I am really passionate about Thanksgiving. Our family celebrates Thanksgiving through the entire month of November with our Thanksgiving tree tradition.
Most years we host a family/friends Thanksgiving gathering at our house, and this year will be no different. Usually we share the work of cooking the variety of Thanksgiving food. Mom’s making roast turkey, my husband does the sweet potatoes, I don’t trust anyone but myself to cook the stuffing.
After hosting Thanksgiving for so many years, I figured I needed to start curating the list of recipes that have become classics (or at least repeats) for our Thanksgiving meal. And yay for you, I’m writing this post far enough in advance so you can plan an amazing meal.
Happy cooking, eating, and merriment!
Roast Turkey
Good Eats Roast Turkey (from Alton Brown) – This turkey recipe has over 5,000 reviews, for good reason. It’s super flavorful and moist.
Perfect Turkey – I’ve made this recipe a few times, with and without the brine. It’s well-seasoned.
Perfect Roast Turkey – This is the one roast turkey recipe I’d go with. Ina’s methods are classic and simple, and really do result in the perfect roast turkey. When in doubt, always trust Ina.
Side Dishes
Perfectly Easy Dinner Rolls – This is a family favorite that I learned from my mom. Light, buttery, and quite a bit like King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread.
Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole – If sweet potatoes are your thing, this dish is for you. My husband has made this one for years.
Corn Casserole – I didn’t grow up eating corn casserole (sometimes called cornbread pudding). One Thanksgiving my friend Ethel brought this dish over, and I was like, “What IS this?” I’ve been fixing this recipe ever since. It’s super simple to make, and the perfect sidekick to all the other traditional Thanksgiving fare.
Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Onions – I love how fresh this recipe is. It takes some extra prep, but it’s worth it.
Sausage and Herb Stuffing – I make this stuffing every year. Tip: you can make it in a crockpot to save precious oven space for other dishes.
Classic Mashed Potatoes – A no-fuss mashed potatoes recipe. It’s all you need.
Cranberry Sauce – Please, for the love of food, do not serve canned cranberry sauce (aka gross lump of jelly). This recipe is what cranberry sauce is supposed to be.
Desserts
Apple Pie – I think apple pie is good any time of the year. So why not add it to your Thanksgiving table?
Sticky Toffee Pudding – This is another Thanksgiving repeat for us (and sometimes makes an appearance at Christmas). I think this goes so well with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
Pumpkin Pie – The obvious choice for Thanksgiving dessert. You can make this a day or two in advance if you’re trying to space out your meal prep.
Crack Pie – Have you tried Crack Pie yet? It’s a real thing, and it will blow your mind.
Creme Brulee – If you want to have a fancier dessert, make creme brulee.
Leftovers
Jook (Chinese Porridge) – I come from a Chinese family that traditionally makes this porridge with the leftover turkey meat and carcass after Thanksgiving. It makes a great post-Thanksgiving day dinner.
The Great After-Thanksgiving Turkey Enchiladas – A great way to use leftover turkey.
Lemon Turkey Noodle Soup – This recipe is just as good with turkey as it is with chicken. We love this soup on a cold day.
More Thanksgiving Ideas
Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well
Thanksgiving Cookbook: 100 Simple and Easy Holiday Recipes
Please share in the comments…what are you making for Thanksgiving? Do you have any recipes to share?
The Larissa Monologues 