The Best Southern Style Recipes for Thanksgiving

Southern Style Thanksgiving Recipes: The Ultimate Holiday Feast

There’s something magical about the holiday season in the South. The weather is cozy, families gather together, and kitchens fill with the smell of southern comfort foods passed down for generations. When it comes to Thanksgiving feasts, nothing compares to a southern-style Thanksgiving filled with hearty main dishes, decadent side dishes, and desserts that taste like pure comfort food.

Whether you’re planning your very first traditional Thanksgiving feast or you’re looking for new southern Thanksgiving recipes to refresh your holiday table, this guide has everything you need. Think of it as your full collection of Thanksgiving recipes—from the whole turkey to banana pudding.

So grab your recipe cards (and maybe a glass of sweet tea) and let’s dive into the best southern recipes to serve this Thanksgiving Day.

🦃 Main Dishes for a Southern-Style Thanksgiving

The main dish is the first thing everyone looks for on the holiday table, and in the South, we know how to do it right.

Roast Turkey
The whole turkey is the crown jewel of any Thanksgiving dinner menu. Slow roasted until golden brown, brushed with brown butter, and seasoned with simple ingredients like garlic, herbs, and salt, it sets the tone for the meal. A perfectly cooked bird not only tastes amazing, but it’s also a picture-worthy centerpiece on your southern Thanksgiving tables.

Holiday Ham
Alongside turkey, many families add a holiday ham—glazed with orange juice, maple syrup, and a touch of brown sugar for a sticky, sweet finish. If you’ve ever debated turkey vs. ham, the truth is, in the South, we usually serve both because they’re equally delicious.

Southern-Style Collard Greens
Collard greens may be considered a side dish, but when simmered in a slow cooker with smoked meat, they almost feel like a main dish on their own. This soul food recipe has been a staple for centuries and adds rich flavor to the traditional Thanksgiving feast.

🥘 Classic Southern Side Dishes

The side dishes are often the best part of a southern-style Thanksgiving. They bring color, comfort, and all those delicious flavors that make the holiday season unforgettable. Here are the classic southern sides you’ll want to include:

Southern Cornbread Dressing
Unlike traditional classic stuffing, Southern cooks use southern cornbread dressing baked until golden brown. Fluffy on the inside with a delicious golden brown crust, it’s often considered the most important part of your Thanksgiving spread.

Green Bean Casserole
This popular side dish is beloved across America, but in the South, we elevate it with fresh green beans, sour cream, and a topping of crispy fried onions. It’s creamy, crunchy, and truly the perfect side dish for any turkey dinner.

Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Sweet potatoes shine at Southern Thanksgivings. The traditional sweet potato casserole recipe is baked with brown sugar and topped either with gooey mini marshmallows or pecans for a savory sweet potato side dish. It’s the kind of classic southern side that no one ever skips.

Southern Baked Macaroni
If you’ve never had southern baked macaroni, you’re missing out on the ultimate comfort food. Made with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and a bit of sour cream, it bakes into a dish with creamy centers and crispy browned cheese edges that everyone will fight over.

Corn Pudding
This dish is a true southern food classic. Sweet, creamy, and hearty, it works beautifully as a flavorful side dish on your holiday meal.

Pineapple Casserole
A hidden gem of southern cuisine, this sweet-meets-savory dish combines pineapple, cheese, and buttery crackers. It might sound unusual, but it’s one of those classic recipes that keeps popping up at family gatherings because it’s always a hit.

Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter
A delicious recipe that feels light yet rich, roasted Brussels sprouts with brown butter balance out the heavier side dishes on your southern Thanksgiving menus.

Fluffy Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter
Every traditional Thanksgiving feast needs warm, soft dinner rolls. Spread them with honey butter, and they’ll disappear in minutes. Bread is always the best part when it comes to soaking up gravy.

🥧 Southern Thanksgiving Desserts

When the holiday season comes around, Southerners know how to end a meal with style. Dessert is the ultimate comfort food, and these southern Thanksgiving recipes are essential.

Sweet Potato Pie
Creamy, spiced, and baked in a flaky pie crust, sweet potato pie is a Southern tradition. Unlike pumpkin pie, it has a richer, earthier flavor that pairs perfectly with whipped cream.

Pumpkin Pie
No Thanksgiving feasts are complete without pumpkin pie. This classic dish may not be Southern in origin, but it’s earned a permanent place on our southern Thanksgiving tables.

Pecan Pie
Made with maple syrup, brown sugar, and sometimes a splash of bourbon, pecan pie is a delicious recipe that captures the heart of the South. It’s sweet, nutty, and always requested at family gatherings.

Banana Pudding
This is more than just a dessert—it’s Southern history in a bowl. Layered with vanilla wafer cookies, french vanilla pudding mix, bananas, and whipped cream, banana pudding is pure comfort food and one of the best recipes to bring smiles on Thanksgiving Day.

Best Peach Cobbler Recipes
Few things scream “Southern” like peach cobbler. Juicy peaches topped with a delicious golden brown crust create one of the best peach cobbler recipes you’ll ever taste. Some cooks add a splash of bourbon for an extra kick.

Bread Pudding
Rich, warm, and made with creamy custard or even a drizzle of caramel, bread pudding is especially beloved in New Orleans and across the South. Like many classic southern side dishes, it turns simple pantry staples into a delicious recipe.

🌟 Tips for Planning Your Southern Thanksgiving Menus

Planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu can feel overwhelming, but here are a few tricks from Southern cooks:

Room Temperature Matters – Always let butter, eggs, and dairy reach room temperature for smoother batters and doughs.
Airtight Containers – Store leftovers in airtight containers to enjoy your classic recipes throughout the week.
The Best Way to Save Time – Use a slow cooker for dishes like southern-style collard greens or corn puddings so your oven is free for pies and turkey.
Add Southern Flair – A drizzle of maple syrup, a squeeze of orange juice, or a splash of bourbon can elevate ordinary classic dishes into something special.
Balance the Spread – Include both heavy southern comfort foods and lighter flavorful side dishes like roasted Brussels sprouts for a well-rounded holiday meal.

🍴 Why Southern Recipes Are the Best Part of Thanksgiving

The South has a way of turning food into memories. A southern-style Thanksgiving is more than just a turkey dinner—it’s about laughter, sharing, and the warmth of being together. Every bite of southern comfort foods, from southern cornbread dressing to banana pudding, is filled with tradition.

The best recipes aren’t just delicious recipes; they’re the ones that tell a story and keep family connected across generations. That’s the real beauty of southern Thanksgiving recipes—they’re pure comfort food with heart.

So, whether you’re baking a traditional sweet potato casserole recipe, layering banana pudding with chessman cookies, or pulling dinner rolls hot from the oven, remember: this time of year is about gratitude, tradition, and love.

📌 Pin this roundup for later, and let it inspire your own southern-style Thanksgiving dinner menu. With these dishes on your holiday table, you’ll have plenty of good reasons to gather, eat, and celebrate.