53 Best Recipes For A Soul Food Thanksgiving Menu
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Black folks soul food Thanksgiving menu-
These two words we love to hear come November. Thanks. Giving. (Oh, and Happybirthday Destiny – that’s my daughter!)
But for real – it’s time for the most magical feast of the year!
So, close your eyes. Take a deep breath. And imagine yourself sitting down at home on Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family and friends.
The scent of a soul food Thanksgiving dinner wafting through the air. An aromatic scent and the essence of Black folks’ food.
This year create your very own delicious memories with this exceptional soul food Thanksgiving menu!
What is a soul food Thanksgiving menu?
A soul food Thanksgiving menu is a dinner with Southern soul food entrées and Black folks’ recipes and dishes.
From the rooter to the tooter, as old Black folks might say!
What will you find in this Thanksgiving collection?
This soul food Thanksgiving dinner menu is more than the hog.
From the Thanksgiving Day turkey to the smallest kernel of corn – it’s a collection of the best soul food recipes. A Thanksgiving dinner feast fit for a king!
Black Thanksgiving food list:
- Black folks Southern turkey recipe
- Black folks chicken and dressing
- Black folks sweet potato pie recipe
- Black folks Southern potato salad recipe
- Black folks cornbread dressing recipe
- Black folks soul food baked macaroni and cheese
- Black folks soul food collard greens recipe
- Black folks Southern candied yams
- Black folks creamy mashed potatoes recipe
- Black folks creamed corn pudding casserole
- Black folks homemade cornbread
- Black folks soul food homemade eggnog
- Black folks Southern peach cobbler recipe
… and more!
How do you make a Thanksgiving soul food menu?
It’s easy to create your soul food Thanksgiving menu by following each soul food recipe here in this Thanksgiving recipe roundup. Choose the ones you love and start there!
This post contains my best soul food recipes and traditional Thanksgiving Southern sides that will make lasting family memories and nostalgic moments. The kind you eat!
What do you serve on a soul food Thanksgiving menu?
Whether your family is celebrating with a traditional feast or hosting a family potluck event. You’re sure to find the soul food flavors they’re all expecting in this Thanksgiving recipe roundup here.
Use this guided soul food Thanksgiving menu and feel confident about hosting this soul food holiday.
🎙 Listen to The Soul Food Pod episode: Soul Food Thanksgiving
What are some good soul food Thanksgiving recipes?
Are you ready to make a soul food Black Thanksgiving plate?
Because this soul food Thanksgiving menu is so good, you’ll wanna slap yo mama! (But please don’t!)
Forget about dry, bland gravy and tasteless stuffing! And get ready for authentic soul food recipe favorites:
Black folks Southern turkey recipe, candied yams, creamy mashed potatoes, collard greens, fresh cranberry sauce, Black folks baked mac and cheese…and the list goes on and on…
Instead, prepare for tender, juicy meats and flavorful sides that’ll have your family burst into celebration songs well before the final entrée is served! (Gets me all into the Christmas spirit! Mariah Carey Christmas tunes, anybody?)
Traditional soul food Thanksgiving menu
- Black Folks Southern Turkey Recipe
Pump up your Thanksgiving feast in a way that will have your family gobblin’ this bird down in no time. And this bird comes with its own turkey gravy! From the beautiful broth in the pan. Spoiler alert: forget about leftovers!
- Old fashioned Thanksgiving dressing recipe
Traditions, family, and food are the hallmarks of Thanksgiving. And in good tradition, a Thanksgiving dinner table is incomplete without an old-fashioned Thanksgiving dressing recipe.
- Southern cornbread dressing
Old-fashioned cornbread dressing is high on the list of comfort foods. It pairs well with turkey, chicken, or pork!
It’s a holiday staple, although it should be in the rotation all year!
- Black folks chicken and dressing
This is a divine shredded chicken and cornbread stuffing casserole. A yummy soul food recipe that serves justice to the African American community!
- Southern cornbread dressing with chicken gizzards
Does your family have a chicken and dressing or stuffing recipe that passes down from one generational table to the next?
- Black folks smoked turkey leg recipes
The perfect Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. And turkey legs are a popular entrée to make for a Southern soul food Thanksgiving menu when you don’t want to cook the whole bird.
- Smoked Turkey Wings
These smoked turkey wings are the perfect slow-simmered savory dish for simple Sunday dinner comfort. Basted with a mouthwatering blend of roast chicken seasoning and garlic and herb spices.
- Southern Turkey Breast Recipes
Perfect for a holiday dinner or easy enough for a weeknight meal. This herb-roasted turkey breast recipe is coated in a savory spice rub and slathered with apple cider brine before it is cooked to golden brown perfection!
- Soul food Cornish hens
What’s so special about a Cornish hen?
This little chicken weighs under two pounds, making it a healthier and more manageable choice than a regular-sized bird.
Cornish hens also have less fat and fewer calories than chicken, making them a healthier alternative.
- Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe
- Air fryer soul food Southern fried chicken drumsticks
Need a Thanksgiving fried chicken appetizer?
Slip in this low-cal version! Air fryers allow you to cook delicious air-fried chicken without any mess or splatter caused by deep-frying. You won’t even need a paper towel because there’s no oil or grease!
- Black folks Southern oyster dressing recipe
Oyster dressing is one of the most unique and delicious soul food recipes. The perfect side dish to show up at your next holiday gathering.
- Black folks Southern sweet tea
What are the top 10 Thanksgiving side dishes?
From fresh cranberry sauce to Black folks chicken and dressing and soul food baked macaroni and cheese, check out this Thanksgiving dinner menu with the best soul food Thanksgiving side dishes.
- Black folks fresh cranberry sauce
Forget those canned alternatives. This fresh cranberry sauce is made from all-natural and soul food spices. So delicious!
- Black folks Southern baked mac and cheese
Macaroni noodles boiled in a milk bath tossed in a creamy cheese sauce, seasoned, and then baked until brown and crispy around the edges!
- Southern mac and cheese
- Black folks creamed corn pudding
Made from the highest quality ingredients available – buttery homemade cornbread, fresh sour cream laden with melt-in-your-mouth Parmesan cheese!
- Black folks homemade cornbread
What would a Southern soul food feast be without the cornbread, y’all?
You don’t need Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix here! From its thinly crisped edges to the chewy center, this skillet-baked bread is waiting for you to savor!
- Sweet cornbread recipe
- Black folks cornbread dressing recipe
This Southern dish is made of fluffy cornbread, fresh herbs, and veggies cooked with plenty of butter, broth, and egg.
- Black folks Southern green beans
Tired of bland green beans all the time?
Instant Pot Southern green beans recipe brings life back to this boring dish! In just 2 minutes, these soul food seasoned veggies are ready for your Thanksgiving dinner table!
- Cornbread recipe with corn
- Black folks brown sugar-glazed carrots
Brown sugar-glazed carrots are the simplest way to get your guests to say, “Wow.” Just add some thyme, salt, pepper, chicken stock, and butter to bring out the best of this vegetable! You’ll be like, “Wow, carrots! I didn’t know you had that in you!”
- Southern creamed corn
It doesn’t get more southern than creamed corn! That’s why Southern creamed corn is a nostalgic dish. The essence of warmth and home cooking.
- Black folks collard greens
Without a doubt, Black folks’ collard greens are one of the most flavorful and hearty vegetables on earth! Simply put – it’s like eating Black excellence.
- Black folks Southern cabbage recipe
- Thanksgiving candied yams with marshmallows
These sweet potatoes are perfect for winter or fall. A side dish – kinda like a Southern dessert!
- Black folks Southern potato salad recipe
- Black folks baked apples
Is it a dessert or a side dish? Let these delicious Black folks baked apples be the conversation starter at your next Thanksgiving feast!
- Soul food red beans and rice
- Cranberry sauce cornbread
It’s the best of both worlds with this recipe! A combination of Black folks’ fresh cranberry sauce and Black folks’ homemade cornbread.
Also, check out this recipe for how to make fresh cranberry sauce even easier in an Instant Pot!
- Black folks creamy mashed potatoes recipe
- Leftover pulled turkey recipe
What do you usually do with your turkey leftovers?
If you’re fortunate to have any leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, cornbread, biscuits, or yams, here’s what to do with it!
Thanksgiving menu soul food desserts
- Black folks sweet potato pie
Black folks deep-south sweet potato pie is somewhere between a Southern candied yam and an old-fashioned gingersnap!
- Thanksgiving sweet potato pie recipe
- Purple sweet potato pie
This ain’t no humble pie!
A purple sweet potato pie is a stark contrast from the traditional Thanksgiving hues of brown and orange. This pie is bright purple, so if you want your dessert this year to stand out from the crowd – make it a Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie!
- Southern sweet potato pie
- Black folks Southern pecan pie recipe
- Soul food almond flour pie crust
An almond flour pie crust is so easy to make, just like a regular pie crust. Even if you don’t have any baking experience at all, trust me, you’ll be able to whip this up in minutes!
- Black folks Southern peach cobbler recipe
- Black folks Southern bread pudding
- Black folks Southern banana pudding
Sure, you’ve had banana pudding before. But this is different because it’s banana pudding the Black way! (Yes, with cream cheese!)
- Black folks chocolate Southern banana pudding
- Black folks Southern red velvet cake
- Black folks Southern tea cakes
- Black folks homemade eggnog
- Black folks Hennessy & Puerto Rican eggnog (Hennessy coquito)
What do you think about this soul food Thanksgiving menu and recipe roundup?
Which ones are on your Thanksgiving menu?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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Like this post? Pin the below picture to your “Soul Food Thanksgiving Dinner” Pinterest Board!
Equipment
- 8″ cast-iron skillet
- 8″ baking dish
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven
Ingredients
Ingredients for the cornbread
- 8 ½ oz cornbread mix 1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
- ¼ cup sugar granulated (*can be omitted if you don't prefer cornbread sweet)
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 3 oz cream cheese whipped cream cheese
- 4 oz heavy whipping cream
Ingredients for the cornbread dressing
- ¼ cup butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 tablespoon thyme fresh or dried
- 1 tablespoon rosemary fresh or dried
- 1 teaspoon sage ground
- ¼ cup parsley finely chopped
- ½ cup chicken stock or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg large
- 8 oz chicken skinless cooked chicken thighs, or other poultry dark meat shredded
Instructions
Instructions for the cornbread recipe
- Preheat the conventional oven or Instant Pot Omni Plus oven to bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes (although you may not use all of this time for melting the butter).
- Place the 4 tablespoons of butter in an 8-inch skillet and melt in the oven for approximately 5 minutes.
- While the butter is melting, combine the Jiffy cornbread mix, sugar, cream cheese, and heavy cream in a medium-size mixing bowl.
- Pour the melted butter from the skillet into the mixing bowl and mix all the ingredients together.
- Pour the cornbread mixture into the skillet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. In the conventional oven for 25-30 minutes. Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 23-25 minutes.
- When the baking time has finished, allow the cornbread to cool for approx 10 minutes.
- Cut the bread lengthwise and then across into 1-inch bread cubes and set aside.
Instructions for the baked chicken with dressing
- Grease an 8″ or similar-sized baking dish, transfer the set-aside cornbread cubes to the pre-greased dish, and then set aside the cornbread cubes.
- Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and turn on the sauté setting for 8 minutes.
- With the lid off, melt ¼ cup of butter.
- Add the chopped onion, celery, thyme, rosemary, and sage.
- Stir to coat the vegetables in the herbs and melted butter and then sauté until they soften and slightly brown.
- Add the shredded chicken, chicken stock, salt, and pepper to the inner pot’s simmer, and stir to combine.
- Remove the chicken and herb mixture from heat and set aside.
- Allow the mixture to cool to the touch so that it can be mixed with the egg. (You don’t want the egg to cook from the residual heat and scramble!)
- While the herbs are cooling off, beat the egg with the parsley in a medium-sized bowl.
- Gently fold in the cornbread cubes to coat with the egg.
- Pour the egg and parsley mixture over the cubed cornbread in the set-aside baking dish, and gently fold in the mixture evenly with the bread cubes.
- Then, pour the cooled chicken and herb mixture into the cornbread and egg mixture, evenly distributing with your pour.
- Cut the 1 tablespoon of butter into small pats and place them all around on top of the dressing.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes in the conventional oven. Bake for 30 minutes if using the Omni Plus oven.
- Uncover and bake until golden, 10-15 more minutes (conventional oven) or 10 minutes (Omni Plus oven).
- Serve this baked chicken and dressing recipe warm, and enjoy! Optional – serve with gravy on top.
Video
Notes
- 1 cup of medium grind cornmeal
- ⅔ cup of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup of whipped cream cheese
- Preheat the conventional oven or Instant Pot Omni Plus oven to bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes (although you may not use all of this time for melting the butter).
- Place the butter in an 8-inch baking pan or skillet and melt in the oven for approximately 5 minutes.
- While the butter is melting, combine the dry ingredients (cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar) with the cream cheese and heavy cream in a medium-size mixing bowl.
- Pour the melted butter from the baking pan into the mixing bowl and mix all the ingredients together.
- Pour the cornbread batter into the baking pan or skillet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. In the conventional oven, bake for 20-25 minutes. In the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven, bake for 18-20 minutes.
- When you’re adding ingredients to the mix and stirring the batter, try not to overwork it, so you don’t break down the cornbread, which could cause the dressing to have a mushy texture.
- The dressing before it’s baked should be moist but not watery or gummy. If you find that your stuffing is too wet, you can add a few slices of cubed honey wheat bread to soak up the extra liquid.
- You can fix dry stuffing with a few tablespoons of melted butter or chicken stock, or broth.
- Remember, try not to overwork the stuffing when adding ingredients and mixing. You don’t want to break down the cornbread, which will cause the dressing to then have a mushy texture.
Wow! Lots of black folks soul food menu to choose from!