Let’s be honest: the bread basket is the first thing to disappear at Thanksgiving dinner. Warm, buttery rolls and a slice of cornbread make the whole table feel like home. These Thanksgiving bread recipes cover everything you need, from soft dinner rolls and copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls to golden cornbread and sweet cranberry bread.
Here’s my favorite part: most of these breads bake right in the air fryer. On Thanksgiving, the oven is packed with turkey, stuffing and casseroles, so the air fryer becomes your second oven. You get fresh, warm bread right when dinner hits the table, without juggling oven racks.
Whether you’re baking from scratch or need a quick shortcut, there’s a bread here for every cook and every table.
Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls
1. Air Fryer Soft Dinner Rolls
Every Thanksgiving table needs a basket of soft, fluffy dinner rolls. These bake up golden right in the air fryer, so they come out warm just as you’re carving the turkey. Brush the tops with melted butter as soon as they come out.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Soft Dinner Rolls
2. Air Fryer Texas Roadhouse Rolls
The famous restaurant rolls, made at home. This recipe covers both homemade rolls and frozen ones, so you can bake from scratch or take the shortcut. Don’t skip the honey cinnamon butter.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Texas Roadhouse Rolls
3. Bob Evans Dinner Rolls
If you love the rolls at Bob Evans, this copycat recipe brings that warm, buttery flavor to your holiday table. They’re a classic, crowd-pleasing pick for a big family dinner.
Get the recipe: Bob Evans Dinner Rolls Recipe
4. Air Fryer Potato Rolls
Potato rolls are extra soft and tender, and they’re perfect for soaking up gravy. They also make the best mini sandwiches with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce the next day.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Potato Rolls
5. Air Fryer Garlic Crescent Rolls
Buttery, flaky crescent rolls with a garlic twist. They’re one of the easiest breads to add to your Thanksgiving menu and a great job for the kids to help with.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Crescent Rolls
6. Air Fryer Garlic Knots
Crispy, garlicky and ready in about 15 minutes. Garlic knots are a fun change from plain rolls, and they disappear fast at a Friendsgiving potluck.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Knots
Thanksgiving Cornbread
7. Boston Market Cornbread
Sweet, golden and tender, just like the Boston Market side. Cornbread is a Thanksgiving must for many families, and this copycat makes it easy. Serve it warm with honey butter, or use leftovers for cornbread stuffing.
Get the recipe: Boston Market Cornbread Recipe
8. Golden Corral Cornbread
Another restaurant favorite you can make at home. This sweet cornbread is a buffet classic, and it fits right in next to the turkey and green bean casserole.
Get the recipe: Golden Corral Cornbread Recipe
Thanksgiving Quick Breads
9. Air Fryer Pumpkin Nut Bread
Pumpkin bread is the flavor of the season. These mini loaves bake in the air fryer, so they’re perfect for the dessert table, Thanksgiving breakfast or wrapping up as hostess gifts.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Pumpkin Nut Bread
10. Air Fryer Cranberry Bread With Orange Glaze
Tart cranberries and a sweet orange glaze make this quick bread taste like the holidays. Serve it with coffee on Thanksgiving morning or as a lighter dessert after the big meal.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Cranberry Bread With Orange Glaze
Bonus: Bread for Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
The day after Thanksgiving is all about turkey sandwiches. This Easy Farmhouse White Sandwich Bread bakes into a soft, sliceable loaf in the air fryer, and it’s the perfect base for turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Thanksgiving Bread Make-Ahead Timeline
- Up to 1 month ahead: Bake the pumpkin nut bread and cranberry bread, cool completely, wrap tightly and freeze.
- 2 to 3 days ahead: Bake the cornbread if you’re using it for stuffing, so it has time to dry out a bit.
- The day before: Bake the dinner rolls, cool completely and store them in an airtight bag. Thaw the frozen quick breads in the fridge.
- Thanksgiving morning: Glaze the cranberry bread and set out the pumpkin bread for breakfast.
- While the turkey rests: Warm the rolls and bake the garlic knots or crescent rolls fresh in the air fryer.
Tips for the Best Thanksgiving Bread
- Use the air fryer as your second oven. Bake rolls and cornbread there while the turkey and casseroles take up the oven.
- Bake in batches. Most air fryer baskets hold 6 to 8 rolls at a time, so keep finished rolls warm under a clean kitchen towel.
- Brush with butter right away. A swipe of melted butter on hot rolls keeps the tops soft and shiny.
- Reheat, don’t microwave. Warm day-old rolls in the air fryer for a few minutes so they taste freshly baked. Here’s how to reheat bread in the air fryer.
- Plan two rolls per guest. Bread goes fast, and leftovers make great turkey sandwiches.
Thanksgiving Bread FAQs
What bread is traditionally served at Thanksgiving? Dinner rolls are the most popular, followed by cornbread. Many families also serve sweet quick breads like pumpkin and cranberry bread for breakfast or dessert.
Can I bake dinner rolls in the air fryer? Yes. The air fryer bakes rolls evenly and frees up your oven for the turkey and sides. Just bake in batches and don’t overcrowd the basket.
How far ahead can I make Thanksgiving bread? Rolls can be baked a day ahead and warmed before serving. Quick breads like pumpkin and cranberry bread freeze well for up to a month.
How many rolls do I need for Thanksgiving? Plan on about two rolls per guest, plus a few extra for leftover turkey sandwiches.
Can I use cornbread for stuffing? Yes. Bake the cornbread a few days ahead and let it dry out slightly. Day-old cornbread soaks up broth without turning mushy.
Fill the Bread Basket This Thanksgiving
From soft dinner rolls and Texas Roadhouse copycats to golden cornbread and cranberry orange bread, these Thanksgiving bread recipes make your holiday table complete. Pick one roll, one cornbread and one sweet bread, and you’re set.
If you bake any of these Thanksgiving breads, leave a star rating and a comment on the recipe, and tag @forktospoon so I can see your bread basket!
