Best Italian Thanksgiving Recipes in 2024

5.0 from 4 votes

Whether you’re seeking classic Italian Thanksgiving recipes or something totally new, I am sure you’re going to love one (or more!) of these wonderful Italian dishes for your Thanksgiving feast!

Roast turkey and pumpkin pie may have permanent spots on your Thanksgiving dinner menu, but if you’re anything like me, you’d like to throw a new Thanksgiving meal into the mix every now and again.

If you’re looking for new Thanksgiving recipes, scroll down to find some of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes from the Italian cuisine. With ideas ranging from classics like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole to inventive stuffings and desserts, you’re going to find a dish (or two!) you’ll love for your Thanksgiving table.

It’s no secret that Thanksgiving recipes are some of the most amazing and delicious recipes out there. From first course to whole turkeys to gravy, your taste buds are soon to be in for an amazing treat with any of the below recipes you’ll add to your Thanksgiving menu.

What I love most about this time of year, given the fact I’m not from a family of Italian heritage, is that I always end up having Italian food at my friends’ dinner table.

Before diving into these amazing recipes, you should also check the best Southern Thanksgiving meal ideas too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Italian Thanksgiving Appetizers

Tortellini Caprese Skewers

Everyone will love these tortellini Caprese skewers with a balsamic glaze drizzle. They’re fun and simple to make (let the kids help with them!) and taste delicious.

Italian Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms topped with cannelloni beans cooked in tomato sauce, thin zucchini slices and mozzarella cheese. An easy and healthy vegetarian appetizer dish

Heirloom Italian Burrata Caprese Salad

A colourful feast for the eyes, this is one of the best caprese recipes I’ve tried. Tomato caprese with fresh burrata boasts fresh flavours and makes a delicious appetizer. You can make heirloom caprese from scratch in just ten or fifteen minutes including the homemade balsamic glaze.

Mushroom Crostini

These festive vegan mushroom crostini recipe is an easy and impressive appetizer perfect for holidays. Crunchy baguette with grilled vegan mozzarella topped with sweet caramelized onions and mushrooms with a hint of balsamic and Dijon mustard will surely be a show stopper.

Bocconcini Caprese

TThis Caprese salad works as a delicious, fresh side salad for Thanksgiving. It’s topped with caramelized onions and zesty balsamic.

Pesto Crostini

Pesto crostini are the easiest appetizer you’ll ever make. French baguette is baked to crisp perfection, slathered in delicious pesto, and piled with mouthwatering toppings. They are a great starter or appetizer for Thanksgiving!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Crostini

Cranberry Crostini Recipe is a must for the Holidays. Toasted crostini slices topped with cream cheese and classic cranberry sauce. Beautifully pulled together and delicious to eat. An easy appetizer with crowd pleasing reviews.

Capresse Flatbread

This Caprese flatbread is a tasty appetizer featuring fresh tomatoes, basil, pesto, and mozzarella, that’s topped with a delicious balsamic glaze drizzle.

Italian Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Italian Turkey Steaks

These baked Italian turkey steaks are a delicious and easy weeknight dinner option. Tender and moist these flavorful steaks are a simpler alternative to roast turkey.

Chicken Saltimbocca

A twist on the popular Italian dish, this version of chicken saltimbocca has pounded chicken cutlets with aromatic herbs de Provence, smoky speck and fresh basil that is finished in a light white wine sauce.

Italian Meatloaf (Polpettone)

The most delicious Italian Meatloaf (Polpettone) stuffed with Taleggio cheese and wrapped in crispy pancetta. This main dish looks so impressive making it perfect for special occasions. It’s juicy, delicious and packed with flavour. Served with a simple tomato sauce.

Italian Roast Beef Recipe

Juicy and delicious Italian Roast beef served with a super simple marsala and onion gravy. This family roast is super simple to prepare made with just four ingredients and ready in under 2 hours! Serve with roasted potatoes and your favorite sides.

Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

If you’re having a low key Thanksgiving, Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast for Two is the perfect solution. The turkey, vegetables and gravy all made on 1 pan for the easiest holiday meal.

Italian Eggplant Parmigiana with Vodka Sauce Recipe

Eggplant parmesan without breading, or parmigiana di melanzane, is made with basil, garlic, Italian cheeses, and more. The creamy, vodka-infused sauce pairs perfectly with it.

Roasted Turkey Thighs Stuffed with Dried Cranberries, Mushrooms and Sausage

These Roasted Turkey Thighs Stuffed with Dried Cranberries, Mushrooms and Sausage are the perfect alternative to roasting a whole bird for Thanksgiving.

Italian Meatballs Recipe

These Italian meatballs are soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! They’re made with ground beef and breadcrumbs then baked in the oven for easy clean up!

Traditional Lasagna Recipe

Any Italian family has often had lasagna for Thanksgiving, so you can too! Make this traditional recipe which will be the only recipe you’ll ever want to use again.

Ricotta Meatballs Recipe

The BEST ricotta meatballs! Juicy and soft inside and crispy outside, learn how to make meatballs with ricotta the authentic Italian way!

Italian Thanksgiving Side Dishes Recipes

Mascarpone mashed potatoes with rosemary butter

Mascarpone mashed potatoes with rosemary butter put an Italian spin on the classic side dish. I love mashed potatoes. I love them so much. I have never met a mashed potato I didn’t like, and if my pants were cool with it, I’d totally eat mashed potatoes every single day of my life. Especially these mascarpone mashed potatoes with rosemary butter. The mascarpone cheese gives these potatoes an extra creamy finish and a little sweetness. Plus it makes them so creamy. And let’s talk about the rosemary butter. It is so fragrant and flavorful. It ties it to the flavors I cook my holiday turkey and roasts with and makes it the perfect side for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Glaze

Roasting Brussels sprouts are so much more flavorful than boiling. With the addition of an easy cranberry glaze, this is a dish no one will pass on. A perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday dinner or anytime you cook a roast chicken, beef, pork, or lamb.

Risotto-style pasta with pumpkin

Risotto-style pasta with pumpkin is a traditional Neapolitan dish. Like many pasta recipes from Naples, this is a simple dish made with just a handful of fresh ingredients. It’s easy to make, creamy and delicious! Also fabulous as a side dish!

Butternut Squash Risotto

This rich, comforting, and utterly delicious Butternut Squash Risotto showcases a favorite Italian flavor trio—brown butter, squash, and sage—in a creative, memorable way.

Roasted Parmesan Carrots

Carrots roasted with fresh parmesan and garlic are not only a delicious side dish to lighten the meal, add also some green beans next to them for a full packs a flavor. These Garlic Parmesan Basil Roasted Carrots are a side that your family will actually request from you to make often.

Italian Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

Garlic and Herb Ciabatta Stuffing

Garlic herb ciabatta stuffing is the very best vegetarian stuffing recipe ever! With a crunchy, golden topping and soft interior, this stuffing is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Cornbread Chestnut Stuffing

This chestnut stuffing is made with toasted cubes of homemade cornbread and filled with ground sausage, mushrooms, fennel, cranberries and fresh winter herbs like rosemary and sage.

Italian Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Mini Pumpkin Cannolis

Amaretto Tiramisu

This Classic tiramisu recipe layered with flavors of espresso and amaretto for an extra pop of flavor. Creamy, decadent and slightly nutty from the almond liquor, this is a recipe everyone should have in their repertoire.

Mini Panettone

Homemade Mini Panettone. Easy traditional Italian bread dessert recipe made with raisins and a touch of citrus. Perfec Italian dessert for holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year!

Almond Biscotti

The perfect way to finish an Italian meal is with biscotti. This almond biscotti is perfect for dipping in vin santo or espresso.

Italian Ricotta Cheesecake

This Italian Ricotta Cheesecake a mix of cream cheese and ricotta make for a wholesome cheesecake that is sweet but not too sweet. It’s perfectly rich and delicious and topped with mascerated raspberries.

Tiramisu Cups

These individual tiramisu cups are an easy twist on the classic dessert, made with layers of creamy mascarpone, ladyfingers, and cocoa powder, this makes the perfect dessert!

Apple and Fig Polenta Torta

When you need a little something extraordinary in your everyday life, this simple apple and fig polenta torta from Romagna fits the bill. Simple ingredients make this exquisite bustrengo cake: apples, dried figs, raisins, golden polenta, honey, and olive oil.

Limoncello Tiramisu

You need a light dessert on Thanksgiving, and this limoncello tiramisu is a delightful treat! No baking or cooking involved, this make-ahead dessert is perfect!