There’s just something special about Thanksgiving in the South. The air feels a little warmer, the tables a little fuller, and every dish comes with a story passed down through generations. Growing up, I always admired how Southern cooking could take the simplest ingredients and turn them into pure comfort—slow-cooked, buttery, and full of love.
Now that I live in Baltimore, I find myself bringing a little bit of that Southern warmth to my own Thanksgiving table. From creamy baked Mac and Cheese to Green Bean Casserole with crispy fried onions, and golden Butternut Squash or Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, or the ever popular Turkey Gravy, Salisbury Steak, Meatloaf or Cranberry Sauce, each dish carries that signature Southern charm, rich flavors, homemade goodness, and plenty of heart.
These are the recipes that remind me of what Thanksgiving is all about; gathering with friends, sharing stories, and savoring those timeless comfort foods that make the season so special.
So, roll up your sleeves and let’s dive into some of my favorite Classic Southern Thanksgiving Recipes, the ones that always find their way back to the table, year after year.
CLASSIC SOUTHERN THANKSGIVING RECIPES
Baked Mac and Cheese
Down South, mac and cheese isn’t just a side dish! It’s pure comfort in a casserole dish. It’s that one dish that always shows up on the table, creamy, golden, and bubbling with love. A good Southern mac and cheese has to be rich, loaded with layers of cheese for that irresistible, velvety texture.
Every family has their own spin on it, and over time, I’ve created a few that I keep going back to, like my cozy Roasted Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, the fall-inspired Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, and my guilt-free Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese for when I want all the comfort without the carbs. Each brings something special, from the sweetness of roasted squash to the creamy indulgence of melted white cheddar.
Whether you bake it until the top is crisp and golden or keep it soft and saucy, mac and cheese is that dish we Southerners never outgrow. it’s the kind of comfort food that feels like home. Get the recipe for Baked Mac and Cheese
CANDIED YAMS
Candied Yams is one of those dishes thats an absolute crowd pleaser. The first time I tasted them, I couldn’t believe how something so simple Yams, baked until caramelized and glossy could feel so festive and soul-warming. Now, they’ve become a staple on my holiday table.
The rich sweetness of brown sugar and butter, with that hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, reminds me of the festive desserts back home, yet feels beautifully rooted in my life here in Baltimore. It’s that perfect blend of old and new a little bit of home, and a whole lot of holiday magic. Get the recipe for Candied Yams
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
Now, let's discuss another Southern staple I just can't overlook, Green Bean Casserole. In the South, this casserole is more than a side dish, it's a holiday tradition that brings everyone to the table. I've always enjoyed how something that's so straightforward can be so comforting.
Tender green beans are tossed in a rich blend of Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, Sour Cream, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of cheese, then baked to bubbly golden perfection. And there's no green bean casserole without that irresistible topping; crisp fried onions and a generous sprinkle of cheddar cheese that melts into pure perfection. Over the years I've tried so many variations of this like this Green Bean Ranch Potato Casserole, Green Beans Almondine Recipe which adds a nutty twist, Cheesy Green Bean Cheddar Casserole with Fall Spices which everyone of my friends love, Garlic Butter Sauteed Green Beans with Parmesan which is so simple and so good, Maple Mustard Glazed Green Beans & these super cosy Cheesy Green Beans!
It's that comforting, warm dish that never fails to remind me why I adore Southern comfort food so much; big flavors, simple ingredients, and lots of love baked right in. Get the recipe for Green Bean Casserole recipe
SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING
Southern Cornbread Dressing is a comforting and hearty side dish for Thanksgiving. My recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing is moist, herby and delicious. This is a favourite Cornbread Dressing recipe which is so yum and easy to make! Get the recipe for Southern Cornbread Recipe
Grandma's Sausage Herb Stuffing
Buttery, Herby and Fragrant, this Sausage Herb Stuffing is the best Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe ever! A flavorful Thanksgiving side dish recipe, this Sausage Herb Stuffing features Onions, Garlic, Celery, Sausage and Herbs sauteed with butter, tossed with chopped French Bread, Chicken Broth, Eggs and is baked until the edges gets crispy. It's one of our most loved Thanksgiving Side Dishes EVER!
Get the recipe for Grandmas Sausage Herb Stuffing.
Mom's Turkey Stuffing Recipe
HONEY BUTTER SKILLET CORN
Honey Butter Corn Skillet with cream cheese, is the easiest Corn side dish recipe ever! Canned Corn tossed with butter, honey, cream cheese and Italian seasoning makes for a hearty and delicious side dish recipe, especially for Thanksgiving.
Sweet, Creamy, Buttery and Delicious Corn cooked in a skillet is just delightful!!!
I love to serve this Honey Butter Skillet Corn hot while the butter and cream cheese are still melting into the corn! Gosh! so good!
Get the recipe for Honey Butter Skillet Corn
CANDIED SWEET POTATOES
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Topping is one of the easiest ever Thanksgiving recipes. Candied Sweet Potatoes is an easy, sweet, and delicious Thanksgiving side dish recipe which you would love to make every year.
These are made with Peeled and Chopped Sweet Potatoes which are layered in a casserole dish, topped with a brown sugar sauce and Pecan topping, and baked until it gets tender on the inside and the Pecans get toasty on the outside.
Get the recipe for Candied Sweet Potatoes
SOUTHERN CREAMED CORN
There ain't a side as delicious as Southern Creamed Corn. Just 5-minutes of preparation and you get a creamy, delicious side dish ready. Made from scratch, this recipe will be your go-to Thanksgiving Side Dish recipe.
Get the recipe for Southern Creamed Corn.
Southern Louisiana Collard Greens Recipe "Hearty and Meaty"
Southern Collard Greens 🥬 - A quintessential Southern food usually braised with chunks of smoked ham hocks, crispy bacon, and cured pork belly (tasso).
One of the most popular recipes in New Orleans, This hearty and Meaty Collard Green Recipe from Southern Louisiana is tasty, filling, and packed with nutrients.
Top with crumbled Buttermilk cornbread and serve it just like the Southerns do.
Get the recipe for Louisiana Collard Greens
SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD
Classic Southern Buttermilk Cornbread with Honey made in the Cast Iron Skillet is the perfect side to all your holiday dishes. Be it aside a warm pot of Chili or Stew or a Hearty bowl of Fall Soup, Cornbread is one of our favorites and most loved side. This Buttermilk Cornbread has a moist and fluffy center while the edges are crispy, crusty and buttery.
Cornbread is one of those recipes which we make so often that we often forget to think about it. Its like a staple side dish to our holiday dinner table. It's one of the most popular Southern Side Dishes.
Get the recipe for Southern Buttermilk Cornbread
SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK RANCH POTATOES
This Southern Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potato recipe is one of my all-time favourite ones. It's creamy and comforting and a southern favourite recipe. Also, this is so easy, that you will not even have to spend more than 30 minutes to make this. Also try this Garlic Mashed Potato and Cheddar Mashed Potato recipe which are a good alteration my friends love often.
Get the recipe for Southern Buttermilk Ranch Potatoes.
HONEY BAKED HAM
Juicy on the inside and crispy and delicious on the outside, Honey Baked Ham with a sticky glaze on top is the perfect Holiday dinner recipe. 😍😍
SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN
SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO COBBLER
Southern Sweet Potato Cobbler is a traditional recipe particularly famous in Mississippi and all over the deep South. I just love Cobblers.
Get the recipe for Southern Sweet Potato Cobbler
SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK RANCH BISCUITS
Southern Buttermilk Biscuits are a super-popular, family favorite, and a sort of a weeknight staple recipe in my house. Crispy, flaky but not too dry. Firm but not tough. Easy to make and excellent in taste. Talking about Southern Recipes have you tried these Southern Thanksgiving recipes yet?
These cute biscuits bake into each other and rise tall. You basically squish them together in a cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet and brush the top with buttermilk. In about 20-minutes your biscuits will be ready, peeking out of the oven, waiting for you to take them out. Also, have you made these flaky Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Scones before? They are sooo good!
Get the recipe for Southern Buttermilk Ranch Biscuits
SOUTHERN FRIED CORN
Southern Fried Corn is a sweet and appetizing Barbeque side dish recipe, which tastes especially amazing with grilled food such as this Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Breast. Also, have you tried my Southern Creamed Corn! It's totally worth it.
This is a popular side dish recipe that is made with freshly shucked Corn, which is tossed with Bacon drippings and Butter until brown-ish along with some white onions.
Also, a bit of milk and flour is added to this and it is finally seasoned with sugar, salt, and pepper. This is a classic southern comfort food recipe.
Just like these Southern Fried Apples, Southern Sweet Potato Cobbler, Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Southern Blueberry Muffins and etc.
Get the recipe for Southern Fried Corn
CORNISH HENS STUFFED WITH CORNBREAD
Cornish Hens stuffed with Cornbread dressing on your mind? Kudos🎉 You are going to make the best Thanksgiving Dinner ever! Pair it with these Most-loved Thanksgiving Sides and these delectable and Most Popular Thanksgiving desserts for the best party!
Get the recipe for Cornish Hens stuffed with Cornbread
SOUTHERN BAKED HAM WITH PINEAPPLE
This Southern Baked Ham with Pineapple has been a traditional recipe in our family for Holiday dinner for ages. Its of course the sweet and sour glaze over Baked Ham which makes everyone love this.
Also, this looks so pretty and just perfect centerpiece for the holiday table!
Get the recipe for Southern Baked Ham with Pineapple
SWEET CORN CASSEROLE WITH JIFFY MIX IN CROCKPOT
Corn Pudding or Corn Casserole or Creamed Corn Casserole or 5 ingredient Corn dump is a favorite side dish.
It's an easy and super comforting Easter Side Dish, Ham Side Dish and ofcourse, Thanksgiving side dish recipe that we love to make for regular days, Weekends, Summers, and of course the holidays. 😍😍😍😍
Get the recipe for Sweet Corn Casserole with Jiffy mix
CRISPY CAJUN SWEET POTATO FRIES
These Crispy Cajun Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries will give a snacky start to your fall & winter mornings. Pair it alongside Baked Chicken Drumsticks and you just made yourself a healthy and appetizing meal.
Get the recipe for Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Sweet Potato Casserole is an ultimate Thanksgiving comfort food recipe, made with a smooth and creamy mashed sweet potato filling and topped with Brown Sugar and Butter crumble topping along with a generous amount of walnuts which get toasty after they get baked and are so delicious! 😍😍😍
Get the recipe for Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING
Pumpkin Bread Pudding is the best thing I make for Thanksgiving every year. People love my recipe. And, year after year since the last 10 years, I have been getting rave reviews from my colleagues, my friends, my neighbors, my family, and of course, my sweet husband. I thought I might as well, share it with you guys so that you can make it at your home and enjoy your Fall and Thanksgiving. It's a rich, creamy, and delicious dessert.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Bread Puding
SWEET POTATO PIE
Vegan Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie with Coconut Milk is like a healthy twist on favorite southern comfort food. This Sweet Potato Pie is sweetened with Brown Sugar and has deep, rich caramelized flavors, along with the hint of Fall Spices. This is made with a homemade Vegan Pie crust and topped with Whipped Cream and some chopped pecan nuts. This is undoubtedly one of the favorite Pie of the season.
STUFFED APPLES
This is one of the easiest holiday desserts that you'd be baking this year. Yup! All that you need are some fresh Granny Smith Apples, some Rolled Oats, Sugar, Butter, Cinnamon, Ginger, and Nutmeg. And, that's it!
These Baked Apples are basically stuffed with nothing but all good things in the world. Yes! When I shared this recipe with my sisters, she was like - "Ok, So, you are basically asking me to stuff these Apples with all good things" 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋
OLD FASHIONED PUMPKIN PIE
Classic Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie is the most loved Thanksgiving Dessert after Classic Apple Pie and Southern Sweet Potato Pie.
This holiday season is like the other name for "Pumpkin Spice and everything nice". Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes, Pumpkin Bread Pudding, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Cheesecake Fudge, Pumpkin Muffins, and the most amazing - Pumpkin Pie!! Today, I'll tell you how to make the BEST Homemade Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie.
After all, Thanksgiving is all about traditions, right? And in my family, baking a Pumpkin Pie is a MUST. But, it has to be perfect. And, everyone wants a big slice of the pie. And, therefore it's pretty important that I make it right.
CREAMY MASHED SWEET POTATOES
Mashed Sweet Potatoes is a creamy, velvety, and fabulous side dish that will make your Thanksgiving spread stand out. Besides that, you can also try this creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower or this Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes recipe.
CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE
This recipe has been passed down through the generations. And, the best part about trying such an age-old recipe is that you can customize it as per your wish. For instance, my nanna never made a vegan chocolate chess pie.
Have you tried my BEST Dark Chocolate Brownie Pie or Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. These are so delicious and perfect for the holidays.
Traditionally the four basic ingredients for this pie are Cocoa Powder, sugar, butter, and eggs. But, I wanted to try something new. Therefore, I decided to make a vegan variant of this super-popular dessert.
SOUTHERN CINNAMON FRIED APPLES
Southern Cinnamon Fried Apples is an easy and comforting dessert recipe. Made with fresh and Juicy, Red Honeycrisp Apples which are fried with brown butter and coated with Sugar, and spiced with Cinnamon.
You might also like these 70 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers, 60+ Most Loved Thanksgiving Sides Recipes You ought to Try, 30 Comforting Thanksgiving Pies to Sweeten Your Feast and these Last Minute Thanksgiving Sides that dont let down. These are my most loved Thanksgiving Sides which my friends and family love whenever I make it. Hope you try them too.
Ask Me Anything