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Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes, Menus, Strategies, and Tips for 2023
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If you ask us, the true pleasure of Thanksgiving comes in the bounty of Thanksgiving leftovers: A slice of pie for breakfast, a midnight turkey sandwich enveloped in a pillowy dinner roll. But these stolen moments can’t happen if you don’t first put out a delicious Thanksgiving day spread. Below, you’ll find our favorite ways to cook turkey, our best potato recipes, more autumnal desserts than you can make in a year, and plenty of tips to guide you along the way. Want to know our go-to pie crust recipe? Did your great-aunt just request a pumpkin cheesecake? Need a quick substitute for sour cream? Suddenly found out you need a gluten-free gravy recipe? We’ve got you. And when the brown sugar and breadcrumbs settle, we’ll be here to help you out with those leftovers, too.
The Star of the Table
The key to this set-it-and-forget-it Thanksgiving centerpiece is buying a bird in the Goldilocks range of 14 to 16 pounds, which will feed at least 10 people. Cooking for more? Buy a second bird. Now: Can we interest you in some turkey gravy?
Turkey might be traditional, but a simple roast chicken is the better bird for your wallet, stress levels, and leftovers game.
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Hosting a small gathering this year? Skip the whole bird in favor of these superlative turkey breast recipes.
Build your whole holiday meal around these pastrami-spiced turkey sandwiches and no one will complain.
Deep-fry flavorful turkey wings for a more casual main that’s juicy on the inside and incredibly crispy on the outside.
Turkey 101
Choosing the right Thanksgiving bird for your holiday gathering is one thing. But it’s also a good idea to brush up on a few essential techniques as you embark upon your holiday planning.
If you’re reading this on Thanksgiving morning, feel free to skip to the end of the article.
This super-easy, not-at-all messy brining method will deliver the juiciest Thanksgiving bird.
You’ll never need to look up a holiday turkey recipe again.
You’ve gathered the guests, conquered the co*cktails, wrangled the side dishes, and roasted one heck of a turkey. Now it’s game time.
Moist meat, crispy skin—this spatchco*cked turkey recipe gives you the best of all worlds.
Flavored with rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme, this turkey is something special.
With the texture of duck confit and deeper flavor than your average Thanksgiving bird, these turkey legs beg to fall apart with the push of a fork.
Cooking for a crowd? Skip the large bird. Instead, cut a couple of smaller turkeys into parts. Trust us.
This is our simplest roast turkey yet.
A foil-covered brick or cinder block presses the bird onto the grill for even heat exposure and extra-crispy skin.
Take a cue (get it?) from Southern BBQ traditions and toss that turkey on the smoker.
Skip the butter. Coat your turkey in garlic-spiked mayo for a gloriously glistening, super-moist, flavor-packed bird.
Non-Turkey Mains
There’s more to the holiday than roast turkey, and these mains prove it.
Never cooked a holiday ham? This guide will teach you everything you need to know.
This perfect holiday centerpiece is surprisingly easy to cook.
Inspired by Moroccan tagine, this vegan holiday centerpiece is stuffed with dried fruit, hearty barley, and fragrant spices.
A little sweet, a little spicy, a little smoky—these pork shoulder steaks are bound to steal the turkey’s thunder.
One-Stop Menu Planning
From vintage Gourmet classics to our best modern tips for getting your meal together, here’s how the staff of Epicurious pulls off Thanksgiving.
Take a breath. You’re fine. Here’s everything you need to know this Thanksgiving.
To be a benevolent taskmaster on Thanksgiving Day, you have to realize it's not hosting, it's project management.
One-Stop Menu Planning
From vintage Gourmet classics to our best modern tips for getting your meal together, here’s how the staff of Epicurious pulls off Thanksgiving.
Take a breath. You’re fine. Here’s everything you need to know.
To be a benevolent taskmaster on Thanksgiving Day, you have to realize it’s not hosting, it’s project management.
Holidays Events
Meet the people tackling the holiday dinner with colorful spreadsheets, elegant scrum boards, and very organized Google drives.
Shopping
Shopping
We’ve hand-picked some of the best Thanksgiving dishes of the ’90s, from the pages of Gourmet.
Keep your holiday spread interesting and budget-friendly with this menu priced at less than $10 per person.
Looking for an excuse to dust off the Jell-O mold and silver platters? We’ve got the menu for you.
Erick Williams of Chicago’s Virtue Restaurant shares his holiday menu.
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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Turkey and dressing are great, but you’ve got to get a vegetable on your plate. That’s where our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes come into play. Think garlicky roasted brussels sprouts, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots, and silky braised butternut squash.
A perfect combination of sweet, salty, crispy, and tender, maple-roasted delicata squash will have everyone reaching for seconds.
This Mississippi-style corn pudding is a creamy, savory wonder with cheddar cheese and butter crackers.
You can whip up this sweet, tart homemade cranberry sauce in just 20 minutes.
This minimalist recipe for roasted carrots results in a showstopping side dish—don’t be surprised when everyone asks for more.
Cheese loves cauliflower, and cauliflower loves cheese right back.
This perky green beans recipe gives you a side dish with an exuberant crunch—no ice bath required.
We don't use the word “perfect” lightly, but this macaroni and cheese…well: It is.
This mix of chopped raw cranberries, orange, sugar, and cinnamon is a bracingly fresh way to add the holiday's signature berry to the table.
The buttery brown sugar glaze will hide the fact that this was a last-minute addition to your holiday line-up.
This dish is old-fashioned but simple and memorable. The uncomplicated sweet delicacy of fresh, juicy corn is the secret.
The quick stovetop preparation of boiling, shocking, and then coating these green beans in warm butter and parsley will save oven space this Thanksgiving.
Roasted parsnips and carrots taste wonderful together, especially drizzled with a simple glaze.
Don’t Forget the Stuffing
Sure, you could keep the stuffing simple; but, you don’t have to. Here are a few of our favorite variations.
Italian sausage and a heap of Parmesan cheese lend signature flair to this herby Thanksgiving stuffing recipe.
This fan-favorite stuffing recipe forgoes the turkey stock and sausage in favor of an autumnal mix of chopped apples, mushrooms, and dried cranberries.
Toss torn leftover biscuits with cubes of cornbread for a sage-scented holiday side featuring two of the South’s best breads.
Master this simple ratio and technique and you can be the boss of your holiday stuffing this year and every year to come.
This flavor-packed holiday side feeds a crowd of 20 and takes care of both the stuffing and the sweet potatoes.
Thanksgiving stuffing in less than an hour? Believe it. Cooking and baking the stuffing in the same skillet not only saves time, it cuts down on dishes.
A mix of country bread and cornbread, plus savory breakfast sausage and plenty of fresh herbs, makes this stuffing truly irresistible.
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Call it stuffing or call it dressing; what’s important is that everyone knows it’s the best part of Thanksgiving dinner.
Just How Important Are Potatoes?
Start here for all the advice you need, since potatoes are very important, indeed.
These perfect mashed potatoes are light and fluffy yet rich and creamy, with just a hint of garlic and thyme.
Expert Advice
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Ingredients
All of the best parts of stuffed potatoes, that beloved holiday side dish, in a format fit for a crowd.
Silky mashed potatoes in an Instant? It can be done.
Roasting potatoes that are just-nearly sliced through creates a contrast in textures that is undeniably delicious.
Crisp on the outside and cheesy on the inside, hash brown casserole is an easy dish that will always please a crowd.
This hearty homemade potato soup owes its richness to plenty of melted cheddar cheese and a topping of crispy bacon.
Cutting leeks into large pieces gives them a presence equal to disks of potato in this elegant and rich holiday side.
Brown sliced Yukon Golds in butter, toss withcaramelized onions, done.
The crucial tool to pull off evenly-sized globes of both sweet and starchy potatoes? A melon baller.
Brown sugar and chopped pecans form a crackly topping as this sweet potato casserole bakes.
A simple side dish of roasted sweet potatoes, sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with red pepper and cinnamon.
Six ingredients (including salt and pepper) stand between you and what may just be the world’s most perfect side dish.
Is there anything this magical tuber cannot do? Answer: Nope.
Would You Like Some Bread With That?
Proof that the best cornbread isn’t necessarily the most complicated, this easy recipe gets it on the table in 30 minutes.
This recipe for Parker House rolls produces a golden brown crust, a fluffy interior, and a buttery flavor that makes the buns perfect for any occasion.
For this buttery biscuit recipe, you fold and stack the dough to create the flaky layers.
Forget the standard dinner rolls this Thanksgiving—what your table needs is this gorgeous flavor-packed bread.
Somewhere That’s Green
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We love to have a little something leafy on our plates, even if that leafy thing is bathed in cream or glazed in honey.
A quick and easy version of often ong-braised Southern favorite.
With crispy edges and deep caramelization, these streamlined brussels sprouts are the ultimate addition to holiday meal.
As this whole dish bakes, the salty pancetta fat will melt over the sprouts, imparting luscious porky flavor as the pancetta crisps.
There is something really good about crunchy lettuce and a bright shallot dressing filled with the flavor of dried oregano completed by creamy feta.
Dive Into These Classic Desserts
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With so many mouthwatering Thanksgiving dessert ideas, how will you choose just one?
This classic apple pie recipe makes the perfect holiday dessert with a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, perfectly cooked fruit filling.
Shoofly pie starts with a classic pie crust that cradles a dense and sticky molasses filling.
This easy dessert is loaded with nuts and gets a little verve from orange zest.
This alternative to pumpkin pie has an optional caramelized pecan praline topping. Pro-tip: Don't consider it optional.
Timeless and undeniably crowd-pleasing, this banana cream pie recipe will have everyone reaching for seconds.
An easy dessert with an even easier sauce.
This tart looks fancy, but we promise, it's easy. The signature red hue of Starkrimson pears and a drizzle of make-ahead dulce de leche do the hard work for you, and the crust is one of the best you'll ever try.
This swirled, cinnamon-spiced fall dessert is a total showstopper.
This elegant holiday tart comes from the pages of Gourmet.
Our favorite carrot cake is moist, full of shredded carrot and fragrant spices, and topped with an extra-tangy cream cheese frosting.
This pie gets a tangy yogurt crust and a splash of rum to balance the sweet, rich chocolate-pecan filling.
The filling for this easy buttermilk pie recipe comes together in just under 10 minutes.
These old-fashioned molasses cookies stay soft and chewy days after making them.
This easy chocolate pie recipe is a dream: creamy chocolate custard piled into a chocolate cookie crust and topped with whipped cream.
This vintage pear pie recipe from Gourmet was inspired by the classic 1940s film Mildred Pierce.
This Southern delicacy wraps the warm flavors of cinnamon-spiked apple pie into a buttery handheld crust.
Give each slice of this extra-moist and rich apple cake a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of toffee sauce for a holiday showstopper.
This subtly spiced marvel borrows from the Basque cheesecake tradition. It's baked until its exterior is a deep copper, with a pale interior.
Making these chocolate puddings isn’t quite as easy as pouring cream into jars, but it’s not far off.
Forget lackluster loaves—apple cider brings big autumnal flavor to this tender pumpkin bread.
Explore Even More Desserts
Sweet tooth still not satisfied? Get the desserts you crave below, or go straight to our best pie recipes or our full collection of fall desserts. Oh, and don't forget the whipped cream.
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From old-school to new-fangled, our favorite recipes for this holiday icon include tarts, pumpkin-swirled cheesecakes, and more.
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Who says Thanksgiving is a pies-only affair?
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Because it's never a bad idea to have a plate of festive, fall-spiced cookies around for Thanksgiving snacking.
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Everyone deserves a little something sweet at the end of a holiday meal. With this collection of gluten-free favorites, you won't have to skimp on the goods.
Thanksgiving Recipes for Everyone at Your Table
It's easy to go gluten-free at Thanksgiving. Ditto vegetarian—and even vegan. And if you seek still more Thanksgiving dinner recipes, try out our holiday recipe finder.
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These crowd-pleasing recipes all leave out the gluten.
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Sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and so much more—all without any animal products.
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Creamy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and more.
Meet the tool that’ll help you find your ideal recipe for turkey, stuffing, dessert, and more.
The Friday Gameplan
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Don’t get so caught up in Turkey Day that you forget what comes after.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
What to Drink
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Whether served with hors d’oeuvres or sipped post-pie, these seasonal co*cktail recipes are just right for a festive holiday.
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Step away from your co*cktail shaker—if more than a couple of people are having drinks, you need to batch.
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These alcohol-free co*cktails aren’t mocking anything. They’re just plain delicious.
Combining favorite fall fruits and spices with sparkling cider, rum, and wine gives sangria a refreshing new spin.
The whiskey sour, a simple combination of whiskey, sugar, and fresh lemon juice, is a bonafide crowd-pleaser.
Back to the Beginning
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Thanksgiving
It may seem like an afterthought, but having a solid Thanksgiving appetizer will keep sticky fingers and prying eyes at bay. Plus, you should never start a cooking marathon on an empty stomach.
Holidays Events
Expert Advice
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Got a big bag of potatoes? Good. We’ve got the best ways to use them right here.
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One cannot live on glazed pork alone.
This year, make the other pies on the dessert table green with envy.
It’s for keeping yourself organized.
This cozy dish makes your leftovers the main event.
This Thanksgiving, give pumpkin the day off and swap in some sweet taproots instead.
No matter where I’m celebrating, the holiday isn’t complete without a bowl of this maple-and-cider-sweetened cranberry sauce.
We asked pro bakers why pricking pie dough matters (and why sometimes it doesn’t).
Sure, soups, sandwiches, and pot pies are all great options for leftover turkey. But giving it the biryani treatment breathes new life into the notoriously dry protein.
Puréeing turkey drippings with roasted onions and garlic creates a low-effort sauce that just happens to be gluten-free.
Stuffed with cream cheese and nuts, this autumnal roll cake is the multi-dimensional holiday dessert pumpkin pie dreams of becoming.
Pressure-cooking mashed potatoes speeds things up and creates a luscious, creamy texture.
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Yesterday was great, but let’s get real: Thanksgiving is all about the leftovers.
This is the ultimate vehicle for sopping up your homemade gravy.
Shoofly pie is a sticky-sweet staple of Thanksgivings in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County.
This make-ahead turkey uses a French technique to keep meat tender, juicy, and ready to serve whenever you need it.
Carry your casseroles, pies, and sides in style this holiday season.
This cheesy potato casserole is a permanent piece of my family’s holiday menu.
Thanksgiving dinner is just better with warm dinner rolls, and this technique lets you do all the work ahead of time.
Leftover Thanksgiving turkey is a great thing to have around—as long as you store it safely.
