Whether you’re cooking for 2 or 20, here’s a collection of my top Thanksgiving recipes to make this year your best ever! Let the feasting begin!!
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Whole turkey or breast? Roasted or slow cooker? I’ve got you covered!
Warm Sides
Don’t skimp on sides. Some would argue sides trump the turkey! And everyone loves having choices!
Potato Sides
Potatoes, cream, butter and cheese. All the essential (comfort) food groups are right here!
Breads
To slather with butter, mop up gravies and clean your plates …
Rice Sides
Seasoned rice with golden mushrooms? A holiday spiced Cranberry Rice Pilaf with nuts? Rice sides on the table are a great option because they’re easy to reheat!
Side Salads
With all that turkey and gravy, heavy stuffings and creamy sides, fresh salads provide some welcome balance and cut through all the richness.
Sweet Ending
Pecan pie? Pumpkin pie? Or for bite size nibbles, how about profiteroles??
Can’t decide? Browse my Easy Thanksgiving Menu suggestions!
How I plan menus
This is my approach to planning menus: The main centrepiece is always the priority. Everything else works around it! The main factor is usually oven availability.
- Dream menu: Choose your dream menu. Forget calories and kitchen logistics!
- Prioritise the items. Turkey trumps salad. Mac and Cheese over roast veg. Cake trumps bread. etc.etc
- Fresh vs make ahead: Figure out which are best made fresh and which can be made ahead without loss of quality.
- Oven & cooking logistics: Determine the cook schedule of the recipes to see if it’s viable based on the cooking appliances you have available on the day. This includes reheating! The main factor for me is always oven availability.
- Adjust menu to work around conflicts. Start with the top priorities, and work the “less important” dishes around them.
- Delegate where possible! Don’t feel guilty about delegating. Your family and friends want to help! (a bit… 😂)
- Balance the menu. Never underestimate the power of great, crunchy, fresh salads!!
- Finalise new menu. Repeat above steps 2 to 7 as required!
Life of Dozer
I really wanted to finish with a decent, cheerful photo of Dozer and I to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving… This is the best I can do. A typical failed selfie attempt, clutching Dozer, squishing his face, trying to get him to look at the camera when the timer starts flashing…!!!
The photo might be ridiculous, but the spirit is there. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!! ~ Nagi & Dozer x
This looks amazing. Can’t wait to try out my used appliances for this. A great test!
Thank you Naji. You and Dozer 🐾🐾 make it so easy for me to appear to be a great cook.
You’re so welcome Shannise – Nagi x 🥰
I followed your recipe for the dry brine….INCREDIBLE! I will dry brine from this day forward.. I made up my own spices as I knew I had people who would not like the Cajun spices…(me I would have loved it) The pumpkin pie FANTASTIC! Strawberry and Avocado Salad YUMMY! I just want to say thank you. I have been following your recopies and so far nothing has disappointed us. You have helped me curb my weekly shopping almost down to a science. I love your blog and all you do here!! TY
YES!!!! Sounds like you nailed it JoAnn!!!
Nagi,
You’ve taken my Thanksgiving dinner to the next level. I made your pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pie crust, turkey with the dry brine, dressing and gravy. Everything turned out incredible. My husband and I have only been married for two years and just started to have a major contribution to the family Thanksgiving meal. My in laws just called me today, after Thanksgiving, to let me know that the pumpkin pie and turkey was the best they ever had and that the dinner was amazing. Thank you Nagi!! Your videos give me the confidence to say “ I can do that”. You’re very much appreciated over here in California.
Woah sounds amazing Pamela! I’m so glad everything worked out! – N x
Now that the big event is over, I’m desperately seeking innovative recipes using leftovers – I have turkey, ham, and duck! Help??!!
Hi Corrie, I have a turkey pot pie, cheese and ham pancakes, savoury muffins, ham bone soup – just a few ideas 🙂
I had to work so hubby made your garlic butter turkey recipe for Thanksgiving. So delicious! Thank you for the recipe, it’s a keeper. I could drink the dripping sauce.
Hi Hi!,
So tomorrow (thanksgiving) im using your garlic herb butter for a whole chicken instead of a turkey(to mix it up a bit) and im also using my crockpot to cook it in. Can I use the same process as you did the turkey? And how long should I let the chicken go in the crockpot? My husband travels for work and I with him so we are in and out of hotels. So i do not have an oven and the grills outside need to be cleaned. So how long do you think I can let my chicken cook and still be juicy and brown in my crockpot? Sorry , two part question lol. Love your recipes and Dozer🖤🖤
Hi Sonya, you can definitely use it on a chicken! Take a look at this recipe on how to cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker – https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-cooker-lemon-garlic-roast-chicken/. Unfortunately without an oven/grill/BBQ you wont get that golden skin – it simply wont brown in a slow cooker. – N x
I made your apple, walnut, cranberry salad for the office Thanksgiving porluck, to rave reviews. Everyone loved it. Which is saying alot, as these are people that have a hate-hate relationship with vegetables and fruit😂 Thank you for letting me sneak some veg in. The salad is awesome.
You’ve totally converted them Melissa!
Nagi Your food blog is my favorite. Just curious, of the time/day difference between. Australia and U. S. Spent a week in Sydney many years ago (Bondi) and I love Your Country. Thank You.
Hi Ronnie, thanks so much! It’s currently 3pm Thursday here ☺️
Hi Nagi! I’m looking forward to using all of your recipes for my thanksgiving menu this year!
I am hosting a party of 16 and for the main course I plan to make the maple glazed ham and I am still deciding which slow cooked turkey breast to make. I bought two 5lb turkey breasts and I’m considering making one garlic herb slow cooked and one juicy slow cooked (I have 2 slow cookers). Would you suggest this route or sticking with one?
p.s
It’s my first time making turkey!
Hi Selina, why not try too different recipes! I’m sure both will be a hit! – N x
Thank you Nagi, I cook using your recipes all the time and they always get rave reviews. Yours is pretty much the only recipe i site I use now. Oh an thank you for the White Choc, Mac biscuit recipe, my fav recipe these are the best cookies. I m Glad Dozer is feeling better, nothing worse than when our fur babies are not well. 🙁
Cheers Maxine
That’s so lovely to hear Maxine!! And don’t worry about Dozer – he’s doing fine!
Love your site and recipes! Everyone I have tried has been delicious! Your site is my go to place for help and recipes. And of course the pics of Dozer! Love that dog from half a globe away! Happy Thanksgiving!
Awwww thanks so much Angie!!
You are incredibly talented and having Dozer – Mr. Personality – Is a plus. I look forward to your recipes and and in reading about Dozer’s adventures.
Thank you SO much Toni 🙂
Nagi,
I’ve always been a very timid cook and I was always too scared to cook for others. Your recipes, videos, and website have changed all that. I appreciate how detailed you are and all the great notes at the end of each recipe. Your recipes are so accessible and tasty too! I am so grateful for you and helping me become a confident cook. Much love to you, your family, and of course, handsome Dozer! Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Hi Nagi and Dozer! I don’t need help today, thank goodness, but I wanted to tell you how grateful I am to have your recipes and tips available online. Your site has become my number one go-to, and several of your recipes are in regular rotation for family meals. Thank you!💖
Thanks for your site and the fabulous recipes, Nagi- I have quite a few that have become go-tos and found myself sharing your site and recipes with three different people this week.
Four, if you count sharing pictures of Dozer.
You’re so welcome!! Thanks so much Kristy 🙂
I’m making a creamed kale recipe and it calls for 3 cups of whipping cream. Store had run out so I got half & half. Do I have to adapt the recipe to accommodate this change? Or will it work at all?
Hi April! It will work but be a bit short on richness and sauce thickens. Here’s what I would do: Add 1 tbsp melted butter (for the richness) and also add cornstarch as follows: Mix 2.5 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp of the half and half. Once fully dissolved, mix that in with the rest of the half & half. Then use that as the cream in the recipe. As that mixture gets heated up, it will thicken so you get a consistency like cream, and the smidge of extra butter will provide that palette of richness you get in cream. Hope that helps! N x
Happy thanksgiving to you and beautiful dozer I love every recipe you dish up sooo delish and I love seeing dozer in every recipe you are doing such a good job 🙏 ❤️💐🥰
Thanks so much Carol, I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
As I also come from Australia and do not celebrate Thanksgiving – may I wish each and every American reader of Nagi’s a happy, peaceful and fun Thanksgiving period ! To me her ‘How to plan menus’ is a very, very useful lesson for the day 🙂 !
That’s lovely Eha – N x
While I’m reflecting on our upcoming holiday, I want to pause to tell you how thankful I am to have run across your site. I’m especially happy to be planning on making your savory sweet potato casserole for my family this year—NO MARSHMALLOWS!
Thank you so so much Peggy, that’s so lovely to hear!!
Happy Thanksgiving I love all your recipes and I just Love Dozer. You do a great Job!
Thanks so much Debra, Happy Thanksgiving to you!!
I did not know you existed until now and I am so glad I stumbled across you. on face/book, you have so many all sorts of recipes and they all look Delicious. [seeing the pictures] and tasty I made a couple of dishes the other night after joining up and I was so surprised how easy and cheap they were to do my partner and of course myself thoroughly enjoyed both of the dishes and I am looking forward to doing more of what you have to offer. I wish you and your gorgeous boy [dozer] a very happy Thanksgiving. take care I am from south Australia [very hot here]. catch up with you soon Trish.
Hello Trish from South Australia! Is it as hot down there as it is up in Sydney at the moment?? 🙂 Thank you for your lovely messages! I’m glad you enjoyed them – N xx