Give your Thanksgiving table a warm, vibrant twist with this Indian-inspired holiday menu! From tandoori mains like chicken, salmon, and paneer to roasted vegetable sides, aromatic chutneys, and a silky pumpkin carrot soup, every dish adds color and comfort to your celebration.
These Indian Thanksgiving dinner recipes are easy, healthier takes on festive classics, using simple everyday ingredients. Whether you want to introduce new flavors to your Thanksgiving dinner or create an entire Indian-inspired menu, this round-up gives you everything you need for a memorable, nourishing holiday spread.
Appetizers
1
Easy Chicken Tikka
Baked tandoori chicken tikka in oven that taste as delicious as the ones made in tandoor! Learn the tips and tricks to make them easily with simple ingredients in your kitchen. You can also make these tandoori chicken kebabs without oven, simply on a frying pan.
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2
Easy Chicken Mince Kababs
These juicy chicken mince kababs are the perfect Indian appetizer for Thanksgiving—easy to make, full of warm spices, and guaranteed to impress your guests.
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3
Tandoori Paneer Tikka
This recipe shows you how to make tandoori paneer tikka easily at home on a tawa or pan. Learn the secret to getting the bright color and smoky flavor without food coloring or fancy ingredients!
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4
Tandoori Prawn Tikka
An Indian-style prawn starter that can be easily made on a pan, outdoor grill, or in the oven. Make this prawn tikka for your Thanksgiving dinner and wow your guests!
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5
Saffron Salmon Kabobs
Easy to prepare and perfect for entertaining, these saffron-infused salmon kabobs can be cooked in 15 minutes with 5 ingredients.
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6
Easy Chickpea Patties | Chana Tikki
These fluffy, flavorful chickpea patties make a delicious vegetarian appetizer for an Indian-inspired Thanksgiving—easy to prep, nutritious, and crowd-pleasing.
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7
Easy Fish Cutlets
This is a delicious recipe for fish cakes without potatoes, flour, or breadcrumbs. All these are replaced by a secret ingredient!
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Light soups
8
Cozy Chana Dal Soup
This Indian chana dal soup makes a nourishing, spiced starter for your holiday menu—warm, comforting, and full of flavor.
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9
Black Chickpea Soup
Wholesome black chickpea soup with Indian spices and fresh herbs. Light, nutritious, and perfect for a cozy holiday appetizer.
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10
Spicy Cauliflower soup
A creamy, spiced cauliflower soup with bold flavors and wholesome ingredients—light, comforting, and perfect as a cozy starter.
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11
Lemon Coriander Chicken Soup
Zesty lemon coriander chicken soup with aromatic spices and tender chicken that will wake up your taste buds.
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Main dishes
12
Authentic Tandoori Chicken Legs
Intimidated by the idea of roasting a whole turkey or chicken? Discover the secrets to juicy, tender whole chicken legs with a perfectly spiced marinade. It is easier and more flavorful than whole roasted chicken and perfect for any special occasion.
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13
Quick and Easy Tandoori Salmon
Easy tandoori salmon marinated in yogurt and spices, then oven-baked until tender and flavorful. Quick, delicious, and perfect for entertaining.
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14
Kerala chicken curry
This Kerala chicken curry made with roasted coconut and warm spices is rich, aromatic, and perfect as a unique, flavorful Thanksgiving dish, served with rice, roti or naan.
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15
Pepper Chicken Gravy Recipe
A bold, aromatic pepper chicken gravy with fresh spices and tender chicken—an easy, warming dish that gives a delicious Indian twist to your holiday table.
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16
Easy Tandoori Pomfret Fry Recipe
Whole tandoori pomfret marinated in yogurt and spices, oven-grilled to perfection—an impressive, flavorful centerpiece for a seafood-based Indian Thanksgiving menu.
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17
Roasted Hariyali (mint) Chicken Legs
Baked mint chicken drumsticks/ whole legs made with a simple herb-yogurt marinade—fresh, vibrant, and perfect as a lighter, flavorful main for any holiday meal.
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18
5-Ingredient Chicken Curry Recipe without coconut milk
Add a cozy, fuss-free option to your Thanksgiving menu with this easy 5-ingredient chicken curry. Simple, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd without extra prep — a warm, comforting dish to round out your holiday spread.
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Chutney Recipes
19
Restaurant-style Green Chutney
Healthy and creamy, this Indian mint sauce (hari chutney) is very easy to make and absolutely delicious!
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20
5-minute Avocado Chutney
This avocado chutney is a sugar-free, oil-free chutney recipe that can be used as a side or dip for your tikka, tandoori, and kabobs.
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21
Green Mango Chutney
Sweet, spicy and tangy green mango chutney! This recipe shows you how to make raw mango chutney easily at home with just 5 ingredients.
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Side dishes
22
Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower Bites
Easy tandoori cauliflower roasted with warm spices and yogurt for a flavorful, healthy side dish. Crispy on the edges, tender inside, and perfect for any meal.
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23
Savory mashed pumpkin
This savory mashed pumpkin is a sweet and spicy side dish made with fresh pumpkin and topped with crunchy coconut.
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24
Kadai Vegetable
Kadai vegetable, also known as Kadai sabzi, is a popular Indian vegetarian dish that is made with a variety of vegetables cooked in a kadai (a traditional Indian wok).
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25
Super-easy Egg Masala Fry
If you're looking for extra sides to quickly add to your Thanksgiving menu that needs the least effort and time, this masala egg fry is the best bet.
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26
One Pot Vegetable Biryani Pulao
An easier version of the vegetable biriyani, this recipe combines the ease of pulao recipe with the awesome flavors of the Indian biryani, all in a single pot.
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27
Easy Capsicum Rice Recipe
Made with simple ingredients and a couple of tricks, this recipe looks colorful and delivers the taste of restaurant-style capsicum fried rice.
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28
Butter Chicken Pasta
Add a fun fusion touch to your Thanksgiving feast with this creamy, flavorful butter chicken pasta.
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Fresh Salads
29
Mango Pomegranate Fruit Salad
Fresh, sweet and tangy Indian mango pomegranate fruit salad (chaat) with chaat masala and lime. A quick, vibrant side or snack.
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30
Indian Chickpea Salad
A fresh, protein-packed Indian chickpea salad tossed with veggies, herbs, and warm spices—healthy, flavorful, and ready in minutes.
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31
Paneer Tikka Salad
This paneer tikka salad adds a bright, protein-rich vegetarian side to your Indian-inspired holiday menu—fresh, spicy, and easy to prep.
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32
Red Lentil Salad
This refreshing red lentil salad makes a light, protein-packed side dish – bright, tangy, and full of warm spices.
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33
Chicken Tikka Salad
Flavorful chicken tikka salad with spiced roasted chicken and fresh veggies if you want to add a high-protein side dish to your spread.
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Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, comfort, and bringing loved ones together around good food — and this Indian-inspired menu adds a vibrant new dimension to the celebration.
With bold tandoori flavors, wholesome roasted vegetables, aromatic chutneys, and cozy soups, these dishes offer a lighter, brighter, and more exciting twist on the traditional holiday spread. Whether you’re planning a full Indian-style feast or adding just a few globally inspired dishes to your table, this collection gives you everything you need for a memorable, nourishing holiday celebration.
Here’s to a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, flavor, and joy — exactly the way food should make you feel.
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These recipes make for such a colourful and exciting Thanksgiving menu… Absolutely bursting with flavours (:
So happy you loved it — your feedback means a lot!
This is a first for me ! Surprise package of recipes for the Thanksgiving. Looks so well complied..will come back and share comments,kudos and brickbats..haha if any from family !!! Thanks so much . Good wishes to you 🙏
Aww, thank you, Subhiksha! You just made my day 💚