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There’s nothing quite like going to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving. Relive your nostalgia with this round-up of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes made—and perfected—by grandmothers. From classic green bean casserole to tangy cranberry orange cake, they’re sure to be a hit at your holiday dinner.
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Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole
Photographer: Jake Sternquist / Food Styling: Sammy Mila / Prop Styling: Kristen Schooley
Don’t add condensed soups to your Thanksgiving shopping list. Instead, make this ultra-easy side dish for all your green bean needs. The combination of a roux and sour cream in Amy Barry’s recipe results in an extremely creamy casserole that’s topped off with a layer of shredded cheese and buttery crackers. You can always add a dash of French onions to the top, too, if that’s how your grandma used to make it.
Grandmother’s Buttermilk Cornbread
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
The Allrecipes community can’t get enough of this sweet, moist, and tender buttermilk cornbread — it has more than 7,000 rave reviews from happy home cooks. You can also use this recipe to make muffins.
Grandma’s Southern Mac and Cheese
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
Although there’s the controversy about whether stovetop or baked macaroni and cheese is best if your grandmother is from the South she probably made her dish similar to this one by Rhett Towles. Macaroni is mixed with a hearty dose of Cheddar cheese, milk, and seasonings before eggs are added as a binder for baking.
Grandma’s Cranberry-Orange Gelatin Salad
fabeveryday
“A friend of mine brought this to a Thanksgiving Dinner and it was FANTASTIC!!! My husband, who never combines anything remotely sweet to his dinner, loved this that spoke volumes to how delicious this is. ” —cafeneo
Mama’s Squash Casserole
Allrecipes / Julia Hartbeck
Vegetable side dishes laden with cheesy goodness are definitely worth being thankful for, and this squash casserole is no exception. The recipe uses onion, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, and buttery crackers to achieve a savory, cheesy flavor profile.
Grandma’s Cheesy Potatoes
Allrecipes/Christina Bailey
If you’re looking for a change of pace from your usual mashed potatoes this Thanksgiving, consider this decadent potato dish featuring yellow and red potatoes partnered with mozzarella and Cheddar cheese. Of course, you can experiment with swapping in whatever variety of shredded cheese you like best.
Nana’s Apple Crisp
This apple crisp is a low-effort lift compared to a from-scratch apple pie, but it delivers all of the autumnal spiced apple flavor you expect on the Thanksgiving dessert table. Serve it with your favorite vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
Grandma’s Cornbread Dressing
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
“My grandmother often made this for my family at holidays and also just with good homemade meals,” says recipe creator Amy. “I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.”
Grandma’s Cranberry Orange Cake
Just because you’ve also got pie on the dessert table doesn’t mean that cake can’t be there, too. This recipe by StaceyO is both sweet and tangy, thanks to the addition of dried cranberries and chopped dates. The secret ingredient is cranberry-flavored liquor, which bakes out of the dish but leaves behind a lovely flavor.
Apple Pie by Grandma Ople
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This recipe boasts a five-star rating with a whopping 10,000 reviews. Simple, yet a showstopper, this apple pie from MOSHASMAMA relies on a short ingredient list to get the job done. Tart Granny Smith apples combine with white and brown sugar for a sweet and sour filling. Feel free to add a dash of cinnamon or apple pie spice mix for an extra bit of flavor.
Grandma Carol’s Pumpkin Roll
If you’re looking to add something a little different to your Thanksgiving spread, try this wonderfully autumnal pumpkin roll. According to recipe creator SusieQ, this recipe makes a lot — so it’s perfect for serving a crowd.
Grandma’s Farmhouse Turkey Brine
Get a head start on your Thanksgiving dinner by beginning your turkey brining the day before. Blair’s brine recipe includes classic ingredients like poultry seasoning, a hefty dose of black pepper, and a generous amount of kosher salt. But it also includes a secret ingredient: cranberry juice. The combination of salty, sweet, and tangy makes for a delicious bird and roasting drippings that create an amazing gravy.
Grandma’s Corn Pudding
A Thanksgiving classic, corn pudding is the savory casserole that has plenty of sweet notes to satisfy. This recipe by lisa cohen has a custard-like consistency and many reviewers recommend adding a sprinkling of crushed buttery crackers or shredded cheese on top.
Grandma’s Clover Leaf Rolls
Making these uniquely shaped rolls is almost as much fun as eating them. Home cook brownie421 shared their grandmother’s cherished recipe, which is yeast-based for a fluffy and light baked good. To make rolling the dough easier, add a dash of vegetable oil to your hands before you start.
Grandma’s Collard Greens
Allrecipes member
We’ve all been told by our grandmothers to “Eat your greens!” and that task is so much easier when you serve this recipe. Made with a base of sautéed red onions and bacon, the collards are then cooked low and slow until extremely tender.
Grandma Elaine’s Turkey Pot Pie
“Excellent! I made exactly as directed. It fit perfectly in my deep-dish 10” pie plate. I may not be the fastest cook in the world: it took me about an hour and 15 minutes of active time to make this, plans baking. The crust was so good, I may use it for other pies in the future.” —LauraN
Grandma Mac’s Green Beans
Take plain green beans up a notch with peppered bacon, onions, and lots of salt. Recipe creator Jennifer Wilkinson says they reheat well, so you can prep these the day before Thanksgiving if you’ll be pressed on time and stovetop space on the big day.
Ruth’s Grandma’s Pie Crust
The top-rated pie crust recipe is ideal for whatever seasonal filling you choose. “Awesome awesome awesome awesome,” raves reviewer StevenMaGeven. “I will never use another recipe. I followed the recipe, and the crust was easily the best I’ve had in my life (and I’ve had a lot of pie in my day).”
Grandma Tolli’s Candied Yams
There’s an unexpected secret ingredient in this sweet side dish: pineapple chunks! The fruity addition, plus a bit of pineapple juice, adds an irresistible flavor that perfectly complements canned yams.
Grandma’s Sweet Hubbard Squash Custard Pie
“This recipe was handed down from my Grandma,” says recipe creator Lvngwell. “I have tweaked it to spice it up some! It is a unique addition to any Thanksgiving celebration and holds its own against pumpkin pie any day!”
Grandma’s Red Hot Southern Sweet Potatoes
Cinnamon candies add bursts of flavor and texture to this spicy-sweet Southern side dish. “It’s so delicious, you’ll want to make it all year,” according to recipe creator JenSmith.
Grandma’s Green Beans with Bacon Vinaigrette
Fresh green beans are complemented by a simple vinaigrette made with bacon drippings, onions, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard, and pepper.
Grandma Rita’s Soft Butter Rolls
Here’s an old-fashioned yeast bread recipe that everyone will enjoy. “Want a roll that stays soft for days? Try these fluffy, soft rolls made with butter and love,” says recipe creator Lela.
Grandma Carol’s Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe creator LARTRAINER received this popular sweet potato casserole recipe from her mother-in-law. “I get so many compliments on this dish and so many requests for this recipe,” she says. “This really makes me look forward to Thanksgiving!”
Grandma’s Spinach Soufflé Bake
According to reviewer Lori Teagarden, “Grandmothers always have the best recipes! This one was fantastic! I will definitely be making this one again!” Grandmothers really do have the best recipes, don’t they?
