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
Sandie says
Hay Nagi, just wanted to say after 40 years, I have now learned to cook!
Instead of buying frozen food and throwing in the oven, I now cook from fresh. Everything comes out perfect and tastes delicious and it’s all down to you, so thank you so so much!
I’m loving the fact we can save our favouries ♥ it will make it so much easier to find.
Have you given any thoughts to an app?
Genuine thanks for your brilliant recipes, super easy intructions…..and don’t ever stop the videos, you’re a legend ♥♥♥ Love to you all Nagi xxx
Nagi says
Hi Sandie – I absolutely love hearing that! It’s never too late! 🙂 I’m glad you are enjoying the new feature. And yes absolutely, an app has been on my mind too! N xx
Rachel Keyte says
LOVE being able to favourite everything! And love being able to search from anywhere on the page.
And yes, I will quite often hit the ‘Dozer’ button before going back up to look at the recipe 😂
Nagi says
You KNOW I love hearing that!!! 😂 N x
Cherie Swatek Fedder says
Thank you Nagi for all the fabulous recipes through out the year. Yours is my favorite site! Follow you daily. Happiest Thanksgiving to you and yours, and sweet Dozer
Nagi says
Happy Thanksgiving to you too Cherie! N xx
Maddy O'Shea says
Oh Nagi, this is now even a more awesome site!!
Just loving the new filing system.
Thank you so much x
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Maddy! N x
Sarah Owen says
I am grateful for you and Dozer!!!🦮
Happy Thanksgiving !!!🦃
PS.
Now I don’t have to save my faves to my Pocket app!!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you like the feature Sarah! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! N xx
Mary says
Being able to save your recipes will be helpful to your readers.
I have a file set up where I save all of your recipes and I have another file where I save recipes I want to try ASAP. But I will be able to have another option now.
Always improvements with technological advances.
Did I see a bandaged foot peeking out under the curtain where Dozer was ‘hiding’?
Nagi says
You did Mary! I didn’t want to dampen the festive Thanksgiving mood with the latest story update last night, I was going to share it on Monday. We had a late night run to the emergency vet on Thursday night because Dozer got hooked with a fish hook (naughty fishermen at the dog beach). It got buried so deep into this shoulder muscle, only the tiny hole at the end was sticking out so I didn’t even see it until later that evening when there was blood coming out the hole, all the blood was pooling INSIDE him as he was running around like a loon with the fish hook buried inside, jiggling around as he was trotting about. Nobody understands how he was still behaving normally, eating all his food, munching through his daily bone, jumping in and out of the car. Anyway! Long story short, the hook was removed, he’s all good, not enjoying having to stay quiet for a few days and his FOOT had to be bandaged because he kept scratching at the wound!!! I couldn’t find his sock 😂 Thank you for caring Mary! I will share the story and photos on Monday – but just know he is all good! N xx
Nancy says
Love the ability to save recipes – it will save a lot of hard drive space and keystrokes! Is there a possibility of adding categories to organize our recipes in the near future?
Nagi says
Great minds think alike Nancy! That’s at the top of my list for enhancements 🙂 Thank you for sharing that idea, it’s exactly what I need so I know what to prioritise for enhancements! N x
alimak says
I noticed the new features yesterday morning and was so excited – had wished for ages there was a feature to save my favourites – thanks Nagi, this is primo!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Dozer and your family
x
Nagi says
I wish it had been there for ages too!!! It’s something I’ve wanted for years now 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy it – and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too! N xx
Eunice says
Hi Nagi, thank you so much for the new features. It’s so convenient. I can see myself saving hundreds of recipes. I don’t usually follow any particular food bloggers, YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE I FOLLOW because I love all your recipes! Since I can see myself saving so many recipes, is there a way to organize them by categories, such as a folder for meats, veggies, desserts, etc. ? I’m so grateful for you and everything you do! You are amazing. I hope you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving! ♥
Nagi says
Hi Eunice! We’re on the same page there, that’s right at the top of my wish list 🙂 The new save feature will continue to be enhanced, that’s for sure! Thank you for the feedback, it’s exactly what I need to help me decide next steps. N xx
Eunice says
Thank you so much! You think of everything and have all the bases covered! Just like Dozer, we are so blessed by you! ♥
Nagi says
😘 N xx
shirley says
LOVE the save feature! You answered my Thanksgiving prayer !!
Thank you for making cooking fun, easy and interesting.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Shirley! The enthusiasm from readers like you is what makes me love what I do so much! N xx
Taz says
Love the revamped website! The search button and yes! The favourites button! Although ..I managed to save 120 favs already…it would have been faster to just omit ones that were not my faves! ( there aren’t many!)
Nagi says
Ba ha ha! I LOVE hearing that 🙂 I have visions of being able to organise your saved recipes into different folders, wouldn’t that be cool?? N xx
Nildy says
I love receiving your email updates and pics of you and Dozer! Always puts a smile on my face.
Your revamped website is awesome! The Save and search buttons are very useful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nagi says
Thank you Nildy! I’m so glad you find them useful. Happy Thanksgiving to you too! N xx
Donna says
OMG … your revamped Thanksgiving menu is da bomb. Thank you for making this so easy for us. And I love the save recipe feature. Happy Thanksgiving Nagi … I am grateful for you!
Nagi says
Thank you Donna! I’m so glad you find it easier to use, it’s been on my To Do list all year, and FINALLY I’ve done it! N x
Roslyn NORRISH says
Great ideas for this particular person always skips and goes straight to Dozer.
Nagi says
Oh believe me, I had people JUST like you in mind Roslyn! 😂😂😂 N xx
Roslyn NORRISH says
Heaven help you if you run out of photos!!! I’ll stop cooking!!!
ALLISON ROMANG says
Some day when I have own house, I’m going to make one of your fabulous turkeys! I have already made some of the fabulous sides! Glazed carrots and smashed potatoes! thanks from the USA!
Nagi says
And it’s going be AMAZING when you do!! Hosting parties is so much fun. I sort of set myself a challenge every time to see how organised I can be and how little effort I can put in for an impressive spread! 😂 N xx
Karen Bowman says
Brilliant! I’ve been cooking turkey and fixins’ for decades. And yet, I always learn something wonderfully useful on your site. Just when I thought my ‘go to’ recipe site was the best, you make it better!
Nagi, I am thankful for YOU!!!
Nagi says
Oh shucks! You’re making my head big Karen, stop! 😂 N xx
Karen says
Oh shucks.. you’re making my hips big, my thighs, not to mention my belly….👩🏼🍳
Nagi says
Ha! I bet my girth expansion is considerably more than yours….
sima says
Hi:
I made used your dry brine recipe , cranberry sauce, corn casserole and spinach salad with strawberry for my thanksgiving celebration and all were a hit…. Thanks so much and looking forward to new recipes .. you are my ultimate place too look for a recipes… thanks and GOD Bless you.
Nagi Maehashi says
Woah you went all out Sima! I’m so glad they were a hit!
Vanessa says
Can I save my turkey ! I didn’t realize it was pre brined . I’ve done the dry brined as recipe ! . I don’t want a salty turkey !! Help me
Nagi says
It’s ok Vanessa! Give it a rinse, especially the inside. Then pat dry all over including inside. Then follow the directions in the box under the recipe card in this recipe that is titled “How to cook pre-brined turkey” https://www.recipetineats.com/genius-easy-juicy-roast-turkey-dry-brined/ The turkey itself should be ok, but the GRAVY will probably be too salty. So do this: When the turkey is done, take it out of the pan and scrape / pour out half the stuff left in the pan and discard it. Then make the gravy using the gravy directions above BUT (this is important) read the notes in this Turkey Gravy recipe about gravy being too salty https://www.recipetineats.com/turkey-gravy/ The note has a tip for what to do if your gravy is too salty (but by discarding half the pan drippings, you should be ok). N x
Tammy says
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the great recipes and inspiration. Hope you and Dozer have a terrific holiday! Oh, love the picture of you two!
Sharon says
Hi, I am going to do the roast garlic butter turkey breast but I could only get a turkey buff. It weighs a total of 2.8kg so I am assuming the cook time will be fairly similar but I will check with a meat thermometer. Is there any thing else I should be aware of that might make a difference to your recipe if I am using a turkey buff? Thanks in advance
Nagi says
Hi Sharon! Nope, follow the recipe as is 🙂 I’ve made it multiple times with buff/crown and it’s just as amazing. Oh wait – just thought of one thing – the Bouffe sits higher so lower the shelf slightly so it’s sitting in the middle of the oven. Hope that makes sense! N x