Thanksgiving dinner is easier to host when the main dishes, soups, and sides are planned before guests walk in. These 17 recipes include roasts, slow cooker options, smoked mains, casseroles, and soups, giving the menu a mix of cooking methods and serving styles. Choose the dishes that suit your gathering, prepare what you can in advance, and leave the arrival hour open for greeting company.
Turkey Roll Roast
Herb-scented slices give Turkey Roll Roast a composed place at the Thanksgiving table. The rolled turkey format makes it easy to portion at serving time, while the roast brings the familiar centerpiece role without requiring a whole bird. Set it out with the sides once guests are settled, or plan it as the main dish when oven space and the host’s time both need to be managed.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Roll Roast
Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock
Smoky skin and an open, flattened shape make Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock a useful alternative to a whole turkey. The Traeger handles the smoking, and spatchcocking gives the chicken a broad, even profile for carving. It can anchor a smaller holiday menu or join a larger spread for guests who want poultry with a different look and flavor from the usual roast.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock
Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Pesto gives Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto a bright, savory note, while turkey and pasta make it substantial enough to serve as the main dish. The filled shells are naturally easy to portion, so guests can take one or two alongside holiday sides. Assemble the pasta dish ahead as the name suggests, then keep the meal centered on serving instead of managing several last-minute plates.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
Tender centers and lightly browned skins bring a simple side to the table with Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer. The air fryer cooking method keeps this dish distinct from oven-roasted vegetables and makes it a useful option when the main oven is occupied. Serve the sweet potatoes whole or split them open at the table, where each person can pair one with turkey, pork, or another holiday main.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
Smoked Mac & Cheese
A smoky finish and bacon crumb topping give Smoked Mac & Cheese a place among the richer Thanksgiving sides. The macaroni and cheese brings a familiar pasta dish, while smoking adds a distinct cooking method to the spread. Portion it beside roasted meat or vegetables, and prepare it ahead so the host can focus on greeting guests before bringing the casserole to the table.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac & Cheese
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
Slow cooker simplicity makes 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken an easy fit for a holiday menu already full of moving parts. The title keeps the ingredient count to four and puts the slow cooker in charge, freeing the oven for other dishes. Serve the chicken as a main or add it to a broader family-style meal, especially when guests arrive before the host can step away from the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
Carrots au Gratin
Golden topping and a little heat set Carrots au Gratin apart from the usual plain vegetable side. Carrots form the base, while the au gratin style and spicy crumb topping add richness and texture. It fits beside turkey, pork, or beef and brings color to a holiday plate. Prepare the casserole before guests arrive, then make room for it with the other sides at serving time.
Get the Recipe: Carrots au Gratin
Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Deep smoke and tender beef make Smoked Beef Tenderloin a substantial centerpiece for a Thanksgiving menu that includes more than turkey. Smoking gives this beef roast its defining method, and tenderloin offers a special-occasion cut suited to slices at the table. Pair it with vegetable sides or potatoes, then let the main course hold its place while the host welcomes guests and finishes the rest of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Dutch Oven Carnitas
Crisp-edged, savory pork gives Dutch Oven Carnitas a flexible role in a holiday dinner. The Dutch oven method and carnitas style make this a different kind of main from a traditional roast, with pork that can be served in portions or tucked into tortillas. Add it to a casual Thanksgiving menu with simple sides, and prepare the meat early so guests can build their plates after arriving.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Carnitas
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
Silky texture and pumpkin flavor make Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin a welcome first course or a lighter addition to Thanksgiving dinner. Canned pumpkin is the named base, and the creamy soup format suits small bowls before the main dishes arrive. Prepare it ahead and rewarm for serving, leaving the oven available for roasts and sides as guests take their seats around the table.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
Roast Pork with Apples
Sweet apple notes complement the savory roast in Roast Pork with Apples, making it well suited to a fall holiday table. Pork provides a hearty centerpiece, while apples bring seasonal flavor to the plate. Slices can be served alongside familiar Thanksgiving sides, giving guests another main dish to choose from. Set the roast up as part of a menu planned before the doorbell rings.
Get the Recipe: Roast Pork with Apples
Chicken & Corn Chowder
Thick, spoonable bowls put Chicken & Corn Chowder in a hearty spot on the holiday menu. Chicken and corn give the chowder its main components, with the soup style making it easy to serve as a starter or an alternate main. Offer it in small portions beside Thanksgiving sides, or set out a pot for guests who arrive hungry while the rest of dinner comes together.
Get the Recipe: Chicken & Corn Chowder
Turkey Pot Pie Soup
The familiar flavors of pot pie move into a bowl with Turkey Pot Pie Soup. Turkey makes it a natural fit for Thanksgiving, while the soup format offers a warm first course or a lighter meal alongside bread and vegetables. Make it ahead for a calmer arrival window, then ladle servings once guests are ready to eat and the host has stepped away from the stove.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Smoked Ribeye Roast
A smoky aroma and substantial beef slices give Smoked Ribeye Roast the presence of a holiday centerpiece. Ribeye roast is the featured cut, and smoking supplies the defining preparation method. It offers a beef option for guests who want something beyond turkey, with slices that can be served alongside potatoes and vegetables. Plan this roast as part of the menu before guests arrive, then bring it out for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Ribeye Roast
Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup
Creamy texture and the pairing of two vegetables make Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup a colorful start to Thanksgiving dinner. Cauliflower and sweet potato are the central ingredients, and the soup format works in small bowls or as a lighter meatless option among richer mains. Prepare it before the gathering, then serve it while the host has time to sit with guests instead of tending another last-minute dish.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup
Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb
Smoky lamb slices bring a special-occasion main to the table with Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb. The leg of lamb offers a generous roast, and the Traeger smoking method gives it a place on the menu alongside turkey or as a different centerpiece. Pair it with vegetables and potatoes, then plan the cooking ahead so the host can spend the arrival window welcoming guests.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping
A crisp pecan streusel crowns the soft sweet potato base in Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping. The casserole brings a classic Thanksgiving side, while the nutty topping adds crunch against the creamy interior. Serve it with turkey or another roast, and prepare it as part of the advance menu so the host can bring out a finished side when dinner is called.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping