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
MARSHA HERRICK says
I use your great recipes all the time thanks for the turkey one, I am going to use the recipe this year…
Love all the pics of Dozer I love dogs and want one but my lifestyle doesn’t allow me to do that at this time.
You 2 have a safe a peaceful holiday.
Marsha
Nagi says
Maybe Santa will bring you a teeny tiny one this year….?? 😈
Gwen says
Nagi, you are too awesome for words!! I will be definitely be trying some of these recipes and making a cooking timeline.
Thanks for all you do. And for the pictures of Dozer!
Gwen
Nagi says
I’m so glad you find this helpful Gwen!!! Happy Thanksgiving! N x
Charlie says
Nice line up Nagi! Thank you.
I grabbed a few of the recipes.
I believe I’ll incorporate them into my traditional Christmas menu.
Just to note. America doesn’t have Thanksgiving in November, only the U.S., Canada has Thanksgiving in October.
We don’t like it to overshadow Christmas.
Nagi says
I keep forgetting about Canadian Thanksgiving!!! I promise to mark it in my calendar for next year!! N xx
Myfwanway says
Thanks Nagi,!! I don’t mean to be a pest but I love using your recipes and unfortunately with a memory like a sieve, I need the prompting of seeing the Thanksgiving recipes to pop up to remember to use them.
Nagi says
No need to apologise! Happy to help 🙂 N x
Charlie says
Thank you Nagi!
Nagi:
I wasn’t trying to pressure you.
So many people think that North America is just the States. I was just pointing out that we are here too.
We are probably smaller and certainly more unassuming and not aggressive, but important non the less.
Also I am a stickler for the details.
It’ like saying Asia is made up of China and Japan…………
It is like I said, I like your recipes and am going to incorporate some into our traditional Christmas ones. They look so good.
Keep up the great work you do, you are in my prayers.
Nagi says
I for one definitely never forget that! Speaking honestly, my largest readership is in America… then Australia, then CANADA! Really 🙂 So believe me, I never forget about Canada! (Except Thanksgiving every year… 😂)
Charlie says
It is forgivable you know.
You have such a huge readership.
It is like I say, I just incorporate into the next holiday.
Barb says
Canada is part of the continent of North America, however the term “America” references the USA! I worked for a large global corporation for many years and never heard anyone in the world refer to Canada as America. Thanksgiving originated in the USA!
Charlie says
It doesn’t matter where it began. We also celebrate it.
We also live in North America and are proud to be Canadian.
Nagi says
❤️ N xx
Diana says
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Dozer too. Your blog is my favorite! You are joyful and you spread positivity. I am in my late 60’s, have been cooking since a child. Your recipes are logical and easy. Thanks so much for being you!!
Nagi says
Happy Thanksgiving to you too Diana!! Thank you for the compliment about my recipes, I’m glad you enjoy them! And I bet YOU have plenty of amazing recipes yourself! N x
Myfwanway says
Like I said last year, this would have been really useful over a month ago. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October so all these lovely recipes come far too late to be of benefit for Canadians.
Nagi says
Sorry sorry!! I promise to remember for next year! 🙂 N xx
Sharon says
Could you not just visit a Canadian Thanksgiving recipe website? Nagi is an Aussie and does not even celebrate Thanksgiving so please give her a break. Thank you.
Leah says
On the bright side, many of these Thanksgivng recipes have been here since last year, so we Canadians have always been able to access them in time for our feast.
Realistically, these recipes labeled “Thanksgiving” are also easily labeled “Christmas” so look at it this way…some recipes may be a bit late for “our” thanksgiving, but they’re ALL early for Christmas! In any event, I count myself lucky to have someone going to all the work to create, then share these wonderful dishes with us – and no other site I’ve found puts as much care and attention to detail as Nagi does.
In the end, it’s not about Canadian vs American holiday timing, it’s about the genuine giving spirit behind this site. Be thankful for that.
Charlie says
Yes!
Nagi says
Oh – and thank you for the sweet message! I’m so glad you enjoy my recipes Leah!! N xx ❤️
Nagi says
That’s so true Leah! Other than Corn Casserole, everything I’ve shared is just as at home on an Aussie Christmas table as it is an American Thanksgiving. That’s why I’m so in love with all these recipes!! I feel like I get to celebrate Christmas twice!!