Planning Thanksgiving dinner every year is fun. I love digging out old family recipes and then searching my cookbooks for something new to try. I also love to get everyone involved and helping out in the kitchen. It’s a fun way to connect with family and give everyone a hand in the pride of making a delicious meal for the whole family. I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinners for a long time now and so I was thinking about what is my favorite Thanksgiving dinner. I decided to dig through my recipe box and pull out some of my favorites to help inspire your Thanksgiving menu. So here are the recipes for my absolute favorite Thanksgiving dinner.
I’ve tried several turkey recipes over the years and found this recipe to be the very best. The cheesecloth the meat moist and tender and prevents any dryness in the early stages of roasting. Then removing the cheesecloth and basting with a perfect mixture of butter and wine helps keep the skin nice and crispy. Once I discovered this method, no matter what stuffing I use or herbs I flavor my bird with, I always make my turkey this way.
Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout, And Bread Stuffing with Apples
I discovered this incredible recipe about five years ago and it is now my standard. I love the addition of roasted fall fruits and vegetables to this classic dish because it makes it a standalone recipe. So if you opt for a different main dish from turkey like a ham or something vegetarian, it’s still a perfect side dish.
A few years ago, I decided to ditch the canned cranberry juice and start making my own cranberry sauces. That lead me to discover cranberry chutney. Cranberry chutney is the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and I feel it pairs better with Turkey than just a simple sweet sauce. This recipe uses spicy ginger and a touch of orange to round out the flavors. It’s exotic but accessible to even children’s palates.
I love the mild oniony taste of shallots and I think they are so delicious with turkey. This gravy that uses shallots, sage, and turkey drippings is so good, I could eat it as a soup. It’s also wonderful on classic mashed potatoes and drizzled over cornbread. It also pairs nicely with the cranberry chutney for dressing your turkey.
Marshmallow topped sweet potato casserole will always have a place in my heart, but once I tried this recipe I’ve decided to switch out the old version permanently. The soft sweet potatoes mixed with the crunchy vanilla flavored pecan topping is simply heavenly. I love it as a standalone, but you can also put this recipe in a pie crust for a delicious dessert option.
I’ve got to say, I’ve tried some other green bean casserole recipes over the years, but there’s just something about going with the classic recipe that can’t be beat. I don’t know if it’s because it reminds me of fond memories or if it’s just that good, but I’ll never stray from this classic again.
There’s a lot to do on Thanksgiving, so I’m always looking for delicious recipes that save me time. Slow cooker recipes are always easy, especially since they are dump and go. Simply throw all the ingredients in your crockpot the night before, then simply mash the potatoes right before serving. Not only is this recipe super easy, it’s delicious.
Speaking of an easy recipe, this no fuss, one-step recipe makes a delicious side dish with very little effort. Simply marinate your carrots with maple syrup, thyme, and dijon mustard, and road them in the oven with a little olive oil. Quick, easy, but surprisingly delicious.
Who could forget about cornbread on Thanksgiving? I’ve tried a dozen or so different methods of making cornbread and found the easiest and most impressive is right in a bundt pan. This recipe takes traditional cornbread a step further by adding some delicious seasonal herbs. I personally love to add a little holiday flair by putting this recipe in a pumpkin shaped bundt pan.
Last but not least, we have the star of the show: Pumpkin pie! There’s are tons of fun recipes to make with pumpkin pie, but I personally like to keep it simple. This no-fail pumpkin pie makes a classic pumpkin pie your family will love with no fuss. Don’t forget to add a little-whipped cream before serving.
I hope my favorite Thanksgiving recipe inspires your menu. Once you finish Thanksgiving dinner, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. You can kick off the Christmas season by having your family decorate your tree and signing your children up for a letter from Santa. If you start early, you’ll be able to have more time to enjoy the holidays with your family.
