When You Ask Grandma What She Cooking For Thanksgiving

scoop of mac and cheese casserole

Credit: Rae

There's nothing quite like going to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. From smelling the delicious feast that's cooking to figuring out whether you're at the kids' or adults' table this year, the entire celebration centers around dining together as a family. Relive your nostalgia with this round-up of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes made by grandmothers. From classic green bean casserole to tangy cranberry orange cake, they're sure to be a hit at your holiday dinner.

Grandma's Farmhouse Turkey Brine

Credit: Pam Ziegler Lutz

Get a head start on your Thanksgiving dinner by beginning your turkey brining the day before. Blair's brine recipe includes classic ingredients like poultry seasoning, a hefty dose of black pepper, and a generous amount of kosher salt. But it also includes a secret ingredient: cranberry juice. The combination of salty, sweet, and tangy makes for a delicious bird and roasting drippings that create an amazing gravy.

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Grandma Reid's Stuffing

Best Sausage Stuffing in a stainless steel bowl

Credit: Candace Lee Bartel

The ultimate old-fashioned sausage stuffing, this recipe by Gord Reid is perfect for a large 10- to 12-pound turkey. The dish features a plethora of savory flavors from onion, celery, and fresh herbs, but it also has a hint of sweetness thanks to the addition of two diced apples.

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Grandma's Corn Pudding

a white ceramic casserole dish of baked corn casserole with appealingly brown crusted edges

Credit: Debi Clark Bickmore

A Thanksgiving classic, corn pudding is the savory casserole that has plenty of sweet notes to satisfy. This recipe by lisa cohen has custard-like consistency and many reviewers recommend adding a sprinkling of crushed buttery crackers or shredded cheese on top.

Grandma's Cranberry Sauce

cranberry sauce in a bowl with crackers on the side

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Once you've had homemade cranberry sauce, you'll never go back to the stuff that's in a can. In the recipe by SJHOMER, fresh cranberries are combined with oranges, apples, and pecans for a textured condiment similar to relish. If you're not a fan of bitter aftertaste, you may want to peel the orange before making this dish.

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Grandma's Clover Leaf Rolls

rolls on a baking rack

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Making these uniquely shaped rolls are almost as much fun as eating them. Brownie421 shared their grandmother's cherished recipe, which is yeast-based for a fluffy and light baked good. To make rolling the dough easier, add a dash of vegetable oil to your hands before you start.

Grandma's Collard Greens

collard greens in a white dish

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We've all been told by our grandmothers to "Eat your greens!" and that task is so much easier when you serve this recipe. Made with a base of sautéed red onions and bacon, the collards are then cooked low and slow until extremely tender.

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Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

a lattice-topped apple pie with a slice cut out of it on a red, orange, and yellow tablecloth

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This recipe boasts a five-star rating with a whopping 10,000 reviews. Simple, yet a showstopper, this apple pie from MOSHASMAMA relies on a short ingredient list to get the job done. Tart Granny Smith apples combine with white and brown sugar for a sweet and sour filling. Feel free to add a dash of cinnamon or apple pie spice mix for an extra bit of flavor.

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Grandma's Green Bean Casserole

green bean casserole

Credit: Cynthia Garcia

Don't add condensed soups to your Thanksgiving shopping list. Instead, make this ultra-easy side dish for all your green bean needs. The combination of a roux and sour cream in Amy Barry's recipe results in an extremely creamy casserole that's topped off with a layer of shredded cheese and buttery crackers. You can always add a dash of French onions to the top too if that's how your grandma used to make it.

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Grandma's Southern Mac and Cheese

scoop of mac and cheese casserole

Credit: Rae

Although there's the controversy between whether stovetop or baked macaroni and cheese is best, if your grandmother is from the South she probably made her dish similar to this one by Rhett Towles. Macaroni is mixed with a hearty dose of cheddar cheese, milk, and seasonings before eggs are added as a binder for baking.

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Grandma's Cranberry Orange Cake

slice of bundt cake on a white plate

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Just because you've also got pie on the dessert table doesn't mean that cake can't be there, too. This recipe by STACEYO is both sweet and tangy thanks to the addition of dried cranberries and chopped dates. The secret ingredient is cranberry-flavored liquor, which bakes out of the dish but leaves behind a lovely flavor.

Grandma Carol's Pumpkin Roll

pumpkin roll cake on a white dish

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If you're looking to add something a little different to your Thanksgiving spread, try this wonderfully autumnal pumpkin roll. According to recipe creator SusieQ, this recipe makes a lot — so it's perfect for serving a crowd.

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Grandma Mac's Green Beans

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Take plain green beans up a notch with peppered bacon, onions, and lots of salt. Recipe creator Jennifer Wilkinson says they reheat well, so you can prep these the day before Thanksgiving if you'll be pressed on time and stovetop space on the big day.

Ruth's Grandma's Pie Crust

The top-rated pie crust recipe is ideal for whatever seasonal filling you choose. "Awesome awesome awesome awesome," raves reviewer StevenMaGeven. "I will never use another recipe. I followed the recipe and the crust was easily the best I've had in my life (and I've had a lot of pie in my day)."

Grandma Tolli's Candied Yams

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There's an unexpected secret ingredient in this sweet side dish: pineapple chunks! The fruity addition, plus a bit of pineapple juice, adds irresistible flavor that perfectly complements canned yams.

Grandma's Sweet Hubbard Squash Custard Pie

Grandma's sweet hubbard squash custard

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"This recipe was handed down from my Grandma," says recipe creator Colleen Mitchell. "I have tweaked it to spice it up some! It is a unique addition to any Thanksgiving celebration and holds its own against pumpkin pie any day!"

Grandmother's Buttermilk Cornbread

The Allrecipes community can't get enough of this sweet, moist, and tender buttermilk cornbread — it has more than 7.000 rave reviews from happy home cooks. You can also use this recipe to make muffins.

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Grandma's Red Hot Southern Sweet Potatoes

Grandma's Red Hot Southern Sweet Potatoes in a glass dish

Credit: Megan

Cinnamon candies add bursts of flavor and texture to this spicy-sweet Southern side dish. "It's so delicious, you'll want to make it all year," according to recipe creator JenSmith.

Grandma's Green Beans with Bacon Vinaigrette

green beans with bits of bacon on a white plate

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Fresh green beans are complemented by a simple vinaigrette made with bacon drippings, onions, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard, and pepper.

Grandma's Corn Bread Dressing

a baking sheet filled with cornbread dressing

Credit: Amy Kiel

"My grandmother often made this for my family at holidays and also just with good homemade meals," says recipe creator Amy. "I hope you enjoy it as much as I have."

Grandma Rita's Soft Butter Rolls

homemade bread rolls on a baking sheet

Credit: Nikaya Dahn Smith

Here's an old-fashioned yeast bread recipe that everyone will enjoy. "Want a roll that stays soft for days? Try these fluffy, soft rolls made with butter and love," says recipe creator Lela.

More Inspiration

cranberry sauce in ramekin next to dish cloth

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