50 Vintage Thanksgiving Recipes To Make This Year

A treasured Appalachian dessert, this towering beauty is not for novice bakers or those of us who are shorter on patience, but the delicious result is absolutely worth every second.

Though many Southerners actually prefer the canned kind, we will always be loyal to making cranberry sauce from scratch. It’s so easy but adds the perfect amount of color and tang to your Thanksgiving table. 

Pumpkin and pecan might get all the attention on the dessert lineup, but we’re making a case  for old-fashioned sweet potato pie. The potato’s natural sweetness requires less spice than canned pumpkin does. 

If you don’t like super-sweet side dishes, don’t let the name stop you from trying this recipe. Fresh rosemary adds an aromatic nature and sorghum adds a hint of bitterness for a result that’s well-rounded. 

Thanksgiving calls for at least one enticingly sweet side dish. This retro favorite combines every classic topping—marshmallows, pecans, and cornflakes—for a creamy, crunchy, gooey finish.

While a pre-made or shortcut version of mashed potatoes may be suitable for weeknight dinner, Thanksgiving calls for them to be made from scratch. The classic recipe is actually fairly simple to pull together and requires just a handful of ingredients.

When there’s a gravy boat on the table. Southerners believe it should be filled with giblet gravy. It’s best when made the same day the turkey is cooked.

It’s easy to see why this dish is a Southern classic. Not only does it come together easily and with just 5 ingredients, but it also proves that anything can be delicious when covered in cheese and served in a casserole dish.

Collards are like good Thanksgiving guests. They don’t get in the way, but definitely add something to the occasion. (In this case, the sideboard.) Southern to the bone, collard greens with ham hocks are too easy and delicious to pass up.

A classic combination dressed up for the holidays, this Brussels-and-bacon dish might just give green bean casserole a run for its money.

It’s easy to eat your veggies with this cheesy side. This casserole is super decadent, thanks to the buttery cracker topping and a creamy sauce made with lots of Cheddar cheese.

Candied yams aren’t as favored on the Thanksgiving spread as they once were. Back before sweet potato casserole reigned supreme, these lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet yams were a Southern staple.

Cover all of your Thanksgiving needs with this old-fashioned, wonderfully roasted turkey.

Somewhere along the line, this favorite Southern snack became a beloved Thanksgiving tradition. Southern cooks pop these in between covering the casseroles and basting the turkey.

If you’re wondering why this is on the list, you’re surely not from these parts. Crunchy, creamy, and cheesy, this casserole is a Turkey Day non-negotiable.

It’s not Thanksgiving without at least a few pies on the dessert table, and apple pie should definitely be one of them.

Whether you consider it a side dish or a dessert, it’s just not Thanksgiving without at least one bowl of fluff on the menu. Both kids and adults will love it for its bright pink color and fluffy texture.

Only seven ingredients are needed to create the creamy filling for this old-fashioned pie.

This simple, crisp-like dessert is like having holiday heaven on speed dial. Quick and easy, it can be served as a side dish or dessert.

Corn pudding is a Thanksgiving staple, and this recipe is as classic as it gets, making use of 6 cups of corn kernels.

Don’t ever let Thanksgiving commence without corn pudding, we say. This favorite comes in many (albeit similar) versions, including this more savory recipe with chopped onions and fresh thyme. Try our Tee’s Corn Pudding for a slightly sweeter take.

This Texas-based recipe feels straight from the archives. “A lady from Houston just grabbed me and hugged me with tears in her eyes,” says the purveyor of this pecan pie, Becky Wolfe. “She said she hadn’t had pie like this since her mother passed.”

Cornbread and squash are synonymous with Southern food. They meet in this dressing for the ultimate holiday side dish.

Once upon a time, we sent the Southern Living Test Kitchen on a mission to discover the easiest, most fantastic pumpkin pie recipe in all the land. And they succeeded. If you thought homemade pumpkin pie was difficult to pull off, think again.

Vinegar is the not-so-secret ingredient that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients in Chess Pie. But don’t be alarmed, you’ll find that the recipe calls for just one tablespoon for the whole pie.

Creamy and savory, and with a bit of crunch at the end from crispy fried onions, this old-fashioned green bean casserole hits all of the tried-and-true notes.

This classic, incredibly moist recipe for cornbread dressing is good enough to be passed down through the family, Homemade cornbread is key.

Get crafty with your sweet potatoes this year and make warm and fluffy bread rolls.

This cross between a buttermilk biscuit and a dinner roll is so light and airy in texture, it might be sent from heaven. Even better, it can be made up to one week in advance, to make your busy holiday cooking schedule a little lighter.

This classic steakhouse side is also a stunning addition to the holiday table. Creamy and cheesy, spinach has never tasted so delicious. A sprinkle of toasted pine nuts on top adds a bit of crunch and nutty flavor, that balances the richness of the cream and cheese.

This delicious Thanksgiving recipe is the perfect cross between hot cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing.

Hoping to elevate your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Just add bacon. And of course, make it from scratch just like Grandma does.

You can’t go wrong with serving the Southern classics; Scalloped Oysters are a surefire crowd-pleaser.

The sweet and spicy pecan topping on this recipe adds a scrumptious texture to the root vegetables. Plus, it’s a topping you can use year-round on everything from salads to macaroni and cheese.

When this cornbread-free dressing recipe graced Southern Living pages over 25 years ago, it stirred the proverbial pot, to be sure. But if we’re swapping out a cornmeal-laden version for anything, it’s going to be for grits. (Who says there isn’t room for both?)

On a special occasion like Thanksgiving, an antique version of sweet potato pie feels just right. This double-crust, old-fashioned pie might look ordinary on the outside, but when it’s sliced, the inside reveals vibrant orange layers of sweet potatoes flecked with spices and sweetened with sugar and sorghum syrup.

Let the brine (and smoker) do the work. This classic smoked turkey is full of autumnal flavors like apple cider, fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Sure, apple pie is classic. But this rendition from our 1995 November issue is anything but ordinary. Bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts give it a festive zing.

Wonderfully easy, these make-ahead rolls can be set to go before the in-laws come into town. Like our icebox dinner rolls, these yeast rolls will always be a Thanksgiving staple in the South. The recipe first made its mark in our November 1995 issue.

Talk about a festive demeanor. These carrots make a bright and cheery addition to the spread. During the holiday season, Southerners will cover just about any vegetable with butter, sugar, and a bevy of festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

This old-school pie is delicious and easy to pull off, making it one of our go-tos. The silky smooth custard in this pie is made with eggs and half and half.

It may go by many names, but no matter what it’s called we love it. Oyster casserole relies on oysters, a rich and creamy sauce, and a crispy topping.

There are few things more classic than homemade chocolate pie. Chocolate lovers will adore this rich and creamy pie.

Short prep time and fresh fall flavors make this dessert a hit at every function.

Even if it just sits there, pushed to the farthest corner, a congealed salad just wants to be included on Thanksgiving Day. We published our fair share of congealed salads in the 1960s, and we wouldn’t mind bringing this cranberry rendition back.

Using both ham hocks and bacon drippings, these fresh field peas don’t go subtle on flavor for the day of feasting.

Potatoes au gratin grace our Thanksgiving tables as much as mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese.

This casserole isn’t short on flavor. Italian sausage, green chiles, and both Cheddar and mozzarella cheese make black-eyed peas and squash so tasty, everyone will want seconds.

This pie is a Great Depression invention and as such uses only a few pantry staples. Our recipe, elevated with vanilla and honey, makes this old-school pie a simple and elegant dessert to serve alongside all the other classics.

Ivy Odom shares one of her family’s favorite recipes, which has been passed down from her grandmother.