Looking for the perfect dish to contribute to a holiday party? Pick one of these 50 recipes—ranging from classics like sweet potato casserole to colorful fall salads to show-stopping pies. All are smart, make-ahead dishes, easily transportable, and sure to please the crowd.
Pecan Cheese Wafers
Pecans lightly brushed with egg whites are baked into cheesy, buttery wafers with a touch of chile flakes. Get the recipe for Pecan Cheese Wafers »
Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Gingersnap Crust
Creamy pumpkin filling over a ginger cookie crust provides a comforting balance of sweetness and spice.
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is braised in bacon drippings and enlivened with red wine vinegar and caraway seeds, making it a perfectly balanced holiday side.
Autumn Panzanella Salad
Crispy pancetta, peppery arugula, and sweet sautéed shallots give a fall spin to panzanella. Get the recipe for Autumn Panzanella Salad »
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Cumin-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Toasted cumin seeds, mint, and lime juice intensify the sweetness of simple baked root vegetables. Get the recipe for Cumin-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips»
Sautéed Green Beans with Pickled Shallots
Shallots are quick-pickled and sautéed with green beans in this refreshing side.
Mashed Yams with Lime and Honey
Creamy baked yams mashed with butter, lime juice, and honey make an easy, bright autumn side dish.
Fall Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale Chips, and Pomegranate Seeds
Pecan Cream Cake
Pecan Cream Cake
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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
This simple, satisfying side rounds out any Thanksgiving dinner.
Cherry-Frangelico Mincemeat Pie
Fresh and dried fruits steep in hazelnut liqueur for three days to make the filling for this holiday pie. Suet, a traditional mincemeat ingredient, adds moisture and richness, but vegetable shortening works just as well.
Roasted Onion and Chestnut Compote »
Border Grill Sugar Cookies
Potato chips give this treat from Mary Sue Milliken’s Border Grill restaurant unexpected salt and crunch.
Chocolate Ginger Chess Pie
A decadent mix of chocolates and ginger ups the ante on a classic Southern pie. Get the recipe for Chocolate Ginger Chess Pie »
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Roasted Beets with Orange and Crème Fraîche
A cool and tangy crème fraîche dressing adorns roasted beets for a simple, colorful side dish. We like to use a combination of red and golden beets for presentation. [See the recipe for Roasted Beets with Orange Crème Fraîche »
Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Roasted Vegetable Terrine
Our colorful vegetarian take on terrine features smoky roasted vegetables, tangy goat cheese, and a sun-dried tomato pesto.
American Cheddar Cheese Biscuits
When making these buttery little biscuits, opt for a true American cheese—fourth-generation Wisconsin cheesemaker Sid Cook, of Carr Valley Cheese, advised us to use a three-year-old extra-sharp cheddar. Get the recipe for American Cheddar Cheese Biscuits »
Brown Butter Walnut Pie with Sour Whipped Cream
Browned butter accentuates the flavor of earthy walnuts and a sour cream topping offsets the richness of the filling for a balanced, delectable dessert.
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Pear Tarte Tatin
Spinach Madeleine
A sauce of unabashedly flavorful ingredients including evaporated milk and, yes, Velveeta cheese, makes for a spectacularly rich take on creamed spinach. Get the recipe for Spinach Madeleine »
Van Valkenberg Hot Slaw
Coleslaw gets a makeover as a filling and hearty casserole that test kitchen assistant Sarah Ruth Maier grew up eating at family functions. Get the recipe for Van Valkenberg Hot Slaw »
Sweet Noodle Kugel
Kugel—the creamy egg noodle casserole that’s a staple of Jewish holiday cooking&dmash;gets a Midwestern topping of cornflakes in this Thanksgiving side dish.
Pear and Ginger Pie with Streusel Topping
Fresh ginger gives the filling of this pear pie a warming kick of spice, balanced by the buttery crumble of sweet streusel.
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Kale and Sweet Potato Gratin
Don’t limit traditional pie spices—clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg—to the dessert table. In this cheesy, rich gratin, the spices take a savory note alongside kale, sweet potatoes, and sharp white cheddar.
Piquant Corn Bread
Jalapeños and cilantro punch up classic cornbread.
Coconut Lime Custard Pie
Coconut Lime Custard Pie
Green Beans with Lemons and Capers
Inspired by the briny flavors of veal piccata, this elegant side dish is simplicity itself: blanched green beans tossed in a vinaigrette of capers, bright lemon, and a beautiful olive oil. Get the recipe for Green Beans with Lemons and Capers »
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble
This sweet potato casserole is an especially festive, over-the-top take on the Thanksgiving classic, topped with a crisp pecan crumble and dotted with marshmallows. Get the recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble »
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon and Pineapple
Pumpkin Spice Cake with Mascarpone
This batter also makes delicious muffins, perfect for a day-after-Thanksgiving brunch.
Creamed Onion Gratin
Sweet, translucent roasted onions marry beautifully with the bechamel and Gorgonzola in this rich casserole.
Buttermilk Cluster
Soft, tear-away dinner rolls are as easy to make as they are delicious.
Salata Adas (Garlicky Lentil Salad)
This light, Lebanese lentil salad is flavored with lemon juice, cumin, allspice, and parsley.
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Challot (Challah Knots)
These fluffy, brioche-like rolls are traditionally served on Jewish holidays, but they’re perfect for any occasion. This recipe first appeared in our October 2011 issue along with Katie Robbins’s story Season of Rejoicing. Get the recipe Challot (Challah Knots) »
Raw Kale Salad with Lemon, Pecorino, and Currants
In this simple, elegant salad, the spicy flavor of thinly sliced raw kale is offset by creamy Pecorino cheese, bright lemon, and sweet-tart dried currants.
Soy-Braised Kabocha Squash
Braising—with a healthy dose of soy—is one of our favorite ways to bring out the texture and flavor of winter squash.
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
This recipe blends roasted brussels sprouts with a silky mornay sauce. A panko topping with lemon zest adds crunch and zing.
Winter Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Walnuts, apple, and sliced beet add crunch and flavor to this wintertime salad.
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Green Beans with Sesame Sauce
A jolt of heat from fresh ginger is balanced by sweetened soy sauce and nutty sesame seeds in this Japanese-style string bean dish. See the recipe for Green Beans with Sesame Sauce »
Torta di Sant'Antonio
Red wine adds depth of flavor and gives the tart its rich, burgundy color. See the recipe for Torta di Sant’Antonio »
Apple Pie
A double-crusted apple pie will hold up perfectly to a scoop (or two) of melty vanilla ice cream. See the recipe for Apple Pie »
Vanilla-Scented Quince and Pear Pie
This sweet, tart fruit pie is a beautiful showcase for the flavors of fall and winter. It’s great on a holiday table, and is at its best when served alongside a plate of cheese: the rich quince flavor balances beautifully with a wedge of funky, crumbly blue beside it on the plate.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Candied Pecans
This sweet-tart winter salad is a simple way to add elegance to a Thanksgiving dinner. ** See the recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Candied Pecans »**
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Broiled Spaghetti Squash with Walnut-Miso Glaze
Chunks of Spaghetti squash reveal a beautifully yielding texture and a savory, subtle flavor that’s perfectly offset by a rich walnut-miso glaze. Prepare the squash ahead of time, and then pop them under the broiler for 3 minutes when you get to your host’s kitchen. Get the recipe for Broiled Spaghetti Squash with Walnut-Miso Glaze »
Provençal Bread with Olives and Herbs (Fougasse)
Uniquely shaped yeast breads are sold as a market specialty in the south of France.
Grizzly Bear Pie
Served at Brooklyn restaurant Vinegar Hill House, grizzly bear pie is a wry twist on the usual walnut pie: its deliciously sweet filling is based on honey, and a light sprinkle of flaked sea salt lends a touch of depth. ** See the recipe for Grizzly Bear Pie »**
Potato and Rutabaga Gratin
Earthy rutabagas and aged Gruyere add intrigue to a classic potato gratin. Get the recipe for Potato and Rutabaga Gratin »
Honey and Herb Biscuits
These fluffy biscuits are honey-sweetened with an herbal fragrance from rosemary and thyme.
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Maple Sugar Pie
When making maple sugar pie, fold any extra dough over the side of the pan for an extra-thick crust. Serve a warm slice with a heaping of whipped cream. ** See the recipe for Maple Sugar Pie »**
