Everything Thanksgiving: Our Menus, Tips & More!

It’s Thanksgiving week! To help with any last-minute planning, cooking or entertaining needs, here’s a wrap-up of all of the Thanksgiving posts published on Taste this month.

 

 

New Traditions at the Table It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without old-fashioned favorites, and here we give you some of our best versions of these time-tested classics. But adding a few unexpected touches, like elegant appetizers, sparkling cocktails and a decadent chocolate tart, will ensure this Thanksgiving is a truly memorable celebration.

Friendsgiving with Sunday Suppers This year we partnered with Karen Mordechai, founder of the communal cooking center and blog Sunday Suppers, as she hosted a casual, spirited Friendsgiving celebration in her Brooklyn studio. Use these recipes from her new Sunday Suppers cookbook, along with our easy entertaining tips, to pull off the feast yourself.

A Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Here’s a Thanksgiving menu that skips the turkey and meat but pulls out all the other stops. With the rich, warm flavors of brown butter, sweet pumpkin, bright red fruits and deep, dark chocolate, these dishes will wow everyone at the table — vegetarian or not.

A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu Make dishes everyone at the Thanksgiving table will love — even those who are gluten intolerant. Here’s a menu full of holiday favorites and fall flavors that are guaranteed to please.

A Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Menu Yes, you can make a Thanksgiving dinner without butter, cream or cheese! This holiday menu swaps the usual rich, heavy ingredients for bold flavors and lively spices, with dishes that everyone at the table can enjoy.

A Healthy Thanksgiving Menu An unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be synonymous with butter and sausage. Here’s a veggie-centric menu that highlights the season’s gems and uses herbs, spices and foolproof cooking techniques to bring the best flavors to the table.

Thanksgiving Weekend Brunch Thanksgiving weekend means plenty of houseguests — and big appetites. After the feast, be prepared with a hearty, crowd-pleasing breakfast spread that’s fit for powering up for Black Friday shopping. Here are our menu and planning tips!

 

 

Our Expert Thanksgiving Timeline To pull off the perfect Thanksgiving feast, you need a plan. We turned to Natasha Gandhi-Rue, Williams-Sonoma culinary expert and French Culinary Institute graduate — read on for her expert tips!

Step-by-Step Turkey Prep Are you ready to take on the turkey this Thanksgiving? To help you prepare, we’ve gathered our tried-and-true tips for seasoning and roasting your bird, step by step.

How to Fry a Turkey In recent years, frying the Thanksgiving turkey has caught on, and it’s easy to see why: the skin becomes dark and crispy, while the meat remains tender and juicy. Also, it takes less time to fry a turkey than it does to roast it. Here’s how it’s done!

How to Grill a Turkey Who says turkey needs to be cooked in the oven? Throw that old-fashioned notion out the window and enlist your grill to do the cooking. The result will be a deliciously juicy turkey with a crisp skin and smoky flavor. And you’ll free up oven space for more side dishes or an additional pie!

Pressure Cooking a Turkey Ready, set, roast! Our Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven cooks a full-size Thanksgiving turkey in under an hour while leaving your regular oven open for sides, stuffing and pies. Learn how.

How to Make Lump-Free Gravy Nothing accompanies turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing quite like savory, creamy gravy — it’s as eagerly anticipated as the bird itself! Gravy is especially delicious when made from the turkey pan drippings left behind after roasting your bird. Here’s our step-by-step guide.

Master Your Mashed Potatoes A warm, fluffy, creamy bowl of mashed potatoes is a must on any Thanksgiving buffet. Whatever flavors you choose to add, this technique will achieve the ideal texture every time.

Secrets to Perfect Pies Pies don’t always turn out how you expect them to, but you can handle any last-minute Thanksgiving dessert surprises with our tips. From a crumbly crust to a runny filling, learn how to fix some of the most common pie issues — and how to avoid them next time around.

The Thanksgiving Table More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is celebrated with a bountiful table. By assembling the right balance of elements, any table can be made festive and beautiful — try these tips to pull it off.

 

 

Side Dishes Turkey may be the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, but for many of us, it’s all about the sides: stuffing, potatoes, and more. This year, we put a spin on the traditional holiday menu with new, creative dishes that showcase fall veggies at their finest — perfect for the year’s most special meal.

Appetizers Start your Thanksgiving feast off on a delicious note with small bites that feature the season’s best ingredients and flavors. Here are some of our favorite no-fuss nibbles — they’ll keep friends and family happy while they wait for the feast to begin.

Green Beans Green beans are one of the many great — and delicious — Thanksgiving traditions. While some swear by the classic comforting casserole, others prefer a fresher take. Here are some of our favorite ways to prepare them!

Stuffing This savory casserole of hearty bread baked with seasonal vegetables and rich stock is homey and comforting, whether it’s cooked inside the bird or out. Here are some of our best renditions of the side dish we look forward to year after year.

Potatoes Whether you like your potatoes mashed until fluffy and creamy or layered with melted cheese and cream, no Thanksgiving spread is complete without them. Here are some our top picks for the feast.

Sweet Potatoes Roasted simply or baked into a classic casserole, sweet potatoes are a must on many Thanksgiving tables. Try these creative and inspired recipes, from salads and sides to a showstopping cheesecake dessert.

Cranberries With their bright, tart flavor and festive hue, cranberries deserve a place on your fall table — and not just on Thanksgiving. The dried fruits tend to get all the love, featured in countless salads and sides, but fresh ones can perk up sweet and savory dishes to perfection. Here are a few of our favorites.

Pies It’s the grand finale for our favorite meal of the year: the Thanksgiving pie! Whether you swear by the classics or are looking for a sweet new spin, these autumnal recipes have you covered.

Cocktails Kick off your Thanksgiving feast with a festive toast to the friends and family who’ve gathered for the occasion. These well-balanced cocktails are inspired by the best of the season’s ingredients, infused with fresh herbs and fruit.