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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, thanks to my Dad. My Dad is very sadly no longer here, but he was a very talented cook who made the most delicious and flavorful, well cooked food. Every Thanksgiving, he would wake up at 4AM and make a whole feast with zero help, all by himself. Then when all the food was ready, he would serve everyone a large plate before serving himself.
Thanksgiving Dinner means a lot to me. I do everything I can do make it really good and I prefer to make all the dishes myself without any help. I like the challenge and I like having control over how everything comes out. This year, I am making everything myself by choice.
In this post, I will be sharing my exact Thanksgiving Dinner Menu list for 2025. Keep reading for inspiration, ideas, and to get a gauge at what other people might be serving at their house.
To me, this is the perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, but to pinterest it probably isn’t. Most of the food ideas on this list is homemade but some things are store bought. If you’re a fan of traditional comfort food at Thanksgiving, then you will love this list.
Let’s get into it.
Main Dishes
Two Turkeys: Herb Oven Baked Turkey and Green Chile Smoked Turkey
This year I am making two turkeys. I always bake a turkey in the oven with vegetables, butter and herbs. It comes out delicious every time. This year I am doing that plus an additional smoked green chile turkey. I recently got a smoker and have been liking it a lot. I will be cutting up the turkey into sections then smoking it with green chile for about 7 hours. It takes longer but is so worth it.
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ham is one of those dishes you can’t forget. I purchase mine from walmart and use more brown sugar than what it comes with. The brown sugar glaze gives it that sticky, sweet crust, and it balances perfectly with the salty meat. Plus, it reheats beautifully if you’re serving a crowd or eating leftovers later. This one is super easy to make.
Side Dishes
Potatoes & Comfort Sides
Slightly Chunky Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes
The best mashed potatoes have some pieces of potato in them and aren’t completely smooth. This year I am going to make the mashed potatoes the day before thanksgiving and reheat them on thanksgiving day.
Creamy Mac and Cheese
This one is just personal preference, but this year I am making creamy mac and cheese instead of a baked version.
Vegetables & Casseroles
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Chopped Pecans
Classic thanksgiving favorite. I no longer measure ingredients and just go by taste when I make it. After boiling, and mashing the sweet potatoes, I add butter, brown sugar, a pinch of salt and vanilla seasoning to taste. Then I spray Pam cooking spray, lay down the smooth sweet potatoes, chopped pecans, then marshmallows. I bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until the marshmallows turn golden. Perfect balance of sweet and crunch.
Green Bean Casserole
A Thanksgiving classic that is creamy and savory. This year I am using draining 8 cans of green beans, and adding about 7-8 10oz cans of cream of mushroom. Some cans will be just cream of mushroom and some will be cream of mushroom with roasted garlic. After mixing together, I will season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and some onion powder. Then I top with crispy fried onions and bake at about 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes. The vegetarians in my family really like this dish.
Honey Glazed Carrots
I admit that this is probably one of the least popular dishes, yet I still make it. I personally like it, and it is another thing that vegetarians can eat and enjoy.
Rudys BBQ Creamed Corn
There are so many different ways to do bring corn to the table. In the past few years, I have boiled it and served it off the cob. This year I am doing something different and making a sweet creamed corn like at Rudy’s BBQ.
Bread, Stuffing & Sauces
Chicken Stuffing Mix
Fast, easy, and so good. I don’t overthink stuffing—it just needs to taste like Thanksgiving.
Cranberry Sauce (from the can)
You can’t go wrong with canned cranberry sauce. I like the one that has whole chunks of cranberry in it. It’s a must have.
Red Chile Sauce
If you know, you know. Red chile is a staple here in New Mexico, and it goes on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, just about everything. If I didn’t have red chile, more than half the room would notice! It is a non-negotiable sauce. I buy it frozen then reheat and season with salt, oregano, garlic, some onion powder.
Turkey Gravy
A nice, thick and flavorful turkey gravy pairs great with mashed potatoes and the turkey itself.
Cornbread Muffins
I am using a boxed corn bread mix in cupcake liners, then sprinkling in real corn to the middle of them and on top. Real corn in corn bread just makes it taste so much better.
Hawaiian Dinner Rolls
Reliably good every time. I buy about 48 dinner rolls when serving 15-20 people. They are the last things to go in the oven and only go in for about 2-3 minutes.
Appetizers + Snacks
Deviled Eggs
To make my deviled eggs stand out in looks and flavor, I am pipping them in with a rigged edge, and also using smoked paparika on top. I plan on making these the night before Thanksgiving.
Ruffle Potato Chips with Sour Cream & Onion Dip
Something simple and store bought that peolple can snack on.
Tortilla Chips with Spinach & Artichoke Dip
The type of chips you use here makes a big difference. If you ask me, Don Julio Lightly Seasoned Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips are the best. Trust me, they are light, flaky and salted perfectly. I buy them at Smiths.
Desserts
Pumpkin Pie (Pre-Sliced) with Whipped Cream
No stress, just delicious. I like it ready to serve.
Apple Pie (Pre-Sliced) with Ice Cream
Warm apple pie with cold vanilla ice cream is unbeatable.
Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
A nice thick chocolate cheesecake with dark chocolate chunks will definitely help make the meal memorable.
Drinks
I’m keeping it simple with everyone’s favorites:
- Coca-Cola
- Pepsi
- Dr Pepper
- Sprite
- Root Beer
- Coke Zero
- Water Bottles
- Egg Nog
- Single Serve Coffee Station with Pumpkin Spice Creamer
A little bit of everything so no one is left out.
Alcohol?
Personally, I don’t drink at all. I am still deciding if I want to buy a bottle or two of wine for my guests. There are a handful who would drink a glass of wine if offered, so it’s something I am thinking about.
Final Thoughts
That’s my full Thanksgiving dinner menu for 2025. Nothing complicated, nothing over the top, just real food that tastes amazing and makes the holiday feel special. I love sharing what I’m cooking each year, and hopefully this gives you ideas for your own menu or inspires you to mix in something new.
If you end up making any of these dishes, let me know in the comments or send me a message. And if you want more holiday ideas, hosting tips, or recipe breakdowns, I have more coming to the blog soon!
Always, Desiree Faith
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