If you’re looking for some Canadian Thanksgiving recipe ideas, these are the tried and tested Thanksgiving recipes that have served me well over the years, from soup, to salad, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and more!

The Thanksgiving Basic Recipes

Let’s start with the basics – beyond a perfectly roasted turkey, there’s the homemade turkey stuffing (or dressing). Then there’s dinner rolls and make-ahead potatoes, that are on every Thanksgiving dinner table at my home. And don’t forget the easy homemade cranberry sauce. My easy recipe for cranberry sauce is in the Recipe Card below.

Classic Bread Stuffing with Oven-Baked Option
Classic bread and herb stuffing, perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey.
Get the Recipe!
classic bread stuffing in casserole with spoon
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Delicious, easy and made to be made ahead, this mashed potato casserole is enriched with cream cheese, sour cream and eggs. Make 2 days ahead and refrigerate or freeze for up to one week ahead.
Get the Recipe!
make ahead mashed potato casserole in casserole dish
Simply Perfect Potato Rolls
Light, soft and moist potato rolls that start with a bit of mashed potato and potato cooking water. 
Get the Recipe!
potato dinner rolls pulled apart
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Delicious, light and fluffy pumpkin dinner rolls, that are lightly sweet and beautifully coloured and moistened by the addition of a bit of pumpkin puree.
Get the Recipe!
honey pumpkin rolls in baking pans
Seeded Mini Pumpkin Baguettes
These festive seeded mini pumpkin baguettes would make a great addition to any holiday table!
Get the Recipe!

Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes tend to change up a bit from year to year, but these are the ones that have made the most appearances.

Maple Roasted Vegetables
Delicious maple roasted vegetables served with easy candied maple pecans. A great vegetable side dish for entertaining or any time.
Get the Recipe!
maple roasted vegetables on platter
Maple Pecan Hasselback Butternut Squash
Butternut squash halves, cut hasselback style, roasted with maple syrup and butter glaze, flavoured with thyme and topped with chopped pecans.
Get the Recipe!
hasselback butternut squash on serving platter with fork
Cauliflower Cheese
A classic! My version roasts the cauliflower first, then combines it with a creamy, cheese sauce, then it's baked to bubbly, golden goodness.
Get the Recipe!
cauliflower cheese in cast iron skillet
Roasted Butternut Squash Casserole
This is a perfect dish for holiday entertaining, but also easy enough for every day. The sweet squash and crunchy topping mean even kids will like this one!
Get the Recipe!
roasted butternut squash casserole in dishes
Pear Potato Gratin
This pear potato gratin combines thinly sliced potatoes, cream, Gruyere and a little pear! A perfect potato side dish for many meals that is deliciously different.
Get the Recipe
pear gruyere potato gratin in pan

Thanksgiving Soup Recipes

I always think it’s lovely to add a soup course to a Thanksgiving meal. These are the soups I have served in the past.

Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup
A lovely roasted parsnip and pear soup, that is as delicious as it is pretty. It will turn you into a parsnip lover!
Get the Recipe!
parsnip and pear soup in white bowl with garnishes on top
Simply Perfect Butternut Squash Soup
A delicious, classic butternut squash soup, made with roasted butternut squash, flavoured with maple syrup and optionally, a bit of apple. A great Fall soup or perfect for your holiday table!
Get the Recipe!
butternut squash soup in white bowl
Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup
Delicious carrot ginger soup, with roasted carrots and topped with kale chips, whipped goat cheese and pepitas. A great Fall soup.
Get the Recipe!
roasted carrot soup with kale chips

Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

There’s always a place for a salad at my Thanksgiving table. Here are my favourites.

Brussels Sprout and Pear Salad
An easy and delicious Brussels sprout salad, with pear, dried cranberries, pecans and goat cheese, all tossed in a maple mustard vinaigrette. A perfect Fall salad!
Get the Recipe!
Brussels sprouts and pear salad in bowl with spoon
Fall Pear and Goat Cheese Salad
A delicious Fall salad, featuring fresh pears, dried cranberries, pecans, goat cheese and a bit of bacon. One of my favourite salads any time of year!
Get the Recipe!
Fall pear chopped salad on white plate with pear behind
Fall Harvest Salad
Celebrate harvest season with this delicious and beautiful Fall Salad, with apples, pears, cranberries, pecans and sunflower seeds.
Get the Recipe!
Fall harvest salad in wooden bowl with wooden spoons

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Even though it’s hard to save room for dessert at Thanksgiving, we always manage to find room. I always have pumpkin pie, then I usually add another dessert. Here are some great ideas for Thanksgiving dessert recipes.

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
Classic pumpkin pie with whipped cream, with a smooth, creamy and perfectly spiced pumpkin filling.
Get the Recipe!
pumpkin pie being topped with whipped cream
Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
An easy and delicious pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting and optionally, nuts. A great Fall cake!
Get the Recipe!
Classic Carrot Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
A classic carrot cake with walnuts, topped with a cream cheese icing. Makes a 9×13-inch cake (or halve ingredients for an 8×8-inch cake.)
Get the Recipe!
carrot sheet cake with cream cheese icing
Maple Crème Brûlée
Silky smooth maple Crème Brûlée, infused with real maple syrup for fabulous maple flavour. Topped with a classic torched sugar topping.
Get the Recipe!
maple creme brulee in ramekin with spoon
Italian Pear Almond Cake
A delicious and easy pear cake, that's more pears than cake. Moist and lightly sweet, it is perfect for any time of day. Best enjoyed on the day it's baked.
Get the Recipe!
pear almond cake sliced

Extras for Thanksgiving Weekend

There’s usually more to Thanksgiving than just the main meal. If you have a house full and are looking for special treats for the weekend, here are few ideas for you.

Mini Pumpkin Dutch Baby Pancakes
These mini pumpkin Dutch baby pancakes are perfect for Fall eating. Great for breakfast or brunch and feeding a crowd. Freeze beautifully, too!
Get the Recipe!
mini pumpkin Dutch baby pancakes in muffin tin
Overnight Gruyere Pear Bread Pudding
Easy and delicious, this overnight pear bread pudding features layers of pears and Gruyere cheese between cinnamon swirl bread. A breakfast or brunch show stopper!
Get the Recipe!
Gruyere pear bread pudding in baking dish with spoon
Easy Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes
Make weekend breakfast easy with these oven-baked, sheet pan pumpkin pancakes. Full of Fall flavours and everyone can enjoy them at the same time!
Get the Recipe!
sheet-pan pumpkin pancakes in pan with maple syrup and butter
Simply Perfect Pumpkin Muffins
This has been my go-to pumpkin muffin recipe for years! Light and moist, perfectly domed and with a lightly crispy top, they are my idea of the perfect pumpkin muffin!
Get the Recipe!
pumpkin muffins on white serving board
Maple Sticky Buns
Wonderfully light maple sticky buns, glazed in a maple syrup glaze and topped and filled with walnuts.
Get the Recipe!
maple walnut sticky buns on cooling rack
Cranberry Swirl Bread
The perfect bread to use up your leftover cranberry sauce. Great plain or toasted and it makes the most fabulous left-over turkey sandwiches!
Get the recipe »
cranberry walnut swirl bread sliced
Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Yeast Bread
Enjoy the fabulous Fall flavours of this pumpkin yeast bread, with a pretty cinnamon sugar swirl. A great Fall bake!
Get the Recipe!
cinnamon swirl pumpkin yeast bread on cooling rack
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
Make your own pumpkin spice coffee drink easily at home with this delicious pumpkin spice coffee creamer!
Get the Recipe!
pumpkin spice coffee creamer with cup of coffee behind

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get great new recipes from me every week!

Save Article

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Seasons and Suppers.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

cranberry sauce in bowl with spoon

Get the Recipe: Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Tried and tested Canadian Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas, from stuffing to soup, salads, pumpkin pie and more!
No reviews yet
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, optional
  • 12 oz (340 g) fresh or frozen cranberries

Instructions
 

  • Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring regularly, until the cranberries pop and the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Let cool then refrigerate or freeze up to 3 months.
Cuisine: Canadian
Course: Condiment
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 85kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 56mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 38IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Leaving a review! is always helpful and appreciated by fellow cooks!

Web story for Canadian Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas