So, I sorted through my blog and curated 35 Recipes for Thanksgiving Day just for you! All tried-and-true and delicious! Believe me – I’ve eaten every single one of these recipes for Thanksgiving Day once or twice (well, if I’m going to be truly honest with you, I’ve eaten a few of these recipes at least 50+ times).
I enjoy doing round-up posts because I’m forced to go back through my blog and see how much this blog has grown. And, how much I have grown as both a blogger and a photographer. And, while I still have much to learn about both (blogging and photography), looking back through these old posts is highly motivating to me.
So, pardon some of the old iPhone photos, but click on any of the links provided below for each of these 35 Recipes for Thanksgiving Day.
Appetizer Recipes for Thanksgiving Day
Recipe #1 – Dorothy’s Stuffed Mushrooms
My maternal grandmother, Dorothy, was not a great cook. But, the few things that she liked to make, she made well. This is still, to this day, my preferred way to eat mushrooms. Cheesy and delicious, Dorothy’s Stuffed Mushrooms can be made ahead of time and reheated.
Recipe #2 – Lorraine’s Hot Chicken Enchilada Dip
This is my friend, Lorraine’s, recipe. It is truly delicious and cheesy. Surprisingly, it’s made with canned chicken. Don’t let that scare you off – you make this dip and there won’t be any left! Lorraine’s Hot Chicken Enchilada Dip drives a lot of traffic to my blog from Pinterest!
Recipe #3 – Velvety Mushroom Crab Dip
I created this recipe 20+ years ago. It’s easy, with just a few ingredients and is served hot. Not sure exactly when your Thanksgiving dinner will be on your table? Velvety Mushroom Crab Dip will keep your guests happy.
Recipe #4 – Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Another recipe that will keep those hungry monsters at bay while you finish the last minute Thanksgiving dinner preparations, Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip is served hot, too. Do you see a theme going on here? Hot dips and mushrooms – my favorite!
Recipe #5 – Mushroom Lover’s Risotto Stuffed Mushrooms
These, too, can be made ahead of time and reheated. But, they’re made with a surprise ingredient – a package of frozen mushroom risotto. So, no making risotto, first, from scratch! Making Mushroom Lover’s Risotto Stuffed Mushrooms AND Dorothy’s Stuffed Mushrooms is a little time-consuming because you have to clean and prepare each mushroom. But, because they can be made a few days before you need them and stored in the refrigerator, if you have the time, they are both delicious!
Recipe #6 – Lite Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip
If you want something with less calories, Lite Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip is perfect. And, you don’t miss those extra calories! Served hot, too, this dip can be made the day before and popped in the oven.
Main Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving Day
Recipe #7 – Foil-wrapped Roasted Turkey
I have four turkey recipes on this blog and by far my preferred method is to make this Foil-wrapped Roasted Turkey. That’s because by wrapping it in foil and cooking it at a high temperature, it is done in much less time. Plus it makes a lot of juice, so making lots of gravy isn’t a problem.
Recipe #8 – Butter Basted Roasted Turkey
This is the classic way to make turkey – slather it with butter and roast and baste. Comes out perfect every time!
Recipe #9 – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Turkey
With this turkey recipe, you make an herb butter mixture and slather it under the skin. A delicious alternative to the traditional turkey, plus it smells amazing!
Recipe #10 – Twice Baked Turkey
You don’t really bake this turkey twice – but I did! This recipe includes the Citrusy Apple Cider Brine pictured above and I made it before Thanksgiving so that I could include it on this blog last year in time for Thanksgiving. In the interim (between making the turkey and actually eating the turkey), life interred and my mother wasn’t expected to live. So, Twice Baked Turkey is really a story about last Thanksgiving and the turmoil my family was going through.
I’m happy to report that a year later, my mother is still with us although she is in hospice care. We feel so blessed to have had her with us this past year and even though she remains in hospice, she is happy, pain-free and well-cared for by an amazing staff at the residential care facility for the elderly in which she lives. We give all the credit to this fine establishment and their caregivers for my mother’s turnaround.
Condiment Recipes for Thanksgiving Day
Recipe #11 – Homemade Turkey Gravy
What is turkey without homemade Turkey Gravy? This is classic Turkey Gravy made from the drippings and juices of my Foil-Wrapped Roasted Turkey. Perfect every time!
Recipe #12 – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Turkey Gravy
You guessed it! This is the turkey gravy I made from the pan drippings and juices of my Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Roasted Turkey. Savory and herbie!
Recipe #13 – Sour Apple Cranberry Sauce
Fair warning: if you make cranberry sauce from scratch, your family will not want you to ever buy the canned stuff again. Just saying…(but, it’s really easy to make!).
Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving Day
Recipe #14 – Aunt Barbara’s Cheese Potatoes
Aunt Barbara is my sister-in-law’s aunt. Unfortunately, she passed away a few years ago and I love that I have one of her family’s favorite recipes on this site. Because every time I make it or add the recipe to a blog post, it gives me a minute to think about her, cherish her and remember the lovely person that she was.
Recipe #15 – Baked Sweet Potatoes with Warm Maple Drizzle and Toasted Pecans
This sweet potato recipe is very easy – you just scrub, poke and bake them! Then you make an easy glaze from maple syrup and voila’, done! But, if you are making lots and lots of these in your oven for a crowd, remember to increase your cooking time because if you are roasting 10 or 20 sweet potatoes, it will take longer.
Recipe #16 – Busy Day Vegetable Gratin
This vegetable casserole is easy, too. It’s made with frozen vegetables. A great alternative on a busy Thanksgiving Day.
Recipe #17 – Caramelized Carrots with Balsamic Vinegar and Honey
These are so delicious, but they do take a long time to cook. But, here’s the good news – you don’t have to babysit them. Just give them a stir every once in a while.
Recipe #18 – Classic Creamy Mashed Potatoes
As the name implies, these mashed potatoes are a truly classic recipe swarming in butter!
Recipe #19 – Easy Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
This side dish casserole is also easy and a trade-off from the classic Green Bean Casserole. Super yummy, too!
Recipe #20 – Easy Cornbread Stuffing
This is my family’s favorite stuffing recipe. It’s made with a box of cornbread stuffing mix with add-ins: apples, onions, celery, walnuts.
Recipe #21 – Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole
This is my take on classic Green Bean Casserole – a real crowd-pleaser.
Recipe #22 – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Stuffing
This is an herb version of cornbread stuffing. Of course delicious, just kicked-up with fresh herbs.
Recipe #23 – Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower with Parmesan Cheese
If you are looking for a lighter calorie version to classic mashed potatoes swarming in butter, this recipe is the one to try! It’s delicious and you don’t realize that half of the recipe is cauliflower (an extra nutritional boost) and no butter!
Recipe #24 – Spinach Casserole
This is my family’s favorite side dish vegetable casserole. They love it MORE than Green Bean Casserole. Even the little kids (toddlers, pre-school included) love this recipe. Thanksgiving and Christmas are not the same if we don’t have this casserole on our table!
Recipe #25 – Sweet Potato Casserole
This is a very sweet casserole, so you don’t need to make a big batch! Just a taste will do and it will satisfy the sweet potato lovers in your family.
Recipe #26 – Thyme Roasted Carrots with Toasted Walnuts
This is another lower calorie choice. Carrots are naturally sweet, so it is very delicious and the savory thyme is so aromatic!
Dessert Recipes for Thanksgiving Day
Recipe #27 – Bizzy’s Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Erin’s Mocha Toffee Frosting
I know chocolate cupcakes aren’t a traditional Thanksgiving dessert. But, do you have people in your family that don’t like pumpkin pie? I know – who doesn’t like pumpkin pie! But, mini chocolate cupcakes are always a winner and a great addition along with pumpkin pie.
Recipe #28 – Butterscotch Walnut Square ala Chris
Ditto on these butterscotch squares. Maybe you have family members that don’t like pumpkin pie AND don’t like chocolate (I know – where are they from – Mars?). Anyway, these can be easily made ahead and kept on hand for the detractors. But, you’ll have to hide them from your family if you make them before Thanksgiving because if they find out, there won’t be any left to serve on Thanksgiving!
Recipe #29 – French Silk Chocolate Pie
Okay, this sounds like the perfect combination to me! French Silk Chocolate Pie AND Pumpkin Pie! Why not a slice of each?
Recipe #30 – Gail’s Potato Chip Cookies
These are so delicious – it’s that sweet and salty thing going on! Serve them with your pie…
Recipe #31 – Peach Pineapple Dump Cake
This is the most searched recipe on our site! An oldie but goodie, the combination of peach pie filling with canned crushed pineapple baked into a dump cake – I’m swooning just thinking about it! Isn’t Princess Sweetie Pie adorable in the photo above, helping her mom, Tiffany, make this super easy dessert? She wasn’t yet 3-years-old and now she’s almost 6!
Recipe #32 – Pumpkin Patch Pals Pumpkin Pie
This was a perfect pumpkin pie, made from fresh pumpkin baked in the oven and then pureed. The crust was pre-made though – gotta take shortcuts somewhere!
Recipe #33 – Razzle Dazzle Dump Cake
Don’t like pumpkin pie and tired of apple pie? This dump cake would make a great Thanksgiving dessert!
Recipe #34 – Salted Caramel Icebox Cheesecake
Is it hot where you live and the thought of putting one more thing in the oven is making you cringe? This icebox pie has to be made ahead of time, so you have no choice! Each layer has to freeze before you add the next, but it is easy to make! Did I mention that it is “no bake”?
Recipe #35 – White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Brown Butter Rum Sauce
This recipe is one of those ultimate recipes in the flavor department! Once you make this bread pudding, you won’t want any other bread pudding! But, it is very time-consuming, so you have to plan your time accordingly. You can make it ahead of time, zap each serving in the microwave to warm it and warm the sauce carefully and slowly on the stove top (so it doesn’t curdle). But, it is absolutely to die for. I should have named it Death by White Chocolate Bread Pudding.
There you have it – 35 recipes for Thanksgiving Day that are tried-and-true keepers! Plus, here’s a collage to pin to your Pinterest board so that you can easily come back to this post with the links to all these recipes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tootles,
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