Plan the best Thanksgiving dinner with these tried and true recipes straight from my kitchen. From appetizers to cocktails, wine pairings to side dishes, and the easiest turkey recipe ever, I’ve got you covered!
I remember the first year I was asked to host Thanksgiving dinner. I was excited but also a bit petrified to plan, prepare, cook, and serve such a symbolic and special holiday meal. I spent a lot of time researching recipes in hopes to plan the best Thanksgiving dinner menu ever! All my hard work was a success because the meal turned out perfectly. Everything tasted delicious and now I proudly, and willingly, host Thanksgiving each year (be sure to check out my plan ahead tips that make this day completely stress-free in my house). If you are looking for a full Thanksgiving dinner menu or to switch up your traditional meal, I hope you’ll find some inspiration below.
Cocktails
There is no better way to meet and greet your Thanksgiving dinner guests than with a delicious cocktail. This refreshing aperitif, made from pomegranate juice and Fresca, is the perfect drink for guests to mix and mingle with.
Appetizers
I like to keep this course light and bite-size since Thanksgiving is always a huge and heavy meal. While I am usually a huge fan of charcuterie boards, these savory and seasonal appetizers are my favorite to serve on Thanksgiving day.
( I suggest only making half of the sausage stuffing. There is way too much leftover for only 12-16 mushrooms.)
(Again, I suggest only making half of the cranberry topping for the amount of crostini in the recipe.)
Salad Course
I am a not a huge fan of cooked greens so salads are my go to way to serve vegetables. They are also nice to serve at holiday meals because they can be made ahead of time and do not take up space in the already crowded oven. Serve this salad with store bought rolls and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay.
(To save time, I used store bought salad dressing & spiced pecans.)
The Turkey
While every family has their own traditional way to cook a turkey, this easy and simple to follow method has served me well. Pinot Noir or a Spanish Grenache are both great wines to serve with the classic turkey dinner.
No turkey is complete without these three accompaniments:
Fresh Cranberry Sauce– This store bought sauce tastes better than any homemade version I have ever had
Cornbread Stuffing– This is another great store-bought find. I add 1 lb of cooked Italian sausage to this cornbread stuffing mix just before baking.
Brown Gravy– Why make gravy from scratch when there are delicious and affordable store bought options.
Side Dishes
I like to serve traditional side dishes for Thanksgiving. That being said, I believe most people go overboard and make too many side dishes. To save time, money, and my sanity, I stick to these three delicious recipes.
Dessert
Dessert is another course that I prefer to buy rather than make. If you do decide to purchase pies, be sure to place your holiday order well in advance to ensure they will not be sold out. I like to serve pumpkin and pecan pie with vanilla ice cream as the final course. A great dessert liqueur like Baileys, port, or limencello are all great choices alongside pie.
If you choose to make pies from scratch, this pie crust recipe is my favorite.
I would love to hear what you are planning to make for Thanksgiving this year. Are you hosting? Are you in charge of making a side dish? Give me all the delicious details. And I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
