21 Thanksgiving Comfort Foods My Family Always Asks About

ByMandy

It’s funny how a holiday with so much focus on turkey is remembered for 21 Thanksgiving comfort foods that disappear first. Everyone swears they have a favorite, but the truth is the plate doesn’t look right without a mix of them all. People will casually ask about seconds while already holding the serving spoon.

A lasagna being dished up.
Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Sweet Potato Wedges

Roasted sweet potato wedges sprinkled with herbs on parchment paper.
Sweet Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Golden fries get swapped out for something with more color and bite during big dinners. Plates of Sweet Potato Wedges always seem to run low first because everyone reaches for an extra round. These work for dipping or just picking up plain. Leftovers usually disappear before lunch rolls around.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Wedges

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

A slice of pineapple cake topped with fresh raspberries on a white surface.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Dessert just feels more special when it’s flipped and packed with juicy layers. Slices of Pineapple Upside Down Cake get fans from all ages at family gatherings. It’s gone quick once it hits the table and doubles as breakfast the next day. People always ask who made it even before the meal ends.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Marry Me Butter Beans

A cast iron skillet with creamy pasta mixed with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, topped with cheese, with a wooden spoon resting inside.
Marry Me Butter Beans. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Creamy beans go fast at every big spread where comfort food is a must. Marry Me Butter Beans pair up well with just about every main. Most folks sneak second helpings then ask for the recipe. You barely catch leftovers after dinner wraps up.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Butter Beans

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Two cupcakes with light brown frosting are shown on a white surface, each in a beige paper liner.
Pumpkin Cupcakes. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Soft bites topped with frosting are a hit for dessert or even quick snacking before the meal. Trays of Pumpkin Cupcakes get passed around the table faster than you can grab one. People rave about how they stay moist and sweet. Boxes for home get packed up before any other dessert.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cupcakes

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

A plate of golden-brown gnocchi garnished with rosemary, served with a black fork.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Soft dumplings win over crowds seeking more than just mashed at holiday tables. Sweet Potato Gnocchi bring out extra cheers from fans of pasta and veggies mixed. These offer a chewy bite and vanish quick once served. Family always requests them ahead of time.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

A stack of pumpkin coffee cake squares with crumb topping and white glaze, arranged on a wooden board.
Pumpkin Coffee Cake. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Cakes loaded with spice and smooth crumb work for dessert or breakfast leftovers. Slices of Pumpkin Coffee Cake seem to call out for a hot drink to go along. Guests ask for the first pick before anything else is cut. Compliments run high when this one pops up.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Vegetarian Shepherds Pie

A cast iron skillet filled with vegetable shepherd's pie, topped with mashed potatoes and garnished with rosemary sprigs and chopped parsley. Two spoons are placed inside.
Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Pies packed with veggies hold their own when hearty comfort is what everyone wants. Spoons of Vegetarian Shepherds Pie pile up thick servings that fill plates fast. It’s requested more than once from those skipping meat. You’ll hear about it every time the menu comes up.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Shepherds Pie

Blueberry Cheesecake

A slice of cheesecake topped with glossy blueberry sauce on a white plate, with two black spoons beside it.
Blueberry Cheesecake. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Rich desserts loaded with berries turn heads and plate requests at big family events. Blueberry Cheesecake land in lunch boxes after the main meal for repeat treats. People chat about how the fruit pairs with creamy filling every single year. You’re lucky if any slices survive for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cheesecake

Red Lentil Soup

A bowl of lentil curry garnished with chopped cilantro and a swirl of cream, with a spoon in the bowl.
Red Lentil Soup. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Warm soups serve up comfort when plates get crowded and hungry folks gather. Bowls of Red Lentil Soup work with anything and always find a spot at the side table. Friends look for extra helpings for lunch. Each year, someone asks for the recipe before the party is over.
Get the Recipe: Red Lentil Soup

Creme Brûlée Cheesecake

A close-up of a slice of cheesecake with a caramelized sugar topping, resting on parchment paper with a crumbly base visible.
Creme Brûlée Cheesecake. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Tables get loud when dessert mixes crispy tops with creamy filling all in one slice. Cuts of Creme Brûlée Cheesecake generate requests for seconds before any other sweet hits the platter. Fans grab up leftovers for a next-day treat. It’s a favorite at every family celebration.
Get the Recipe: Creme Brûlée Cheesecake

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

A close-up of several oatmeal cookies stacked and scattered on parchment paper, with one cookie broken in half to show the inside texture.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Cookies with spice and chew go faster than anything else on snack plates after dinner ends. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies wind up packed in jars for sharing with friends on the way out. They buy another round of coffee in the morning too. You can expect someone to ask for a few extras.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Eggplant Casserole

A slice of cheesy eggplant lasagna with tomato sauce is being lifted from a pan, showing stretchy melted cheese. A bowl is blurred in the background.
Eggplant Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cheesy bakes filled with veggie layers always win over those searching for comfort. Squares of Eggplant Casserole get scooped up fast and act as seconds for anyone wanting a little more. It fits with any spread you put out. Families count on it showing up every year.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole

Cream Cheese Brownies

Brownies with a cream cheese layer in the center are cut into squares and arranged on parchment paper.
Cream Cheese Brownies. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Brownies that mix creaminess go straight to favorite status on dessert trays. Cream Cheese Brownies always get noticed when the plates are passed around. The batch usually vanishes in minutes, so try and grab yours quickly. Compliments echo before the coffee finishes.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies

Creamed Spinach

A bowl of creamy spinach topped with grated cheese, being stirred with a spoon.
Creamed Spinach. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Warm greens play up comfort and match up with rich plates for every gathering. Bowls of Creamed Spinach get spread across the table next to heavier mains for balance. Plates come back wiped clean. Someone always says this one was their top pick.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach

Cinnamon Sugar Blondies

Close-up of sliced crumbly cakes topped with white icing. One piece is positioned vertically to show its texture.
Cinnamon Sugar Blondies. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Soft bars with sweet flavor keep snack plates busy all night and get wrapped up for lunch boxes. Squares of Cinnamon Sugar Blondies spark quick chatter about how good dessert can get without much fuss. These hold up well for leftovers. Family makes sure there’s a batch every year.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Blondies

Southern Cornbread

Close-up of two stacked pieces of cornbread with melted butter on top, showcasing a golden-brown crust and moist, crumbly texture.
Southern Cornbread. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Crumbly bread with slight sweetness plays perfectly with soups and sides at traditional dinners. Southern Cornbread pops up as the first pick for soaking up sauce or spreading with butter. The tray empties fast. Everyone asks when you’ll make another batch.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread

Pumpkin Spice Fudgy Brownies

Close-up of several chocolate brownies with a swirl of orange filling on top, arranged on parchment paper.
Pumpkin Spice Fudgy Brownies. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Thick bars with spice make dessert stand out and give dinners a new twist. Pieces of Pumpkin Spice Fudgy Brownies disappear from plates before anyone asks what else is being served. Big compliments follow down the line. Next-day snacks are sorted if you luck out.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Fudgy Brownies

Butternut Squash Risotto

A bowl of risotto topped with roasted pumpkin pieces, grated cheese, and fresh parsley, with a checkered napkin and herbs nearby.
Butternut Squash Risotto. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Creamy grains with veggie chunks fill bowls and fix up comfort cravings in seconds. Butternut Squash Risotto get passed down the line for seconds at every dinner. It’s counted on as a win from both young and old guests. Nobody misses the meat when this shows up.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Risotto

Pecan Pie Bars

Two pecan-topped dessert bars are stacked on parchment paper, showing a dense, crumbly base and a caramelized nut topping.
Pecan Pie Bars. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Sweet bars cut easy and get popped into lunch tins for trips home after the meal ends. Tray of Pecan Pie Bars makes dessert portable and fits snacking between kitchen cleanups. These always get mentioned in family group chats. Compliments roll in once the first bite lands.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Bars

Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball

Cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin with a green stem, coated in crumbled topping, surrounded by herbs and decorative pumpkins on a wooden surface.
Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Fun shapes turn snacks into instant favorites at big gatherings. Spreads made from Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball stay practical for scooping while pulling in compliments from every table. Kids and grownups alike reach for seconds. Someone always snaps a photo for group chat.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Shaped Cheeseball

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna

A lasagna being dished up.
Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Layers with cheese and greens heat up plates and stick around through second helpings every time. Slices from Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna stack up fast for anyone needing comfort food after big meals. The recipe gets requested before dessert is even discussed. You can count on empty pans before dinner is done.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna

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