37 Creative Thanksgiving Food Ideas for a Vibrant Menu in 2023

If you’re doing any hosting for the holiday season, it’s never too early to start looking for Thanksgiving food ideas. Food is the main event of Thanksgiving, and even the most novice of cooks can put in a little extra effort to make a memorable and exciting Thanksgiving meal.

So, with that said, what’s a good menu for Thanksgiving? The best Thanksgiving menus are usually a balance between a few creative Thanksgiving ideas and some of the most popular Thanksgiving foods — this way, the meal is distinctive while still giving folks the traditional comfort foods that they love.

To kick off your Thanksgiving brainstorming, we’ve put together a list of some of the most satisfying and creative Thanksgiving ideas for a most vibrant and varying menu.

Jump to Section

• Learn to Make the Best Thanksgiving Menus Ideas
• Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas for a Crowd
• Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
• Most Popular Thanksgiving Dinner Sides

Learn to Make the Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Whether you’re hosting family or looking for fun Friendsgiving ideas, brushing up on your cooking skills is essential to executing an outstanding Thanksgiving meal.

The most reliable way to improve your culinary talents is by signing up for cooking classes near you. If you’re able, look for cooking classes in the closest major city in your area — such as cooking classes in Chicago, cooking classes in Atlanta or cooking classes in Boston — where you can pick up on trendy dishes that will make your Thanksgiving menu stand out.

If you’re too busy to attend a cooking class in person, don’t fret: you can always find online cooking classes and tutorials. By using online resources, you can practice in your own kitchen and rehearse every part of the Thanksgiving meal. 

Best Thanksgiving Menu Ideas for a Crowd

1. Thanksgiving Salad

If you’re preparing a Thanksgiving meal for a large crowd, making a big salad is a quick and easy Thanksgiving food idea that can incorporate seasonal produce.

Use a base with dark greens, like spinach and arugula, and mix in root vegetables like radishes and carrots. For extra crunch and that autumnal feel, walnuts or pine nuts are the perfect finishing touch (just be sure to check with your entire invite list about nut allergies).

2. Mac and Cheese

When you’re choosing Thanksgiving food ideas for a crowd, seek out recipes that can be made in big batches. In that regard, macaroni and cheese is an excellent choice.

Not only is it one of the most popular Thanksgiving sides, but you can make a lot of it at once without much effort. Go for a classic mac and cheese recipe or sneak in some veggies for a healthier option. 

3. Charcuterie Board

Appetizers are a must when planning your Thanksgiving food ideas, and fun fall charcuterie board ideas are an easy spread that can feed a big group. Prepare ahead of time and stock up on a few different hard and soft cheeses, cured meats, nuts and crackers.

Spread out the treats on a wooden board, and your guests will be happy to munch on these savory treats until dinner is ready. If you’re a fan of Thanksgiving crafts, you can also arrange your charcuterie board into a themed shape, like a turkey.

4. Chickpea Pumpkin Fritters

A big guest list increases the odds that you’ll need to accommodate some dietary restrictions, especially for vegetarians and vegans. Make sure the vegans in your life get a dish with protein, like chickpea pumpkin fritters.

This Thanksgiving food idea is easy to make and packed with protein — mash some chickpeas and pumpkin, add flour and breadcrumbs and then toss the fritters onto the frying pan. It’s a quick dish and your loved ones will appreciate that you put thought into your vegan options. 

5. Potatoes Au Gratin

If you want a Thanksgiving side that will impress your guests but won’t be stressful to make, potatoes au gratin are perfect. You’ll get the reliable tastiness of potatoes with an extra fancy presentation.

Don’t let the French name fool you — it’s a simple baked dish of thinly sliced potatoes, cream and shredded cheese. 

6. Apple Pie

Planning Thanksgiving dessert for a big group is tricky – not everyone likes the same sweets. Try keeping your Thanksgiving food idea classic with an apple pie.

Apple pies are sweet, seasonally appropriate and will come out delicious even if you’re an inexperienced cook. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and everyone is sure to end the night happy. 

7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

For vegetables, aim for simple Thanksgiving food ideas that can be left to roast in the oven, like roasted Brussels sprouts. You can prepare roasted

Brussels sprouts in all kinds of ways, but one particularly yummy method is letting them caramelize in a mix of olive oil, salt and balsamic vinegar. 

8. Shepherd’s Pie

Making dinner for a lot of people can get overwhelming, so if you’re dealing with a small kitchen or a high stress level, you may want to opt for a Thanksgiving food idea that merges several

Thanksgiving foods into one dish: shepherd’s pie. Shepherd’s pie is a meat and vegetable medley topped with mashed potatoes and cheese, baked in one big cast iron pot. It’s easier than making a bunch of different mains and side dishes, and your guests will love the originality. 

9. Savory Bread Pudding

A savory bread pudding is a decadent Thanksgiving food idea that will feed lots of people. Savory bread puddings are kind of like elevated versions of stuffing, and since you bake it in the oven, it’s a convenient hands-off dish for a busy cooking day.

There are a lot of different bread pudding recipes out there, so you can play around with your favorite comforting Thanksgiving ingredients, such as sausage, apples, or mushrooms. 

10. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a reliable dessert if you need Thanksgiving food ideas, but you can make it a little more unique and Thanksgiving-themed by baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

If you like chocolate and pumpkin spice, these cookies will be the perfect autumn sweet. To save time and kitchen prep space, bake cookies the day before and warm them up before serving. 

11. Butternut Squash Soup

Soups often aren’t on the top of people’s lists of Thanksgiving food ideas, but they’re actually a hearty and practical option for feeding a large crowd.

Make a big pot of butternut squash soup from scratch the day before, or, if you’re short on time, heat up a few cans of soup on Thanksgiving Day.

Serve this classic squash soup as a first course to nourish your guests and buy yourself some time while the turkey finishes roasting.

12. Roasted Pears

Roasted pears are juicy and rich, and a little different from typical Thanksgiving food ideas. Glaze some halved pears with honey and balsamic vinegar for a sweet and tangy caramelized effect.

For a meal that’s starch and vegetable-heavy, roasted pears are a great way to add variety to your Thanksgiving menu. 

13. Five-Layer Bars

5 layer bars (or as many layers as you want, really) can be made in bulk and will be quickly devoured by your guests. The recipe for this Thanksgiving food idea is simple: layer various sweet ingredients in a dish and bake!

Typical layers include graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and shredded coconut.

Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

14. Roast Turkey

So, what are the top five traditional Thanksgiving foods? While the side dishes can be debated, there’s no question that the turkey is the centerpiece of any old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner.

Roasting a turkey is a big undertaking, so be sure to set aside plenty of time to prepare the bird and allow it to cook fully through (it usually takes longer than you assume). Some of the best seasonings for a classic turkey include butter, sage, rosemary and thyme. 

Just be sure to check tips from the CDC to make sure your turkey is prepared and cooked safely. 

15. Pumpkin Pie

If you only make one dessert for your traditional Thanksgiving food ideas, make sure that it’s pumpkin pie. The spiced filling captures the very best of autumn flavors, and it’s an iconic dessert that people have enjoyed at Thanksgiving for generations.

Top it with homemade whipped cream for a special Thanksgiving-worthy finishing touch.

16. Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is the quintessential Thanksgiving side. A more flavorful alternative to standard mashed potatoes, a sweet potato casserole is enriched with tasty additions like butter, cream and cinnamon. Don’t forget to add marshmallows on top for a picturesque and extra yummy result. 

17. Smoked Turkey

For a traditional but slightly less predictable Thanksgiving food idea, smoke your turkey instead of roasting it. For meat lovers, smoking the turkey is their favorite of all Thanksgiving activities, and for good reason.

Smoked turkey comes out ultra juicy, and with the versatility of smoking it on a grill, you can be really creative with your recipe, choosing wood chips, seasonings and extra meats to cook along with it. 

18. Stuffing

Stuffing isn’t everyone’s favorite, but this is often because people haven’t had the chance to eat stuffing made from scratch. A traditional Thanksgiving stuffing provides the ideal cushion to your other Thanksgiving foods and infuses your plate with more herbal flavors.

Start this Thanksgiving food idea with quality bread, like sourdough, and add veggies, chicken broth and herbs. For some fatty richness, a classic stuffing will also have butter, milk and eggs.

19. Cranberry Sauce

Making cranberry sauce from scratch is an old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner side that will seriously level up your Thanksgiving meal.

Cranberry sauce is more an exercise in chemistry than anything else: boil water and sugar, add cranberries and let it simmer until the berries burst, creating the juicy goodness that everyone loves.

20. Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a cherished Thanksgiving classic, making it a great Thanksgiving food idea for an old-fashioned, traditional holiday menu.

Green beans and crispy onions in a creamy mushroom sauce will guarantee that your guests are feeling cozy and nostalgic. 

21. Gravy

If you’re making a traditional roast turkey, you absolutely have to make gravy, as well. Go the traditional route with this Thanksgiving food idea and try making gravy from scratch.

All it takes is a roux and the drippings from your turkey (all that fatty liquid released when the bird cooks). Serve it in a pretty gravy boat, and you’ll have the perfect old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner aesthetic. 

22. Creamed Spinach

Any creamed vegetable feels like an old-fashioned Thanksgiving food idea, but if you have to pick only one, go for creamed spinach.

The earthiness of spinach melds with the creaminess of the sauces to produce a warm, comforting side dish that gives you a nice dose of vegetables admits all that meat and starches. 

23. Deviled Eggs

Give your Thanksgiving dinner sides a throwback flair by preparing an old-school platter of deviled eggs. Quality deviled eggs offer a blend of tangy and creamy goodness, and with a sprinkling of smoked paprika, you’ll have a smoky, slightly spiced taste to pull it all together.

Plus, you can make deviled eggs the day before and keep them chilled in the fridge, so it’s one less dish to make on Thanksgiving. 

24. Pecan Pie

Alongside pumpkin pie, pecan pie is a classic Thanksgiving food idea. Pecans are in season during Thanksgiving, which is why pecan pie is a perfect celebration of harvest foods.

A pecan pie is buttery and sweet, and if you don’t care for the squishiness of pumpkin pie, the nutty crunch of pecan pie will be a dream come true.  

25. Candied Yams 

Not to be confused with sweet potatoes, yams certainly belong on an old-fashioned Thanksgiving menu. Essentially, this Thanksgiving food idea is sliced yams baked in a sugar syrup, with some autumnal spices like cinnamon and nutmeg added for good measure.

It tastes like dessert but you can technically claim it as a vegetable side (indulgent food is the greatest of Thanksgiving gifts, after all). If you don’t want to make these from scratch, canned candied yams are also quite tasty. 

26. Oysters

Perhaps they aren’t everyone’s go-to traditional Thanksgiving food idea, but oysters are actually one of the most popular Thanksgiving foods in the American South.

Whether they’re served as part of a decadent raw bar appetizer or roasted during a laid-back day-after-Thanksgiving gathering, oysters are a charming way to celebrate the coastal heritage of American cuisine. 

27. Roasted Vegetable Medley

The best Thanksgiving menus always have some kind of roast vegetable. There’s no need to choose just one winter veggie for your Thanksgiving food idea — make a vegetable medley of carrots, broccoli, parsnips or whatever else you like.

For an extra special vegetable dish, research which veggies are seasonal in your particular area and buy them from a local farm. To add flavor, honey, garlic and balsamic vinegar are all reliable glaze ingredients for your vegetable roast. 

28. Beef Wellington

Not all of the best Thanksgiving menus have to include turkey. Beef Wellington is another old-school dish that often makes its way onto Thanksgiving tables.

This is a slightly more complex dish to tackle, but if you put in the work, you’ll end up with a scrumptious puff pastry that’s filled with beef, mushrooms and onions.

29. Dinner Rolls

Despite the carb-loaded nature of one of the most popular Thanksgiving foods, you still can’t skip the bread itself when coming up with your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Every traditional Thanksgiving menu deserves a memorable dinner roll.

You can save time with store-bought bread dough, or prepare dough from scratch a few days in advance. The options are endless for yummy rolls, but if you’re a beginner bread maker, try doing simple tear-apart rolls in a cast iron skillet. 

Most Popular Thanksgiving Dinner Sides

30. Collard Greens With Garlic

Look to Southern cuisine for inspiration and make some collard greens with garlic this Thanksgiving. Although collards, like kale, are tough to eat raw, simmering them in an aromatic broth with plenty of garlic creates a savory, tender veggie side dish.

Moreover, the tangy garlic flavor of this Thanksgiving food idea pairs perfectly with the other starchy sides on your plate. 

31. Mashed Potatoes

If your priority is giving your guests all of their favorites, you’re probably asking questions like, what are the top 10 Thanksgiving foods? Or even, if you’re making a big menu, what are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods? When in doubt, make sure mashed potatoes make the cut for your Thanksgiving food ideas.

Mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery and indulgent, and even picky eaters will go back for seconds. Furthermore, you can give mashed potatoes all kinds of fun twists, like garlic, cheese or sour cream. 

32. Green Beans Almondine

Green bean casserole is a nostalgic classic, but for a Thanksgiving food idea with a crispier, fresher vibe, consider green beans almondine.

Green beans almondine takes some sautéed green beans and throws in some sliced almonds for a woody flavor and gentle crunch. Garlic, olive oil and lemon ensure that the green means themselves contain plenty of flavor, too. 

33. Cranberry Oatmeal Crisp

Cranberry sauce is a well-known Thanksgiving side, but if you ask around, you’ll find that many folks are actually proponents of a cranberry crisp as the superior Thanksgiving food idea.

You can add apples as well, but a standard cranberry crisp is a baked dish of cranberries, oats and sugar. It’s essentially a dessert, but sneak it in as a fruity side and all your guests will thank you. 

34. Citrus Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

For a signature Thanksgiving food idea that’s guaranteed to impress your guests, make a citrus beet salad with goat cheese. Roasted beets enhanced with orange juice (fresh, of course) and a goat cheese topping takes the standard root vegetable to a magical zone of tart, sweet, earthy and creamy.

35. Stuffed Mushrooms

Perfect for appetizers or as a side dish, depending on your cooking timeline, stuffed mushrooms are a yummy Thanksgiving food idea that most people don’t get to enjoy outside of special occasions.

Stuffed mushrooms typically have cheese, bread crumbs and onions, but you can easily modify your ingredients to come up with a filling that best suits your audience. 

36. Roasted Butternut Squash

Roasted butternut squash is a favorite Thanksgiving food idea that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Its earthy sweetness and tender, caramelized texture provide a nice contrast with the traditional savory flavors of Thanksgiving, and a big hunk of roasted squash just feels perfect for the harvest holiday.

37. Cornbread

No one regrets including cornbread on their Thanksgiving menu. This sweet bread is an ideal Thanksgiving food idea for sopping up other sauces and remaining foods on your plate, or for enjoying ahead of the meal with a generous pat of butter.

If you’re running low on bread tins on Thanksgiving, make your cornbread in a skillet for a  more rustic Thanksgiving food idea. 

Whether you’re aiming to feature the top 20 Thanksgiving foods or devising a super original Thanksgiving dinner, this list should help get you started coming up with your very own signature Thanksgiving menu.

The best fall gifts are the ones given to us by nature, so as long as you include the best foods and flavors of autumn, your Thanksgiving food ideas will surely be a big hit.

For even more fun holiday ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!