Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving since 1621 as a harvest feast between English colonists and the Wampanoag people. Today, the holiday brings families together to express gratitude and share a meal. Many still acknowledge the complex history and harm experienced by Native Americans. 

Thanksgiving Day in 2025 falls on Thursday, November 27. The holiday can also land as early as November 22 or as late as November 28. 

If you want a southern Thanksgiving menu to impress your family and friends, you’re in the right place. Whether you crave creamy casseroles, buttery biscuits, pumpkin pie, or classic turkey, we have flavorful recipes for each. We also offer ideas for main dishes and desserts you’ll enjoy. If you cook for yourself, expect delicious leftovers—the origin of the TV dinner. 

Fun Fact: Did You Know Thanksgiving Was for Fasting, Not Feasting? 

Thanksgiving began as a religious observance among Pilgrims. They marked the day with fasting and prayer rather than feasting, and held spontaneous ceremonies after successful harvests, military victories, or the end of droughts. 

The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was a harvest festival held by the pilgrims and the Native American tribe that helped them survive. Thanksgiving became a national holiday two centuries later when Abraham Lincoln recognized it in 1863. 

If you’re looking for an easy southern Thanksgiving menu with recipes, let us begin by giving you an easy side dish you will find on most southern Thanksgiving tables. The green bean casserole is made with simple ingredients, such as canned green beans, crispy fried onions, and a creamy sauce made with cream of mushroom soup and melty cheddar cheese. If you want something easier, try the following recipe for an appetizer version of green bean casserole that will become a family favorite year after year. 

The Optimal Cheesy Green Bean Casserole 

This may not be your grandmother’s green bean casserole recipe. Instead, it’s a cheesy twist to make it feel even better. My recipes are loaded with sharp cheddar and topped with crispy onions. This casserole is the ultimate side dish for holiday dinners or comfort food cravings. 

My mother-in-law was famous for this cheesy baked green bean casserole. This casserole is slow-roasted, unlike the conventional version, to create a yummy melt-in-your-mouth texture unlike any green bean casserole I have ever had. The crispy, cheesy crust provides the perfect textural contrast, making it both traditional and irresistible. 

This dish takes 5 minutes to prepare and serves 8 people. Cooking time is 1 hour. You will need a casserole dish and mixing bowls. 

Ingredients 

• Four fourteen-point-five cans of French-cut beans, drained. 

• One 10.5 oz can of cream of mushroom soup. 

• One can of 10.5 oz cream of celery soup. 

• One container of 6 oz French-fried onions 

• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated and divided (approximately 8 oz block). 

• ¼ Teaspoon kosher salt. 

Instructions 

Preheat your oven to 375°F. ° 

In a large container, mix the drained green beans, mushroom soup, celery soup, and half the French-fried onions with half the cheddar and salt. 

Place in a lubricated baking dish and top with the residual cheddar cheese and crispy fried onions. Bake for 1 hour, turning it halfway to create an even, golden crust on both sides. 

Let it cool for about 20 minutes before eating. 

Do not worry if you have leftovers after cooking a cheesy green bean casserole; you can refrigerate it for 4 days and use it as leftovers. 

Conventional Southern Cornbread Dressing 

This cornbread dressing is the ultimate southern Thanksgiving stuffing and is essential for your holiday spread. It is made with rich, savory cornbread and seasoned to perfection, making it the heart of your meal. This stuffing is a southern staple, and no Thanksgiving is complete without it. Below is the recipe for this South Jiffy cornbread dressing, which can be made with or without sausage. 

This timeless Jiffy cornbread dressing recipe is a southern favorite. Imagine sweet and fluffy Jiffy cornbread mingling with zesty sausage, caramelized vegetables, and fragrant herbs. It then bakes into a delicious dressing. Feeling adventurous? Turn it into cornbread stuffing by stuffing it into the turkey before baking. 

The Jiffy on Bread Dressing Explained 

Jiffy cornbread mix is a must-have in the South. This simple cornbread mix is not merely for making cornbread. It is a fantastic ingredient for so many other dishes, too. 

I love using Jiffy cornbread mix in everything, including hush puppies, corn casserole, and Johnny cakes. It is versatile and always tastes delicious. For Thanksgiving, the Jiffy cornbread dressing always makes an appearance. It is filled with cornbread crumbles, caramelized vegetables, fresh herbs, and zesty sausage. 

Making Cornbread Dressing and Stuffing 

To make the cornbread dressing, you must first prepare your cornbread. 

Simply bake the Jiffy as directed and let it sit for 1 day. 

No sweat if you’re making this day of! Just prepare it according to directions and let it cool. Slice the cornbread into cubes, place them on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and toast in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven when the cubes are golden brown and crunchy, then allow it to cool. 

Once the cornbread is ready, transfer it to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Heat a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, then add a tube of Jimmy Dean sausage and break it up with a spoon. Brown the sausage until fully cooked, then add it to the cornbread bowl, leaving the excess grease in the pan. To the same skillet, add chopped sweet onion, celery, and a pinch of salt. Add a splash of vinegar or white wine to deglaze. Once the liquid begins to bubble, use a spoon to scrape up any browned bits, then stir until the vegetables caramelize. 

Next, add chopped herbs, minced garlic, and another pinch of salt to the vegetables in the skillet. Cook the mixture for about 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the cooked vegetables and herbs to the bowl with the cornbread and sausage. Gently mix, being careful not to break up the cornbread chunks. 

Lower the oven temperature to 375°F. In a separate bowl, whisk together chicken broth and eggs. Grease a baking dish and add the cornbread mixture. Pour the egg mixture on top, then use the back of a fork to help it soak in evenly. Top with thinly sliced butter. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown, then serve. 

Buttermilk Brined Turkey 

A beautifully browned turkey at the center of the table completes a Thanksgiving feast. Turkey was not served at the first Thanksgiving, but now it is a must for most. Buttermilk brine gives rich, flavorful, and juicy results in several ways. 

The buttermilk-brined turkey recipe is the easiest way to brine a turkey. It saves you time and leaves the turkey moist, flavorful, and attractive. All you need is a fresh turkey, buttermilk, hot sauce, and your favorite seasoning. No boiling or waiting for the brine to cool. 

Ingredients 

• Defrosted fresh turkey. 

• Buttermilk. 

• Hot sauce. 

• Salted butter, room temperature. 

• All-purpose seasoning. 

• Optional cavity filling ingredients include onion, lemon, orange, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage. 

Instructions 

The best part about buttermilk brine is how easy it is to make. You do not need to boil the brine. Just add buttermilk and hot sauce to your brining bag or bucket and stir. Place the turkey breast-side down and brine for 12-24 hours. 

When you are ready to cook, remove the turkey from the fridge and gently wipe off most of the buttermilk brine, leaving some on the skin. Do not rinse. Arrange the turkey on the roasting rack and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. In the meantime, rub the bird with room-temperature butter and sprinkle it with seasoning. 

You can stuff the turkey with herbs, onions, garlic, and any citrus you like. Lemons, oranges, rosemary, sage, thyme, and half a bulb of garlic all work well. Fill the bottom of the tray with broth, water, or wine to catch drippings. Preheat the oven to 325°F and cover the turkey with tinfoil. Bake for 1 hour, then remove the tinfoil and bake for another 2-3 hours. The turkey is done when the breast reaches 165°F or the inner thigh reaches 180°F. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes before slicing. 

What To Pair the Turkey With? 

Suppose you want some Thanksgiving dinner ideas, southern style. In that case, we recommend pairing turkey with some classics, such as cheesy green bean casserole and traditional southern cornbread dressing, for which we provided recipes. While you may come across numerous Thanksgiving recipes from America, the conventional Southern-style recipe is renowned for its taste and popularity. Therefore, if you decide to use our recipes on this Thanksgiving, we are confident you will enjoy your meal, and so will everyone joining you in about a month.