Elevate your Thanksgiving meal this year with these modern takes on classic holiday dishes.
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Turkey
Pickle-brine turkey: Pickles are having a moment this year, inspiring all sorts of fun new recipes. Brining a turkey in pickle juice infuses that tangy, salty, dilly goodness right into the main feast. We also stuff the bird with pickle spears to take it to the next level. Bonus: Brining a turkey tenderizes the meat while adding moisture.
Cranberry-maple-glazed turkey: A few humble ingredients transform this turkey into a tasty main course your guests will rave about. I love cooking fruit with salty meat because its sweetness brings out unexpected flavors. Onions, oranges and bay leaves add flavor from the inside out as they bake in the cavity, and a maple-cranberry glaze covers the outside, caramelizing on the skin.
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Gravy
Miso gravy: Honestly, I’ve always found meat-based Thanksgiving gravy recipes a bit ho-hum. The good news? This vegan gravy made with miso paste is anything but. Miso’s umami depth lends a rich, layered flavor that even the meat-eaters will love. Spend 20 minutes whipping it up the day before Thanksgiving, store it in the fridge and reheat just before serving.
Mushroom gravy: Cremini and porcini mushrooms band together to create the ultimate savory, woodsy and earthy gravy. It’ll be a knockout on everything from the turkey to the green bean casserole and the dinner rolls. This 30-minute recipe is a real upgrade from store-bought gravy, and you might want to make a double batch to ensure you’ll have enough for leftover gravy recipes.
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Mashed Potatoes
Smoky garlic mashed potatoes: There are mashed potatoes, and then there are mashed potatoes pureed with roasted garlic, nutty Gouda, smoked paprika and fresh chives. These thoughtful, bold ingredients transform a classic side dish into something completely elevated and much more memorable.
Truffle mashed potatoes: Truffles make everything better, especially creamy dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and Parmesan risotto. Here, they work their magic on the quintessential Thanksgiving buttery mashed potatoes. Just a little bit of good truffle oil will add a funky, earthy, nutty aroma. Truffles alone come with a hefty price tag, but truffle oil is a much more economical way to bring this luxurious ingredient to your Thanksgiving table.
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Sweet Potatoes
Hot honey sweet potatoes: This recipe proves that easy dishes can still be full-flavored. Our homemade hot honey is sweet, tart and spicy. It perfectly coats cubed sweet potatoes, which roast until they’re nice and crisp. This dish is lacquered with caramelized sweetness and peppered with heat and tang.
Scalloped sweet potatoes: It really doesn’t get more extravagant than thinly sliced sweet potatoes fanned out in a pan and baked in a cheesy sauce until golden brown and bubbling. The homemade sauce is made with a blend of Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, along with a touch of cayenne and cinnamon. It’s warm, comforting, well-balanced and completely indulgent.
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Green Beans
Beer-cheese green bean casserole: Zhuzhing up a typical recipe can be as easy as swapping a few ingredients. Here, we’ve upgraded the classic green bean casserole by making a homemade sauce with a roux and lager beer for complexity and depth. Then, we add freshly shredded cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce to incorporate savory, umami flavors.
Green beans with creamy pistachio sauce: Pistachios have been all the rage this year! Known for their nutty, rich flavor, they’re a decadent nut that pairs exceptionally well with green beans. This is the ideal dish if you’re looking for something slightly lighter and healthier than green bean casserole but still want to indulge in richness.
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Stuffing
Everything bagel stuffing: If you’re nervous about changing your traditional Thanksgiving recipes, I recommend making this everything bagel stuffing. The seasoning blend is a mix of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, onion flakes and salt—hardly a departure from typical Thanksgiving flavors. Still, swapping in everything bagels for French bread definitely elevates Thanksgiving stuffing, and sprinkling the dish with a crispy topping gives it the perfect finish.
Wild rice stuffing: With its toasty flavor and chewy texture, wild rice is a welcome addition to Thanksgiving stuffing. Using it instead of bread makes this dish a little lighter and healthier (but just as flavorful and filling).
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Cranberry Sauce
Aperol spritz cranberry sauce: If there’s one cocktail that’s dominated our feeds over the past few years, it’s the Aperol Spritz. After using cranberries to make a holiday Aperol spritz, we decided to infuse Aperol’s orange, vanilla and floral notes into a sweet-tart cranberry sauce. Even if your family isn’t usually a fan of cranberries, this elevated version will change minds.
Vanilla cranberry sauce: Transform an ordinary cranberry sauce into something a little more sophisticated by adding a splash of rum and high-quality vanilla extract. These ingredients make it slightly warmer and sweeter than usual, but it’s still plenty tart and bright thanks to fresh cranberries and orange zest.
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Dinner Rolls
Pumpkin-shaped rolls: They may look bakery-worthy, but these pumpkin-shaped rolls are surprisingly easy to make. You just need a little kitchen twine to create the shape and a twisted pretzel for the stem. We use real pumpkin puree to create the orange hue and a complementary blend of fresh herbs, spices and shredded cheddar cheese to give them a savory taste. They’re such a whimsical addition to the Thanksgiving table, and they’re so cute that they even double as table decor!
Homemade garlic knots: Can anyone resist freshly baked bread smothered in garlic butter and Parmesan cheese? I think not! These garlicky knots are full of familiar flavors but are still a step above the average dinner roll. Feel free to try different cheeses like Asiago or Grana Padano, or brush the dough with pesto before baking for a colorful twist.
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Butter
Cranberry butter: You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well this sweet-flavored butter pairs with all the savory Thanksgiving sides, including the rolls and even the prized turkey. But it makes sense considering that honey, cranberries and orange zest pair well with cozy, comforting, rich dishes.
Garlic chive butter: Parmesan cheese, fresh chives and raw garlic are simple ingredients that elevate table butter. The savory, herbaceous and pungent flavors create a rich, aromatic blend. I often find raw garlic a bit too sharp, so I like to roast it first to soften the flavor a bit.
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Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin cheesecake pie: Part pie, part cheesecake and all delicious, this pumpkin-y dessert is an elevated version of a classic pumpkin pie. Warmly spiced gingersnap cookies create the crust that holds the autumnal, decadent cheesecake-pie filling. I love serving slices with an espresso whipped cream for a pumpkin spice latte vibe.
Pumpkin tiramisu: Tiramisu is an Italian classic, but new, modern spins give the dessert new life. Here, we give it a fall character by making pumpkin ladyfingers from scratch. Then, we soak them in rum and layer them with sweetened cream cheese and a fall-spiced pumpkin filling.
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Pecan Pie
Pecan pie brownies: This unexpected fall dessert features warm, sugary pecan pie filling on top of a batch of decadent, chocolatey brownies. If you’re not much of a baker, these brownies might be right up your alley: They’re simple to make and much easier than a pecan pie.
Pecan pie cheesecake: In my experience, it’s always nice to include a cheesecake when putting together a Thanksgiving dessert table. This version is a luxurious alternative to the traditional pecan pie. The brown sugar-cinnamon cheesecake complements the matching flavors found in the buttery pecan topping.
