Wow Your Guests With 30+ Totally Creative Thanksgiving Recipes

Toss your boring Thanksgiving dishes out the window and try something new and crazy and fun. Regular mashed potatoes? Nope. Standard stuffing? Not this year. Roasted whole turkey? We're making a turkey purse instead. We're not kidding. It's a turkey purse. (You'll have to keep reading to learn more about it.)

Wow your guests with any of the recipes ahead, which all take a dish you're used to and put a new spin on it. Some of them might even be something you would have never even thought of trying, and that's what makes them exciting. Your guests will thank you for such an amazing holiday experience. We promise!

01
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Put a twist on mashed potatoes by adding goat cheese.

Get the recipe: goat cheese mashed potatoes

02

Pumpkin and Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes

You can't go wrong with the most iconic Fall flavor: pumpkin!

Get the recipe: pumpkin and cheddar scalloped potatoes

03

Red Hot Oyster and Kimchi Dressing

Bet you never thought of adding oysters and kimchi to your Thanksgiving dressing.

Get the recipe: red hot oyster and kimchi dressing

04
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Stuffing Muffins

Turn your standard stuffing into an appetizer by making it in muffin pans.

Get the recipe: stuffing muffins

05
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Squash Casserole

Anyone can have regular squash, so why not bake it into a festive casserole instead?

Get the recipe: squash casserole

06

Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole With Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans

This recipe adds bacon to your potato casserole. That should convince you to try it.

Get the recipe: bourbon sweet potato casserole with sweet 'n' savory bacon pecans

07

Coca-Cola Ham

You read that right. This recipe includes Coca-Cola in your ham.

Get the recipe: Coca-Cola ham

08

Walnut and Angostura Pie

Top off your holiday meal with this tasty pie made with walnuts and angostura.

Get the recipe: walnut and angostura pie

09

Cranberry Apple Pie

Invoke the flavors of Thanksgiving with this tasty pie.

Get the recipe: cranberry apple pie

10

Pecan Pie Shooters

Break your pecan pie down into something more fun with these shooters.

Get the recipe: pecan pie shooters

11

Roasted Red Kuri Squash and Wild Rice Salad

Try out a new type of squash for Thanksgiving — like red kuri squash.

Get the recipe: roasted red kuri squash and wild rice salad

12

Boneless "Turkey Purse" With Stuffings and Peppercorn Gravy

Yes, you read that right. This is a turkey purse stuffed with all the good things Thanksgiving has to offer.

Get the recipe: boneless "turkey purse" with stuffings and peppercorn gravy

13

Bourbon Maple Pumpkin Seed Caramels

These could be a dessert or even a sweet appetizer if you so choose.

Get the recipe: bourbon maple pumpkin seed caramels

14

Tahini-Thyme Brussels Sprouts

Make your brussels sprouts stand out on the table with the addition of fun flavors.

Get the recipe: tahini-thyme brussels sprouts

15

Rice Pilaf With Cranberries and Pears

Throw cranberries into your rice for a pop of tart sweetness.

Get the recipe: rice pilaf with cranberries and pears

16
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Savory Pumpkin Custard

If you make this recipe, you absolutely have to serve it in a pumpkin. It's required.

Get the recipe: savory pumpkin custard

17

Butternut Squash Lasagna

This isn't your regular lasagna! It's packed with squash fit for a Thanksgiving table.

Get the recipe: butternut squash lasagna

18

Cranberry Salad

Toss out your boring cranberry sauce and make a cranberry salad instead.

Get the recipe: cranberry salad

19

Deep-Fried Stuffing

If your family is the type that loves fried food, this recipe is for you.

Get the recipe: deep-fried stuffing

20

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Pack your acorn squash full of this delicious quinoa mix.

Get the recipe: quinoa stuffed acorn squash

21

Brussels Sprouts Mac and Cheese

What's better than plain brussels sprouts? Brussels sprouts made into mac and cheese.

Get the recipe: brussels sprouts mac and cheese

22

Air Fryer Baked Brie With Cranberry Filling

Dust off your air fryer for this delicious holiday recipe.

Get the recipe: air fryer baked brie with cranberry filling

23

Cheddar Apple Butternut Squash Soup With Cinnamon Pecan Crumble

Start your Thanksgiving meal with this yummy warm soup.

Get the recipe: cheddar apple butternut squash soup with cinnamon pecan crumble

24

Cheddar Rye Apple Hand Pies

Send your guests out the door with one of these hand pies.

Get the recipe: cheddar rye apple hand pies

25

Mini Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pies

How darling are these mini mushroom and goat cheese pies?

Get the recipe: mini wild mushroom and goat cheese pies

26

Sweet Potato Noodles With Prosciutto and Cranberries

Instead of roasting or mashing your sweet potatoes, why not make them into noodles?

Get the recipe: sweet potato noodles with prosciutto and cranberries

27

Banana Bread Pudding

Give your bread pudding a fruity twist by using bananas.

Get the recipe: banana bread pudding

28

Instant Pot Stuffed Acorn Squash

Try making this Fall recipe in your Instant Pot.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot stuffed acorn squash

29

Thanksgiving Pull-Apart Bread

This recipe may be billed as leftover pull-apart bread, but you could also make it for the main show.

Get the recipe: Thanksgiving pull-apart bread

30

Beer Bread Muffins

Beer bread muffins? Sign us up.

Get the recipe: beer bread muffins

31

Turkey Soup With Stuffing Dumplings

Rather than roasting your turkey, try making a soup with it instead.

Get the recipe: turkey soup with stuffing dumplings

32

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