Only the Best of the Best: Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
While Thanksgiving is only tomorrow, it's been Turkey Day the entire Fall season for us! We've been busy in the kitchen coming up with reinvented casseroles, reliable classics, and even a dessert or two. Before you rush to the store to stock up on your ingredients, take a look at all of our best Thanksgiving recipes, from the most garlicky cheese ball you've ever encountered to a brine-free turkey that still packs a salty punch.
Cran-Limoncello Spritzer
This cranberry limoncello spritzer consists of house-made limoncello, tart cranberry juice, and a splash of seltzer.
Spiced Pecans
Salty, full of rosemary flavor, and sweet with demerara sugar, these toasted pecans double as a great party appetizer and holiday gift idea.
Cognac Sparkler
If you are not a fan of Champagne drinking during the day, opt for this Cognac Sparkler made from fizzy cider and a splash of brandy.
Cheese Ball
Few are strong enough to resist diving into a spicy, garlicky cheese ball while the ovens are occupied with bubbling casseroles.
Cranberry Vodka
Bright in color and flavor, a cranberry vodka will help cut through any fatty Thanksgiving foods.
Brie With Caramel and Almonds
Who says dessert shouldn't come first? Combine brie with caramel sauce and toasted almonds, and prepare to see hungry wolves feast!
The Normandy
Apple brandy, cranberries, and brown sugar: The Normandy is the Fall cocktail to serve after the Thanksgiving feast is over.
Mushroom and Brie Bruschetta
Big families with large appetites will appreciate mushroom and brie bruschetta, seasoned with fresh thyme and garlic.
Sage and Citrus Sipper
Gin and sage are simple but essential ingredients for this Thanksgiving cocktail.
Turkey Stock
Many recipes will call for turkey stock, so be sure to make an easy one ahead of time!
Celery Parmesan Salad
Reserve some of your celery stalks to make this celery Parmesan salad. Since no tender greens are involved, it can be made and refrigerated several hours before guests arrive.
Butternut Squash Soup
Simple, classic, and unadulterated: try making a cream-topped butternut squash soup.
Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad
Don't bake them; serve them raw! Shred brussels sprouts and kale, and toss them with maple vinaigrette in a Fall salad that won't wilt.
Curried Pumpkin Soup
Roast pumpkins, then blend them in an easy curried pumpkin soup. The yogurt garnish provides tart creaminess, the roasted pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch, and parsley freshens up the flavor.
Pomegranate-Hazelnut Winter Greens Salad
Toss together a kale and hazelnut salad with pomegranate dressing ahead of time to let the vinegar tenderize the hearty greens.
Southern Biscuits
Make authentic, buttery Southern biscuits to serve with the turkey, because the dough is quick and easy (no rising required) and the little biscuits freeze incredibly well. We recommend preparing them now and freezing them until the main day. Toasting them a second time in the oven gives them a crumbly, crunchy crust that is truly unbeatable.
Buttermilk Feta Biscuits
Herbes de Provence and feta add a European twist to flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Green Beans With Caramelized Onions
If green bean casseroles are not your thing, go for a simple sautéed green bean dish topped with sweet, golden-hued caramelized onions.
Roasted Chestnut Cornbread Stuffing
Once you've made this cornbread dressing, complete with plenty of bacon and chestnuts, you'll agree there's no competition.
Squash Casserole
A Southern recipe meets Western ingredients in this cheesy squash casserole, topped with gremolata breadcrumbs.
Millet, Lentil, and Pomegranate Salad
Add something healthy to your table. This pomegranate, millet, and lentil salad will surprise you with its buttery flavor and easily chewable texture.
Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole
Caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and panko breadcrumbs are just a few of the ingredients used in this updated green bean casserole.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Rather than mashing your sweet potatoes, roast them with a little brown sugar and sage.
Celery Root Puree With Hazelnuts
For an easy way to get a vegetable on the table, serve celery root puree, topped with earthy, nutty hazelnuts and hazelnut oil.
Classic Mashed Potatoes
It's time you make the creamiest mashed potatoes, seasoned with a few grinds of fresh cracked black pepper.
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
This goat cheese mashed potatoes recipe calls for a few yams, which adds a nice sweetness to the mix.
Mashed Rutabagas
A cross between turnips and cabbage, mashed rutabagas are slightly astringent in flavor, which will help balance all the items on your plate that are full of cream, butter, and cheese.
Mashed Potatoes Add-Ins
Make your mashed potatoes more interesting by adding mix-ins like thyme and roasted garlic, bacon and cheddar cheese, pesto, and sage and goat cheese.
Savory Pumpkin Custard
Dying to serve something out of a pumpkin? This savory pumpkin custard fits the bill, plus it doubles as a great vegetarian main.
Vegetarian Roast
Vegans and vegetarians, rejoice! A Tofurky roast, stuffed with rosemary rice stuffing, basted in sage, soy sauce, and oil, and accompanied with sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions, is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.
Roast Turkey
For those who love a flavorful turkey but want to skip the brine, this is a classic herb-roasted turkey that's easy to roast.
Brined and Fried Turkey
With incredible flavor and crisp skin, fried turkey is way, way better than anything roasted.
Gravy
Rich and creamy, you'll want to flood your mashed potatoes and turkey with a hefty spoonful (or two) of homemade gravy.
Cranberry Relish
If you only have five minutes, try this no-cook cranberry relish, which combines cranberries, sugar, Grand Marnier, and an orange together in a food processor. Voilà!
Caramelized Onion Cranberry Sauce
Spice up your cranberry routine by making a caramelized onion cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Sauce
There's nothing less appetizing than can-shaped cranberry gel. Make the real deal with this homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest.
Classic Pumpkin Pie
No Thanksgiving table is complete without a perfect, classic pumpkin pie.
Cranberry-Swirled Gingerbread Cake
Cranberry sauce over turkey isn't the only appearance it can make. Try this gingerbread cake that is swirled with tangy cranberry sauce.
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Once you've made this bourbon pecan pie, there's no going back to other Thanksgiving desserts.
Sweet Potato Pie
A graham-cracker-crusted sweet potato pie comes with a warning label: it's very addictive due to the souffle-like texture with a crunchy candied nut cream topping. Mmm-hm.
Apple Cobbler
Michelle Obama's apple cobbler is more like an apple pie, because it's made with pie crust. The trick is letting the apples marinate in their juices overnight, then slow baking it for three hours.
Whiskey Bundt Cake
Southerners love adding bourbon in dessert, and the whiskey bundt cake with Jack Daniel's icing will leave you buzzed and with a full belly.
Whipped Cream
Top pies and cakes with a hefty spoonful of homemade whipped cream.