I remember the first time I hosted Thanksgiving – I naively signed up to cook 90% of the food. I was super cocky and figured it was no big thing. Well, I was wrong. I had to use three different neighbor’s ovens to make sure all my dishes were ready at the same time. I ended up forgetting about the carrots and by the time I took them out they were black and disintegrating. We didn’t sit down at the table until two hours after I told people we would eat!! My point – cooking a Thanksgiving meal can be super stressful BUT if you plan your menu ahead of time and follow my Thanksgiving Tips post, you will rock it! Sharing my favorite Thanksgiving Menu below to help you get the planning started!
Here’s the thing, when you are cooking the entire Thanksgiving meal, you need to serve an appetizer that will keep your guests entertained and the hunger at bay. Why? Because your meal is not going to be ready on time. Cooking so many dishes at once always takes longer than you think. Your guests won’t even notice the delay with a delicious appetizer in front of them to munch on. I suggest subbing this “to-do” out; Ask a guest or two to bring an app or order a beautiful cheese board. Kim of The Cheers Experience is my go-to for cheese & charcuterie boards. She’s a genius.
I used to panic at the idea of cooking a Thanksgiving turkey but after I found a recipe I could trust, it became my favorite part of preparing the meal. Overcooking the bird is a concern most have when cooking a turkey but this tried and true method using one extra step will guarantee you don’t end up with a dry turkey. Cheesecloth. Soaking a cheesecloth in melted butter & herbs and draping it over the bird before cooking will produce the juiciest, most flavorful turkey. The cheesecloth protects the skin from burning and gives moisture and flavor all while basting the turkey in buttery goodness. I know there are many delicious ways to cook a turkey – frying, spatchcocking, upside-down cooking – but I prefer the traditional. Once you go cheesecloth, you’ll never go back. I serve mine with this Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Is this the best turkey gravy on the planet? Probably not. The recipes that call for you to boil down the chicken neck and parts for hours produce the best gravy but honestly, I don’t have that much time to commit to a gravy. This gravy recipe is delicious without requiring you to commit three hours of your day!
Side 1 ~ Crockpot Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes can be the bane of one’s existence on Thanksgiving. They require a good bit of hands-on time, use up stovetop space, and need to be prepared right before serving. Until some genius decided to cook them in a crockpot. This potato recipe is dreamy and will keep your potatoes warm until ready to serve.
My girls can make this recipe with their eyes closed. It’s that simple. This melt-in-your-mouth corn recipe is always a crowd favorite and travels really well too.
Stuffing/dressing/druffing – whatever you want to call it – is a very important dish in my husband’s family. If it’s not moist, don’t bother bringing it to the table. I’ve had many a stuffing recipe turn out all kinds of wrong but this recipe has yet to let me down. Make the breadcrumbs days before then combine all ingredients, cover, refrigerate and bake the day of.
Side 4 – Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Sweet & simple. The carrots should be made as close to serving time as possible. Bake the corn & stuffing together and cover – both dishes will stay warm while you are roasting the carrots & while the turkey rests.
There is nothing better than a green bean slow-cooked in bacon grease and seasonings – there just isn’t. You will need to simmer the beans for almost 2 hours which works because everything else you are making cooks in the oven. These can simmer on the stove while you are doing everything else. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
If someone asks how they can help with the Thanksgiving meal, ask them to bring a dessert. Or, if you are lucky enough to have a child in the house who likes to bake, get them to make something! I’m a traditionalist and prefer to eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. This recipe is super easy and you can make the filing ahead of time! Bake the crust the morning of and set aside.
Some Of My Other Favorite Holiday Recipes
Roasted Carrots with Candied Pecans and Goat Cheese |Paula Deen’s Green Bean Casserole |Sausage and Sage Stuffing | Paula Deen’s Cheesy Squash Casserole | Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Brussel Sprouts| Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust | Southern Squash Casserole | Cornbread Stuffing |
Joyce Bailey says
Read all the recipes! They sound scrumptious!!