Southern Thanksgiving Menu with Recipes and a Printable Grocery List

Planning Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. This traditional Southern Thanksgiving menu brings together two main dishes, six favorite side dishes, and two desserts, with links to every recipe so you can plan your holiday meal in one place.

You’ll also find a free printable Thanksgiving menu and a matching blank grocery shopping list to help you organize your ingredients before heading to the store. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time or carrying on your family’s favorite traditions, this menu will help you get organized and spend less time wondering what to cook.

My family loves a traditional Southern Thanksgiving. We might try something new from time to time, but the old favorites still have a place at our table. My philosophy is simple: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Start here:

• Print the Thanksgiving menu and blank grocery shopping list.
• Browse the recipes and gather your ingredients.
• Use the planning tips below to prepare for Thanksgiving Day.
• This menu is designed to feed about 12-15 people.

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Is this your first time hosting Thanksgiving? Be sure to read my Thanksgiving Dinner Clean-Up Tips to help make the work after the meal easier, too.

This is a traditional Southern Thanksgiving menu, which is what my family loves. Even if we can convince folks to try something new for Thanksgiving, they insist upon keeping the old favorites as well. My philosophy is If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

Also, see our November Meal Plan for a whole month’s meals with recipes.

All recipes are linked for your convenience. Bookmark this page to easily return. We are beginning this Thanksgiving Menu with a delicious recipe for a roasted turkey!

Click the title of each recipe to get the printable recipe and instructions.

Southern Thanksgiving Dinner Entrees

Citrus and Herb Brined Roasted Turkey

This roasted turkey is tender, delicious, and full of flavor. Brined with fresh fruit and herbs. We used our Turkey Cooker for brining. Another option is to use a large cooler. The size will depend on the size of your turkey.

Brine List of Ingredients:

• 3 Oranges
• 3 Lemons
• 2 Onions
• 1 Garlic
• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary
• Fresh Thyme
• 3-4 stalks of fresh Celery

Roasted Turkey Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Kosher Salt
• ½ Cup sugar
• 2 Qts. Water
• 1 16-18 lb. Turkey thawed
• 1 oversized resealable bag or large cooler
• 2 Sticks Unsalted butter at room temperature

Crockpot Brown Sugar and Pineapple Glazed Ham

Let the Crockpot save oven space on Thanksgiving. The classic brown sugar and pineapple-basted ham recipe we love.

Grocery List of Ingredients:

• 1 Butt portion ham (about 7 lbs.)
• 1 can (15 oz.) sliced Pineapple in heavy syrup
• ¾ Cup brown sugar
• 9-12 whole cherries in syrup

Side dishes to serve on Thanksgiving

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Moist and flavorful Old-Fashioned Cornbread dressing like Grandma made. I am a Grandma, and this is my recipe. You will want to make my Buttermilk cornbread a day ahead for this recipe.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• About 6 Cups of Crumbled Cornbread
• 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
• 1 Large Sweet Onion
• 1 Cup Chopped Celery
• 2 Tbsp Sage
• 1 Stick Butter
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Pepper
• 3-5 Cups of Chicken Broth

Also see How To Preserve Chicken Broth; freezer and water bath canning methods are included.

Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe

Buttermilk cornbread is great with soups, but it is essential to make for good Cornbread dressing.

Ingredients Needed to Make Cornbread for the Dressing

• 2 Cups Self-Rising Cornmeal Mix
• 1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tbsp. Sugar (Optional)
• 3 Tbsp. Oil

Broccoli Bacon Salad

This fresh broccoli salad recipe is full of crunch and creamy dressing.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 1 Bunch of fresh Broccoli
• 1 Small sweet onion
• 1 cup Raisins
• 1 Cup Pecans

Dressing for Broccoli Salad Ingredients

• ¾ Cup Mayonnaise
• 3 Tbsp. vinegar
• 4 Tbsp. sugar

Best Ever Candied Yams

There is no law that says you have to serve Sweet Potato Souffle on Thanksgiving. These made-from-scratch Candied Yams use only 4 ingredients that pack a lot of flavor into those fresh sweet yams.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 4 large yams
• 3 Tbsp. salted butter
• 1 Cup packed light brown sugar
• Water to cover the yams in the pot
• About 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

TIP

Keep your mashed potatoes warm in a Slow Cooker on the Low or warm setting. Line the Slow cooker first with one of these disposable liners for easy cleanup.

Southern Green Beans with Potatoes and Bacon

The flavor in this green bean recipe is amazing! Skip the green bean casserole and make Green beans and potatoes instead.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 1 lb. fresh green beans, with ends snipped off
• 4-5 pieces of thick-sliced bacon
• 1 large onion, cut into large pieces
• 1 Tbsp. fresh garlic, chopped
• 8 cups white potatoes, peeled and chopped into large pieces
• 32 oz. Chicken broth
• 1 Tbsp. Herbs de Provence; can use Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper

Southern Carrot Soufflé

This is the Carrot Soufflé that you remember from the Piccadilly years ago. Just the right amount of sweet.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 2 (1 lb.) Bags of Peeled Baby Carrots
• ¾ Cup of Sugar
• 2 tbsp. All-Purpose Flour
• 1 ½ tsp. Baking Powder
• 3 Eggs, Beaten
• 1 Stick Unsalted Butter, Softened
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 2 tbsp. Powdered Sugar

Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese

This is the best creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese! The Crockpot saves oven space on Thanksgiving. This Crockpot recipe is always popular with our family.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 8 oz. Dry Elbow Macaroni
• 4 Cups Shredded Cheese
• (1) 13 oz. Can of Evaporated Milk
• 1 1/2 Cups 2% Milk
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Dry Mustard
• 1 tsp. White Pepper

Desserts to make for Thanksgiving

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie is a super easy recipe that comes together in a matter of minutes. Easy ingredients. You can bake these a day ahead, cover, and store in the refrigerator.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 3 Large Eggs
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Butter
• 1 Jar (12oz) Hot Fudge Topping
• 2 Cups Pecans, halves
• (2) 9 in. Unbaked Pie Shells

14 Layer Chocolate Chocolate Cake

This is the 14 Layer Chocolate Cake you remember from Grandma’s house a long time ago. There is a trick to cooking all 14 layers in a lot less time than Grandma did, and I share that trick with you.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups plain flour
• 2 tbsp. baking powder
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp butter flavoring
• 2 cups sugar

Icing Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 6 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 can evaporated milk

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe

This Sour Cream Pound Cake is the one also known as the Cold Oven Cake. I got this recipe from my neighbor a long time ago who let me stand in their kitchen and teach me to make it.

Grocery List of Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• 6 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Now that you have a good Southern Thanksgiving menu plus the recipes, you are all set to fill out your Thanksgiving grocery shopping list and get cooking.

Beverages to make for Thanksgiving

Southern Sweet Tea

My Southern Sweet Tea is steeped on the stove in a pot I have been using for tea for more than 40 years. I do not cook tea in the microwave, and I certainly don’t make instant tea. I sound a little bit like an indignant Southern cook!

Sweet Tea Ingredients:

• Family-size tea bags; I use this brand available on Amazon
• Water
• Sugar (the quantity depends on you; at least 1 cup)

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

My Lemonade recipe uses a cheat for sweetening. I do not make a simple syrup. I learned this trick when I was a restaurant manager. Our customers loved our lemonade so I started making it this way at home.

Homemade Lemonade Ingredients:

• 5-6 Ripe lemons
• Water
• About 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

What to prepare ahead?

You can prepare cornbread several days ahead to use for cornbread dressing. Store it in a container with a lid or covered with foil on the kitchen counter for up to 2 days. You could also make it a week or so ahead and freeze it, well wrapped. Thaw on the kitchen counter the day before you intend to cook your dressing.

Broccoli Salad can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I would not make this more than one day ahead.

Candied Yams can be made a day ahead and reheated; however, they are much better fresh. Reheating will cause the potatoes to become a little mushy. Because this is a labor-intensive dish, you might need to make them a day ahead. Another option is to peel and cut up your Yams a day ahead, then store them covered in the refrigerator until ready to cook on Thanksgiving Day.

Make sweet tea and lemonade a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator. You want them to be good and cold before serving Thanksgiving dinner begins.

Tips for Thanksgiving dinner

More Thanksgiving recipes

• Crockpot Green Bean Casserole Recipe
• Thanksgiving Turkey Cheese Ball Appetizer
• Old Fashioned Southern Carrot Soufflé
• Make The Best Ever Southern Candied Yams Recipe
• Classic Watergate Salad Recipe (Pistachio Fluff)

Kitchen Tips for the Holidays

• Kitchen Detail Cleaning Checklist & 12 Things in the Kitchen You Can Put in the Dishwasher
• How to Plan Enough Time for Holiday Baking By Organizing Your Kitchen
• How to Pick the Perfect Recipes for Your Holiday Baking
• How To Freeze & Thaw Baked Goods

Original publication Nov. 18, 2018, Updated Nov. 7, 2022