Tasty Twists on Thanksgiving Recipes

This Thanksgiving recipe has thinly sliced and spiced sweet potato slices placed into a pan like two circular rolls.

Courtesy of epicurious.com

In 1621, Plymouth pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians shared a meal together to celebrate the harvest. Since they didn’t have Amazon Fresh back then, the original Thanksgiving recipes only included local foods like waterfowl, corn, squash, berries and deer. That’s right; sadly, butter and wheat flour was not readily available for pilgrims to whip up a few pumpkin pies.

Still, it sounds like something we all wish we could go back in time to see. A handful of colonies turned the meal into an annual tradition, but it wasn’t until 1823 that President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Since that first meal over 200 years ago, Thanksgiving food has elevated beyond spit-roasted ducks and blackberries. Now we spend days in the kitchen, whipping out creams, custards and sauces, sneaking sips and bites as we go along, all to prepare for the most beloved day in November.

We’ve taken to the Internet to find some of the most tantalizing, mouth-watering Thanksgiving day recipes out there, and each one comes with a tasty twist on its traditional counterpart. Take a look at what we found!

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A gem among Thanksgiving recipes, this one has green beans, cheddar cheese and bread crumbs in an oval skillet.

1 / 10

Green Bean Cheddar Casserole

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a cheesy twist on classic Thanksgiving recipes. Not only is this recipe delicious, it looks beautiful!

This Thanksgiving recipe has small baguette slices topped with brie cheese, honey and apple slices.

2 / 10

Brie, Apple and Honey Crostinis

These elegant treats keep the tummy-rumbles away while your guests wait for the main event. Plus, they're simple and easy to make.

The cheesiest of all Thanksgiving recipes, this macaroni and cheese is mixed with bacon, spinach and pumpkin.

3 / 10

Pumpkin Mac 'n Cheese

Pumpkin mac 'n cheese? That's one we never thought we'd see, but we're so glad we did. It's a bold spin on an American favorite—surprise friends and family by putting it on the table this Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving recipe is a traditional turkey wrapped with bacon in an over-and-under woven fashion.

4 / 10

Bacon-Wrapped Turkey

No, you're not dreaming, that really is a turkey wrapped in crispy, yummy bacon. Stun everyone at the table with a centerpiece that looks complicated to make (but is actually easy!)

The sweetest and tangiest of Thanksgiving recipes, this one is a white bowl filled with cranberry sauce that has pineapple pieces in it.

5 / 10

Pineapple Cranberry Sauce

Sweet 'n tangy, that's how we like our pineapple-cranberry sauce. This tropical twist is sure to be a crowd-favorite.

6 / 10

Spiced Sweet Potato Tian

Doesn't this look like art? It's healthier than the many sugar-coated sweet potato recipes out there and packs a savory punch that's just as delicious.

This one puts the thanks in Thanksgiving recipes—it's an apple cider doughnuts covered in sugar, piled on top of a plate.

7 / 10

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

If you're tired of finding abandoned apple cider glasses all over your house, try these apple cider donuts! They're baked, not fried, so there'll be no oil popping in your face while you make these beauties.

This Thanksgiving recipe shows a slice of cornbread with whole blueberries baked into the bottom half.

8 / 10

Blueberry Maple Cornbread in a Skillet

Mmm, blueberries baked in cornbread? Yes, please! Hide a juicy blue surprise in your cornbread this year, and the fact that it's baked in a skillet just adds to your farmhouse cred.

This Thanksgiving recipe shows a slice of chocolate pumpkin pie with a dark chocolate crust and cross-hatched white chocolate stripes on top.

9 / 10

Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

If you make this, we just have one piece of advice: Move fast and get yourself a slice of this triple-chocolate pumpkin pie before its creamy decadence gets gobbled up!

This Thanksgiving recipe shows cornbread stuffing with sausage, chopped pecans and apple chucks mixed in.

10 / 10

Cornbread and Apple Stuffing

You'll want to stuff your face with this stuffing recipe that boasts a delightful addition of cornbread and apple chunks. If you make it every year, why not mix it up a little, right?