Thanksgiving is the greatest eating day of the year, hands down. It’s all about cooking, eating, sharing, and enjoying, as well as reminiscing on family memories and recipes, and savoring some tastes we only get once a year.
This year, make your feast extra memorable by sprucing up a classic course or two with a new dish or technique that’s destined to become a Thanksgiving staple at your annual turkey day feast. Here’s what to cook if you’re looking to serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a modern twist.
Victor Protasio
Baked Brie With Bourbon Apples
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
Looking for something snacky to tide people over before the big feast? This ooey-gooey combo of brie, apples, and bourbon—with a crunch of pistachios—makes a perfect nosh pre-feast.
Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Caitlin Bensel
Kick off your feast with some of fall’s greatest flavors, and a nice preview of the turkey-based feast to come. This healthy chili can be served in ramekins or even homemade bread bowls (hollow out a sourdough roll) to keep portions on the smaller side and stomachs ready for the main feast.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Heami Lee
Salad is certainly an important component of a Thanksgiving feast, even if prior generations didn’t consider it essential. This shredded Brussels salad melds the flavors of Thanksgiving with a tangy dressing, plus sharp cheese for a well-balanced dish.
Butternut Squash Soup With Sage
Jim Franco
This creamy soup can be prepped in advance, and served out of a slow cooker to keep it warm as guests trickle in. Use mugs, shot glasses, or soup bowls to serve this course.
Curried Cauliflower Soup
Jennifer Causey
Add a little spice to your first course with this crowd-pleasing soup. Garnish with fresh herbs for a pop of color.
Smoky Maple Turkey
Victor Protasio
Add a bit of smokiness and sweetness to your traditional Thanksgiving turkey. This recipe lets you cook the turkey in advance for a stress-free Thanksgiving Day, and then reheat it on lettuce to keep all the meat moist.
Basic Roast Turkey
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Sometimes, you shouldn’t mess with the classics. This simple recipe for roast turkey will give you a delicious, moist, and flavorful bird.
Smoked Turkey
Getty Images
Save room in the oven by resorting to an outdoor smoker to cook your Thanksgiving bird. This spatchcocking and dry rub technique can also work for grilled turkey, and can save so much kitchen space.
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Victor Protasio
Ensure the consistency of your mashed potatoes is just as creamy as you’ve fantasized about all year by making them a day ahead of time. Re-warming them with warm half-and-half gets the creaminess perfect and makes Thanksgiving Day a bit easier.
Easy, Make-Ahead Shallot Gravy
Greg Dupree
One of the best things about this make-ahead gravy is that you don’t have to wait till the turkey’s done to make it. Turkey drippings are optional since it has all the flavor it will need to be a rockstar on the table without it: think shallots, sage, thyme, chicken broth, and soy sauce.
Sausage Sage Stuffing
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis, Food Stylist: Chealsea Zimmer
Sausage and fresh herbs infuse this classic stuffing recipe with plenty of flavor. And it’s a make-ahead dish so you can simply reheat on the big day.
Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George’s Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Dolly’s classic sweet potato casserole recipe features that tasty marshmallow topping to add a touch of extra sweetness to the wholesomeness of sweet potatoes.
Creamed Spinach Casserole
Christopher Testani
The secret to this easy spinach casserole? Using Boursin (AKA herbed soft cheese) makes it a quick-to-assemble side dish for Thanksgiving.
Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese
Caitlin Bensel
Add a little extra veggie boost to a standard Thanksgiving side with this dish. Creamy, cheesy pasta gets a tweak with swiss chard, and a touch of red pepper for an extra kick of spice.
Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette
Toss the green beans with a warm dressing of softened shallots, cider vinegar, and crisp bacon. Get the recipe.
Gentl & Hyers
Switch up the classic casserole with this traditional-feeling green bean recipe that adds a welcome bacon-y twist. A house that smells like Thanksgiving plus bacon is a very nice place to be.
Bourbon Cranberry Compote
Gentl & Hyers
Elevate classic canned cranberry sauce with this easy-to-make cranberry compote that feels very sophisticated. It’s great cold or at room temperature, and is also delicious on its own.
Cranberry Ricotta Cake
Greg DuPree
Go for a creamier, tarter dessert that will round out an excellent meal. This cake is light and buttery, and goes well with ice cream or even a scoop of Greek yogurt the next morning.
Sweet Potato Pie
qSang An
Brown sugar, honey, and orange juice add just the right amount of depth and sweetness to this traditional Thanksgiving pie. Pre-made pie crust is also a totally acceptable shortcut here.
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Is it really Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? We don’t think so. This tasty variation features another fall-favorite flavor—maple syrup—for a fresh twist on the classic.
Old-Fashioned Apple Pie
If pumpkin isn’t your vibe, swap in another classic—all American apple pie. If you want to be a little bit extra, shred cheddar cheese on top of the crust near the end of the baking for a savory touch that’ll take your pie over the top.