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Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2024 by Angela Latimer · Leave a Comment

Midwestern Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

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Best Midwestern Thanksgiving menu ideas pin to make for a fun and tasty holiday dinner.

This Midwestern Thanksgiving menu spotlights traditional recipe ideas that are popular in the Midwest, from roasted turkey to delectable side dishes. If you're craving some classic Midwestern home cooking for the holidays, you're in the right place. Any of these family favorite recipes will be a hit for Thanksgiving dinner.

For more holiday inspiration, see my Southern Thanksgiving menu, Italian Thanksgivning dinner menu ideas, and Irish Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas.

Best Midwestern Thanksgiving menu ideas to make for a fun and tasty holiday dinner.
Jump to:
  • 1. Easy Stuffing
  • 2. Roasted Turkey
  • 3. Turkey Gravy
  • 4. Green Bean Casserole
  • 5. Cranberry Sauce
  • 6. Deviled Eggs
  • 7. Corn Casserole
  • 8. Sweet Potato Casserole
  • 9. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
  • 10. Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
  • 11. Funeral Potatoes
  • 12. Ranch Cheese Ball
  • 13. Vegetable Casserole
  • 14. Homemade Crescent Rolls
  • 15. Cranberry Fluff
  • 16. Tater Tot Hotdish
  • 17. Snickers Salad
  • 💭 Tips For A Perfect Midwestern Thanksgiving
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 17+ Best Midwestern Thanksgiving Menu Ideas: Oven Roasted Turkey (+ Everything You Need!)
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

These Midwestern traditional Thanksgiving recipes are dependable, delicious, holiday staples. Whether you are from the Midwest and crave a taste of home or want to try something new for the holidays, you can't go wrong with these dishes.

There are classic Midwestern side dishes, casseroles, condiments, turkey, and more recipes to help you build a perfect, well-rounded, Thanksgiving menu.

Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!

1. Easy Stuffing

When it comes to Thanksgiving, no Midwest holiday meal is complete without stuffing. A light crust is formed on top, allowing the stuffing to be soft, buttery, and well-seasoned with herbs.

This Midwestern staple only takes 5 minutes to prepare. It features classic stuffing ingredients such as celery, onion, stuffing cubes, butter, and tasty herbs.

Easy Stuffing
My easy stuffing recipe is a cornerstone for Thanksgiving dinner, holiday meals, and tasty family dinners all year.
Easy Stuffing recipe
Easy stuffing with tasty herbs served in glass dish with serving spoon.

2. Roasted Turkey

Roasting a turkey is one of the easiest ways to cook up a tender, moist, and super tasty main course bird. No dryness here, this roasted turkey cooks beautifully every time.

Impress your family with this juicy, tender roasted turkey on your next Thanksgiving dinner.

Oven Roasted Turkey
Perfect oven-roasted turkey is easy to dish up for family meals and holidays with this easy, tried, and true roast turkey recipe.
Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe
Best oven roasted turkey recipe for delightfully tasty turkey dinners every time.

3. Turkey Gravy

A delicious homemade turkey gravy using drippings and giblets from a roasted turkey. It's rich, creamy, and perfect to top almost everything.

You'll be thankful that you made this Midwestern-style homemade gravy over buying store-bought. It only takes minutes to prepare and it's super simple to make.

Classic Turkey Gravy
Classic turkey gravy is made using roasted turkey drippings and slowly simmered turkey neck and giblets for a flavorful gravy.
Classic Turkey Gravy Recipe
Turkey gravy being ladled out of a white dish.

4. Green Bean Casserole

A Midwestern classic side dish that you will see on everyone's Thanksgiving menu! This upgraded casserole features a cheese sauce, crispy pieces of bacon, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

Everyone will fight for seconds because this green bean casserole is that good.

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
This incredibly tasty, cheesy green bean casserole with bacon combines cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and a crunchy topping for an upgraded classic.
Green Bean Casserole with Bacon Recipe
Closeup square image of the baked green bean casserole with bacon.

5. Cranberry Sauce

Sweet, tangy, and juicy cranberry sauce is an absolute must for Thanksgiving dinner in my home. Fresh apple slices and apple cider are mixed in with tangy cranberries to create an elevated homemade cranberry sauce.

Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
My apple cider cranberry sauce is the perfect blend of spiced apples, sweet sparkling apple cider, and tangy cranberries for Thanksgiving.
Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
Wide side image of the apple cider cranberry sauce in crystal serving dish.

6. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are always a hit at Midwestern Thanksgiving gatherings and a must-have at my family Thanksgiving dinners. My classic deviled egg recipe features a tangy blend of mayo and mustard plus some crispy bacon crumbles for crunch.

Deviled Eggs
These deviled eggs are a classic, time-honored recipe that is supremely easy to make and quite simply the best ever.
Deviled Eggs Recipe
These easy to make deviled eggs are just like Grandma made them and still the best ever recipe!

7. Corn Casserole

Corn Casserole is a versatile and delicious side dish perfect for Thanksgiving or any time of year. No need to worry if this cornbread will turn out dry, the sour cream and butter guarantee a moist outcome every time.

This cornbread casserole recipe is the ultimate Midwestern comfort food.

Jiffy Corn Casserole
Jiffy corn casserole is a sweet and savory side dish with creamy corn mixed into every bite of the tender cornbread.
Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe
Jiffy corn casserole square image plated piece with a forked bite pulled to the front.
A wide three-image collage featuring tender, golden Jiffy corn casserole, a beautifully roasted Thanksgiving turkey, and homemade green bean casserole with bacon.

8. Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving staple dessert dish topped with marshmallows and pecans. You can even prepare it ahead of time and bake it Thanksgiving Day.

This sweet and savory casserole is always a fan-favorite in my house and I'm sure it will be in yours too.

Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans is a classic holiday side dish that tastes more like dessert than potatoes.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Square image of sweet potato casserole with marshmallows.

9. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

These cream cheese mashed potatoes are simple to make and absolutely delicious. Slather them on your plate then put some turkey and gravy right on top.

The addition of cream cheese and a hint of garlic makes mashed especially rich and flavorful.

Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
These cream cheese mashed potatoes are buttery, creamy, and loaded with flavor for a simple and tasty side dish.
Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Wide image showing cream cheese mashed potatoes in a white bowl with butter and chives.

10. Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes

Traditional Midwestern layered creamy scalloped potatoes are a Thanksgiving favorite made even easier with your slow cooker. This layered russet potato casserole is savory, cheesy, and rich.

Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
This creamy crockpot scalloped potatoes is an easy potato side dish of layered potato slices and sauce.
Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Wide image of crockpot scalloped potatoes on a plate.

11. Funeral Potatoes

This cheesy potato casserole topped with crunchy cornflakes is a Midwestern classic for large gatherings. The cereal adds a delectable crunch to the rich, cheesy, potato godness baked underneath.

Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
These cheesy funeral potatoes are the perfect side dish for large gatherings where you need to feed a crowd.
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Wide image of cheesy funeral potatoes.

12. Ranch Cheese Ball

Cheeseballs are a quintessential Midwestern appetizer, and I like mine seasoned with cheddar, bacon, and ranch seasoning. This recipe includes an optional crushed pecan crust that I highly recommend for that extra crunch.

Ranch Cheese Ball
This ranch cheese ball is a tasty party dip perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, or any other party or get-together. 
Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe
Ranch cheese ball in shallow plate served with wheat thin crackers.

>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<

13. Vegetable Casserole

This vegetable casserole is a Midwestern classic side dish loaded with frozen veggies, Velveeta, and a Ritz cracker topping. The casserole can be assembled the day before to save you some stress on Thanksgiving.

With a cheesy center and a crunchy crumb topping, everyone will be wowed by how delicious this casserole is.

Vegetable Casserole
Check out this recipe
Vegetable Casserole

14. Homemade Crescent Rolls

Homemade crescent rolls are easily one of the first things gone at any holiday dinner. They are buttery, flaky, and chewy, perfect for sopping up turkey gravy on Thanksgiving.

These delicious rolls are easier to make than you think, there is no need to pop open a premade package again.

Buttery Crescent Rolls
Check out this recipe
Buttery Crescent Rolls

15. Cranberry Fluff

Cranberry fluff is a sweet and tangy fruit salad made with cranberries, apples, green grapes, nuts, and mini marshmallows. It's the perfect light dessert that won't fill you up too much while you eat your turkey meal.

Cranberry Fluff
Check out this recipe
Cranberry Fluff

16. Tater Tot Hotdish

This mouthwatering tater tot hotdish is a must-have for any Thanksgiving meal in the Midwest! Green beans (or sweet corn) and cream of mushroom soup are combined with ground meat before being topped with tater tots and cooked to perfection!

Whether you call it a casserole or a hotdish, it's guaranteed to be loved by your guests!

Tater Tot Hotdish
Check out this recipe
Tater Tot Hotdish

17. Snickers Salad

Snickers salad is a delicious and creamy dessert dish made with Snickers candy bars, cool whip, vanilla pudding, and Cool Whip! Top it with some caramel sauce and you have yourself a perfect year-round dessert that the family will love!

When you make this dessert to serve along your Thanksgiving feast and you won't be disappointed!

Snickers Salad
Check out this recipe
Snickers Salad

💭 Tips For A Perfect Midwestern Thanksgiving

  1. Appetizers, entree, sides, and dessert. Ideally, you want one or two appetizers, one main course, at least two or three side dishes, and a dessert or two. You can always opt for sweet sides in place of dessert (like sweet potato casserole or cranberry fluff).
  2. Feel free to incorporate classics. Some Thanksgiving recipes like green bean casserole, stuffing, and turkey are classics country-wide. You can mix your favorite holiday recipes seamlessly with any of these Midwestern dishes.
  3. Aim for hearty and casual. This goes for the food, there should be plenty of comfort food, and the decor. The holiday is about feasting with family and relaxing.
  4. Don't forget the drinks. Warm apple cider and hot tea or coffee pair beautifully with pie as a way to finish off the meal.
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See more Thanksgiving →

I hope these Midwestern Thanksgiving menu ideas helped you pull off the perfect holiday dinner. Let me know which recipes you tried.

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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Best Midwestern Thanksgiving menu ideas to make for a fun and tasty holiday dinner.
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17+ Best Midwestern Thanksgiving Menu Ideas: Oven Roasted Turkey (+ Everything You Need!)

This Midwestern Thanksgiving menu spotlights traditional recipe ideas that are popular in the Midwest, from roasted turkey to delectable side dishes. If you're craving some classic Midwestern home cooking for the holidays, you're in the right place. Any of these family-favorite recipes will be a hit for Thanksgiving dinner.
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 674kcal
Prep 15 minutes minutes
Cooking 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Resting Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Total Time 5 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 14 lbs turkey (thawed)
  • 1 cup butter (1 stick, melted)
  • 4 cubes chicken bullion
  • ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 large orange (optional - quartered)
  • 4 sprigs thyme (optional - fresh)
  • 2 cups chicken broth

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C/Gas Mark 8) and place a roasting rack or tray in your large roasting pan.
  • Remove the thawed 14 lbs turkey from packaging, as well as any packages in the cavity (neck, gizzards, heart, liver are usually inside - some turkeys also have a package of gravy base). Rinse turkey inside and out, place in the roasting pan breast side up, then pat dry.
  • In a small bowl, combine melted 1 cup butter with 4 cubes chicken bullion and ½ tablespoon smoked paprika seasoning. Break apart the cubes to make a paste.
  • Using the paste, coat the outside of the turkey as well as inside the body cavity (whether or not you will be stuffing the turkey, it adds sensational flavoring!) starting with massaging the paste into the breast and working over the legs, wings, back and then the remaining paste inside the turkey.
  • Stuff your turkey (optional) with prepared stuffing. We do not cook our stuffing this way as the turkey cooks more evenly when left open.
  • (optional) Place a quartered 1 large orange and 4 sprigs thyme herbs inside the cavity for aroma and flavoring.
  • Pour 2 cups chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan (water will work too, water or broth will combine with the drippings from your roasting turkey and can be used for turkey gravy base).
  • Leave your turkey uncovered and place the roasting pan with seasoned turkey into the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) and cook for 13 minutes per pound (without stuffing) or 15 per pound (with stuffing).
  • Every 45 minutes, remove the turkey from oven and baste with the drippings and then return to the oven and allow to continue cooking. Be sure to close the oven while basting, to keep your oven temperature steady for proper roasting time.
  • *At the second basting interval is when I start checking the internal temperature of my turkey with a meat thermometer. **It is also when I evaluate the appearance of the skin, and I may choose to cover the cooking turkey loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil at this point to keep from over-cooking the skin and turkey breast.
  • Remove your turkey from the oven when it reaches 155-160°F (68-71°C).
  • Carefully transfer the cooked turkey to a cutting board or serving platter, cover loosely with aluminum foil, then save the drippings for gravy (if desired). Allow your turkey to rest for approximately half the roasting time (ex. 1½ hours resting time for a 3-hour roasting time).

Notes

Balance the recommended resting time with the food safety recommendation to not have your cooked turkey out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Leftover turkey can be refrigerated for 4-5 days in an air-tight container, or frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 674kcal (34%) | Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) | Protein: 82g (164%) | Fat: 37g (57%) | Saturated Fat: 15g (94%) | Cholesterol: 311mg (104%) | Sodium: 699mg (30%) | Potassium: 904mg (26%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 867IU (17%) | Vitamin C: 9mg (11%) | Calcium: 54mg (5%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Christmas dinner, Dinner Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Main Course, Thanksgiving Turkey
Cuisine American

« Buffet Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Friendsgiving Recipes »

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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