Thanksgiving Catering Menu Ideas

When it comes to Thanksgiving, food is an important part of the celebration. Before slicing the turkey and serving the cranberries, you need to have a well-planned menu for any catering services. With this guide, you can get a variety of Thanksgiving catering menu ideas to help your business serve unique and delicious meals. Whether you want to serve classics or a new twist on old recipes, we have the ideas to make your business stand out.

Crafty Main Courses

There’s nothing wrong with straying from tradition. While it’s important to include classic holiday foods, you can branch out with some of these fun, tasty dishes, too:

• Classic Brined Turkey – For those who want to stick to the basics when celebrating, it’s important to offer the traditional options like a brined turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes.


• Maple-Rosemary Roast Turkey – For a sweet take on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, try roasted turkey with orange, rosemary and maple syrup: the sweet and savory combination is sure to be a hit with customers.


• Turkey Swedish Meatballs – Serving something lighter for the main course is a good idea to help your customers save room for dessert. These meatballs are just enough to leave everyone with a full stomach without taking away their cravings for something sweet.


• Turkey and Cranberry Flatbread – No matter if you’re catering for a family function or a Thanksgiving business get-together, these will be a huge hit. Though this isn’t your traditional turkey meal, you can still get the classic holiday flavors.


• Deep-Fried Turkey – If you want to serve something extra decadent, deep-fried turkey’s crispy skin and juicy meat is the perfect choice. Although frying is more work than roasting, our guide on how to tie up a turkey for deep frying will help make the task a bit easier.

Delicious Side Dishes

Pairing the right side dishes with a meal will make all the difference. Mix it up with something sweet and something savory.

• Pumpkin Ravioli – Including this side dish in your menu will provide a tasty variety for your customers. Simply sprinkle on some sage and serve with delicious browned butter and pine nuts.


• Twice Baked Potato Casserole – Twice baked potatoes, bacon and extra cheese? This is a side dish that will have everyone talking.


• Roasted Vegetables with Pecan Crumble – Every meal needs some vegetables. Roast them until soft and serve with a brown sugar glaze and a pinch of salt.


• Green Bean Casserole – Adding some green bean casserole to your Thanksgiving catering menu gives customers another traditional taste of the Holidays.


• Mashed Sweet Potatoes – If you find customers are growing tired of regular mashed potatoes, consider offering mashed sweet potatoes. While they’d be delicious plain, a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon will take them to the next level.

Desserts Guests Will Be Thankful For

If anyone has any room after dinner, you can satisfy their sweet tooth with one of the following dessert options:

• Apple Tart – Fall is in the air and what better way to celebrate than with a classic apple tart. Add some whipped cream or cinnamon on top for an extra sweet bite.


• Red Wine Poached Pears – For something more sophisticated, try adding poached pears to the menu. These can be served with vanilla ice cream, mascarpone cheese or even whipped cream.


• Marshmallow-Praline Sweet Potato Pie – If you’re not sure whether to offer pecan or sweet potato pie, marshmallow-praline sweet potato pie has the best of both worlds. Sweet and savory while also soft and crunchy, it’ll hit the spot after a lovely turkey meal.


• Pumpkin Bread – Flavorful and delicious, pumpkin bread is a great option for the end of a Thanksgiving feast. You can also add in chocolate chips for a sweet touch.


• Chocolate Pecan Pie – If you’re looking for Thanksgiving catering menu ideas to please your chocoholic customers, chocolate pecan pie is the perfect dessert. Although it’s amazing with just basic ingredients, a bit of bourbon will take it to the next level.

When catering, you’ll also want to make sure you have the right equipment and supplies to create an unforgettable dinner. Check off your list with disposable plates, flatware and even takeout containers so your guests can take home some extras.