Planning a Thanksgiving Menu: 25 Amazing Recipes | Glitter, Inc. (2024)

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Guess what? I have scoured the internet and my own personal collection of favorites for the best of the best Thanksgiving recipes to plan your holiday menu. If this is your first Thanksgiving on your own, or even if you’ve got plenty of awesome Turkey Days under your belt, you’re going to want to pin a few of these recipes and ideas for the holidays; I promise you.This year will be our very first Thanksgiving in our new home (North Carolina), and also the first on our own, without our families. Thank goodness, my best friend and her adorable family are headed this way for a long weekend visit for the holiday, so instead of dwelling on the fact that this year is going to be so different, I’m focused on making one awesome Thanksgiving holiday (and starting a few of our own traditions.)

The trouble is: I want to make it all. My head is spinning. So I’ve narrowed it down to 25recipes and ideas that totally have my attention, but I’ve still got some cutting to do.

Tell me, what is your go-to Thanksgiving menu? I want to hear it all; from the cocktails to the kind of turkey to the side dishes (traditional or outside-the-box or a mix of both?) to the dessert, even the appetizers. Speaking of which, do you serve appetizers and/or hors d’ouvres before the main event?

I’m thinking about putting together one giant cheese plate to avoid having to time something additional to cook before the big meal. In years past my mom has always whipped up cooked appetizers like artichoke dip and stromboli, but she’s superwoman, so I may just stick to that cheese plate.

After that, I’ve been thinking about adding a salad to this year’s Thanksgiving table – either some variation of this warm salad of Brussels Sprouts with Candied Bacon and Walnuts (plus green apples, onions, mushrooms, and kale in a balsamic glaze!) or Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad orShaved Brussels Sprout & Endive Salad– because I like the idea of adding something fresh and light-ish to an otherwise carb-heavy (and awesome) dinner.

Next up is the star of the show – the brined and roasted turkey (with Martha’s mushroom turkey gravy, of course.) Paired with stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash gratin (which is really just a fancy way of saying “casserole”), sweet potato casserole, classic baked macaroni and cheese, vegetables, and so much dessert. I’m also debating making my own bread basket filled with Parker House rolls and pumpkin muffins (basically this amazing recipe without the marshmallow and streusel), because I can’t ever be rational with my menus. I guess we’ll see what time (and chasing a toddler around) allows.

As for dessert, I’m looking to create fun, low-maintenance and individual desserts – you know, in the name of portion control and all! I am most definitely making the pecan pie shooters again (my husband won’t stop talking about them) and I have my eye on these pumpkin pie bars(although this pumpkin pecan cobbler looks equally incredible) in lieu of the traditional pumpkin pie. I also think I want to make an apple galette (easier to assemble than a pie, but just as yummy.)

Whew! I’m hungry just thinking about this Thanksgiving. These are the Thanksgiving recipes on my menu:

Giant Cheese Plate via How Sweet Eats

Rustic Cheese, Fruit, Nut and Meat Tray via Seven Layer Charlotte

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip via Food Network

Homemade Stromboli via Simply Scratch

Brussels Sprouts with Candied Bacon and Walnuts (plus green apples, onions, mushrooms, and kale in a balsamic glaze!)via Glitter, Inc.

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad via Creme de la Crumb

Shaved Brussels Sprout & Endive Salad via The Yellow Table

Parker House Rolls via The New York Times (These are the most incredible yeast rolls and my mom has been making these for as long as I can remember!)

Pumpkin Muffins via Lovely Little Kitchen

Brined and Roasted Turkey via Saveur

Challah, Mushroom, and Celery Stuffing via Food 52

Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Toasted Pecans via Martha Stewart

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese via Glitter, Inc.

Bourbon Maple-Glazed Carrots via Cooking and Beer (this is one of Pinterest’s most pinnedholiday recipes!)

Silver Palate’s Mashed Potatoes via Food 52(This recipe uses cream cheese to give the potatoes that extra richness, though sour cream or mayonnaise also work really well here.)

Kale and Wild Rice Casserole via Half-Baked Harvest

Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin via Martha Stewart(Hint: add gruyere to the recipe; so good!)

CandiedPecan and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole via Creme de la Crumb

Fried Brussels Sprouts via How Sweet Eats

Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet-n-Savory Bacon Pecans via Half-Baked Harvest

Homemade Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots via The Bitten Word

Cranberry Sauce via Alexandra Cooks

Rustic Apple Galette via Culinary Couture

Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler via Lauren’s Latest

Pecan Pie Shooters via Glitter, Inc.

PumpkinPie Bars via Some the Wiser

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving recipe you use? (Send it my way!) Will you be celebrating with family or friends (or both) this year?

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Planning a Thanksgiving Menu: 25 Amazing Recipes | Glitter, Inc. (2024)

FAQs

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What is a good Thanksgiving menu? ›

IF you mean a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner: roast turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, string beans, rolls, cranberry sauce; mushroom dish, maybe a salad or 2, maybe wild rice; pumpkin pie and/or apple pie.

What are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods in America? ›

Most Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Corn. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Candied Yams. ...
  • Pumpkin Pie. ...
  • Pecan Pie. Complete the meal with a delectable (delicious) pecan pie, a pie that uses pecans (a type of nut) with spices and maple syrup.
Sep 29, 2023

What is the most common main dish for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

There's no doubt that a big, roasted Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of any holiday dinner. But that doesn't mean there isn't room at the table for other main courses, too.

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

First things first: If you're going for the most quintessential Thanksgiving, you've got to have the classics. We're talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce…

What is served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You will likely be eating roast turkey, barbecued turkey, deep fried turkey, glazed country ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed and covered with marshmallows, corn, cornbread, yeast/potato rolls, black eyed peas, rice, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce from ...

What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Our Top 10 Easy Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes w/ Recipes
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: Up to 4 people. ...
  • Stuffing. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Baked Corn. ...
  • Mac and cheese. ...
  • Peas & Water Chestnuts. ...
  • Fresh Rolls.
Oct 28, 2021

What is a basic Thanksgiving dinner menu? ›

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing (or “dressing”), and some kind of pie for dessert, typically pumpkin, apple, or pecan. Common sides are green bean casserole, scalloped corn, and roasted sweet potatoes.

What is the most unpopular Thanksgiving food? ›

The Most Disliked Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Ham — 25.57%
  • Coleslaw — 25.57%
  • Pumpkin Pie — 24.28%
  • Mashed Potatoes — 18.66%
  • Macaroni and Cheese — 17.47%
  • Carrots — 16.98%
  • Apple Pie — 16.29%
  • Corn — 15.50%
Nov 21, 2023

What is the unhealthiest food at Thanksgiving? ›

14 Unhealthiest Thanksgiving Sides To Avoid This Year
  • Potatoes au gratin. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese. ...
  • Canned cranberry sauce. ...
  • Candied yams. sasazawa/Shutterstock. ...
  • Sausage stuffing. Alivemindphotography/Getty Images. ...
  • Turkey Gravy. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock. ...
  • Cornbread. Bhofack2/Getty Images. ...
  • Pecan Pie. Nicolasmccomber/Getty Images.
Nov 6, 2023

What is the unhealthiest food on Thanksgiving? ›

“Bacon, sausage, mince meat, giblets, and a variety of similar ingredients find their way into many a stuffing, which takes an already unhealthy dish — often topping 500 calories per serving, depending on the recipe — to an entirely new level of unhealthy,” she said.

What can I serve at Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

What is the most popular meat for Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is a classic main course for Thanksgiving dinner, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to serve it every year.

What is the key ingredient to a perfect Thanksgiving Day dinner? ›

I think if we're all honest, we know that Thanksgiving is mostly about the starches. Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fresh-baked rolls – these are the true heroes of the meal, and there will be a lot of them on the table, which is totally fine.

What are the top 10 Thanksgiving food? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

What is the number one side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November.

What are the least favorite Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Other top disliked foods include green bean casserole (disliked by 28 percent), turkey (27.7 percent), stuffing or dressing (26.8 percent), ham (25.6 percent), coleslaw (25.6 percent) and pumpkin pie (24.3 percent).

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

FoodTimeline library Food Timeline> What does the average American eat for Thanksgiving? If you ask the "average" American today what he eats for Thanksgiving he will likely answer turkey & stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pies (yes, plural!).

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