The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun! This year, don't stress out. Everything you need for the big feast is on this list. And all of these recipes have been tested and perfected, so you can rest easy that your Thanksgiving dinner will be a delicious success.
Ever since I started hosting Thanksgiving dinner ten years ago, I have been on a quest to make the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. I've brined it, deep fried it, marinated it, injected it, buttered it, dry-rubbed it, butterflied it and stuffed it. And you know what? None of it made much difference! My advice to you on Thanksgiving is to keep it simple. Make a basic roast turkey along with an over-the-top delicious gravy and some cranberry sauce to go with it. GET THE RECIPE
In this velvety soup, pumpkin is simmered with leeks, apples, maple syrup and herbs. Instead of typical autumn spices, cumin and cayenne pepper lend a smoky, spicy flavor. GET THE RECIPE
Rich and buttery with a fluffy interior and golden crust, these biscuits can be made ahead of time and frozen so all that's left to do on Turkey day is pop them in the oven. GET THE RECIPE
This easy sausage and herb stuffing relies on store bought stuffing cubes, which eliminates the step of slicing and drying out the bread. (Believe me, when you're using a pound of sausage and an entire stick of butter, the bread does not matter much!) The stuffing can be made in advance and reheated on Thanksgiving day. GET THE RECIPE
This dish involves layering thinly sliced potatoes with heavy cream and grated cheese, and then baking until the cream reduces and blankets the potatoes in a rich, creamy sauce. Definitely special occasion-worthy! GET THE RECIPE
This rustic version of mashed potatoes is easy to make: Simply boil a few pounds of baby red potatoes, smash them with a fork, and then mix them with butter, Parmesan cheese and seasonings. GET THE RECIPE
These crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are a firm family favorite. It's hard to resist eating the entire pan right out of the oven! GET THE RECIPE
You can't have a Thanksgiving feast without a sweet potato casserole. Skip the marshmallow topping and make this version with a pecan streusel. GET THE RECIPE
Roasted green beans are tender, caramelized and full of flavor. Here, dried cranberries and walnuts dress them up, making a perfect side dish for the holidays. GET THE RECIPE
Homemade pumpkin pie can be tricky. Through the years, I've tested over a dozen recipes and each one was plagued with either a filling that wouldn't set properly, a massive crack down the center, or an under-cooked crust. But this one comes out perfect every time. GET THE RECIPE
This old-fashioned dessert of warm baked apples and tart scarlet cranberries with a crunchy oat streusel topping comes from Rustic Fruit Desserts by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson, a small and unassuming little cookbook full of yummy treasures. GET THE RECIPE
This is the perfect apple pie! Sure, it may take a little effort to make but you're guaranteed a crisp and flaky crust with a syrupy, cider-flavored filling every time. GET THE RECIPE