Top-Rated Thanksgiving Recipes

Can't decide which recipes to make for your feast? Choose from Cooking Channel's most popular, highest-rated recipes for crowd-pleasing picks.

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Best-Ever Green Bean Casserole

Forget about the canned recipes that may still haunt your holiday memories. This comforting recipe is made with only fresh ingredients (and absolutely no onion soup mix).

Get the Recipe: Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Turkey

Michael Symon cloaks his turkey in butter-soaked cheesecloth while it's roasting to keep in moisture and add unbeatable richness to the meat. Stuffed with aromatics like garlic, fennel and fresh herbs, this top-notch turkey is brimming with comforting fall flavors.

Get the Recipe: Turkey

Cranberry Sauce with Bourbon and Vanilla Bean and Orange

Tart cranberries are given a hint of zing thanks to a shot of bourbon and a shaving on orange zest. Michael Symon opts for vanilla beans over extract to produce a cleaner, mildy sweet flavor.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce with Bourbon and Vanilla Bean and Orange

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Bacon, Mustard and Walnut Vinaigrette

Michael Symon infuses these sprouts with subtle smokiness by whisking bacon fat into his tangy honey mustard vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Bacon, Mustard and Walnut Vinaigrette

Green Bean Casserole

Though green beans take first billing in this recipe's title, the homemade croutons — infused with thyme, rosemary and chives, and crusted with Parmesan cheese — are the real stars.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

The toasted walnut and graham cracker crust on which Bobby Flay builds his vanilla bean cheesecake is just the start of this decadent dessert. An apple brandy-boosted caramel oozes over the top, while a pile of pretty apple slices gives this dessert showstopping status.

Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Good Eats Roast Turkey

Alton Brown's recipe for the perfect turkey calls for a flavorful brine containing allspice berries, candied ginger and peppercorns — and for the cavity to be filled with herbs, fruits, veggies and spice.

Get the Recipe: Good Eats Roast Turkey

Cornbread and Wild Rice Dressing with Pine Nuts

The base of this dressing is a moist cornbread that's boosted by bacon grease and buttermilk. For well-developed flavors, let the creamy parsley-flecked custard soak into the cornbread overnight before baking.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread and Wild Rice Dressing with Pine Nuts and Parsley

Cranberry Salad

Kelsey Nixon's Thanksgiving-inspired spin on ambrosia salad is the ultimate make-ahead side. Blended cranberries tint the sweet mixture of pineapple, marshmallows and whipped cream, giving the salad vibrant color as it chills. Top with pomegranate arils for a final tangy punch.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Salad

Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Tyler's chunky garlic-flavored mashed potatoes are balanced out by just a few sprigs of fresh thyme and a couple spoonfuls of chives.

Get the Recipe: Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon

Crowd-pleasing deviled eggs become salty, sweet and indulgent with the addition of crunchy candied bacon.

Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon

Sweet Potato Casserole

A rich, nicely spiced sweet potato filling is topped with a crunchy brown sugar streusel for an irresistible side dish that makes it on Nealey Dozier's family's table every year.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Apple Pie

Michael Symon uses lard to achieve a super flaky crust and fills his pie with tart Granny Smith apples as well as a touch of heavy cream and butter to thicken the mixture.

Get the Recipe: Apple Pie

Rapid Rolls

Think you don't possibly have the time that baking fresh bread requires? Kelsey's rapid rolls take less than an hour to prepare and will use up only 20 minutes of your oven time.

Get the Recipe: Rapid Rolls

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Serve this bite-size savory appetizer and start your Thanksgiving feast off on the right note. Mushroom caps are generously topped with a sausage, breadcrumb and cream cheese mixture.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Sherry-Dijon Vinaigrette

Never a fan of Brussels sprouts as a child, Michael Voltaggio adds bacon and cooks the vegetables until they caramelize to create a fantastic side dish that even he loves.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Sherry-Dijon Vinaigrette

Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie

This dessert from Unique Eats is an irresistible salty-sweet twist on classic apple pie.

Get the Recipe: Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Maple Pecan Baked Brie

Start off with savory-sweet Brie baked to perfection and smothered with a spicy pecan praline sauce. Coarsely ground black pepper gives this dish an additional spicy edge.

Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Baked Brie

Better-Than-the-Box Stuffing

Packaged stuffing mix becomes a special standout with some added texture and fresh herbs.

Get the Recipe: Better Than the Box Stuffing

Easy Herb Roasted Turkey

Kelsey’s simple three-hour turkey recipe calls for the bird to be slathered with herbed butter and its cavity filled with more butter, fresh herbs and vegetables. Her timesaving tip that'll guarantee you even moister meat? Buy a pre-brined turkey.

Get the Recipe: Easy Herb Roasted Turkey

Maple Pecan Pie

What's better than Mom's pie? This take on pecan pie comes from Chuck's mom and is sure to have guests coming back for seconds.

Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Pie

Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas

Surprise guests and satisfy lovers of the sweet with a mash containing sweet potatoes and bananas. The fruit adds an unusual sweetness, perfectly matched by a brown sugar and crumbled pecan crust.

Get the Recipe: Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Honey

Fried Turkey

In addition to freeing up your oven and shortening your turkey cook time, frying your bird creates a ridiculously crisp exterior while allowing all of the juices to remain inside the turkey. This guarantees that every single bite is moist and tender. So why would you ever want to roast a turkey?

Get the Recipe: Fried Turkey

Baked Apple Pear Stuffing

Sweet meets savory in Kelsey's easy stuffing recipe loaded with apples, pears, raisins and sweet Italian sausage.

Get the Recipe: Baked Apple Pear Stuffing

Kelsey's Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese, topped with crispy bacon and fresh parsley, is cooked in a cast-iron skillet for an all-over crispy crust and an oozing, cheesy center.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without a slice of perfectly spiced pumpkin pie.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie

Southern-Style Candied Yams with Gingersnap Crunch

Sweet and sticky — the way indulgent holiday sides should be — these candied yams are topped with crunchy, spicy gingersnap cookies, full of wintry flavor.

Get the Recipe: Southern Style Candied Yams with Gingersnap Crunch

Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

The Turducken? So last year. This year it's all about the Veggieducken — a masterpiece composed of concentric layers of banana squash, leeks, sweet potatoes and lots of stuffing. Vegetarians of the world, you're welcome.

Get the Recipe: Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

Laura Calder's French Potatoes

Laura Calder makes flavor magic, combining a few simple ingredients and slow-cooking them to perfection for an impressive side dish.

Get the Recipe: Pommes De Terre a la Boulangere: Potatoes a la Bakery

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Alton Brown's recipe for Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes is easy to make and loaded with flavor. You'll love the spicy and sweet combo too.

Get the Recipe: Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Traditional Roasted Turkey

Bryan Voltaggio opts for a classic roast turkey to be the centerpiece of his Thanksgiving meal. His secret ingredient? Homemade mayonnaise as a marinade. The egg yolks help the oil adhere to the skin, creating a golden-brown, crispy skin.

Get the Recipe: Traditional Roasted Turkey

Sweet Pumpkin Strudel

Michael Symon's flaky phyllo strudel features a pumpkin filling that's made extra rich with cream cheese, brown sugar and warm spices. Top the golden rolls with turbinado sugar and chopped pecans for crunch. 

Get the Recipe: Sweet Pumpkin Strudel

Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing with Chive Biscuits

Chive biscuits are the base of Bryan Voltaggio's Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing, giving the dish intense flavor and texture. Meaty chanterelle mushrooms add their unique woody flavor, balancing out the biscuits' sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing with Chive Biscuits

Artichoke Gratinata

Though it sounds fancy, this dish consists of artichokes baked with breadcrumbs and a melted grated cheese topping: a comforting casserole that cooks in only 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Artichoke Gratinata

Sweet Corn Bread Pudding

This sweet, moist skillet bread pudding turns savory with the addition of Parmesan cheese and fragrant thyme and rosemary.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Corn Bread Pudding

Sweet Potato Pie

Leave it to Alton to take tradition in a new direction, with steamed sweet potatoes (not roasted) blended with yogurt (instead of cream) for a fluffy, not-too-sweet filling.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie

Roasted Cauliflower

Cumin seeds and panko breadcrumbs give roasted cauliflower exotic spice and crunchy texture.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower

Apple Tarte Tatin

Guests will flip for Kelsey's inverted tarte Tatin, which puts the focus on the beautiful apple slices nestled into billowing puff pastry.

Get the Recipe: Apple Tarte Tatin

Broccoli Casserole

Packaged Ramen gives this casserole a touch of crunch and just enough seasoning to transform broccoli into something decadent.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Pecan Pumpkin Crunch

Aida Mollenkamp's easy pecan-topped pumpkin cake makes a great take-along treat. To ensure freshness (and impress your friends), make the bourbon whipped cream on-site as a finishing touch.

Get the Recipe: Pecan Pumpkin Crunch

Kelsey's Roasted Vegetables

Add a healthy and colorful dish to your Thanksgiving table with a seasonal assortment of veggies that, when sliced thinly enough, require only about 10 minutes in the oven.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetables

Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

Why save mushrooms for the main course when you can quickly saute them with oil and some herbs for a bruschetta topping?

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere

Kelsey's turkey sandwich pairs leftover holiday meat with melted Gruyere cheese and a buttery French baguette.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere

caramelized onion and cornbread stuffing

Cornmeal, butter and heavy cream produce a stuffing that's as rich as it is moist. Tyler adds a handful of earthy sage to this 30-minute side dish.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing

Pecan Pumpkin Crunch

The sticky crunchiness of a pecan pie combines with the flavorfu springiness of a pumpkin pie join in this recipe to make one epic dessert. Don't be intimidated by the laundry list of ingredients –– most of them are already in your pantry.

Get the Recipe: Pecan Pumpkin Crunch

White Beans and Rosemary Crostini

Velvety white beans make the need for cream unnecessary in this smoky, robust hors d'ouvres. This recipe calls for a fireplace, but is just as good when made on a stovetop.

Get the Recipe: White Beans and Rosemary Crostini

Haricot Verts Almondine

Kelsey explains that it's important to salt the water you blanch your green beans in, as it imparts flavor and helps to keep the string beans crisp.

Get the Recipe: Haricots Verts Almondine

Apple Bread pudding with caramel dessert sauce

Tastier than pie and far easier to bake, this rich fall treat is what you'll want on your spoon after your finish your main course. Trust us.

Get the Recipe: Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Dessert Sauce