Let’s do it!
I almost didn’t share this, but then I started thinking about all the Thanksgiving dishes I want to eat. Christmas and Thanksgiving are tied for my favorite holidays, and Thanksgiving wins for one reason: the food. It tastes like home, childhood and comfort. I love food that brings warm, nostalgic feelings.
Would you be willing to list your entire Thanksgiving menu in the comments? I’m kind of obsessed with menus and would love to see yours. Below are some of my favorite ideas and long-standing favorites I return to year after year. I don’t host a full Thanksgiving yet, but I can’t wait for the day I do.
Cocktails are basically necessities. My top pick is an apple cider sangria — cozy and fruity — and a pomegranate margarita is a close second. Apple cider margaritas, a spiced amaretto apple cider kiss, cranberry-vanilla-ginger margaritas, or a pomegranate vanilla sangria are all excellent options. Many of these can be made ahead, which is a relief on a busy day.
Later this week I’ll share a delicious non-alcoholic punch that’s perfect for Thanksgiving. You can always spike it if you’d like.
For appetizers and snacks, I usually keep things simple and classy with a cheese plate. I also like baked brie with crackers or dips like a honey-fig gorgonzola dip and goat cheese truffles. One of my favorites is a pomegranate-jeweled white cheddar cheeseball — it’s delicious and beautiful. Stuffed mushrooms with spinach, bacon and artichokes are another great option.
I’m pretty sure if you’re unsure what to serve, you can’t go wrong with cheese.
Do you eat salad on Thanksgiving? I usually skip it — I don’t want lettuce taking up space on a plate that should be filled with gravy-drenched favorites. If you do want a salad, an autumn arugula salad or a maple-bacon Brussels, pear and blue cheese salad are both simple, make-ahead friendly, and full of fall flavors. Eat your greens if you can.
Soup can be a lovely starter if served in small portions. Try shooters of creamy tomato soup with grilled cheese sticks, a smoky gruyere butternut soup, or a sweet potato bisque with brown butter cinnamon-sugar croutons. An amaretto butternut soup is another cozy choice.
Breads are essential for sopping up gravy. Options include sage butter biscuits, mini cream cheese and chive biscuits, blue cheese biscuits with pinot noir butter for something fancier, cranberry whole wheat biscuits, sweet potato honey dinner rolls or classic buttery cloverleaf rolls. Freshly made rolls are best the day of, so enlist help and start early if you plan to make them from scratch.
For turkey, one standout is applewood-smoked turkey with cider bourbon gravy — it’s fantastic and works well on a smoker. There are also excellent gravies to choose from: a classic family-style gravy or a caramelized shallot and bacon gravy for a richer option. Both make the meal feel indulgent.
When it comes to potatoes, my top two picks are a lightened-up sweet potato casserole and cinnamon-sugar hasselback sweet potatoes with an oatmeal cookie crumble. For mashed potato lovers, roasted garlic and goat cheese mashed potatoes are a creamy, flavorful choice. Apple bacon stuffed sweet potatoes are a delicious alternative if you want something different.
Stuffing versus dressing — call it what you like. I prefer stuffing cooked inside the bird for extra flavor and moisture, though many people opt to bake it separately. Both methods can be delicious depending on the recipe.
If you want to be trendy, try a soft pretzel quinoa stuffing. A double-bread stuffing with bacon and sage is a comforting classic, or go the easy route with pre-cubed bread for a reliably tasty traditional stuffing.
For green sides, Brussels sprouts have earned my love — you can fry them and serve with a smoky aioli, or roast them with brown butter and toasted pecans. A lightened-up green bean casserole with extra crispy onions is always popular, and green bean bacon bundles are charming and delicious. Bacon-wrapped caramelized sesame asparagus is another standout side that feels special.
For non-traditional but tasty alternatives, consider a roasted sweet potato risotto or a spiced amaretto butternut squash lasagna. A parmesan-sage crusted butternut galette or spicy roasted squash with feta and herbs are seasonal favorites that stand out on the table.
Dessert is important but not always the most stressful choice on Thanksgiving. If you’re a pie person, cider-bourbon apple pie with an oatmeal cookie crumble or a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie pie are excellent picks. Keep it simple with an amaretto apple crisp or bourbon baked apples. Cookie fans might love fudge-striped pumpkin peanut butter cookies.
If you prefer something more playful, a pumpkin s’mores tart or pumpkin s’mores cupcakes bring a fun twist. For rich, small portions, no-bake sweet potato cheesecakes or bourbon pecan pie no-bake cheesecakes are decadent and easy to serve.
That’s my roundup — a mix of classic favorites, cozy comfort dishes and a few creative twists. Honestly, I wish someone would make one of each for me this Thanksgiving. That sounds like the perfect menu.