Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Introduction

Thanksgiving is all about celebrating abundance, gratitude, and the joy of sharing a delicious meal with loved ones. Choosing the right main dish can set the tone for your entire feast and create a memorable centerpiece that brings everyone to the table. Whether you want to stick with classic turkey, experiment with new flavors, or offer vegetarian options, these Thanksgiving main dishes will satisfy every palate and make your holiday spread truly spectacular.

Flavorful and Festive Thanksgiving Main Dishes

From juicy roasted turkeys and aromatic glazed hams to savory stuffed squash and plant-based showstoppers, these recipes range from comforting classics to modern twists. The magic is in the details—herb-infused rubs, savory stuffings, and vibrant glazes ensure each main course bursts with flavor and appeal. Your guests will be raving about your holiday spread long after the last bite.

Perfect Roast Turkey with Herb Butter

A perfectly roasted turkey is the iconic Thanksgiving main dish. This version uses an herb butter packed with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage to keep the meat juicy and flavorful. The result is a golden-brown, aromatic centerpiece worthy of your holiday table.

Honey Glazed Spiral Ham

Sweet and savory, honey glazed ham is a crowd-pleasing alternative to turkey. The slight crispiness from the glaze pairs beautifully with the tender, juicy meat inside. It’s easy to prepare and is equally delicious served warm or at room temperature.

Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash

For a stunning plant-based option, stuffed butternut squash brings color and heartiness to the table. Filled with quinoa, cranberries, pecans, and herbs, each squash half becomes a delicious, nutrient-rich main dish that lets vegetarians and meat-eaters alike celebrate together.

Serving Suggestions for a Show Stopping Thanksgiving Main Dish Spread

Pair these mains with classic sides like creamy mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and tangy cranberry sauce. Don’t forget a rich gravy or homemade chutney to pull all the flavors together and wow your guests.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

Most Thanksgiving main dishes are designed to serve 8-10 people generously. A serving of roast turkey (with skin) averages around 250 calories, honey glazed ham is about 280 calories per serving, and vegetarian stuffed squash is approximately 220 calories per half squash. Providing a variety helps accommodate different dietary needs while ensuring everyone leaves the table satisfied.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save these Thanksgiving main dishes to automatically generate a categorized shopping list with every ingredient you’ll need—streamlining your grocery store experience and making your holiday meal prep stress-free.

Instructions

1. Roast Turkey with Herb Butter:
   1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat turkey dry and season inside and out with salt and pepper.
   2. Mix butter with chopped herbs and garlic. Carefully loosen turkey skin and rub herb butter evenly under and over the skin.
   3. Place onion and lemon in the turkey cavity; set turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour chicken broth into pan.
   4. Roast, basting every 45 min, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (about 13–15 minutes per pound). Rest for 20 minutes before carving.
2. Honey Glazed Spiral Ham:
   1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham cut-side down in a roasting pan and score the surface lightly.
   2. Mix honey, brown sugar, Dijon, pineapple juice, and cloves. Brush half over the ham.
   3. Bake, uncovered, for 1 to 1.5 hours, brushing with remaining glaze every 30 minutes.
3. Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash:
   1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush squash halves with olive oil, season, and roast cut-side down for 30–35 minutes or until tender.
   2. Sauté onion and garlic until soft, then mix with quinoa, cranberries, pecans, feta, and parsley. Fill each squash half with mixture.
   3. Bake stuffed squash for another 10 minutes before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

Thanksgiving isn’t just a one-day event—these main dishes are also perfect for prepping ahead or repurposing leftovers throughout the week. Save and schedule your recipes with CookifyAI to plan your entire week’s meals, automatically generate organized shopping lists, and see where ingredients overlap to avoid waste.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically tallies total quantities needed for all your recipes
• Organizes groceries by departments for a faster, easier shopping trip
• Flags duplicate items to save you money and prevent overbuying
• Makes it simple to coordinate prep and leftovers for stress-free holiday meal planning

Pro tip: By batching these recipes with your week’s sides and desserts, CookifyAI will optimize your shopping list so you don’t forget anything—even when planning a complex, multi-course holiday menu.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 30–45 minutes (depending on dish)
Cook Time:

• Roast Turkey: 3–4 hours
• Spiral Ham: 1–1.5 hours
• Stuffed Butternut Squash: 45 minutes

Total Time: Varies by dish (most can be made in under 4 hours including resting or baking time)

With these Thanksgiving main dishes, you’ll create a memorable meal packed with flavor and festivity—perfectly organized for a stress-free holiday with help from CookifyAI!