of a holiday celebration on its own, and it's a side dish that turns sweet potato haters into sweet potato lovers.

With its crisp, salty-sweet pecan streusel topping and lush, silky sweet potato bases made with roasted sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, vanilla, and butter, it's a no-fail souffle guests love.

Prep Ahead | Roast the sweet potatoes and mash up to 2 days early.

If you're on the hunt for a Corn Casserole that tastes like the South, you can count on this one to show up and show out every single time. It's got a real-deal creamed corn base with cream cheese, cream, and buttery sauteed onions. On top, a melty layer of cheddar and crunchy Ritz crackers. Count on guests to go back for seconds; it's always one of the first to go on a Thanksgiving buffet.

One bite of this Homemade Green Bean Casserole and you'll kick those cans to the curb. The filling comes together with blanched green beans and a silky, from-scratch cream of mushroom sauce. Once combined, a topping of freshly grated cheddar and fried onions brings it all together. It's a texture combination guests swoon for, and readers say after one bake, this is the holiday recipe they'll never host without again.

Prep Ahead | Make the beans and sauce the day before.

For a comforting side dish that's creamy, buttery, and positively foolproof, look no further than Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes. We start by boiling in cold water for even cooking and mash the potatoes with room temp butter using a potato masher to ensure your potatoes turn out perfectly creamy — never gummy.

Prep Ahead | Make them up to 2 days in advance. Reheat in a 300°F in an 8x8-inch casserole dish until warmed through.

Every host needs a No-Drama Gravy Recipe come Thanksgiving Day. This one can be made days in advance and still earns its place on top of turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes.

It starts with a quick butter-and-flour roux and ready in 10 minutes. Got drippings? The day of, you can stir them into the reheated gravy for rich roasted-turkey flavor. Add fresh herbs for an extra special touch or a splash of Worcestershire for a Southern touch.

Nothing beats a basket of soft, golden Homemade Dinner Rolls. It's the side everyone is reaching for — and very likely, more than once. This recipe keeps it simple and foolproof.

They bake up fluffy, with a hint of sweetness, and a golden egg-wash finish. This is the bread basket filling your Southern Thanksgiving deserves!

Bright, balanced, and gorgeous, Cranberry Sauce is absolute must at the holiday table. And we're not talking about the canned stuff.

Fresh cranberries, orange juice, zest, and cinnamon simmer together on the stovetop for a 15-minute side dish that's easy to make.

Prep Ahead | Cook the sauce 2-3 days in advance. Chill in serving bowl and set out just before dinner.

This Southern Macaroni and Cheese is ultra-creamy, and bakes up with a golden, crunchy Panko topping that macaroni casserole connoisseurs are here for.

The four cheese combo — cream cheese, American, Havarti and Gruyere — melts smooth and add big flavor. We're talking silky sauce, tender pasta, and a crunchy topping for a flavor that's rich, reliable, and right at home in a lineup of Southern holiday favorites.

Press the easy button on Thanksgiving recipes with these Roasted + Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes bake in the oven until fork tender to deepen sweetness, then it's off to the mixing bowl and in come the secret weapon: mascarpone. This Italian cream cheese melts silky-smooth, creating a buttery, luxurious texture. You're looking at about 10-minutes of hands-on prep time for a side that plays perfectly with fall flavors.

Prep Ahead | Roast, mash with mascarpone, and refrigerate up to a day in advance.

For a turkey dish that earns oohs and awes, no babysitting required, it's Smoked Turkey Breasts for the win. A quick brown sugar brine keeps every slice extra juicy and a Southern-style rub keeps things sweet, savory, with just a hint of spice. Cook it on a pellet grill or wood smoker, let it rest, and watch it slice like a dream. Top with turkey gravy and serve for the ultimate budget-friendly beauty, ideal for feeding a smaller crowd.

Prep Ahead | Brine the breast 4 hours ahead or up to overnight.

Add a fresh take on Thanksgiving dinner with Apple Bacon Blue Cheese Salad. This bowl can hold its own next to cozy holiday sides thanks to crisp apples, smoky bacon, blue cheese, and toasted pecans piled high on a bed of baby spinach.

To spruce things up for the season, add a sweet and tangy drizzle of maple-Dijon dressing. It's fast to throw together and brings a sweet-savory balance to heavier Thanksgiving recipes.

Prep Ahead | Cook bacon, toast pecans and make dressing the day before.

This Cornbread Pudding is a cozy, crowd-pleasing side that goes fast. No box mixes allowed; this rendition takes a made-from-scratch approach and trust — it pays off. The pudding bakes up ultra-moist and custardy, with sweet bites of corn.

With just 15 minutes of prep time, this side dish earns its spot on the table as a hands-off, crowd-pleaser.

Think loaded baked potato, but easier to serve and impossible to resist. These Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes start with Russet potatoes and end with the good stuff — melty Cheddar, salty bacon bits, sour cream, and butter. It all gets folded into a savory mash for a Southern-style holiday casserole nobody skips the line on.

Prep Ahead | Cook potatoes and bacon, mash, and assemble the day before. Bake until melted and serve hot.

Nothing says holiday in the South quite like a simmering ham hock. These Collard Greens are deeply flavorful (never bitter) with enough vinegary heat that keeps you coming back for more.

Easy to make and a pot full that stretches for a crowd, this recipe will have you gliding into the Thanksgiving side dish lane with ease.

Prep Ahead | Braise greens with pot liquor up to 2 days in advance.

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits are easy to make and outrageously satisfying. Buttermilk keeps the crumb tender, while cold butter builds those flaky layers biscuit-lovers dreams are made of.

Park these in a basket beside the turkey and gravy and serve with pats of butter on the side for crowd-favorite side everyone doubles down on.

Prep Ahead | Bake now and freeze up to two months. Reheat to serve.

A Thanksgiving recipe lineup isn't complete without a Sweet Potato Casserole, and if they're rooted in tradition — it better have marshmallows.

In this casserole, sweet potatoes get an upgrade from canned to roasted in the oven. They're mashed with just enough brown sugar to sweeten things up, get topped with a blanket of gooey marshmallows and crunchy pecans.

Prep Ahead | Roast and mash the sweet potatoes up to 2 days ahead.

Simple, pretty, and down-right delicious, Pear and Walnut Salad demands attention at the Thanksgiving table. Mesclun greens let red pears shine, while tangy goat cheese keeps things creamy and honey walnuts add crunch and sweetness. An apricot-balsamic vinaigrette ties it all together.

It's a no fuss salad that adds fall color and balanced flavor to hearty mains like turkey and ham.

Prep Ahead | Make the vinaigrette up to 3 days in advance.

Creamy, cheesy, and dangerously tempting when it comes to seconds, Cheesy Potato Casserole more than earns its keep come the holidays.

Fresh russets and a velvety smooth, made-from-scratch Cheddar sauce are the reason this casserole is pure comfort.

Prep Ahead | Assemble up to 24 hours in advance, refrigerate covered, and bake after a 30 minute counter rest.

Slow Cooker Green Beans are full of Southern flavor with effortless Southern comfort food vibes. Fresh green beans simmer away for hours in a savory broth with smoky bacon, onion, and garlic.

Juicy and delicious, they are a hostess' dream. The best part? They're even better the next day.

Prep Ahead | Cook fully, cool, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Thanksgiving is not the time to skimp on appetizers. This tangy Goat Cheese Ball gets a lift from white Cheddar, honey, lemon, thyme, and a hint of garlic.

The exterior rolls in cranberries and sliced almonds, dressing this appetizer up for the Thanksgiving table.

Prep Ahead | Chill the formed cheese ball 4-48 hours in advance. Roll in almonds and cranberries just before serving.

These Little Smokies hit all the good notes — salty, sweet, smoky, and just a teensy bit spicy. Little Smokies are wrapped in bacon and baked in a buttery brown sugar glaze that bubbles into a sticky-sweet glaze that's 100% addictive.

Trust: this is the type of aromatic finger food you want on hand when the Thanksgiving crowd trickles in.

Prep Ahead: Wrap your Smokies up to 48 hours in advance. Add brown sugar mix and bake just before serving.

Make this French Onion Dip once, and store-bought dips will immediately become a thing of the past. Real caramelized onion and crispy bacon are folded into a base of whipped cream cheese, sour cream and mayo. For an extra touch of savory goodness, a sprinkle of paprika.

Serve with sweet potato and kettle-cooked chips for a rich, savory, smoky Southern-style dip-and-chip combo.

Prep Ahead: Make 2 days ahead and keep refrigerated.

Charcuterie Boards are the ultimate no-cook appetizer.

Made for the grazing hour, this board is packed with sliced meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and pickled bites. Easy to prep and completely customizable, hostesses love this easy Thanksgiving appetizer.

Prep Ahead | Slice meats and cheeses the night before. Assemble 2 hours in advance.

Think cheesecake meets caramel apple, without the fuss. Sweet and decadent, this creamy Caramel Apple Dip is half dessert, half appetizer everyone loves.

A sweetened cream cheese base gets spruced up with chocolate chips and crunchy bits of toffee. Add a generous drizzle of salted caramel on top for a fall favorite kids and grown-ups can't stop eating.

Prep Ahead | Prepare the cream cheese base 24 hours ahead.

Everything you love about fall baking? It lives here. These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are the coziest cookies, filled with warming spices, melty chocolate chips, and big pumpkin flavor.

With a soft center and a chewy edge, it's just like a chocolate chip cookie, but tailor-made for cozy holidays like Thanksgiving Day.

Prep Ahead | Bake 3-4 days in advance and store in an airtight container.

Kentucky Derby Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie takes a Southern classic and elevates the classic. The addition of bourbon, melty chocolate, and a caramel-like filling bakes underneath a hearty layer of toasty pecans.

It's a decadent favorite pecan pie lovers swoon for.

Prep Ahead | Bake the day before serving. This pie slices cleaner and tastes even richer the next day.

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting adds festive decadence to the Thanksgiving table. Soft, buttery layers of pumpkin cake are speckled with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves — fully covered in fluffy, spiced cream cheese frosting.

Sour cream and pumpkin ensure this cake stays moist for days, making it a dream dessert for the holidays.

Prep Ahead | Bake the layers a day or two ahead. Once frosted, keep refrigerated.

Flaky, buttery crust, warm cinnamon apples, and a buttery, sweet oatmeal topping that's always crisp, never soggy, are just a few reasons we love Apple Crisp Pie in the fall. The scent alone is enough reason to bake two.

Simple for any occasion, but standing tall with apples piled high — it's lovely enough to be a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Make-Ahead | Make a day in advance and keep refrigerated. Warm to serve.

Cool and creamy with a buttery brown sugar flavor profile, Butterscotch Pie is pure comfort. This one comes together completely from scratch yet is surprisingly simple to make thanks to a foolproof stovetop pudding.

It's salty-sweet and indulgent, pure Southern comfort the end the meal.

Prep Ahead | Make the day before and chill overnight so the pudding sets up beautifully.

Southern comfort gets a fall twist thanks to juicy, cinnamon-spiced pears and a buttermilk biscuit crumble. Brown sugar and warm spice make this easy Pear Cobbler a prize for the dessert table.

The best part? No rolling pins, no fancy crust. Just a rustic, lovely dessert that smells like heaven and serves a crowd.

Serve with vanilla ice cream for peak Thanksgiving magic.

If you're a fan of brownies, you're really going to love this Chocolate Chess Pie. It's Southern simplicity at its finest moment — rich, silky, and beyond easy to make.

This dependable favorite is perfect for adding a touch of chocolate to Thanksgiving and feels right at home between pumpkin and pecan pie.

Prep Ahead | Bake a day early, let it cool, and refrigerate overnight for a pie that slices beautifully.

Southern Sweet Potato Pie is silky, spiced, and just the right amount of sweet. It's made with roasted sweet potatoes to bring out those caramel notes, and in combination with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, it's safe to say she's an autumn masterpiece.

Serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream and watch the compliments roll in.

Prep Ahead | Roast the potatoes up to 2 days in advance. Bake the day before and chill overnight.

Pecan Pie Bars deliver all that gooey, nutty goodness pecan pie lovers crave only better — they're handheld.

The butter crust lands somewhere between a pie crust and shortbread, and it's the ideal base for salty-sweet pecan filling.

Prep Ahead | Bake the bars up to 2 days in advance. Keep in an airtight container at room temperature.