A lot of us claim Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday, but for those who end up hosting, it can actually get a bit stressful. Cooking such a high-profile meal for a large group can really put the pressure on — not to mention figuring out exactly what to include on the menu and what recipes to use to prepare each dish. Fortunately, that’s where some of our favorite celebrities come in.
Through the years, a lot of stars have shared their favorite recipes for Thanksgiving. Some are dishes they cook for their own families each year or a certain food or recipe they loved from years of celebrating the holiday growing up. But all of them made an impression big enough that they spoke about it publicly, which is a sign the food will be a hit at our own tables!
Whether you’re looking for a fresh take on a favorite dish or a few ideas on something new to make for the first time this year, maybe these stars’ favorite Thanksgiving recipes will help spark a little cooking inspiration before the big day.
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Tamera Mowry's Mashed Potatoes
According to what Sister, Sister star Tamera Mowry told Hip Hollywood, she uses a couple of tricks to create the best mashed potatoes ever. “I have been making my garlic mashed potatoes for about 10 years,” she said. “And everyone loves them because I put real butter in it and whip it up with some milk. I’m telling my secret. I can’t tell my secret!”
Zooey Deschanel's Pecan Pie
During an appearance on The Rachael Ray Show, Zooey Deschanel shared the recipe for her mom’s pecan pie, a family holiday favorite. Although it is a bit time-consuming to make — all told, it’ll take a little less than two hours for the whole thing to come together — it definitely sounds like it’ll be well worth the effort.
Snoop Dogg's Turkey & Gravy
Is there anything that Snoop Dogg can’t do? After watching his cooking show with Martha Stewart, we were convinced of his skills in the kitchen, and this recipe for turkey sounds amazing. It includes a compound butter made of garlic, orange zest, sage, thyme, and rosemary.
Kelly Ripa's Autumn Squash Soup
If you’re looking for a cozy appetizer to start the meal off right, Kelly Ripa’s butternut squash soup might be the perfect choice. After cooking the squash with garlic, shallots, and spices, it’s then pureéd to a soup consistency. The recipe includes instructions on making a bowl out of a pumpkin or an acorn squash to eat the soup out of for a festive touch.
Tori Spelling's Green Bean Bundles
In an interview with People, Tori Spelling said her “green bean bundles” have become part of her family’s traditional meal that those who join her for Thanksgiving have “come to expect.” Considering that the recipe includes bacon, we’re not surprised by that at all!
Joanna Gaines' Friendsgiving Casserole
As the author of more than one cookbook, Joanna Gaines really knows her stuff. Her Friendsgiving casserole is super easy and sounds like a great comfort food.
“Friendsgiving Casserole is one of my kids’ favorite dishes and a go-to of mine when I want to take dinner to a new mother or a family who could use a hot meal — mostly because it’s easy to love, even for the pickiest eaters,” she shared when she shared the recipe on her Magnolia website. “The chicken is mild in flavor, yet completely satisfying.”
Jennifer Garner's Sweet Potato Pudding
Everyone cooks sweet potatoes differently on Thanksgiving, and for Jennifer Garner, that means using a pudding recipe handed down to her by her grandmother.
“We always make my Grandmother Exie’s sweet potato pudding with marshmallows roasted on top,” she told Modern Mom. “It is sweet and gooey and hardly even counts as a vegetable by the time we’re through but it is our family’s big-time, forever tradition.”
Kristin Cavallari's Stuffing
Called Thanksgiving Day stuffing, Kristin told Us Weekly the recipe is “a mix between classic Thanksgiving dishes like stuffing and pumpkin pie.” It includes sweet Italian chicken sausage and can be made gluten-free to accommodate any guests coming to dinner.
Gwyneth Paltrow's Cranberry Chutney
Of course Goop lifestyle expert Gwyneth Paltrow has shared her favorite Thanksgiving recipes. In fact, she’s shared quite a few, but the one that really sticks out is her cranberry chutney, which she published for fans in a holiday edition of her newsletter years ago.
“Cranberries are full of antioxidants, and their recognizably tart flavor is a must at any Thanksgiving table,” she wrote at the time. “Luckily, making chutney couldn’t be easier, and you can make it up to a week in advance.”
Gigi Hadid's Rhubarb Pie
Though she didn’t share her specific recipe, Gigi Hadid did tell Women’s Wear Daily that she is known as the “pie girl” in her family.
“I always make pies for Thanksgiving,” she said. “I’m the pie girl. I love rhubarb pie, I love apple pie and pumpkin pie and blackberry pie — but sometimes that mixes with the rhubarb into one [pie].”
Kris Jenner's Sweet Potato Soufflé
Kourtney Kardashian shared her take on mom Kris Jenner’s sweet potato soufflé on her website with a couple of modifications made.
“Dessert doesn’t have to be the only sweet dish at your Thanksgiving table this year,” Kourtney wrote at the time, per People. “Made with coconut milk and brown sugar, my dairy-free version of my mom’s sweet potato soufflé is the perfect balance to the classic savory sides.”
Chrissy Teigen's Sweet Potato Streusel Pie
Chrissy Teigen has been singing the praises of her sweet potato streusel pie on Instagram and her Cravings website for years, and it sounds so good!
“This is the best pie crust and the tastiest filling and the most awesome buttery streusel topping,” she wrote. “Now that you know how I really feel, go ahead and give this a whirl. (Oh, and when I call for yams, I’m talking about the ones with the orange insides that everyone calls sweet potatoes but are actually yams!) Prep plan: Give this baby ample time to cool down, because a settled sweet potato pie is actually a denser, richer, more delicious one.”
John Legend's Mac & Cheese
Chrissy admitted that her husband John Legend’s mac and cheese is one of her favorite side dishes to serve on Thanksgiving — in fact, it’s in her top five recipes for the holiday — and it looks simple to put together. Chrissy shared that although she prefers her recipe, she does like that John’s has “a cheesy crust that gives you that good cheese pull.”
Jessica Simpson's Favorites
When Jessica Simpson talked to People about all things Thanksgiving in 2018, she revealed what her favorite dishes are to prepare (and eat) each year. “Cornbread stuffing is always my favorite,” she said. “And I go for the ham over the turkey. Honey-baked ham all the way.”
Meghan Markle's Roasted Chicken
On her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan Markle revealed that sometimes she prefers to cook a roasted chicken recipe from The Clean Team instead of a turkey.
“I love a brined, stuffed, and roasted turkey as much as anyone, but if you’re cooking for two, maybe a smaller bird is more up your alley — and coupled with a beautiful side and a delicious dessert, you will be the king or queen of happy bellies and full hearts,” she wrote at the time.
