One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is collecting recipes and dreaming up a menu. (And yes, I do this even when I’m not the hostess.)
Years ago my aunt Elizabeth, a pastry chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, hosted Thanksgiving. Many of us at the table were new to Texas so she welcomed us with a twist on tradition and served up a turkey dinner filled with the flavors of the Southwest. Over that delicious (and spicy!) meal we imagined future Thanksgiving themes and what she should serve: an Asian inspired meal with sriracha-laced sweet potatoes or a tropical menu with pineapple and mango added to the cranberry sauce. We went on and on letting our imaginations and our taste buds run wild.
My husband’s family, on the other hand, sticks with their tried-and-true recipes. And that’s just as delicious in my book. I look forward to Aunt Linda’s pumpkin rolls every year (she still refuses to share the recipe!) and we all still laugh about the time Grandma made a green gelatin salad instead of her usual red and the uproar it caused.
So whether you want to try something new every year, stick with classic faves, or you’re cooking up a vegan or gluten-free feast, here are five menus to inspire you. We encourage you to mix and match, browse all of our holiday recipes and search our full recipe collection to find just the recipes for your own Thanksgiving celebration. Happy planning!
A Classic Thanksgiving Feast
Golden Roasted Turkey- Green Beans with Shallots and Almonds
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
- Easy Turkey Gravy
- Cranberry Sauce with Candied Ginger
- Buttermilk Rolls
- Pumpkin Apple Pie
A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
Roast Turkey with Apples and Onions- Green Beans with Goat Cheese, Cranberries and Bacon
- Classic Butternut Squash Soup
- Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Pears
- Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Crispy Bacon
- Endive, Pear and Walnut Salad
- Quinoa with Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms
- Cranberry Sauce with Clementines and Cinnamon
- Gluten-Free Pie Crust
A Thanksgiving Menu with a Twist
Honey and Rosemary Brined Turkey- Green Beans with Mint and Satsumas
- Onion, Bacon and Butternut Tart
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Macadamia Nuts
- Celery Root and Potato Gratin
- Sausage and Kale Stuffing
- Savory Cheese, Cranberry and Herb Mini Muffins
- Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Chardonnay and Orange Zest
- Coconut-Gingersnap Sweet Potato Pie
Thanksgiving for a Smaller Crowd
Herb Crusted Turkey Breast with Mushroom-Leek Stuffing- Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Oven-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Butternut Squash with Wilted Spinach and Blue Cheese
- Farro, Apple and Pecan Salad
- Honey-Glazed Carrots
- Crispy Oven-Roasted Potatoes
- Jasmine Tea-Poached Pears
A Vegetarian Menu
Celebration Lentil Loaf- Vegan Mushroom Gravy
- Warm Millet Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Creamed Mushrooms and Sage
- Wild Rice and Cranberry Stuffing with Walnuts
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
- Ale-Braised Baby Bok Choy with English Cheddar
- Bulgur with Arugula, Pomegranate and Hazelnuts
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Tempeh
- Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Need a little help with choosing, cooking or carving the turkey? Take a look at our online Turkey Guide.
Already got that oven pre-heating? You can order your ready-to-cook fresh turkey online or through the holiday table at your store. If you choose to make some, buy some you can order fully-cooked birds, sides and desserts online and pick them up at your local store.
What’s on your Thanksgiving menu this year (or every year)?