17 Must-Have Southern-Style Thanksgiving Favorites to Complete Your Holiday Meal

Jenny deRemer

Nov 04, 2024

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Celebrate the season with classic Southern-style Thanksgiving favorites that bring comfort and flavor to the table. From rich Southern Green Bean Casserole to Best Southern Corn Pudding, these dishes embody the warmth and tradition of Southern gatherings. Don’t miss iconic sides like Melting Potatoes and Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad or finish on a sweet note with Lemon Chess Pie and Sweet Potato Cheesecake for a Thanksgiving your family will cherish.

Table of Contents

Orange Bourbon Roasted Turkey Breast

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Sliced roasted turkey breast, garnished with rosemary, thyme, and orange slices, on a white platter.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Brighten your table with this Orange Bourbon Turkey Breast! Bourbon, fresh orange, and molasses infuse flavor while an oven bag keeps it tender—perfect for holidays or any gathering without the oven stress!
Get the Recipe: Orange Bourbon Roasted Turkey Breast

Melting Potatoes

A beautifully presented photo of Melting Potatoes
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These melting potatoes are the ultimate side dish. Practically dripping butter, these soft and tender roasted potatoes go with every meal!
Get the Recipe: Melting Potatoes

Deep Fried Turkey

Deep Fried Turkey in all its glory
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Deep Fried Turkey is the perfect main course for any holiday. Make an herby wet brine, then fry for a super crispy and juicy result.
Get the Recipe: Deep Fried Turkey

Thanksgiving Rolls

Thanksgiving Rolls at its finest
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These soft and fluffy Thanksgiving dinner rolls are easy to make and extra delicious, so they’re the perfect bread for holiday meals!
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Rolls

Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

A close-up of a dish featuring red potatoes, green beans, and pieces of bacon, all seasoned and mixed together. A spoon is partially visible in the bowl.
Image Credit: Well Fed Baker

Southern Green Beans and Potatoes brings together tender green beans, crispy bacon, and soft potatoes with a blend of Southern seasonings. This hearty, flavorful side dish fits right into a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

Cornbread Dressing

Tasty Cornbread Dressing on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This Cornbread Dressing recipe is filled with fresh herbs, garlic, celery, and moist cornbread. Cornbread stuffing is a delicious side!
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Dressing

Spatchcock Turkey

Scrumptious Spatchcock Turkey photo
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

We’ll show you how to spatchcock a turkey before roasting so you can have a juicy, crispy-skinned, garlic and herb turkey for Thanksgiving!
Get the Recipe: Spatchcock Turkey

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad

A clear gelatin mold with embedded fruit chunks sits atop a bed of vibrant orange shredded carrot salad on a white plate. Small greens garnish the dish. A soft, peach-colored fabric is in the background.
Image Credit: jellojoy

Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad mixes sweet carrots and pineapple in a jiggly, refreshing blend, making it a great choice for a Southern-inspired Thanksgiving meal. This retro dish adds a fun, light side to balance richer flavors.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Pineapple Jello Salad

Candied Yams

A delightful Candied Yams
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These classic Candied Yams are coated in brown sugar, maple syrup, and warm spices, then baked until they become sweet as candy!
Get the Recipe: Candied Yams

Southern Green Bean Casserole

A casserole dish filled with green bean casserole topped with crispy fried onions and a creamy sauce. A wooden spoon is scooping a portion. Two bread rolls are on the side, resting on a red and white striped cloth.
Image Credit: Blackberry Babe

Southern Green Bean Casserole with stuffing mix adds a unique twist to a holiday classic. Its creamy texture and savory flavor make it a must-have for any Southern-style Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Yummy Sweet Potato Cheesecake picture
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This flavorful Sweet Potato Cheesecake has everything you love about sweet potato pie combined with creamy cheesecake!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Lemon Chess Pie

A close-up view of a pie with a golden, slightly cracked surface dusted with powdered sugar. The pie has a flaky, crimped crust, and three slices have been cut, revealing a rich, smooth filling. The pie is presented on a marble surface.
Image Credit: Well Fed Baker

Lemon Chess Pie delivers a bright, citrusy flavor that adds a refreshing touch to Thanksgiving. This classic Southern dessert keeps it simple yet satisfying, with a creamy, tangy filling in every slice.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chess Pie

Loaded Scalloped Potatoes

Tasty Loaded Scalloped Potatoes on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These loaded scalloped potatoes are layered with lots of cheese and bacon, and cooked in a cheesy sauce. Perfect holiday side dish!
Get the Recipe: Loaded Scalloped Potatoes

Hatch Green Chile Creamed Corn

A white oval dish filled with creamy corn garnished with a sprig of parsley. The background features a light-colored cloth with green fern patterns.
Image Credit: Three Olives Branch

Hatch Green Chile Creamed Corn combines sweet corn and mild green chiles, giving it a unique warmth perfect for a Thanksgiving side. This Southern favorite pairs well with turkey and holiday fixings.
Get the Recipe: Hatch Green Chile Creamed Corn

Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies

Close-up of freshly baked apple cookies cooling on a wire rack. The cookies are golden brown with visible chunks of apple and a slightly crumbly texture, placed on a light-colored surface.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies pack cozy fall flavors into a soft, chewy treat. These cookies, with hints of cinnamon and apple, offer a sweet taste of the season that fits perfectly in a Southern holiday dessert lineup.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A baked casserole dish filled with a golden-brown mixture of diced vegetables, corn, and herbs, topped with fresh thyme and green onions, on a wooden surface.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Best Southern Corn Pudding serves up farm-fresh corn in a creamy, comforting casserole that feels right at home on the Thanksgiving table. This sweet and savory dish makes a crowd-pleasing choice for holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Best Southern Corn Pudding

Sweet Potato Biscuits

A beautifully presented photo of Sweet Potato Biscuits
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These flaky, homemade sweet potato biscuits are a comforting addition to any holiday table. Plus, they’re so quick and easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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