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Looking for some mouthwatering Thanksgiving dinner ideas to impress your guests this year? Look no further! This list has everything you need to create a memorable and delicious feast.
Who Doesn’t Love Thanksgiving?!
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner ideas, it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to start, especially if you’re the HOST. Don’t fret, we are sharing all the best recipes and tips to help you plan. We’ve included main dishes, appetizers, side dishes, and of course, dessert! To make things even more simple, use our Free Thanksgiving Menu Template to help plan your Thanksgiving dinner menu!
From juicy roast turkey and fluffy mashed potatoes to golden brown dinner rolls and classic pumpkin pie, this list has everything you need for a memorable holiday feast. Below you’ll find our top recipes for each section. We hope the list can give you inspiration for creating your own delicious menu.
These easy yeast rolls can be made in under an hour with just 4 ingredients! With how quick and simple they are, they will become your new go-to dinner rolls.
Looking for some mouthwatering Thanksgiving dinner ideas to impress your guests this year? Look no further! This list has everything you need to create a memorable and delicious feast.
3tablespoonscompound butter,(such as Italian Garlic Butter)
Glaze
1cupmolasses
2tablespoonsDijon mustard
1tablespoongarlic salt
3teaspoonsblack pepper
2teaspoonskosher salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Cut your celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Add ⅔ of them to the bottom of your roasting pan.
*Note: Be sure to use a roasting pan with an elevated rack to keep the bird somewhat above the liquid.
Prepare the turkey by removing the added items (neck, giblets, gravy packet) – no need to rinse the turkey – leave the tie on the legs – this helps keep it together.
Place the turkey in the prepared pan and stuff the remaining veggies inside the turkey.
Add one apple, cut in half, inside the turkey.
Place remaining apples (also cut in half) around outside of the turkey.
Cut the butter into 1 tablespoon pats. Carefully lift skin away from meat and slide pats of butter between the skin & breast.
Add chicken stock to the bottom of the pan.
Melt the compound butter and brush over the entire turkey.
Roast in preheated oven, uncovered for 30 minutes.
Remove, baste, tent with foil – return to oven.
Reduce heat to 375°F
Continue roasting an additional 2-2½ hours depending on the size of your turkey (check label for exact cooking times per size). Basting every 40-45 minutes.
Check temperature near the end – once you reach a minimum of 165°F in the thickest part of the turkey, it's time to add your glaze.
Whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl to combine.
Brush glaze over turkey and return turkey to oven, uncovered, and cook an additional 15 minutes to crisp the skin.
Remove and let rest 10-20 minutes before carving. Be sure to discard all veggies and fruits from inside the turkey and in the roasting pan before discarding.
Notes
Recipe Tips.
To determine the size of turkey needed, calculate 1-1½ pounds of turkey per person.
To ensure your turkey thaws properly, move it to the fridge on the Monday before Thanksgiving for 4-11 lbs, Sunday for 12-15 lbs, Saturday for 16-19 lbs, and Friday for 20-24 lbs.
Only stuff the turkey immediately before it goes into the oven; never prepare it stuffed the night before (bacteria growth can happen). Do not pack the stuffing tightly, as it needs air circulation to cook properly.
Once the turkey is out of the oven, scoop all the stuffing out of the cavity into a separate serving dish along with the veggies from the roasting pan.
To enhance the flavor even more, you can also use a Turkey Brine.
Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!
Kristyn,
May you and your family have the Happiest Thanksgiving. You have some great recipes, that I copy for later.
God bless all of you.
Thank you!! Hope yours was wonderful as well!
This is such a great all-in-one-stop for Thanksgiving recipes! These recipes are fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
So many great recipes to choose from!! I’ve got all of mine printed and ready to go.