69 Of The Best Southern Thanksgiving Food Recipes
Southern Thanksgiving food recipes are a tradition to make each year. The classic southern sides and desserts are easy to make and rich in flavors.
All you need to do is get your turkey dinner going and choose from the list of sides and sweets. Getting your Thanksgiving dinner menu ready has never been so easy.
A Delicious Thanksgiving Menu
The Best Southern Thanksgiving Food Recipes
Jiffy Corn Pudding
Jiffy corn pudding is one of those classic traditional recipes that everyone loves. It is a buttery, moist, sweet, and easy recipe that is delicious enough for the holiday season or any dinner meal and only takes five minutes of prep. You'll fall in love with this popular side dish. You can make it in a pan or a cast-iron skillet.
Moist Jiffy Cornbread
Cornbread is a delicious side to any meal. If you're from the south, it's on the table at most meals. It's that good. But I've made it plenty of times when it turns out dry and crumbly. There's nothing worse than spending time baking cornbread only to have it turn out dry. This recipe solves that. You'll have the moistest Jiffy Cornbread around and always want it as part of your Thanksgiving spread.
The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe
Deviled eggs are one of those foods that you love to see on the table around the holidays or at potlucks. This is a classic southern food recipe and is perfect for your family holiday.
Scalloped Corn Recipe
Scalloped corn, made from pantry staples, is a delicious southern recipe that is a true family favorite.
Southern Instant Pot Collard Greens
Tender seasoned collard greens get a speedy makeover in the Instant Pot with just five minutes of pressure cooking time! Making the recipe is a family tradition that everyone loves.
5 Minute Green Bean Casserole
Y'all are gonna love this 5-minute green bean casserole. This classic casserole recipe is easy to make, costs less than ten dollars, and is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can give it a little southern twist and add some bacon.
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Cheesy potato casserole is a delicious recipe that is hard to put down once you take a bite. The casserole dish is full of great flavor, and it's the perfect dish for any dinner or holiday meal.
Sweet Potato Casserole (with Marshmallows)
Traditional classic sweet potato casserole is made with smooth and creamy mashed sweet potatoes and topped with brown sugar, pecans, and gooey mini marshmallows. Everyone’s favorite sweet and savory sweet potato side dish is a must-have on any Thanksgiving table.
How to Make Ambrosia Salad (150-year old recipe)
This recipe for ambrosia salad skips the Cool Whip and canned fruit for a decidedly more traditional approach. Based on a 19th-century southern recipe, this version of ambrosia is both fresh and simple, using oranges, pineapple, freshly grated coconut, and the slightest slip of sherry.
Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits
Jumbo buttermilk biscuits are the perfect side for any southern meal, especially around the holidays. Serve with butter, jam, or honey for a mouth-watering delicacy.
Frugal Family Fun and Living
This easy skillet southern creamed corn recipe is perfect for the holiday season or any night of the week.
The Best Mashed Potatoes
These are the best mashed potatoes. The recipe is super easy to make, and the potatoes turn out creamy and perfect every time.
Succotash – A Thanksgiving Classic
"Sufferin' succotash?" Not quite! This pretty platter is packed with the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. Enjoy this classic side for the holidays or any time of year!
Southern Green Beans (Instant Pot)
Southern green beans in the Instant Pot are the most flavorful green side dish. They are steamed in chicken broth and sautéed in bacon grease. Does it get any better?
Southern Squash Casserole
Classic yellow squash casserole is a great every day side dish for your favorite southern fare. Easy and delicious, this will be especially popular on your holiday spreads.
Jiffy Cornbread Dressing
Jiffy cornbread dressing is a delicious and traditional side dish for the holiday season. It's easy to make, and everyone loves it.
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Creamy baked southern-style macaroni and cheese is a cheesy baked casserole and soul food classic. Everyone’s favorite must-have holiday side dish.
The Best Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Add a little spice to your Thanksgiving meal with this jalapeño cranberry sauce. It’s the perfect way to give a little kick to your holiday meal.
The Best Pineapple Casserole
A savory and sweet southern casserole. Only six ingredients–pineapple, butter, sugar, eggs, bread, and milk. Perfect for a side dish, but it could easily be a dessert. This is truly the best pineapple casserole you will ever taste.
Sauteed Spinach and Tomatoes Recipe
Lots of delicious flavors collide in this spinach and tomato dish. It's the perfect side that goes with your favorite turkey, chicken, seafood, pork, or beef.
Southern Fried Cabbage
Southern fried cabbage is a great savory side dish that goes with all the things. A fresh addition to southern holidays with or without bacon.
Southern Broccoli Casserole
This southern broccoli casserole is made with Cheez-Its instead of Ritz, and it adds a delicious flavor!
Zucchini Casserole
Zucchini casserole is a delicious side dish that is filled with cheesy flavors, a Panko breadcrumb topping, and plenty of tasty zucchini.
Easy Smothered Potatoes
Smothered potatoes are a very versatile side dish that goes with just about any southern meal. Made entirely from pantry staples with minimal prep and effort in less than 25 minutes, this is well-loved by the family.
Easy Southern Grape Salad
This family favorite southern grape salad requires only ten minutes of prep and a few ingredients to whip up! It is creamy, crunchy, and a great side dish that doubles as dessert.
Easy Creamed Corn
Creamy and perfectly seasoned, this homemade creamed corn recipe is ready in under 15 minutes! It’s made with simple ingredients, including frozen corn, so it’s an easy side dish to prepare for Thanksgiving or any night of the week and it pairs well with just about everything.
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
Candied sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows are a Thanksgiving dinner staple. The tender sweet potatoes and gooey marshmallows are a great addition to any big holiday meal. They would be a great addition to a roast chicken or pork dinner throughout the year as well.
Honey Butter Rolls
Honey butter rolls are fluff soft and taste great smothered with sticky honey butter glaze. Always a crowd favorite!
Smoked Chicken and Dressing Recipe
Free up your oven by cooking smoked chicken and dressing on the grill! If you try this, it's hard to imagine cooking it any other way!
Southern-Style Green Beans
Super simple southern-style green beans are easy, delicious, and no oven necessary! Shallots, thick, crispy bacon, and creamy parmesan are topped with sliced almonds or fried onions. Or go crazy and do both.
Southern Cornbread Salad
Southern cornbread salad is a crowd-pleasing layered salad with bacon, cheese, and cornbread that comes together easily for all of your gatherings. Perfect for any time of the year.
Pineapple Baked Beans Recipe
Sweet and savory come together in the most delicious way with these yummy pineapple baked beans. Your taste buds will thank you!
Indulgent Mac and Cheese - Viral Tik Tok Mac and Cheese
This Mac and cheese went viral on TikTok with over 15M views. It is a creamy, indulgent, and decadent mac and cheese you can make a day ahead.
Boursin Broccoli Rice Casserole
Inspired by a famous southern restaurant in Austin, this broccoli rice casserole is creamy and delicious with an easy shortcut of using Boursin cheese for extra flavor!
Giblet Gravy
Homemade giblet gravy is inspired by a southern granny and can be made in just 20 minutes. Homemade gravy is always a must on your Thanksgiving table, and this recipe makes it easy.
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Everything you love about a classic mac and cheese recipe smoked on your charcoal or pellet grill for a delicious elevated flavor. Try this cheesy smoked macaroni side dish next time you fire up the grill to share with family and friends.
Easy Buttermilk Cornbread
Southern-style buttermilk cornbread is quick bread you can make in minutes. It’s buttery, with a fluffy interior and a delicious crispy/crunchy crust. The recipe is easy to make. It's a perfect side dish for soups, stews and chili. Unlike other cornbread, this buttermilk cornbread is not too sweet and has amazing flavors in the bite from brown butter.
Tasty Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Garden Veggies
Brussels sprouts are a great addition to any holiday table. The recipe is easy to make and full of flavor.
Candied Yams Recipe
This southern candied yams recipe features buttery, sweet, and comforting flavors, including cinnamon and nutmeg. It's super easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients.
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Soft and delicious homemade dinner rolls are not only easy to make but very budget-friendly. They turn out fresh and fluffy every time.
Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is a favorite in the south. It's great for snack time before the big Thanksgiving meal. Spread it on some crackers or in between fresh pieces of white bread.
Fall and Winter Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is perfect as a side dish on the main table or on the dessert table. With just six ingredients, you will love the simplicity and flavors of this salad.
Seven Layer Salad
Seven-layer salad features some of your favorite ingredients, including bacon, celery, peas, and more. Make sure you have enough 7-layer salad because it's always a favorite.
Easy Butternut Squash Souffle
Light and airy butternut squash is so easy to make. It is the perfect side for Thanksgiving!
Southern Style Chicken and Dressing - Home at Cedar Springs Farm
Southern-style chicken and dressing is not your boxed dressing by any means. The dressing is made from scratch, and it begins with homemade cornbread. If you prep everything the day before, you can prepare this dressing in no time.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
Sweet potato casserole with pecans are a classic Thanksgiving side dish! Mashed sweet potatoes are topped with a crumbly brown sugar pecan topping.
Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Pudding
The very best cornbread pudding, also known as spoonbread, is made with fresh corn kernels, cheddar cheese, chives, jalapeño, and creme fraiche! Eat warm, right out of the oven with a smear of butter. I promise this recipe doesn’t disappoint!
Southern Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Southern-fried cabbage with bacon cooks in less than 20 minutes. Tender cabbage and crispy bacon cooked in amazing seasoning. The easiest side dish to throw together and cook.
Corn Succotash
Corn succotash is made with frozen lima beans, canned corn and fresh tomatoes, red pepper, thyme, oregano, and parsley. It's also healthy, gluten-free, and Weight Watchers friendly.
Vegetarian Stuffing Balls
Five stars for these southern-style stuffing balls! It's a great vegetarian side dish that’s full of flavor and easy to make.
Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
If you're looking for a side dish that everyone will love, hashbrown casserole recipe is the one to make. The dish is full of potatoes, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and tons of flavor.
Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls Recipe
Old fashioned yeast rolls are rich, fluffy, salty, a little sweet, and absolutely delicious. Between the heavy cream and the honey butter, these dinner rolls are full of moisture. So addicting and worth all of the work, I promise.
Pecan Pie Recipe Without Corn Syrup (Maple Pecan Pie)
Pecan pie with maple syrup is a great way to change things up for Thanksgiving dessert. The recipe is easy to make and has a rich and decadent flavor.
Classic Sweet Potato Pie
Classic sweet potato pie is a creamy custard pie with roasted sweet potato filling and fall spices. This classic Southern sweet potato pie is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table and a nice alternative to traditional pumpkin pie.
Cranberry Salad
This cranberry salad is a great recipe for the holidays or even a picnic during the hot summer months. The combination of marshmallows, fruit, fresh cranberries, and pecans is a recipe you'll fall in love with.
Southern Brown Sugar Pie Recipe
Southern brown sugar pie is very similar to chess pie, but instead, it has a rich brown sugar flavor and caramelizing on top that is absolutely delicious! This heirloom southern pie is a staple at every Thanksgiving holiday!
Pecan Pie Bread Pudding
Nothing like a southern pecan pie turned into bread pudding. This amazing dessert is a great change from that classic dessert!
Homemade Banana Pudding
Homemade banana pudding is the perfect classic southern dessert. The combination of vanilla pudding, made from scratch, vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and meringue make up a delectable treat for Thanksgiving. It's one of the south's favorite desserts.
Chocolate Pecan Tart
Upgrade traditional pecan pie with this make-ahead southern chocolate pecan tart. With a pie crust, the filling is like pecan bars but extra decadent because it includes chocolate.
Honey Roasted Peanut Pie
Move over pecan pie! This Thanksgiving, I'm serving a new southern pie on our family dessert buffet: honey roasted peanut pie.
Buttermilk Chess Pie
Buttermilk chess pie is a wonderfully creamy custard pie. It’s very much a southern thing, but even northerners enjoy it.
Praline Pecans
Praline pecans are a delicious dessert that has a buttery rich flavor. The candied pecan treat is made on the stovetop and is perfect for gift-giving around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. If you like pecans, you'll love this sweet recipe.
Deep Dish Apple Pie from Scratch
This deep dish, mile-high apple pie, is jam-packed full of sweet and tart apple slices in a spiced brown sugar filling, nestled in a super-flaky deep dish butter and leaf-lard pie crust that makes for the best traditional apple pie you'll ever have.
Easy Southern Bourbon Peach Cobbler
This is the best peach cobbler recipe; it's so fast, easy, and simple to make from scratch! Use canned peaches for ease or ripe fresh peaches in the summer. It's baked with a delicious cinnamon-sugar drop biscuit dumplings and spiked with a splash of bourbon, then topped with vanilla ice cream for the perfect southern dessert.
Chocolate Pie Recipe
Chocolate pie is a creamy, chocolatey, and wonderfully traditional dessert topped with a light and fluffy meringue.
Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe
This is the best pumpkin pie recipe and a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple. It's the classic easy pumpkin pie recipe that you can mix together in about five minutes. The pie is filled with pumpkin, evaporated milk, and the best fall seasonings, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
Pecan Pie Cobbler
Pecan pie cobbler is an easy and delicious dessert, especially for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The easy pecan pie cobbler recipe features a double layer of pecan pie and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top.
Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Coconut cream pie is a creamy, flavorful pie with toasted coconut, a rich center, and a lot of happiness in every bite. This is one of those old family recipes that everyone loves.
Dad's Pecan Pie
This is the best classic pecan pie recipe. It's easy to make, delicious, and perfect for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This is a typical Southern pecan pie recipe similar to the Karo syrup recipe.
A typical southern Thanksgiving dinner is easy to plan and make from this full collection of Thanksgiving recipes.
All you need is a pencil and your grocery list. Enjoy your holiday dinner!