As the date for Thanksgiving quickly approaches, you may be wondering what to have on your menu. Here are 6 Thanksgiving dinner ideas that will make your holiday special and memorable.
Cranberry sauce with orange zest
Cranberry sauce is a traditional Thanksgiving side dish. The tart, sweet cranberries are the perfect contrast to the rich turkey and mashed potatoes.
This recipe has orange zest which adds a little something extra to this classic! Here’s how you make it: 1/2 pound fresh cranberries, 1 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch or tapioca starch (or arrowroot), 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon grated orange peel, and 4 cups water.
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat until thickened (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool before serving!
Cornbread dressing
Dressing is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving dinner. It’s also super easy to make, and this cornbread dressing recipe just might be your new favorite.
This dish is great for anyone who doesn’t like stuffing or prefers a heartier side dish. Want to know how to get the perfect crispy topping? Follow these four steps!
1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
2) Combine bread cubes with melted butter, chopped onion, celery leaves, parsley flakes, and salt in a large bowl; toss until well blended
3) Transfer mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet in an even layer
4) Bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp at edges 5) Remove from oven and top with chicken broth before
Mushroom gravy
Mushroom gravy is a versatile and hearty sauce that can be used as a topping for many dishes, including mashed potatoes, noodles, and meatloaf. It’s easy to make and delicious!
The recipe starts with chopped onions sauteed in olive oil until they are soft. Then add the mushrooms and cook them until they release their juices.
Next, add flour to thicken the sauce, salt, pepper, chicken broth, or vegetable stock to give it flavor (or use water), and then mix everything together.
You can finish this dish by stirring in fresh parsley before serving it over your favorite food item!
Maple roasted turkey thighs
Maple roasted turkey is a festive, but simple dish for the holidays. The maple syrup adds a sweet and savory flavor to the meat that makes this an excellent addition to your holiday menu. It’s also easy enough to cook just about any time of year!
This recipe requires no marinating or complicated prep work- you simply roast it in a pan with some oil until it reaches 155 degrees Fahrenheit then let it rest for 10 minutes before carving into slices.
And while we’re on the topic of simplicity, there are only four ingredients needed: whole butter, pure maple syrup, salt, and pepper!
To make this recipe even easier (and cheaper) you can use leftover or rotisserie chicken instead of cooking one from scratch.
Sweet Potato Casserole
This recipe is perfect for your Thanksgiving table, and it’s a cinch to make. All you need is sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. To get started peel and cube the sweet potatoes (about 3 cups).
Mix in the rest of the ingredients until well blended. Top with Marshmallows – this is a must! Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top. Enjoy!
Apple Crisps
Apple crisp is a delicious and easy dessert that can be made with any type of apple or combination of apples.
This recipe calls for the following: 1 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons butter, 4 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 8 medium), and ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
The ingredients are combined in a 9×13 inch baking dish then baked at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve this warm with ice cream and enjoy!
Hopefully, these thanksgiving dinner ideas have given you some inspiration. It’s important to remember that there is no one right way to celebrate Thanksgiving and everyone has their own traditions, but this list should give you a few new ideas if your usual menu isn’t cutting it anymore!
Happy turkey day!
