8 Thanksgiving Recipes You Can Still Make For The Big Meal
Photo: Vicky Wasik
Thanksgiving is 3 days away, and if you’re still not sure what to make, don’t panic! We’re here to help! We know cooking a whole Thanksgiving meal can be daunting – even figuring out what to make and finding the right recipes can be stressful! So we’ve handpicked 8 delicious dishes (courtesy of resident chef Zach) that aren’t overly complicated, and are sure to be hits with all your guests!
Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays (and any other holiday centered around food for that matter). Gathering all your loved ones around a table for some mouth watering food is a real treat, but the preparation can be a tad overwhelming. The key to a less stressful meal? Prep and plan as much as you can ahead of the big meal. To help all of you out, we’ve compiled 8 classic Thanksgiving recipes with a twist – as well as helpful tips to make Thanksgiving prep a little easier, and your holiday totally delicious.
For more Thanksgiving ideas, head over to our post How To Set A Stylish Thanksgiving Table (With Our Fave Pieces For Under $30).
Photo: Bon Appetit
Spiced and Glazed Roast Turkey
Obviously, the first recipe has to be the turkey. We’re used to seeing a whole roasted turkey glistening and perfectly browned, but how often does it actually turn out like that? If you’re not the most experienced at roasting a whole turkey, it can be much easier to break down the turkey first. It takes a lot less time to roast and is less likely to overcook and end up dry.
ZACH’S TIPS
When cooking a turkey, lots of recipes will say it has to be cooked to a temperature of 165 F. That’s the temperature it needs to hit to be done, but not the temperature at which you should pull it out of the oven. I suggest pulling it out when it’s somewhere between 150 and 155. Once out of the oven, it will continue to cook inside and rise in temp before it starts to cool down, so it should hit 165 while resting. If you leave it in the oven until it reaches 165 then you’ll end up with an overcooked turkey.
My other tip for cooking the turkey is to brown the skin first. Many recipes have you cook the turkey at one temp and then turn it up at the end to get the skin brown and crispy. However, that can often cause you to overcook the turkey. I like to start at a high temp to brown the skin, then turn it down to give me more control over hitting the proper temp.
Photo: Craving California
Photo: Ambitious Kitchen
Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon
No Thanksgiving meal is complete without some cranberry sauce. Instead of plopping some out of a can, make this citrusy, wintery version instead!
Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing
Stuffing is maybe my favorite Thanksgiving dish, and cornbread stuffing is my favorite kind! The sweetness of the cornbread provides a great balance to the savory herbs and spices. Starting with a homemade cornbread is definitely the best (and healthiest) way to go.
ZACH’S TIP
Make the cornbread a day or two ahead and then leave the cubes out to dry overnight before making the stuffing.
Photo: Bon Appetit
Photo: Food 52
Mashed Potatoes With Crispety Cruncheties
Bon Appetit calls these the best mashed potatoes ever – and who am I to argue? The crispy bits are perfect on top of these creamy, smooth potatoes.
Cider Sage Gravy
Now that you’ve made the turkey, it’s time to whip up some gravy! I love the crispness that apple cider brings to this recipe and the punch of flavor you get from the sage. This gravy is more light and fresh tasting, perfect for highlighting the flavor of the turkey rather than cover it up. It’s a nice change of pace from the typical thick, heavy gravy I had growing up.
Photo: Food 52
Photo: Bon Appetit
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
As long as there’s a green vegetable on your plate the meal is healthy, right? This dish is a step up from the classic casserole we all grew up with.
Cold Toddy
Because your whole family is there, and you’re going to need a drink. Make a pitcher of this seasonal cocktail for everyone (or just yourself).
Photo: Sally’s Baking Recipes
Pecan Praline Pumpkin Pie
If you can’t decide between pumpkin pie or pecan pie, you could just make this hybrid instead. I love the mix of the crunchy pecan praline topping with the smooth pumpkin mixture under it. It really is the best of both worlds! Make the pie a day or two ahead of time to save yourself the work on Thanksgiving day.
