Here is a complete recipe plan for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yams, carrots, rolls, honey butter, and apple pie. I’m also including a schedule for your Thanksgiving Meal Prep! When everything is ready, set the table with your best dishes and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal with your family and friends!
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Thanksgiving Menu Planner
Making a full Thanksgiving menu for a large group of people or extended family can be a little overwhelming, but with a little pre-planning, it can be done!
I have compiled all of the recipes that I use for Turkey Day, including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, carrots, sweet potatoes, rolls, and apple pie in one place, to make it easy to see exactly what ingredients you will need to make an awesome holiday meal for your family and friends.
It’s all here in my Complete Thanksgiving Recipe Plan, which I think are the best Thanksgiving recipes. Print it out and you will be set!
Traditional Dishes You Need For The Ultimate Thanksgiving Menu
Here is a list of the recipes and side dishes for a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal that are included here as well as a short description of each.
Herb Roasted Turkey
This is the recipe I have been using to roast my family’s turkey for years. I love the ease of adding herbs and spices to the butter. It turns out great every time I’ve made it!
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Right behind the turkey, mashed potatoes are definitely an essential side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
Not only are these mashed potatoes super creamy and flavorful, but they are also perfect for Thanksgiving because they can be made the day before and heated up for the big meal.
Savory Sausage Stuffing
Another Thanksgiving staple is stuffing or dressing. I was introduced to the addition of sausage to stuffing by my husband’s fire captain many years ago and I was hooked.
You will love the elevated taste of this stuffing and the fact that it is made using Stove Top Stuffing mix!
Candied Yams (Sweet Potatoes)
This is my kids’ all-time favorite Thanksgiving dish. I only make it once a year, but they always request it and talk about it long after the holiday has passed.
These sweet potatoes are mashed and topped with a brown sugar streusel and pecans.
Dinner Rolls and Honey Butter
Thanksgiving dinner is not complete without rolls, and my favorite type of rolls are Lion House Rolls.
They are light, fluffy, and buttery and that is why I am including them with this Thanksgiving plan.
Turkey Gravy
Gravy is one of those things that some people think is optional, but I am here to tell you that it most certainly is not! Gravy ties all of the flavors of the Thanksgiving feast together and makes everything taste even better.
This gravy recipe uses pan drippings from the turkey and is super easy to make.
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
I am not a huge fan of boiled carrots, so I came up with this recipe for glazed carrots many years ago and they have become a holiday tradition in my house.
They are simple to make and go great with the other dishes on the Thanksgiving table.
Apple Pie
No Thanksgiving is complete without pie, and my personal favorite is apple. This recipe is for a Dutch apple pie with a flaky crust, lots of juicy apples, and a crumbly streusel topping.
Thanksgiving Week Daily Meal Prep Schedule
To make sure you are not overwhelmed and have a stress-free Thanksgiving, here is the Thanksgiving prep work schedule.
I suggest you follow this detailed timeline to prepare the included recipes and free up oven space on the big day!
Monday
- Finalize all grocery shopping. The stores get a little crazy the closer you get to Thursday, so get it done early!
- Begin thawing your turkey, if you purchased a frozen turkey, depending on its size. Click here to find out how long your turkey will need to thaw.
Tuesday
- Make and freeze the Lion House Dinner Rolls. After shaping the rolls, place them on a greased baking sheet until they begin to puff, not rise. Place them in the freezer for 8 hours, then transfer to a ziplock freezer bag until Thursday.
- Prepare the herb butter for your turkey.
Wednesday
- Boil and mash your sweet potatoes and prepare the base of the Sweet Potato Casserole.
- Prepare the Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. Cover both potato dishes with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate until Thursday.
- Make your Dutch Apple Pie.
Thursday
- Prepare and butter the turkey. Cook according to your preference. I make mine in an electric roaster. Put your potatoes in the slow cooker.
- Begin thawing the rolls. Place them on a greased baking sheet and cover lightly. Let them rise until double in size at room temperature. It can take 5-7 hours because they are frozen, so plan accordingly. If you need to speed it up, place them in your oven at 150 degrees to cut the time in half. Bake according to instructions.
- Whip the Honey Butter.
- Make the topping for the Sweet Potato Casserole and bake.
- Bake the Mashed Potatoes.
- Make the stuffing.
- When the turkey is finished, make the gravy.
- Enjoy your meal and all your hard work!
Thanksgiving Grocery Store Shopping List
- Apples 6
- Baby Carrots 2 lbs
- Brown Sugar 2 cups
- Butter 3 lbs
- Celery
- Chicken Broth 3 (14oz) cans (or Chicken Stock)
- Chives
- Cream cheese 8 oz
- Eggs 3
- Flour 5 lbs
- Garlic 4 cloves
- Ground Sausage 1 lb
- Honey 1/2 cup
- Milk 1 cup
- Nonfat Dry Milk 2 cups
- Onion
- Pecans 1 cup
- Potatoes 4 lbs
- Pie Crust
- Sour Cream 8 oz
- Spices: garlic powder, basil, sage, black pepper, salt seasoning salt, poultry seasoning, cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper, paprika
- Stove Top Stuffing 14oz
- Sugar 3 cups
- Sweet Potatoes 3 large or 1 (40 oz) Can of Yams
- Turkey 13-15lb
- Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Whipped Cream
- Yeast 2 tbsp
Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need
- Roasting Pan
- Turkey Baster
- Mixing Bowls
- Potato Masher
- Measuring Cups & Measuring Spoons
- Pots & Pans
- Baking Dishes
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- Baking Sheet
- Whisk
- Silicone Spatula
- Pie Plate
- Knives
- Slow Cooker or Crock Pot
- Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
- Serving Dishes
Complete Thanksgiving Recipe Plan
I hope that this complete Thanksgiving recipe plan is helpful to you for your upcoming big feast!
I print these recipes and grocery list out and use them each year, and I hope that you do to!
If you have any questions about the following recipes, please feel free to leave them in the comments and I will answer them.
Happy Thanksgiving!
More Thanksgiving Recipes:
- KFC Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
- Three Cheese Funeral Potatoes
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Cracker Barrel Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Caramel Pecan Silk Pie
- Costco Pumpkin Pie
Complete Thanksgiving Recipe Plan
Thanksgiving gravy is one of the most essential components of the holiday meal. A good gravy can make all the difference between a dry, bland meal and a feast fit for a king. Luckily, making delicious gravy is not as difficult as it may seem. With just a few simple ingredients added to the turkey pan drippings, you can create a mouth-watering gravy that will complement any Thanksgiving dish.
Super easy and flavorful Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes are great for any occasion, especially when you are feeding a crowd! They are great because they can be made a day before you need them, giving you less stress when it's time to prepare the rest of your meal.
This Thanksgiving, try something new with your stuffing by adding sausage! This recipe is easy to make and can be cooked right on the stovetop using Stove Top Stuffing. The sausage will add a delicious savory flavor to the stuffing that your whole family will love. So why not give this Thanksgiving staple a new twist? Try making Thanksgiving Stove Top Stuffing with sausage today at your Thanksgiving table this year!
One of the most iconic Thanksgiving dishes is candied yams. This dish is typically made by boiling yams in sugar syrup and then topping them with brown sugar and marshmallows. However, this recipe takes things to the next level by adding a streusel topping made with brown sugar, chopped pecans, and cinnamon. The result is a dish that is both sweet and savory, and sure to please any crowd. So if you're looking for the best candied yams recipe for Thanksgiving, look no further! This dish is sure to become a new holiday tradition.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means it's time to start thinking about the turkey. If you're looking for a delicious and easy recipe, butter and herb roasted turkey is a great option. The butter will help keep the turkey moist, and the herbs will give it a delicious flavor. This is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So go ahead and give it a try!
This recipe for brown sugar glazed carrots is an easy and delicious way to add some sweetness to this popular side dish. The recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and can be made in just a few minutes on the stove.
A tried and true recipe that will show you how to make Lion House Rolls with Whipped Honey Butter. Rolls that are light and fluffy and perfect for Sunday dinners or holiday meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter!
This pie is a Dutch classic that is perfect for autumn. The flaky crust is filled with sweet apples and topped with a crumbly streusel. It's an award-winning recipe for a reason - it's delicious!
