All the Recipes You Need for a Very Ambitious Thanksgiving (+ a printable menu!)

Thanksgiving might just be the greatest holiday ever (hello, pumpkin pie 4 life), and I’m so excited to share all of the best Thanksgiving recipes with you. I included a delicious mix of appetizers, salads, mains, sides, and desserts for you to pick and choose from for the big day, PLUS a printable menu for you to write in your recipes!

Whether you’re hosting for the first time or heading to a family member’s house, these unique, healthy twists on traditional Thanksgiving recipes are guaranteed to impress.

Take a scroll, pick out your favorites, and be sure to leave a comment to tell me what you think! I’d love to see your Thanksgiving creations, so share any photos in our Facebook group and be sure to tag #AmbitiousThanksgiving on Instagram.

FREE Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide (+ printable checklist!)

Whether you’re hosting or just attending, this Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide email series is for everyone. Enter your email below to get all of my best recipes, tips, and a FREE printable checklist for all of your Thanksgiving needs.

GF = Gluten Free

V = Vegan

VT = Vegetarian

** = Monique’s favorites

Thankful for all of you each and every day. Enjoy, xoxo!

Handhelds

• Parmesan Crusted Crostini with Pear, Walnuts & Hot Honey VT
• Apple Cheddar Galette with Crispy Herb Cheddar Crust VT
• Crispy Cacio e Pepe Potato Stacks VT, GF **
• Scallion Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Mushrooms VT **
• Pear, Walnut & Cheddar Puff Pastry Tart VT
• Slow Cooker Sweet & Spicy BBQ Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
• Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes with Garlic, Lemon & Herbs VT, GF
• Ricotta and Pear Crostini with Salty Pumpkin Seed Pistachio Crunch
• Bacon Wrapped Dark Chocolate + Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates GF **
• Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey
• White Cheddar Brussels Sprouts & Pistachio Crostini with Hot Honey VT
• The Best Garlic Bread You’ll Ever Eat
• Crispy Smashed Potatoes VT, GF **
• Sweet & Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Plantains GF
• Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF
• Roasted Grape & Brie Crostini with Honey + Sea Salt
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip GF

Dips

• Roasted Garlic Whipped Feta Dip VT, GF
• Creamy Jalapeño Spinach Artichoke Dip VT, GF
• Vegan Jalapeño Butternut Squash Queso V, GF
• Vegetarian Three Cheese White Bean Buffalo Dip VT, GF
• Bubbly Hot Chicken Enchilada Bean Dip GF
• Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip GF
• How to Make Super Creamy Hummus (+5 different flavor variations!) V, GF
• Roasted Garlic Tahini Carrot Dip
• Garlic Olive Oil Dip V, GF
• Whipped Feta Yogurt Dip with Hot Honey, Basil & Toasted Almonds VT, GF

Drinks & Cocktails

• Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita
• Apple Cider Hot Toddy
• Monique’s Naughty & Nice Holiday Punch
• Spicy Blood Orange Margarita
• Rebecca’s Mulled Wine
• Grapefruit Margarita

Salads

• Manchego Apple Kale Farro Salad VT
• Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad GF **
• Asiago Arugula Pear Salad VT, GF **
• Warm Roasted Vegetable Harvest Couscous Salad VT
• Brussels Sprouts Kale Honeycrisp Apple Salad with Maple Cider Dressing V, GF
• Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF
• Roasted Carrot Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Sunshine Dressing V, GF
• Autumn Butternut Squash Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad GF
• Winter Roasted Butternut Squash Black Lentil Salad V, GF **
• California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF
• Roasted Sweet Potato, Pear & Pomegranate Spinach Salad VT, GF **
• Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
• Chickpea Apple Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing VT, GF **
• Shredded Brussels & Kale Salad with Apple, Gorgonzola & Candied Pecans VT, GF
• Butternut Squash and Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Toasted Almonds + Goat Cheese VT, GF

Meat-Forward Mains

• Herb Butter Maple Roasted Turkey GF **
• Spinach Bacon Pumpkin Mac and Cheese GF ** (easily vegetarian without the bacon!)
• White Chicken Chili Pie with Pumpkin Cornbread Crust
• Groovy Skillet Chicken with Thyme Parmesan Mushroom Gravy
• Blow Ya Mind Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie
• One Pot Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Beef Pasta GF
• How to Make an Easy Roasted Chicken GF
• Oh So Good Chicken Meatballs in Pumpkin Coconut Curry Sauce GF
• Lightened Up Chicken Pot Pie
• Cheddar-Stuffed Sweet Potato BBQ Meatloaf GF **
• Pesto Mushroom Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups
• How to Spatchcock a Chicken GF
• Butternut Squash, Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole GF
• The Best Healthy Turkey Lasagna You’ll Ever Eat GF
• Saucy Baked Pumpkin Pasta GF **

Vegetarian Mains

• Cozy Roasted Vegetable Butternut Squash Lasagna GF
• A Simple, But Fabulous Stove-Top Mac and Cheese (with optional herby golden bread crumbs!) VT **
• Spicy Brown Butter Goat Cheese Pasta with Sweet Corn & Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
• Mom’s Ultimate Vegetarian Lentil Loaf V, GF
• Brown Butter Acorn Squash Pasta with Toasted Hazelnuts + Sage
• Vegetarian Spinach Pumpkin Lasagna GF
• Cilantro Pesto Pasta with Roasted Pumpkin & Honey GF
• Cranberry Pecan Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash with Goat Cheese Crema GF
• Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese V, GF
• Brown Butter, Ricotta & Butternut Squash Baked Bucatini

Hearty Sides

• Parmesan Bacon Sourdough Mushroom Stuffing
• Roasted Garlic and Herb Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes (so creamy!) VT, GF **
• Dad’s Creamy & Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes VT, GF
• Perfect Homemade Turkey Gravy GF
• Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF
• The Best Cornbread Stuffing Ever VT, GF **
• Lightened Up Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Oat Streusel VT, GF **
• The Best Creamy Garlic Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes VT, GF **
• Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (V, GF)
• The Best Fluffy Moist Cornbread Recipe Ever VT
• Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF
• Lightened Up Brown Butter Mashed Sweet potato (with a slow cooker option!) VT, GF **
• Honey Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins VT **
• Chipotle Gouda Scalloped Sweet Potatoes VT
• 15-Minute Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce V, GF **
• Brown Butter Cranberry Pumpkin Cornbread Skillet VT

Vegetable Sides

• Mushroom & Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin with Crispy Parmesan Walnut Panko ‘Fried’ Onion VT
• The Best Homemade Healthy Green Bean Casserole VT, GF **
• Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan & Chili Crisp VT, GF **
• Sesame Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas with Garlic Tahini Yogurt Sauce VT, GF
• Twice Baked Butternut Squash GF
• Sesame Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas with Garlic Tahini Yogurt Sauce VT, GF
• Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup VT, GF
• Sesame Garlic Roasted Asparagus V, GF
• Balsamic Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables V, GF
• Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots with Pistachios & Goat Cheese VT , GF **
• Caramelized Garlic Carrots with Spicy Cilantro Yogurt Sauce VT, GF
• Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Gratin VT
• Vegan White Bean & Roasted Butternut Squash Soup V, GF

Pies, Cakes & Crumbles

Making a pie? Start with my BEST all butter pie crust recipe, and top it with my homemade whipped cream!

• Best Ever Healthy Pumpkin Pie**
• Marbled Pumpkin Snacking Cake GF
• Salted Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie**
• Dark Chocolate Cheesecake with Salted Nutella Ganache
• Apple Snacking Cake with Salted Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
• The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat**
• Tony’s Very Favorite Dutch Apple Pie**
• World’s Best Banana Cream Pie (with peanut butter cookie crust!)
• Blow Ya Mind Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting GF
• Cinnamon Walnut Pear Crisp GF
• Mini Paleo Pumpkin Pies with Gingerbread Cookie Crust GF
• Best Healthy Apple Crisp Ever V **
• Deep Dish French Silk Pie **
• Brown Butter Apple Coffee Cake
• The Best Paleo Chocolate Cake with Paleo Chocolate Frosting GF **

Cookies & Bars

• Salted Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Filling
• Brown Butter Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
• Truly Exceptional Salted Banana Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• The Best Bakery-Style Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
• Healthy Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Salted Maple Frosting GF **
• Chocolate Chunk Toasted Marshmallow Ginger Cookies
• Grain Free Snickerdoodles GF
• Vanilla Brown Sugar Oatmeal Latte Cookies with Espresso Icing
• Old Fashioned Iced Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies **
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cream Pies with Fluffy Peanut Butter Filling
• Taylor Swift’s Soft Chai Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
• The Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat **
• Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Chocolate Cookies
• Not Your Mama’s Magic Cookies
• Grain Free Tahini Brownies (the best brownies I’ve ever eaten!) GF **
• Brown Butter Snickerdoodles Cookies **
• Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies V, GF **
• Pistachio, Coffee & Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Vegan & Paleo Pecan Pie Bars V, GF
• Flourless Monster Cookies GF
• Apple Pie Bars with Salted Peanut Butter Caramel GF
• White Chocolate Macadamia Snickerdoodles
• Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars with Almond Flour Sugar Cookie Crust GF
• Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars GF
• Paleo Ginger Molasses Cookies GF **

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OUR PRINTABLE MENU

And don’t forget to grab our FREE printable checklist for hosting!

I hope you love these delicious Thanksgiving recipes! If you make anything from AK, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. I love seeing your creations and featuring followers!