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It’s that time of year again! The holiday season has officially begun, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this year’s Thanksgiving menu. Truly, I think it might be my best yet! This is Our 2026 Thanksgiving Menu and Guide: An Easy Vintage Thanksgiving at Home.
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I hinted at this menu on Sunday, and I really think it might be my easiest Thanksgiving menu yet!
This year, I stripped away all the fussiness and focused on making the dishes my family loves most. Nothing about this menu is going to shock you. It’s classic, vintage HBH. If you go all the way back and look at my Thanksgiving menu from 2015, I’d say this year’s menu is even simpler!
We have all the basics. The turkey recipe I’ve been making since 2015, but updated with a new flavor that I love. There’s a cocktail to share, a few easy appetizers, and all the sides everyone looks forward to most. Mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, the best stuffing, homemade rolls, a big salad, and my Nonnie’s maple roasted acorn squash.
For dessert, we’re making the best molten cookie pie, along with a couple of really good cookie recipes. The pie is basically a cross between a warm chocolate chip cookie and a molten brownie. It’s so good!
I’m not trying to reinvent Thanksgiving this year. I just want to serve a REALLY good meal without making everything so complicated.
And I’m so happy with how it all turned out! It feels very much like vintage HBH. The dishes I would have made even before HBH existed, only better because I’ve learned a few things along the way. A little more flavor here, a special touch there, but nothing over the top.
With the year my family has had, I’m really leaning into the idea of home. Homemade everything (well, for the most part, I’m still happily accepting help from the store when it makes sense!), comforting recipes, and food that’s easy to make but full of flavor.
I even took things back to the beginning this year. I styled and shot the Thanksgiving table myself, spending two days prepping, cooking, and photographing everything. It’s certainly not perfect, but I love how it turned out. It felt good to go back to my roots!
I’ve always loved creating a Thanksgiving dinner that centers around tradition while introducing a few new recipes with the potential to become new holiday favorites. Mixing old with new is key!
Below, I’m sharing our full menu, including new recipes coming over the next two to three weeks, plus the tips and tricks I’ve learned from 14 years of hosting Thanksgiving for my family. My goal is to make your holiday cooking easier, more enjoyable, and, of course, delicious!
Let me know what you think! For now, let’s dive into all the details of our 2026 Thanksgiving menu!
This Year’s Concept:
Tradition! The recipes my Nonnie used to make, the sides my brothers would gobble up, and the desserts everyone looks forward to. A vintage HBH Thanksgiving with a few fresh twists, lots of homemade goodness, and nothing overly complicated. Just really good food to share with the people we love most!
The 2026 Menu
Breakfast: Make It!
We tend to eat Thanksgiving dinner on the later side. I can never seem to pull off a 5 pm dinner, especially on Thanksgiving!
We always make time to cut down our Christmas tree before dinner, so we usually don’t sit down to eat until around 7 pm, sometimes even later. It just depends on the year!
Which means a really good breakfast is a must!
Brown Butter Iced Mocha Cinnamon Rolls
The Cocktails: Make One Signature Drink + Add Your Favorite Wines
Always have the candles lit and drinks ready before guests arrive. A warm glow and something delicious to sip instantly make everyone feel welcome. I love offering both cocktails and mocktails, so there’s something for everyone!
Smoked Cinnamon Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned – new and coming soon!
Appetizers: Make One or Two + a Cheese Board
I never used to serve appetizers because I didn’t want everyone filling up before the big meal! But I’ve changed my thinking over the years. A few simple bites and a beautiful cheese board are perfect for keeping everyone happy until dinner. Nothing too heavy or complicated!
Sweet and Savory Cheddar Bacon Pinwheels – new and coming soon!
Thanksgiving Pumpkin Cheese Board – new and coming soon!
The Main
Herb Butter Turkey and White Wine Pan Gravy
If I know I’ll have guests who don’t eat turkey, I love including a vegetarian main. Something hearty, delicious, and just as special as the turkey!
One Pot Creamy Vegetable Dumpling Soup
The Sides: Make Four to Six
The sides are always everyone’s favorite part of Thanksgiving! Pick the dishes your family loves most. There’s no need to make them all!
Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash – new and coming soon!
Make Ahead Sage Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Garlic – new and coming soon!
Brown Butter Parmesan Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole – new and coming soon!
French Onion Stuffing – new and coming soon!
Honey Roasted Carrots with Sage Pesto Crumbs – new and coming soon!
Pomegranate Salad with Almond Dressing – new and coming soon!
Salted Soft Pretzel Crescent Rolls – new and coming soon!
Cranberry Sauce: Use your favorite recipe here! I like to simmer fresh cranberries with maple syrup, orange juice, a cinnamon stick, and a sprig of rosemary until thickened. I switch it up a little every year, but it’s always delicious and so easy to make ahead.
Dessert: Make a Pie + Two Others
I love having a few desserts to set out after dinner. One really good pie and a couple of cookie recipes are all you need! Plus, the cookies are perfect for snacking on throughout the holiday weekend.
Molten Cookie Pie – new and coming soon!
Thin Chewy Chai Molasses Snickerdoodles – new and coming soon!
Alternate Sides:Â
Make it Ahead Thanksgiving Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans
Roasted Balsamic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Alternate Desserts:Â
Maple Brown Sugar Pecan Cookie PieÂ
Chocolate Covered Espresso Pretzels
Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes
Your Thanksgiving Day Dinner Countdown
My biggest tip? Make as much as you can ahead of time! You don’t need to cook everything on Thanksgiving Day. I promise, a little planning makes the holiday so much easier!
Whether you’re eating at 3 pm, 5 pm, or 7 pm, simply work backward from your dinner time. Here’s how I like to plan everything out.
2–3 Days Before: Start Prepping!
Make your cranberry sauce, salad dressing, and cookie dough. Wash and chop your vegetables, organize cocktail ingredients, and pull out all your serving dishes. You can even set the table ahead of time!
The Day Before: Do the Heavy Lifting!
Make the mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole. Prep the stuffing, appetizers, vegetables, and roll dough according to your recipes. Get your desserts ready, too!
Keep everything covered in the fridge so Thanksgiving Day is mostly baking and reheating.
6–7 Hours Before Dinner: Get Organized
Enjoy breakfast, then get the turkey ready for roasting. Follow your recipe’s cooking time based on the size of your bird. Larger turkeys may need an earlier start!
Plan your oven schedule so you know when each side needs to go in.
3–4 Hours Before Dinner: Final Prep
Check on the turkey, arrange your cheese board, and prepare cocktail and mocktail bases. Finish any last-minute prep and get your serving pieces ready.
1–2 Hours Before Dinner: Bake + Reheat
Once the turkey is fully cooked, let it rest while you finish the sides. Bake the stuffing and casseroles, roast the vegetables, and gently reheat the mashed potatoes and gravy. Be sure to allow extra time for dishes coming straight from the fridge.
30 Minutes Before Dinner: Finishing Touches
Warm the rolls, toss the salad, carve the turkey, and transfer everything to serving dishes. Ask for help! This is when an extra set of hands makes all the difference.
Dinner Time: Enjoy!
Sit down, eat, and enjoy! And if dinner is a little late, don’t worry. Ours usually is!
After Dinner: Dessert!
Warm the molten cookie pie, set out the cookies, and make coffee. Dessert should be the easiest part of the night!
A Few Extra Make-Ahead Tips
- Mashed potatoes: Make them a day ahead, then gently reheat with extra butter and a splash of cream or milk.
- Stuffing: Prep the bread and vegetables ahead. Assemble the day before, refrigerate promptly, and bake until fully cooked.
- Sweet potato casserole: Make the base ahead, but save any crunchy toppings for just before baking.
- Vegetables: Wash, peel, and chop ahead. Roast on Thanksgiving for the best flavor.
- Salad: Make the dressing ahead and prep everything separately. Toss just before serving.
- Rolls: Prep the dough ahead according to your recipe, or bake early and warm before dinner. Store-bought works too!
- Desserts: Bake cookies ahead and prep the molten cookie pie according to the recipe. Warm before serving for that delicious gooey center.
One last tip: Don’t feel like you need to make everything from scratch. Use store-bought shortcuts, ask guests to bring a dish, and give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Thanksgiving should be enjoyable for the cook, too!
For the Tablescape
As with most years, I kept the table simple, using pieces I already had at home. White dishes, silverware, linen napkins, pretty ribbons, and fresh florals arranged down the center of the table instead of a runner or tablecloth.
For the flowers, I used one larger arrangement surrounded by smaller arrangements. When it’s time for dinner, I move the larger arrangement to a side table and replace it with the turkey! This keeps the table pretty while still allowing everyone to see each other and easily chat over dinner.
I used glassware I already own and muted linen napkins tied with a simple ribbon and festive ornament. Such an easy little detail, but they turned out so pretty!
Ending the Night
Every Thanksgiving night, we sit by the Christmas tree and string popcorn and cranberries to make garlands for our family tree. It’s one of my favorite traditions and such a special way to end the night. A little Christmas magic to officially welcome the holiday season!
And a mug of hot chocolate.
