Our Best Thanksgiving Menus

By Article by Shirley Harrington

Whether your prefer the conventional supper or something more casual and off-beat, we have the perfect Thanksgiving menu for your family. 

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Our Best Traditional Thanksgiving Menu

Delicious, classic recipes are always in style for a Thanksgiving feast. Keep the preparation stress-free with a little advanced strategizing.

Recipes:  Roast Turkey With Sage and Thyme Anytime Turkey Gravy Pear Salad with Raspberry Cream Sweet Potato Cups   Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing Green Beans With Mushrooms and Bacon Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce Quick Yeast Rolls Elegant Pumpkin-Walnut Layered Pie
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A Best-of-Fall Thanksgiving Dinner

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Want to mix-up the menu when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner? Then opt for a delicious nod to autumn that doesn’t feature a turkey.

Recipes: Thanksgiving Sparkler Blue Cheese Shortbread Leaves Sweet Potato Squares With Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise Grilled Pork Roast With Fruit Compote Caramelized Onion-Potato Gratin Granola-Ginger Baked Apples

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Celebrate At The Beach

Kick off your shoes and opt for bare feet for this Thanksgiving-meets-the-tropics dinner. Cooking a turkey for the first time? Our easy method, calling for an oven-cooking bag, guarantees a juicy bird. And, clean-up is breeze.

Recipes: Overnight Marinated Shrimp Apple-Bourbon Turkey Breast Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Oven-Roasted Asparagus Lemon-Garlic Toast Key Lime Pie

Pecan Squares

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Host A Unique Potluck Thanksgiving

If you’re the ring leader of a turkey day gathering, you might try choosing a fun flavor theme to help guests choose a recipe to bring. For example, themes could be traditional, low-country, or as we’ve done here―Italian. Ask folks who shy away from cooking to bring wine, or crusty loaves of bread and olive oil for dipping.

Recipes: Baby Elephant Ears Procençale Caesar Salad Carrot Cake with Madeira Syrup and Vanilla Ice Cream Raspberry Tiramisù Bites Lemon-Basil Antipasto Sesame-Crusted Turkey Mignons

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Dine Outside On Turkey Day

Photo: Van Chaplin

Don’t pass up the chance to enjoy Thanksgiving supper outdoors if the weather is nice. Fill a big table with platters of turkey, breads, and salads. Part of the fun to this get-together is standing in line, plate in hand, waiting your turn to serve yourself. Settle around the outdoor tables and enjoy dinner.

Recipes: Warm Turnip Green Dip Two-Alarm Deep-Fried Turkey Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Cranberry Compote Cornbread Dressing Sweet Potato-Pecan Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

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Thanksgiving Weekend, Southwestern-Style

Host a Saturday night conclusion to Thanksgiving weekend with a Tex-Mex inspired supper.

Recipes:  Frozen Sangría Guacamole-Goat Cheese Toasts Fiesta Turkey Soup with Green Chile Biscuits Citrus-Avocado Salad with Tex-Mex Vinaigrette Caramel-Pecan Pie
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Casual Texas Thanksgiving

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Share this relaxed feast with family and friends.

Recipes: White Bean-and-Black Olive Crostini Sparkling Sipper Roasted Turkey Stuffed with Hazelnut Dressing Roasted Green Beans with Sun-dried Tomatoes Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes Citrus-Walnut Salad Upside-Down Apple Tart

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Deep South Meat 'n' Three

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Consider this our upscale version of the classic, Southern-style blue-plate special.

Recipes: Herb-Roasted Turkey with Easy Turkey Gravy Cornbread Dressing with Smoked Bacon and Pecans Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Autumn Spices Fried Collards and Apples Clementine Tea

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Texas Meat 'n' Three

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Saddle up for a spicy kick to your traditional Thanksgiving fare.

Recipes: Grilled Turkey Breast with Parsley-Mint Salsa Verde Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad Cauliflower Galettes with Chipotle Crème Fraîche Poblanos Stuffed with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas
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Lowcountry Meat 'n' Three

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Celebrate with the savory flavors of the South Carolina coast.

Recipes: Turkey Tenderloins with Madeira Gravy Brussels Sprouts with Applewood Bacon Orange-Glazed Sweet Potatoes Cornbread, Chestnut, and Country Ham Dressing Pineapple-Basil Tea

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Tried & True Thanksgiving

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional, down-home menu from Georgia native James Farmer.

Recipes: Ham Glazed with Spiced Plum Conserve Salt-and-Pepper Roasted Turkey Old-Fashioned Giblet-Egg Gravy Mimi's Cornbread Dressing A Mess of Greens Cranberry-Orange Relish Ambrosia with Apples Buttermilk-Glazed Mini Fig Cakes with Vanilla Hard Sauce

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Warm & Rustic Thanksgiving

Photo: Jody Horton

Celebrate Thanksgiving with big flavor and Texas-style ingredients from Austin couple Mary Catherine and Andrew Curren.

Recipes: Lost in Texas Chicken Liver Pâté Cranberry-Pecan Chutney Herb-Roasted Turkey Legs Smoked Turkey Breast Green Beans with Citrus and Pecans Smoked-Oyster-and-Andouille Dressing Brussels Sprouts with Ham and Caramelized Onions Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue
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Fresh & Modern Thanksgiving

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Join Tasia Malakasis, one of the South's premier cheesemakers, for a harvest feast brimming with new seasonal ideas.

Recipes: Citrus-Roasted Turkey with Lemon Aïoli Kale-and-Collards Salad Corn Pudding Roasted Root Vegetables Stuffing-Stuffed Onions Sweet Potato Gratin Carrot Cake with Chèvre Frosting Fresh Berry Topping
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