Thanksgiving can get noisy fast when the oven is full, side dishes are competing for space, and everyone wants something different on the table. These 21 recipes cover smoked and roasted mains, vegetable sides, soups, casseroles, potatoes, fruit, and dessert so the meal has room for more than one kind of eater. Several use the smoker, griddle, Instant Pot, or stovetop to take pressure off the oven. Mix a centerpiece with a few familiar sides, then add a soup or dessert to round out the day without making every dish fight for the same burner.
Smoked New York Strip Roast
A coffee-spice crust gives Smoked New York Strip Roast a bold centerpiece role without adding another pan to the oven. The four-pound roast serves six and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, with black pepper, brown sugar, instant coffee, ancho chile powder, and garlic powder in the rub. Smoke it until medium-rare, then rest before carving. It works well for a Thanksgiving table where some relatives would rather reach for beef than turkey.
Get the Recipe: Smoked New York Strip Roast
Bacon Fried Corn
Sweet corn and chopped bacon make Bacon Fried Corn a quick side when the holiday kitchen already feels packed. The recipe serves four and takes just 15 minutes, using garlic, green onions, paprika, parsley, and the rendered bacon fat to season the corn. Cook it on a Blackstone or large skillet so the oven stays open for casseroles and roasts. Double the batch for a bigger family table where corn tends to disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn
Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Leftover turkey gets a pasta-night reset in Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto, which fills jumbo shells with turkey, ricotta, mozzarella, egg, green onions, and herbs. The recipe serves four and takes 50 minutes from start to finish. A drizzle of pesto gives the baked shells a different direction from gravy and stuffing. Save this one for Thanksgiving evening or the next day when the family wants turkey without repeating the original plate.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Cream of Onion Soup
Roasted Spanish onions, yellow onion, shallots, and garlic create the base of Cream of Onion Soup, with chicken broth, butter, thyme, and cream rounding out the pot. The recipe serves six and takes 30 minutes. Small bowls can open Thanksgiving dinner without taking up too much room before the main course. Because it is made on the stovetop, it also keeps the oven available while casseroles, turkey, and vegetable sides are finishing.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Onion Soup
Traeger Smoked Turkey
For the traditional centerpiece, Traeger Smoked Turkey serves eight and cooks for about six hours after an hour of prep. Brown sugar, paprika, thyme, sage, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper form the dry rub around the bird. Smoking keeps the oven free for the rest of the Thanksgiving spread, which can make a crowded cooking schedule easier to manage. Carve it after resting, then let everyone build plates from the sides already waiting.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Turkey
Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Wild rice, cooked chicken, carrots, celery, and onion make Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup substantial enough for lunch or a smaller holiday meal. The recipe serves eight and takes 50 minutes, with chicken broth, milk, cream, thyme, and garlic filling out the base. Serve modest bowls before the main course, or keep it for visiting relatives the next day. It gives the holiday menu a quieter option when another full plate of roasted meat feels like too much.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers
Flaky puff pastry turns Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers into an easy hand-held finish for a busy Thanksgiving table. Pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and turbinado sugar fill and top the pastries, and the recipe makes 12 in 30 minutes. Set them out after dinner with coffee so people can take one without cutting a whole pie. Their individual size also helps when several desserts are competing for space on the counter.
Get the Recipe: Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers
Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup
Low, slow cooking gives the onions in Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup time to deepen before mushrooms, garlic, white wine, broth, thyme, bacon, and cream join the pot. The recipe serves six and takes 45 minutes. Offer smaller bowls as a first course for relatives who like a warm starter before the turkey or roast arrives. It also gives the menu a make-ahead-friendly soup that can be reheated while other dishes finish.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Soup
Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes
Three vegetables share one pan in Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes, which serves six in about 40 minutes. Butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, baby potatoes, shallots, garlic, rosemary, and balsamic vinegar roast together until browned at the edges. The single-pan setup helps when the holiday meal already has several moving parts. Slide it into the oven between larger dishes, then transfer everything to one platter for serving.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes
Turkey Roll Roast
Herb butter gives Turkey Roll Roast the familiar holiday profile in a more compact form than a whole bird. The recipe serves eight, with a two- to three-pound turkey roll coated in butter, sage, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. It roasts for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Slice it into neat portions for a smaller Thanksgiving table or as a second turkey option when one centerpiece will not cover everyone.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Roll Roast
Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Custardy corn gives Classic Corn Pudding Casserole a soft side-dish texture that sits easily beside turkey, ham, or roast chicken. The recipe serves eight and takes one hour, combining corn, eggs, half-and-half, cheese, onion, bell pepper, garlic, chives, and thyme. Bake it in one dish and let it rest briefly before serving. It is the kind of family-style side that fills a gap between vegetables, bread, and richer potato dishes.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Nanna’s Apple Cake
Five apples give Nanna’s Apple Cake plenty of fruit in every slice, while butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and baking powder keep the ingredient list familiar. The cake serves ten and bakes for about 1 hour 20 minutes after 20 minutes of prep. Bring it out after the main meal with coffee or whipped cream. It offers a simple apple dessert for relatives who would rather have cake than another wedge of pie.
Get the Recipe: Nanna’s Apple Cake
Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Bright lemon and fresh dill keep Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill light beside heavier Thanksgiving casseroles. The recipe serves four and takes only 15 minutes, using butter, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and dill over briefly cooked cauliflower florets. Make it near serving time while larger dishes rest. Its quick stovetop method gives the holiday table a green-leaning vegetable choice without occupying the oven or adding another long prep list.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole
Ground beef, baked beans, tomatoes, and bacon make Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole a hearty alternative for relatives who want something beyond turkey. The recipe serves six and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, with brown sugar and Dijon adding sweet and tangy notes. Keep portions smaller if it is sharing the table with several mains and sides. It fits best on a Thanksgiving spread that welcomes less traditional dishes alongside the usual staples.
Get the Recipe: Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole
Chef Jenn’s Famous French Onion Soup
Caramelized onions and bubbling Gruyère make Chef Jenn’s Famous French Onion Soup a substantial starter for a Thanksgiving meal. The recipe serves six and takes one hour, using white or yellow onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, red wine, beef broth, chicken broth, baguette slices, and cheese. Broil the topped bowls just before serving. Small portions work best when a larger roast and several sides are still coming to the table.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Famous French Onion Soup
Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
Yukon Gold potatoes become extra smooth in Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese, which serves six in about 40 minutes. Butter, milk, heavy cream, cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic enrich the mash without requiring a baked casserole. Make them on the stovetop while the oven handles turkey and side dishes, then hold them warm until serving. They give gravy a familiar landing place and help tie together a plate with several different mains and vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
Chef Jenn’s Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples cook quickly in Chef Jenn’s Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe, producing six cups in just 23 minutes. Cinnamon sticks, a little sugar, and water are all that join the apples in the pressure cooker. Serve it warm or chilled beside pork, turkey, or roasted dishes, or put a small bowl near the kids’ plates. The Instant Pot method keeps another side off the stovetop when Thanksgiving cooking gets crowded.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
Smoked Brisket Chili
Once the main feast is over, Smoked Brisket Chili gives leftover brisket another holiday-weekend job across eight servings. The recipe takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, with onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes building the base around the beef. It is less traditional for Thanksgiving Day, but useful for relatives staying over. Add cheese or sour cream at the table.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brisket Chili
Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan
Parmesan and Greek yogurt turn Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan into a four-serving side finished with garlic, toasted nuts, and scallions. The recipe takes about 1 hour 25 minutes, including roasting and a brief broil after mashing. Serve it back in the squash shells for a holiday table that needs another vegetable beside potatoes. The nutty topping adds texture while the Parmesan keeps the dish firmly on the savory side.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan
Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon
Red cabbage gets a tangy-sweet finish in Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon, which serves five in about one hour. Bacon, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and broth cook with the shredded cabbage until tender. The dish can be made ahead and reheated gently, which helps when Thanksgiving timing gets messy. Put it beside roast meats or richer casseroles for a vegetable side with enough acidity to balance the rest of the plate.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon
Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Smoky bacon and cheddar move Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole away from the usual marshmallow-topped version. The recipe serves eight and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, with sour cream, green onions, egg, smoked paprika, and roasted sweet potatoes in the filling. The potatoes can be baked two to three days ahead, which gives the holiday schedule some breathing room. Finish the casserole with the remaining bacon, cheese, green onions, and sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole