Okay, I'm going to be real with you. The turkey gets all the glory, but we all know the bread basket is where the real magic happens. I mean, what else are you going to use to soak up every last drop of that amazing gravy? I've rounded up 10 of my favorite easy Thanksgiving bread recipes that are going to steal the show this year.
1. Cranberry Orange Bread
If you're in the mood for a sweet bread to serve at breakfast, for snacks, or after dinner with dessert, this cranberry orange bread is calling your name. That sticky orange-vanilla glaze on top is so good it'll make you groan out loud. The bread itself is just as tasty, packed with orange juice, orange zest, cranberries, vanilla, and more. Every single bite is a sweet and slightly tangy little mouthful of perfection.
2. Homemade Pizza Bread
Doing a non-traditional Thanksgiving with pizza, pasta, and all the Italian goodies? Then this homemade pizza bread needs to be on your table. The outside gets wonderfully crispy while the inside stays soft and pillowy. It's good and cheesy, which makes it absolutely perfect for dunking into marinara sauce. I'm already reaching for a slice.
3. Swirled Herb Garlic Bread
Garlic herb bread is already my favorite, but when you twist it into a gorgeous swirled loaf? Even better. This one takes nearly three hours from start to finish, but honestly, something that tastes and looks this good should take its time. It's supremely buttery, cheesy to the max, and has garlic and herb flavor that goes to the extreme. I promise it's worth every single minute.
4. Spoon Rolls
If homemade rolls sound amazing but you're already juggling a million Thanksgiving dishes, these spoon rolls are about to be your new best friend. You only need six basic ingredients: active dry yeast, water, butter, egg, sugar, and self-rising flour. And get this, you can whip up the batter up to four whole days before you need to bake them. That's my kind of planning ahead.
5. Breadsticks
I know you can just grab a bag from the freezer aisle at Walmart, but hear me out. You can make the fluffiest, softest, most buttery breadsticks right in your own kitchen. I'm telling you, these are simply divine. And the best part? They come together in just one hour. Believe it.
6. Garlic Bread
This is another great homemade garlic bread recipe, and it doesn't require nearly as much work as the swirled version. It's so easy, in fact, that you can have it on the table in just 20 minutes flat. Think cheesy, buttery, and absolutely overflowing with garlicky goodness. The edges get super crispy while the inside stays soft and melt-in-your-mouth, which makes it ideal for dipping into sauces or sopping up leftovers.
7. Bacon Cheddar Bread
This is homemade bread that's absolutely stuffed to the brim with thick, salty bacon and gooey cheddar cheese. I mean, honestly, do I even need to say anything else? Those two ingredients sell themselves. Get ready to watch this loaf disappear first.
8. Quick and Easy Butter Croissants
These flaky, buttery croissants are honestly heavenly, and the process for making them is super simple. The thing is, they do take some time, mostly for resting and rising. So please, whatever you do, don't wait until the last minute to start these. Trust me on that one, it won't work.
9. Onion Bread
If you're one of those people who believes onions make everything better, then this homemade onion bread is going to win your heart. It's wonderful and the smell when it's baking is absolutely fantastic. Want an extra burst of umami? Go ahead and add just a little dash of fresh garlic too. I won't stop you.
10. Butternut Squash Rolls
These warm, crumbly rolls are dense and herby, and honestly just perfect with a pat of butter melting on top. The sage in them makes them complement your Thanksgiving dressing flawlessly. And the butternut squash gives the whole thing a rich, earthy taste that is just out of this world. I want a whole basket of these.