The BEST Thanksgiving Pies
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All the best Thanksgiving pies in one comprehensive list! This collection has everything from classic pumpkin to fancy French silk pie, plus party-ready pie bars. Includes tips for making ahead and how to choose a variety of pies for your dessert table.
Must-Try Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
Looking for the best Thanksgiving pies to serve this year? I’ve rounded up 22 of my favorite, best Thanksgiving pie recipes, from traditional pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies to unexpected options like French silk pie and chocolate chess pie. You’ll also find creative twists on the classics, easy pie bars for feeding a crowd, and tips for making your pies ahead of time (and don’t forget, my favorite homemade pie crust recipe freezes well and can be made ahead, too!).
Of all the Thanksgiving pies in today’s list, I may just be most proud of my pumpkin pie recipe. As someone who isn’t a fan of pumpkin, I was hypercritical when developing this one and even I like this pie! The trick is to swap the evaporated milk in most classic recipes with heavy cream. This makes the pie super smooth–much more than evaporated milk. I highly recommend you give it a try!
We’ll kick things off with classic Thanksgiving pies before moving to twists on the classics. I’m also including options for unique, non-traditional pies and even pie bars (these travel particularly well, if that’s a factor for you).
Let’s dig in!
Classic Thanksgiving Pies
If you’re a stickler for tradition, these are the pies for you! They are the most popular and well-loved Thanksgiving pie recipes.
1. Pumpkin Pie
The most popular of all Thanksgiving pie recipes, my version varies just slightly from the classic for an even better texture and flavor.
THE Perfect Pumpkin Pie
2. Pecan Pie
Another top contender on the Thanksgiving dessert table! Use toasted pecans for tastiest results.
Perfect Pecan Pie
3. Apple Pie
“I made this apple pie for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! I quote, “it was perfect – don’t change a thing.” The crust is easy and delicious. Thanks for all your tips and recipes! Makes me look like a pro.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Easy Apple Pie
4. Shoofly Pie
Something classic, but still a bit different. This is just like the pies you can get at an Amish market!
Amish Shoofly Pie
5. Buttermilk Pie
Another classic, though it isn’t quite so well known among other more popular Thanksgiving pies. It’s perfect for using up leftover buttermilk from buttermilk cornbread or buttermilk biscuits.
Buttermilk Pie
Twists on the Classics
Looking for a unique, but still crowd-pleasing pie? These Thanksgiving pie recipes are classics reimagined.
6. Chocolate Pecan Pie
A little dark chocolate transforms this classic pie into an even more indulgent dessert.
Chocolate Pecan Pie
7. Apple Slab Pie
Slab pies are perfect for feeding a crowd! They also travel well, if you need a recipe that you can take with you in the car. This one uses my favorite crumble topping for rich flavor.
Apple Slab Pie
8. Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
“I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a hit! The recipe is perfect as is. The filling was flavorful and light. The crust was delicious!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
9. Dutch Apple Pie
This pie is packed with 3 pounds of apples! The buttery crumble topping sets it apart from traditional pie.
Dutch Apple Pie
Something Different
Make your pie stand out from the rest with something a bit different! You won’t find any pumpkin, pecan, or apple in these Thanksgiving pie recipes 😉
10. French Silk Pie
“I made this recipe for Thanksgiving and everyone RAVED about it. There a lot of steps, but worth it.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
French Silk Pie
11. Peanut Butter Pie
Peanut butter lovers, this one is a must-try! It’s creamy and perfectly peanut buttery. An Oreo crust complements the peanut butter beautifully. And did I mention there’s no baking required? Meaning your oven is free for your other Thanksgiving oven needs (like baked mac and cheese or scalloped potatoes).
Peanut Butter Pie
12. Banana Cream Pie
A classic pie made entirely from-scratch, right down to the vanilla wafer crust!
Banana Cream Pie
13. Chocolate Pie
One of my personal favorites in this collection of Thanksgiving pies! Make sure to top it with half a batch of my fluffy homemade whipped cream! 🤎
Chocolate Pie Recipe (Blue Ribbon Winner!)
14. Blueberry Pie
“I made this today, my very first blueberry pie, it was DELICIOUS! My husband loved it. Followed the recipe exactly, no changes. This recipe is a keeper!!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blueberry Pie
15. Key Lime Pie
A tropical classic and a welcome addition among richer Thanksgiving pies! It’s smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet-tart, all nestled inside a crispy-crumbly graham cracker crust.
Key Lime Pie
16. Lemon Meringue Pie
Does your lemon meringue pie typically weep? My recipe is carefully developed to drastically reduce your risks of a weepy pie.
Lemon Meringue Pie
17. Coconut Cream Pie
“So tasteful, the right amount of sweetness and saltiness. The crust is so good with the macadamia nuts and Graham crackers! Highly recommend this recipe!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Coconut Cream Pie
18. Chocolate Chess Pie
This pie features a fudgy, brownie-like filling over a buttery crust. It’s an indulgent crowd-pleaser!
Chocolate Chess Pie
Thanksgiving Pie Bars
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Pie bars give you all the flavors of your favorite Thanksgiving pies without any rolling or crimping. As a bonus, they also travel well–much better than traditional pies!
19. Pecan Pie Bars
“Exactly what I wanted. Delicious crust, perfect pecan pie filling. I’ve made these multiple times and they always turn out perfect!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pecan Pie Bars
20. Pumpkin Pie Bars
Party-ready! This recipe transforms one of the most popular Thanksgiving pies into a portable bar treat.
Pumpkin Pie Bars
21. Apple Pie Bars
One of my newest creations, this is a welcome (and super easy!) addition to my Thanksgiving pie recipes.
Apple Pie Bars
22. Key Lime Pie Bars
Simple and tart, and always topped with homemade whipped cream.
Key Lime Bars
Cheat Sheet: How to Choose Your Thanksgiving Pies:
- For a traditional Thanksgiving: I recommend my pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or classic easy apple pie.
- For the chocolate lover: My classic chocolate pie or chocolate chess pie. Or, blend together chocolate with tradition by making a chocolate pecan pie.
- Something light and refreshing: If you fear feeling heavy and weighed down after the turkey and mashed potatoes, try a key lime pie or lemon meringue pie.
- For a crowd: Choose an apple slab pie or pecan pie bars.
- If you need to make it ahead: Chocolate pie and pecan pie both fare well and taste fresh made up to two days in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie are the top pies most people enjoy on Thanksgiving. Many desserts inspired by these pies (like my apple pie cheesecake, pumpkin bars, or pecan pie cookies) are also popular choices.
It’s nice to have some variety on the Thanksgiving dessert table, so if you’re planning on making a few pies (or having guests bring some), try to choose one fruity (like apple), one creamy (like pumpkin), and one rich (like chocolate pecan).
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with serving some or all of the classics listed above–they are classic for a reason!
Many Thanksgiving pie recipes do well when made ahead of time. No-bake and cream pies (peanut butter, chocolate, etc.) are especially ideal, as they need time to chill/freeze before serving. Pumpkin pie, French silk pie, key lime pie, and chocolate chess pie are also great make-ahead options as they need time to set up before serving. Pecan pie is another great make-ahead option!
Pies to avoid making too far in advance would be fruit pies, like apple, blueberry, or lemon meringue, which could get soggy when made too far ahead of time. Banana cream pie is also less ideal since the bananas can turn brown and the crust can soften if made too far in advance.
I hope this collection is helpful for you as you plan your Thanksgiving menu. If you’d like to see even more pie recipes, various crust options, and tutorials for making a lattice crust or blind bake a pie crust, head on over to my full collection of pie recipes!
Enjoy, and happy Thanksgiving! 🍂
If you try any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook 💜
