Since Thanksgiving in Canada is coming up—the second Monday in October—there’s no time like the present to choose a cornucopia of recipes for a long three-day weekend of feasting.Hosting Thanksgiving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Many of these Canadian Thanksgiving recipes are make-ahead, so you can spend more time enjoying family and less time in the kitchen. TheseCanadian Thanksgiving menuideas highlight some well-loved recipes for Thanksgiving dinner in the Great White North. Whether you’re looking for a new turkey recipe or a tasty side dish, we have your Thanksgiving dinner planning covered!
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast
Slow cooker apple cider brined turkey breast is a perfect autumn recipe. I guarantee you’ve never had such moist turkey! It’s juicy and delicious and bursting with fall flavours. Cooking boneless turkey breast in a slow cooker is an easy no fuss dinner. This is the best brined turkey breast and perfect for all the holidays ahead.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast
Cranberry Cream Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak
How does cranberry cream cheese stuffed flank steak sound as a Christmas dinner dish? Doesn’t the sound of this recipe make your mouth begin to water? It’s such a great recipe for stuffed flank steak and works well as a New Year, Thanksgiving or Christmas steak recipe when you want something both fancy and tasty.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Cream Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak
Holiday Beef Wellington
What about making holiday beef wellington for Christmas dinner this year? It’s made with beef tenderloin, the most tender cut of beef, along with flavourful ingredients such as prosciutto parma ham, rosemary, thyme, mushrooms, shallot, and more. This Thanksgiving or Christmas beef wellington recipe is straightforward to make and it’s a wonderfully decadent meal for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Beef Wellington
Rustic Cranberry Galette
A warm golden brown cranberry galette is ideal for any occasion, from Christmas or Thanksgiving to a special event like someone’s birthday. Cranberries offer a bold, tart taste and this cranberry raspberry galette also boasts orange, cream, cranberries and raspberries for a wonderful result. You can use fresh or frozen berries and any type of pie crust you prefer.
Get the Recipe: Rustic Cranberry Galette
Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Shaped Mini Bundt Cakes
Have you ever seen anything as cute as these pumpkin shaped mini Bundt cakes? These Thanksgiving or Halloween pumpkin cakes are just gorgeous. They’d look amazing on your holiday table! Learn how to make a pumpkin shaped cake like this, and it will be a Thanksgiving or Halloween dessert is sure to impress!
Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Shaped Mini Bundt Cakes
Roasted Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Pancetta Feta Casserole
There is no doubt this roasted Brussels sprout pomegranate pancetta feta casserole is something very special. It’s a heavenly bacon feta side dish. This easy Brussels sprout casserole makes a delicious Autumn or Thanksgiving side dish. So if you want to team Brussels sprouts with feta and more, read on to find out how to make it.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Pancetta Feta Casserole
Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole
Let this leftover turkey wild rice casserole come to the rescue! Combine Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers with wild rice and other ingredients to make this leftover turkey casserole recipe. It is so easy to combine leftover turkey or a turkey breast to make this instant pot wild rice recipe that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole
Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe
Knowing how to smoke turkey breast over wood chips or wood pellets like a pro means you can make this wonderful smoked turkey breast recipe for the family. A tasty holiday turkey option, smoking adds a whole other layer of flavour to this juicy turkey breast. So fire up the Traeger grill or pellet smoker like you mean business for a tasty Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Turkey Breast Recipe
Cranberry Holiday Beef Brisket
This cranberry holiday beef brisket is seriously amazing. It’s a lovely dish for the holiday season, Jewish holidays or any time of year you’re feeling festive. A large brisket with fresh cranberries or cranberry jelly is a great recipe for any holiday, special occasion or simply because it’s delicious enough to have any day!
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Holiday Beef Brisket
Cranberry Orange Prosecco Punch
Cranberry orange prosecco punch is a fun Fall or Thanksgiving co*cktail. The orange and cranberry flavours make it festive and fruity, while the prosecco gives it a wonderful amount of fizz. Thanksgiving punch is a great festive drink to serve to guests or you could simply make a pitcher to enjoy over the Thanksgiving period.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Prosecco Punch
Cheesy Vegetable Casserole
This cheesy vegetable bake is a delicious vegetable medley that takes mere minutes to throw together. It’s a foolproof dish prepared with frozen mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, butter, cheese, and crispy bread crumbs.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Vegetable Casserole
One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn
One pot gouda and cream cheese corn is an extra-special and very delicious side dish. It’s an amazing Thanksgiving or Christmas corn recipe and pairs nicely with any kind of meat you want to cook.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn
No Churn Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream
If you are a fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, you’re going to love this no churn pumpkin spice latte ice cream because it tastes just the same! It has coffee, vanilla and pumpkin flavours and then the wonderful pumpkin swirl is made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
Get the Recipe: No Churn Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream
Sweet Potatoes with Candied Maple Pecans
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s time to think about a holiday sweet potato recipe. Some people like to make their favourite dishes every year while others like to change things up.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes with Candied Maple Pecans
Gouda Cheddar Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin
Gouda cheddar parmesan scalloped potatoes from scratch are the perfect side dish and comfort food. Although you can use any cheese you like for such a dish, smoked Gouda, white cheddar and parmesan cheese go especially well together, making this the best potatoes au gratin for a special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Gouda Cheddar Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin
Sparkling Frosted Cranberry Cookies
The sparkling garnish on top is an easy way to dress up desserts for Thanksgiving and Christmas. These sparkling frosted cranberry cookies pair the sugared cranberries with homemade cookies plus a simple buttercream to make festive treats in the true spirit of holiday cheer.
Get the Recipe: Sparkling Frosted Cranberry Cookies
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Everyone has their own way of using up holiday leftovers. If you find yourself with turkey and can’t really face yet another turkey sandwich, how does this leftover turkey shepherd’s pie sound? You can use leftover mashed potatoes in it as well. This tasty meal also includes onion, herbs, vegetables and Guinness for richness.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Smoked Sweet Onion Honey Glazed Ham
Smoked sweet onion honey glazed ham on a pellet grill makes such a delicious meal for a special occasion. Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter would be the perfect time for smoking a ham on a pellet smoker or Traeger grill. This honey ham recipe is juicy, boasting all kinds of rich, wonderful flavours. The glaze ensures it won’t dry out and the flavour is just phenomenal.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Onion Honey Glazed Ham
Air Fryer Whiskey, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing
This air fryer whiskey, sausage and cranberry stuffing is so delicious. And baking stuffing in an air fryer means you can fit other dishes in the oven or on the stove. It is the perfect stuffing for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Did you know you could make a bourbon or whiskey stuffing with pork sausage recipe in your air fryer? Well, you can, and it’s so good!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Whiskey, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing
Maple Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
What a delicious holiday side dish that maple bacon wrapped green bean bundles make! These oven roasted green beans with bacon are salty, sweet and buttery. They pair with pretty much anything. Try them with chicken, steak, your Thanksgiving ham or anything else you want.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
Amaretto Cream Pie with Almond Crust
Make this no bake cream pie recipe with amaretto liqueur and you will certainly end the meal in style. It’s a make-ahead dessert, as long as you add the finishing touches just before serving.
Get the Recipe: Amaretto Cream Pie with Almond Crust
Apple Pie Jello Shots
Apple pie jello shots taste just like old fashioned apple pie, but this is the drinkable version! They’re flavoured with cinnamon whiskey and topped with whipped cream and apple pie spice. Apple pie whiskey jello shots are simple to prepare and you can make as many of these as you want, ahead of time, for any gathering or party.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Jello Shots
Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie
It’s the best chocolate pecan pie recipe ever. It’s bursting with pecans and chocolate and every mouthful will make you say yummmm!! If a gooey pecan and chocolate dessert sounds good to you, try this pie
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie
Sweet Italian Ricotta Pie
Ricotta cheese pie is a sweet Italian Christmas or Easter pie. It’s rich, sweet and boasts an amazing flavour in every mouthful, which includes citrus, almond and vanilla. It is a traditional Italian dessert well worth making for a special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Italian Ricotta Pie
Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer
The creaminess of brie cheese pairs beautifully with the sweet flavour of cranberry sauce in these brie cranberry bites in puff pastry. These delightful little bites are perfect for any season or occasion and each one boasts plenty of wonderful flavour. So, if you like the gooey creaminess of brie cheese along with sweet bottled or homemade cranberry sauce, you’re going to want to make these.
Get the Recipe: Brie Cranberry Bites Appetizer
Canadian Butter Tarts
Have you ever made or tasted Canadian butter tarts? They’re a real Canadian classic so if you love butter tarts, you just have to try this recipe. The homemade pastry shells contain a sweet, vanilla-scented filling with nuts and raisins for the perfect flavour. They are little buttery, flaky pastry shells filled with a syrupy brown sugar filling that you are going to LOVE!
Get the Recipe: Canadian Butter Tarts
Maple Apple Whiskey Sour
Smooth whiskey pairs up with sweet apple cider and maple syrup, zingy fresh lemon juice, and frothy egg white to make this Canadian take on the classic whiskey sour recipe. With just 5 ingredients, along with ice and apple slices for an attractive garnish, you can rustle up this tasty maple apple whisky sour recipe.
Get the Recipe: Maple Apple Whiskey Sour
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
I can’t get enough of this twice baked sweet potato casserole. It’s basically a sweet potato with pecan topping dish which pairs well with – well, just about everything! These individual sweet potato casseroles are a great side dish for a pot luck or any family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole Stacks
Air fryer sweet potato casserole stacks make a delicious side dish for all kinds of dishes. This sliced yam casserole is a breeze to prepare and it tastes so good. The sweet potato stacks are topped with a crunchy topping. I love these with sour cream on top – the contrast between sweet and tangy is perfect.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole Stacks
Festive Holiday Cranberry Margarita
A cranberry margarita makes a great Thanksgiving or Christmas co*cktail. The yummy combination of silver tequila and triple sec, along with seasonal favourites like cranberries and edible fall flowers, results in a very festive cranberry drink that everyone will adore. Add this cranberry co*cktail to your party drink list this holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Festive Holiday Cranberry Margarita
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte
You’re going to love how good this slow cooker pumpkin spice latte tastes. It’s even better than the pumpkin spice latte from your favourite coffee shop, so save your $5 and make this version instead.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte
Air Fryer Bacon Loaded Cornbread Pudding – Corn Casserole
Bacon loaded cornbread pudding pairs with everything from chicken to ham or steaks. It’s a wonderful potluck dish and this is the best corn casserole I’ve made. It’s easy to put together this air fryer cornbread pudding made with Jiffy cornbread mix. This bacon corn casserole will become a family dinner tradition.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Loaded Cornbread Pudding – Corn Casserole
Garlic Herb Bread Wreath
I love to make a garlic herb bread wreath for special occasions. It is sure to appeal to garlic bread fans and pairs beautifully with any holiday dinner. Making homemade bread can be really simple and this easy bread recipe proves it. So even if you don’t usually make bread yourself, I’m sure you will be able to rustle this amazing easy bread recipe up without a hitch
Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Bread Wreath
Pecan Praline Spice Butter Board
Perhaps you’ve seen this pecan praline spice butter board before since it’s a viral trend. This Tik Tok recipe is a charcuterie style easy appetizer, served on a wooden board. It’s a great option if you’re planning a holiday party, and everyone will love the combination of sweet, crunchy and buttery in every delicious bite.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Praline Spice Butter Board
Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad
Arugula offers a refreshing, peppery flavour, although this ingredient can be swapped for mixed greens, baby spinach or romaine. If you are looking for a fall salad recipe, try out this butternut squash or pumpkin rocket salad. Roasted squash salad is an autumn favourite!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad
Herb Roasted Turkey with Citrus Gravy
Herb roasted turkey is a must make for the holidays. This recipe includes easy to follow instructions and the best citrus gravy.
Get the Recipe: Herb Roasted Turkey with Citrus Gravy
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause.
Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts. As well, Bella celebrates her Italian heritage with tasty dishes inspired by her favorite Italian foods. She has been featured in publications such as MSN, Self, Well + Good, New York Post, Salon, and more.
As a social media influencer, Bella can be found on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Since 2015, she has partnered with international brands and Fortune 500 companies. Living with celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes, Bella takes every opportunity to share her experiences with T1D and educate others about these autoimmune diseases.