Vintage Thanksgiving Recipes Every Southerner Needs To Make This Year

Ever heard of molded cranberry salad?

By

Kaitlyn Yarborough

Updated on October 25, 2023

Southern LIving Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon ready to serve — Photo:
Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

If anything can be called classic, it's Thanksgiving dinner. From the roasted turkey to the cornbread dressing, the pumpkin pie to the green bean casserole, there are a number of traditional dishes that make an appearance year after year, decade after decade. Since we don't mess with these staples, the recipes are what we'd call fine-tuned perfection. Well, pull out the antique china and gelatin mold.

We're revisiting some retro Thanksgiving recipes that have graced Southerners' tables over the years. Think old-school favorites like sliced sweet potato pie and molded cranberry salad, as well as forever classics like spoonbread and corn pudding. These vintage Thanksgiving recipes are here to make your Thanksgiving meal just a touch more nostalgic.

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Thanksgiving calls for at least one enticingly sweet side dish. This retro favorite combines every classic topping—marshmallows, pecans, and cornflakes—for a creamy, crunchy, gooey finish.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Somewhere along the line, this favorite Southern snack became a beloved Thanksgiving tradition. Southern cooks pop these in between covering the casseroles and basting the turkey.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Don't ever let Thanksgiving commence without corn pudding, we say. This favorite comes in many (albeit similar) versions, including this more savory recipe with chopped onions and fresh thyme. Try our Tee's Corn Pudding for a slightly sweeter take.

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Cranberry Fluff Salad

Southern Living Cranberry Fluff Salad in a bowl to serve — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Whether you consider it a side dish or a dessert, it's just not Thanksgiving without at least one bowl of fluff on the menu. Both kids and adults will love it for its bright pink color and fluffy texture.

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Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Southern Living Homemade Mashed Potatoes in a bowl to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

While a pre-made or shortcut version of mashed potatoes may be suitable for weeknight dinner, Thanksgiving calls for them to be made from scratch. The classic recipe is actually fairly simple to pull together and requires just a handful of ingredients.

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Classic Chess Pie

Classic Chess Pie — Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Vinegar is the not-so-secret ingredient that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients in Chess Pie. But don't be alarmed, you'll find that the recipe calls for just one tablespoon for the whole pie.

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Pineapple Casserole

Southern Living Pineapple Casserole serving on a plate — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

It's easy to see why this dish is a Southern classic. Not only does it come together easily and with just 5 ingredients, but it also proves that anything can be delicious when covered in cheese and served in a casserole dish.

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Giblet Gravy

Southern Living Giblet Gravy in the gravy boat to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

When there's a gravy boat on the table. Southerners believe it should be filled with giblet gravy. It's best when made the same day the turkey is cooked.

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Vinegar Pie

Vinegar Pie — Micah A. Leal

This pie is a Great Depression invention and as such uses only a few pantry staples. Our recipe, elevated with vanilla and honey, makes this old-school pie a simple and elegant dessert to serve alongside all the other classics.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Old-School Green Bean Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Creamy and savory, and with a bit of crunch at the end from crispy fried onions, this old-fashioned green bean casserole hits all of the tried-and-true notes.

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Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing

Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Ultra-smooth, incredibly moist, and passed down through the family, Aunt Grace's cornbread dressing is so good that it just had to be shared with us (and readers) by our travel editor. The trick? Using four types of bread. Trust us, it makes a difference.

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Sweet Potato Rolls

Sweet Potato Rolls — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Get crafty with your sweet potatoes this year and make warm and fluffy bread rolls.

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Old-Fashioned Sour Cream-Raisin Pie

Sour Cream-Raisin Pie — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Only six ingredients are needed to create the creamy filling for this old-fashioned pie. Just make sure you beat the eggs until they're pale yellow before stirring in the rest of the ingredients.

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Angel Biscuits

Angel Biscuits — Emily Laurae

This cross between a buttermilk biscuit and a dinner roll is so light and airy in texture, it might be sent from heaven. Even better, it can be made up to one week in advance, to make your busy holiday cooking schedule a little lighter.

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever — Photo: Greg Dupree

Once upon a time, we sent the Southern Living Test Kitchen on a mission to discover the easiest, most fantastic pumpkin pie recipe in all the land. And they succeeded. If you thought homemade pumpkin pie was difficult to pull off, think again.

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Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach — Antonis Achilleos

This classic steakhouse side is also a stunning addition to the holiday table. Creamy and cheesy, spinach has never tasted so delicious. A sprinkle of toasted pine nuts on top adds a bit of crunch and nutty flavor, that balances the richness of the cream and cheese.

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Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This delicious Thanksgiving recipe is the perfect cross between hot cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing.

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Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Southern LIving Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon ready to serve — Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Hoping to elevate your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Just add bacon. And of course, make it from scratch just like Grandma does.

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Scalloped Oysters

Scalloped Oysters — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

You can't go wrong with serving the Southern classics; Scalloped Oysters are a surefire crowd-pleaser.

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Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping

Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

The sweet and spicy pecan topping on this recipe adds a scrumptious texture to the root vegetables. Plus, it's a topping you can use year-round on everything from salads to macaroni and cheese.

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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Broccoli Cheese Casserole — Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A classic combination dressed up for the holidays, this Brussels-and-bacon casserole might just give green bean casserole a run for its money.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Old-School Squash Casserole — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

If you're wondering why this is on the list, you're surely not from these parts. Crunchy, creamy, and cheesy, this casserole is a Turkey Day non-negotiable.

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Grits Dressing

Grits Dressing Recipe — Laurey W. Glenn

When this cornbread-free dressing recipe graced Southern Living pages over 25 years ago, it stirred the proverbial pot, to be sure. But if we're swapping out a cornmeal-laden version for anything, it's going to be for grits. (Who says there isn't room for both?)

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Classic Candied Yams

Classic Candied Yams — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Candied yams aren't as favored on the Thanksgiving spread as they once were. Back before sweet potato casserole reigned supreme, these lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet yams were a Southern staple.

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Sliced Sweet Potato Pie

Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

On a special occasion like Thanksgiving, an antique version of sweet potato pie feels just right. This double-crust, old-fashioned pie might look ordinary on the outside, but when it's sliced, the inside reveals vibrant orange layers of sweet potatoes flecked with spices and sweetened with sugar and sorghum syrup.

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Smoked Turkey Breast

50 Best Thanksgiving Smoked Turkey Breast — Jody Horton

Let the brine (and smoker) do the work. This classic smoked turkey is full of autumnal flavors like apple cider, fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage.

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Apple-Bourbon Pie

Apple-Bourbon Pie Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Sure, apple pie is classic. But this rendition from our 1995 November issue is anything but ordinary. Bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts give it a festive zing.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls — Laurey W. Glenn

Wonderfully easy, these make-ahead rolls can be set to go before the in-laws come into town. Like our icebox dinner rolls, these yeast rolls will always be a Thanksgiving staple in the South. The recipe first made its mark in our November 1995 issue.

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Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Fennel

Cornbread Dressing with Kale and Bacon — Iain Bagwell

Somewhere, a Southerner is always making a case for including sausage in a dish. This cornbread dressing recipe proves that he or she is usually right!

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Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Recipe — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Collards are like good Thanksgiving guests. They don't get in the way, but definitely add something to the occasion. (In this case, the sideboard.) Southern to the bone, collard greens with ham hocks are too easy and delicious to pass up.

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Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts — Tina Cornett

Find a more festive Thanksgiving casserole, we pose. Using Thanksgiving turkey and adorably-cut cranberry-pecan crust, this pot pie takes an old-school classic and renders it fall-tastic.

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Best Pecan Pie

Best Pecan Pie — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This Texas-based recipe feels straight from the archives. "A lady from Houston just grabbed me and hugged me with tears in her eyes," says the purveyor of this pecan pie, Becky Wolfe. "She said she hadn't had pie like this since her mother passed."

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Herbed Wild Rice Dressing

Cornbread Dressing with Kale and Bacon — Iain Bagwell

It's wild, that's for sure. In Louisiana, rice-based dressings are a common occurence—lend it to Cajun cooking's love for the grain—and this rice dressing recipe makes a case for broadening beyond cornbread.

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Hot Cranberry Bake

Hot Cranberry Bake Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This simple, crisp-like dessert is like having holiday heaven on speed dial. Quick and easy, it's a classic we brought back from an issue dated almost three decades ago.

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Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin

Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Southerners love nothing more than piling seasonal vegetables into a casserole dish, covering them with cheese, and topping it all with something crunchy. This gratin uses pumpkin, butternut squash, and russet potatoes.

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Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy

Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy — Greg DuPree

Cover all of your Thanksgiving needs with this old-fashioned, wonderfully basted turkey. Spices like sage, thyme, and fennel seeds do most of the work.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Iain Bagwell

Talk about a festive demeanor. These carrots make a bright and cheery addition to the spread. During the holiday season, Southerners will cover just about any vegetable with butter, sugar, and a bevy of festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Published in Southern Living in November, 1990, this recipe has all the makings of a keeper. A version of poppyseed casserole shows up on every Southern table, from time to time, and what better way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey?

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Egg Custard Pie

Egg Custard Pie — Antonis Achilleos

This old-school pie is delicious and easy to pull off, making it one of our go-tos. The silky smooth custard in this pie is made with eggs and half and half.

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole — Greg DuPree

It may go by many names, but no matter what it's called we love it. Oyster casserole relies on oysters, a rich and creamy sauce, and a crispy topping.

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Chocolate Pudding Pie

Chocolate Pudding Pie — Micah A. Leal

There are few things more classic than homemade pudding. Chocolate lovers will adore this rich and creamy pie that showcases smooth pudding.

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Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing

Cornbread-'n'-Squash-Dressing

Cornbread and squash are synonymous with Southern food. They meet in this dressing for the ultimate holiday side dish.

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Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake — Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Short prep time and fresh fall flavors make this dessert a hit at every function.

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Molded Cranberry Salad

Molded Cranberry Salad — Hector M Sanchez

Even if it just sits there, pushed to the farthest corner, a congealed salad just wants to be included on Thanksgiving Day. We published our fair share of congealed salads in the 1960s, and we wouldn't mind bringing this cranberry rendition back.

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Classic Fresh Field Peas

Classic Fresh Field Peas — Photo: Iain Bagwell

Using both ham hocks and bacon drippings, these fresh field peas don't go subtle on flavor for the day of feasting.

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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

Fennel-and-Potato Gratin — Jennifer Davick

Potatoes au gratin grace our Thanksgiving tables as much as mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. This particular gratin feels like fall, thanks to nutmeg and fennel. Check out our full collection of warm, cheesy potato casseroles here.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole — Courtney West

It's easy to eat your veggies with this cheesy side. This casserole is super decadent, thanks to the buttery cracker topping and a creamy sauce made with lots of Cheddar cheese.

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Reunion Pea Casserole — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This casserole isn't short on flavor. Italian sausage, green chiles, and both Cheddar and mozzarella cheese make black-eyed peas and squash so tasty, everyone will want seconds.

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