Our Thanksgiving Roll and Biscuit Recipes Will Seriously Upgrade Your Holiday Bread Basket

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated October 11, 2019
Whether you prefer buttery rolls or flaky biscuits, a bountiful bread basket is a Thanksgiving dinner essential. Here are our best recipes to have your guests saying, "Pass the bread basket!" all night long.
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Even with a gorgeous roasted turkey, stuffing, and sides on the table, a Thanksgiving feast hardly feels complete without a warm basket of rolls to go with it. Served in a classic wicker basket with a red and white gingham napkin, dinner rolls, biscuits, or cornbread are must-haves on Thanksgiving. With a smear of butter or a fresh fruit jam, these bread recipes are absolutely delicious and sure to impress guests.

While many of these recipes require hours to complete from start to finish, the hands-on work is usually quite simple. But if you're usually strapped for time on the holiday, know that we've included some make-ahead recipes, too. Looking for something speedy you can make on the day of? Plan to whip up biscuits instead of yeast rolls, as these require less time for kneading and rising than traditional rolls. Of course, we also have the classic dinner roll recipes that your family has come to expect on Thanksgiving, such as Parker House Rolls. The buttery, all-American recipe is said to have originated in the kitchens of the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Our timeless Dinner Rolls are just as pure and delicious—plenty of butter, whole milk, and eggs add richness to create a pillowy, warm bite. A batch of No-Knead Cloverleaf Rolls have also been known to outshine the main course, so be sure to make enough to go around the table (twice!).

If you're looking for a Thanksgiving bread recipe with some savory flavor, try our Bacon-Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits, which easily transition from dinner to brunch, or our Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread, a sweeter, earthier version of a classic cornbread recipe. Want to really wow your family and friends on Thanksgiving? Make Cornbread Turkeys; even Martha has served them at her own Thanksgiving celebrations, so you know that they'll be a hit.

Ahead, a selection of our favorite Thanksgiving roll and biscuit recipes that are just waiting to be buttered up.

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Herb-and-Cheese Rolls

Bryan Gardner
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Make-ahead, flavorful rolls for the win! The dough for these cheesy herb rolls can be made a day in advance and chilled overnight in order to reduce prep work on Thanksgiving morning. Fresh lemon zest cuts the richness of Parmesan cheese and chopped thyme.

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Black-Pepper Biscuits with Sorghum

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Regular biscuits become an extra special treat when spiked with a generous dose of freshly ground pepper and served with sorghum, a sweet cane sugar similar to molasses.

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Parker House Rolls

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You can freeze the dough for these buttery rolls up to three months in advance. Let them thaw and rise on Thanksgiving morning, then pop them in the oven right before dinner.

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Buttermilk Biscuits

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Developed by chef Scott Peacock, these classic Southern biscuits are sure to be a hit. Make them in advance and reheat them in the oven just before the feast begins. They'll maintain a perfect crusty exterior and a tender, light interior.

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Cornbread Turkey

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Even your vegetarian friends will be able to dig into these turkeys! That's because they're made of cornbread. Jalapeño peppers give them a spicy zing, but feel free to reduce the amount (or leave them out altogether) for a milder flavor.

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Barley-Malt Pull-Apart Rolls

Martyn Thompson
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Barley-malt syrup gives these puffy, golden rolls a subtle sweetness and unique burnt-sugar flavor. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top adds crunch and creates an attractive appearance.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits

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These buttermilk biscuits get their lovely orange color and soft texture from sweet potato purée. To ensure tender, light biscuits, be careful not to overwork the dough. Then enjoy peeling back layer after layer of buttery, steaming biscuits!

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Dinner Rolls

Dana Gallagher
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Butter and eggs make these yeast rolls tender and rich. This recipe makes 30 rolls, which is more than enough for a hungry crowd and—if you're lucky!—leftovers for turkey sandwiches.

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Cheddar and Sage Biscuits

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Sharp cheddar cheese and fresh sage give these buttermilk biscuits big flavor. Try different combinations of herbs and cheese to complement your Thanksgiving menu.

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Salt and Pepper Rolls

Anna Williams
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Our shortcut rolls start with store-bought or homemade pizza dough, then individual balls get sprinkled with flaky salt and freshly ground pepper before baking. They're guaranteed to be a favorite year after year.

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Cathead Biscuits

Angie Mosier
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These supersized biscuits are sure to draw applause from your guests on Thanksgiving. This recipe comes from Southern food expert Virginia Willis, who definitely knows her way around a tender, flaky biscuit.

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Cheese and Sweet-Pepper Cornbread

Lennart Weibull
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Add a bit of heat to your Thanksgiving feast with this cornbread topped with sweet and chile peppers. They're colorful, crunchy, and just the right addition to a classic Thanksgiving recipe.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits

Armando Rafael
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Picture perfect! These biscuits are our favorite because they're gadget-free. No food processor? No problem! A delicious dough comes together in just 20 minutes with careful handiwork.

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Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls

Martyna Szczesna
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Hosting gluten-averse guests? Bake a batch of these earthy rolls, made with a combination of rice, soy, and teff flours, and sweetened with molasses. They'll be popular with everyone at the table.

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Bacon-Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Armando Rafael
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Make a double batch of these brunch-inspired biscuits because we have a feeling they'll be a big hit the morning after Thanksgiving. The recipe is similar to our Test Kitchen's Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits but with two delicious editions—sharp cheddar cheese and bacon.

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Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread

Anna Williams
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Looking for a simple way to serve cornbread? This skillet preparation is no-fuss and easy to pass around the table. Honey adds sweetness and sage adds such an enticing earthiness. One bite and you'll wonder why you haven't made cornbread this way all along!

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Cheddar-Pepper Drop Biscuits

Christopher Testani
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Skip the boxed stuff and make your own version of drop biscuits. If the idea of forming and shaping biscuits into perfect rounds seems like a challenge, this recipe was made for you.

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