Your All-Inclusive Thanksgiving Guide

We are Thanksgiving experts at Williams-Sonoma, and we’re here to help! For the past month we’ve been stocking The Blender with practical tips, recipes and planning advice to guide home cooks through the preparation of their big feasts.

 

As you gear up for turkey day, be sure to browse the posts below for last-minute answers. Good luck — and most importantly, have fun!

 

Top 10 Turkey Questions Answered Whether it’s your first turkey or your 30th, there are always a few questions that pop up on the big day. We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding roasting a turkey and have linked to a number of other helpful guides.

Culinary Expert Tips: Taking the Stress Out of Thanksgiving Our culinary expert Natasha Gandhi-Rue shares her plan-ahead tips that make the Thursday feast completely stress-free in her house.

Master Your Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes are a must-have at many Thanksgiving feasts — often just as essential to the celebration as the turkey. We’ve compiled our best tips for mastering this favorite dish from start to finish, so you never have to worry about less-than-perfect potatoes again.

Thanksgiving Timeline The key to stress-free entertaining is to plan ahead — especially when it comes to the Thanksgiving meal. Our timeline will help you stay on track. You can do plenty of the prep work in advance, so you’ll have time to enjoy the company of your family and friends on the day of the feast.

Your All-New Green Bean Casserole Traditional green bean casserole is often made with cans of cream of mushroom soup and French-fried onions. This Thanksgiving, try our updated recipe, composed of fresh ingredients and guaranteed to push that old formula aside.

What to Look for When Choosing a Turkey Here are a few things to consider when shopping for the anchor of your Thanksgiving meal: the turkey.

Get a Head Start on Thanksgiving Desserts The key to a fun Thanksgiving feast is planning, and desserts are one of the easiest courses to make ahead. Find out which steps you can complete in advance to make the big day run smoothly — without a soggy pie crust in sight.

Cures for Your Cranberry Sauce Here are solutions for some of the most common cranberry sauce dilemmas — from jelling to molding to serving.

What to Do with Turkey Giblets Giblets are those extra parts of the turkey you don’t roast on Thanksgiving: the heart, neck, gizzards and liver. Most people don’t usually eat them on their own, but here are some great ways to use them to add maximum flavor to your holiday dishes.

Healthy Thanksgiving Menu We’ve created a Thanksgiving menu of Williams-Sonoma recipes that are low in fat, high in nutrients and still deliver the foods you love.

Time-Saving Tip: Roast Your Thanksgiving Turkey Ahead If roasting a turkey under pressure sounds intimidating, consider another strategy: cook the turkey ahead. Roasting your turkey ahead will save you the time spent testing and carving, allowing you to spend more time with your guests.

5 New Twists on Sweet Potato Casserole Traditional sweet potato casseroles are made of pureed, sugary-sweet potatoes topped with a generous layer of packaged mini marshmallows. See how contemporary chefs and cookbooks are updating the classic.

Deep-Dish Apple Bourbon Streusel Pie Apple pie for Thanksgiving is nothing new. But deep-dish apple pie with bourbon, two kinds of apples and a nutty streusel — that’s a memorable way to end the turkey feast.

Turn Your Thanksgiving Buffet into a Food Display Just because you are serving your Thanksgiving “buffet-style” doesn’t mean you have to give up on having a beautiful and artfully presented meal.

Secrets to a Perfectly Seasoned Turkey Some cooks swear by brining, while others prefer simple salt and pepper sprinkled on the turkey skin. No matter what you choose, keep reading for our expert seasoning tips.

Traditions of Gratitude at the Thanksgiving Kids’ Table A three-year-old creates a Thanksgiving tradition at the holiday kids’ table of making “thankful note” cards and festive Thanksgiving hats for each guest.

How to Make Lump-Free Gravy No dish complements turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing quite like creamy, savory gravy. Find out how to achieve the most delicious results.

Top-Rated Vegetarian Thanksgiving Entrees With all of autumn’s hearty vegetables and flavors, you don’t need a turkey to create a memorable Thanksgiving feast. Here are some of our top-rated vegetarian recipes, which would make a perfect centerpiece for your holiday meal.

Making Store-Bought Thanksgiving Dishes Your Own If you’re pressed for time or just want to make things easier on yourself, take advantage of your grocery store’s prepared turkey day offerings. Here are a few ways to make your store-bought Thanksgiving feast feel a little bit more homemade.

Managing Refrigerator Space Over Thanksgiving No dish complements turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing quite like creamy, savory gravy. Find out how to achieve the most delicious results.

A Gluten & Dairy Free Thanksgiving Everyone Will Love Check out our allergy-friendly Thanksgiving menu, full of great tasting recipes without gluten, dairy or even nuts — so just about everyone can fill a plate and go back for seconds.

Thanksgiving Pie Troubleshooting Pies don’t always turn out how you expect them to, but you can handle any last-minute Thanksgiving dessert surprises with this guide. Learn how to fix some of the most common pie issues — and how to avoid them next time around.

Our Foolproof Tips for Stuffing a Turkey Cooking your stuffing inside the Thanksgiving turkey gives it an unparalleled flavor and texture. See our culinary expert’s number one tip for simple turkey stuffing.

New Twists on Thanksgiving Side Dishes If you’re ready to try an original spin on a few of your traditional side dishes this year, consider these recipes.