Little known fact: My career started in catering. When I moved to Austin at age 21, I took a job as an event planner for a catering company, but I never realized how addicted I would be to the thrill of pulling off a high-pressure event. New to the city, I stayed up late at a local coffee shop sketching out a menu that I felt was balanced and thoughtful. The dishes are both comforting classics and creative enough to wow your guests.
To this day, planning a Thanksgiving menu brings me the same epiphany. Designing meals is my favorite way to start the season, with equal parts creativity, strategy, and a little intuition. And if you’ve ever wondered what kind of food it is, Really You’re not alone in knowing how much food you need and how to keep things manageable (and tasty). Every fall, I hear from many people that they want Thanksgiving to be fun instead of overwhelming.
That’s where my tried-and-true Thanksgiving menu formula comes in handy. This will help you create balanced meals that tick all the boxes for tradition, flavor, and ease without having to cook as much as you’d like to feed your neighbors.
Consider this your blueprint for planning a thoughtful, seasonal, and stress-free Thanksgiving menu.
My biggest tip is intuition + solid structure.
Thanksgiving is very nostalgic and everyone has a dish that is meaningful to them. Yes, respect your family’s necessities. But also give yourself permission to edit. I will do this if there is a small number of people. do not have All dishes on the table are needed. A careful combination of flavors, textures and colors always trumps quantity.
Over the years, I’ve come up with a simple formula that keeps me planning and makes my meals feel rich, balanced, and achievable (especially when hosting and inviting participants!).
Use this as a guide and enter your favorite recipes in each category, or scroll down to find my recipes.
My foolproof Thanksgiving menu formula
This is the structure I return to every year. Thankfully, most of my family is good cooks, so I also use this formula for portioning out what people bring potluck style.
1. Türkiye: Fried, roasted, or smoked. Sometimes we do two things. One for the table and one for leftovers.
2. Gravy sauce: Even if it’s not your favorite, it belongs here. Guests expect that and it ties everything together.
3. Potato: Mashed, scalloped, or crispy roasted. (Smooth mashed potatoes never disappoint.)
4. Dressing/Stuffing: Cornbread, sourdough, wild rice, oysters – choose your version without thinking too much.
5. Served with orange vegetables: Sweet potato, butternut squash, honeynut squash, roasted carrot.
6. Green vegetable accompaniment: Brussels, green beans, broccolini, sautéed kale, or collards.
7. Bread or rolls: I usually outsource this part. A great bakery roll or a simple homemade focaccia will suffice.
8. Dessert: At least one pie (pumpkin or pecan is classic), but feel free to add wild cards. Apple, buttermilk, or chocolate pie is always welcome.
Hosting tips: For smaller gatherings, choose five or six of your favorite categories and skip the rest. Thoughtful simplicity > Overcrowded tables.
logistics planning
Let’s talk strategy. Planning a great Thanksgiving menu involves more than just what to serve. when and how Prepare each dish. A little planning goes a long way, and planning your portions and preparations ahead of time will help you approach your holiday relaxed, confident, and actually enjoy the day.
Here’s a simple guide to portioning out and preparing meals in advance so your kitchen is less chaotic and more intentionally organized.
Amount of food to make for Thanksgiving
One of the biggest questions I get every year is: How much food do you really need? Here’s a quick cheat sheet that I rely on:
- turkey: 1 to 1.5 pounds per person (closer to 1 pound if boneless, 1.5 pounds if you want bone-in or leftovers)
- Stuffing/dressing: 1/2 to 3/4 cup per person
- Mashed potatoes: Up to 1 cup per person
- gravy: 1/4 to 1/2 cup per person (or more if your team is “putting gravy on everything”)
- Vegetable side menu: 1/2 cup per side per person (choose two and you’re good to go)
- Bread/Rolls: 1-2 pieces per person
- pie: 1 slice per person (I usually make enough for 2 people…)
Hosting tips: If you love leftovers, incorporate them into your portions. If you don’t want to eat a turkey sandwich for a week, lean toward the lower end of these estimates.
Things you can prepare in advance
What’s the secret to having a smooth Thanksgiving? Don’t do everything on Thursday. Here’s a helpful breakdown:
2-3 days ago
- Chop the onions, herbs, and spices.
- Prep stuffing base (dry bread + sautéed flavorings)
- Make cranberry sauce (it tastes even better when chilled)
- Bake long-lasting pies (pecan pie, apple pie, chess pie)
The day before
- Prepare the casserole (green beans, sweet potatoes) and store it in the refrigerator without baking.
- Make salad dressing + prepare vegetables
- Assemble cheese or snack board ingredients
- Set the table and label the plates.
in the morning
- Roast the turkey (or reheat it if you cooked it the day before. Yes, it works!)
- Bake/Reheat the casserole
- warm roll
- Toss the salad and garnish
- Light a candle, play some music, pour a glass – the fun part begins.
Sanity Saver: Label each dish with a sticky note (such as “mashed potatoes”) so you don’t forget what goes where when you leave. Even small details can yield big rewards.
Ready to create your menu? Below are my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, from mains to sides to pies. Using the formula above, combine one dish from each category and you’ll have a complete and reliable Thanksgiving menu, taking the guesswork out of it.
Scroll through, make your selections, and start planning the most delicious day of the year.
turkey
perfect roast turkey
Every November, I find myself searching on Google. the best After trying every Thanksgiving turkey recipe and every method under the sun, I turned to award-winning professional chef Michael Fojtasek of Austin’s Oramai to help me perfect the ultimate classic. It’s a simple cured roast turkey with crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat.
potato
The only mashed potato recipe you’ll ever need
No Thanksgiving table is complete without silky mashed potatoes. And this vegan version provides all the buttery, creamy goodness everyone craves. Plus, you can make it several hours in advance so that you don’t have to panic when the rest of the feast appears on the table.
Fake Parmesan Cauliflower “Potato”
As a mashed potato purist, I was skeptical of cauliflower mash until this version by Helen Henderson came along. Malibu Farm from sunrise to sunset It looks and tastes just like the real thing, proving we can deliver that classic rich, cheesy flavor without compromise.
orange vegetable side
Squash and farro salad with apple, goat cheese and pecans
Roasted pumpkin, nutty farro, crunchy apples, creamy goat cheese, and toasted pecans come together in a hearty fall salad that’s both cozy and fresh. This is an unexpectedly standout side that perfectly balances out the richness of your Thanksgiving table.
Roasted Honey Nut Squash with Hot Honey, Pecans and Rosemary
Everything about this roasted honey nut squash recipe makes it a top choice for Thanksgiving menu planning options. Topped with pecans for the perfect crunch and hot honey for a little kick, your guests will fall in love with this unique, flavorful side.
Served with charred sweet potatoes and dates
Sweet potatoes are the obvious choice for Thanksgiving’s orange side dish, but this salad is anything but basic. Pomegranate seeds provide a tangy contrast to the flavors of the fall root vegetable, while caramelized dates wrap the perfect sweet salad topping.
Mashed Potato and Brown Sugar Cornflake Crunch
If you love nostalgic recipes, this classic Thanksgiving side dish was made for you. The filling is made with fresh mashed sweet potatoes and topped with a crunchy brown sugar topping for the ultimate texture. One bite and you’ll be transported back to your golden days of Saturday morning watching cartoons and eating big bowls of cornflakes.
Roasted delicata squash with feta, almonds and herbs
Sweet, caramelized delicata squash is joined by salty feta, crunchy almonds, and a shower of fresh herbs for a rustic, elegant, and perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Charred carrots, honey lime yogurt, dates and almonds
Smoky charred carrots are complemented by the bright, tangy flavor of honey-lime yogurt and finished with sweet dates and crunchy almonds for an earthy, vibrant, and unexpectedly eye-catching side dish.
roasted acorn squash
When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, Tieghan Gerard, also known as Half Baked Harvest, absolutely nails this roasted acorn squash. Squash has always been a hearty side that everyone loves, but it’s not always prepared to be used to its fullest potential. Balanced, sweet, and slightly nutty. What more could you ask for?
Blood orange and beet salad
Have you ever seen a more beautiful color combination? Place the beets and oranges in a separate bowl from the yogurt and serve on a plate just before serving.
dressing/stuffing
Skillet cornbread stuffed with caramelized onions
This vegetarian cornbread stuffing skips the extra baking step and incorporates onions, kale, and seasonings into the dough before baking in a cast iron skillet, making it faster, easier, and served with an irresistibly rustic flavor.
side of green vegetables
Winter kale salad with apple and gruyere
Crunchy winter kale is paired with sweet apples, nutty Gruyère, and a bright vinaigrette for a comforting yet refreshing salad that beats the richness of the holiday table and adds just the right amount of crunch.
Holiday Chopped Kale Salad with Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette
This jewel-toned chopped kale salad, dressed with a tangy mustard-shallot vinaigrette and studded with seasonal gems like pomegranate and roasted squash, brings crunch, color and freshness to your table and may become your new potluck speciality.
Sweet & Sour Cider Brussels Sprouts
These Brussels sprouts are tossed in a tangy-sweet cider glaze and roasted until caramelized and crispy. It’s an irresistible combination that turns even skeptics into enthusiasts.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
This shaved Brussels sprout salad delivers a bright lemon flavor, crunchy texture, and a touch of sweetness, giving it an energizing, crowd-pleasing side that will turn heads at even the most festive of tables.
Pies & Tarts
maple pecan pie
This maple pecan pie comes straight from my mom’s kitchen and is rich, gooey, and buttery with a mouth-filling burst of warm maple sweetness. This is truly a family staple, and once you taste it, it may become a Thanksgiving tradition in your home too.
brulee pumpkin pie
This brûlée pumpkin pie takes the classic flavor up a notch with a crackling, caramelized sugar top. A creamy, spiced filling and brûlée-style crunch combine for a nostalgic yet unforgettable holiday dessert.
Pumpkin pie with gingersnap crust
This pumpkin pie with a spicy gingersnap crust is something I request every Thanksgiving. A silky, warm, spiced filling and a crunchy, cookie-like base combine to create a classic, slightly unexpected dessert.
Mom’s Classic Buttermilk Pie Recipe
Found in my mom’s recipe box, this classic buttermilk pie is simple, tangy, and incredibly smooth, making it a humble Southern favorite that’s sure to be on your Thanksgiving table.
apple ginger pie
This Apple Ginger Pie is a cozy, aromatic twist on a classic, layered with spicy tender apples and a kick of warm ginger. It’s a tempting slice that you’ll look forward to all Thanksgiving season.
This post was last updated on November 5, 2025 with new insights.
Source: Camille Styles – camillestyles.com
