Whether this is your first Thanksgiving or you are a Thanksgiving veteran, this guide to cooking Thanksgiving from start to finish will be a great resource for your whole meal. These are recipes that I have been using for years for my own Thanksgiving table, and I hope that you enjoy these recipes as much as my family and I have enjoyed them.
Now I know that my blog typically focuses on healthy recipes, but you’ll see here that I don’t cut corners when it comes to butter, cream, or indulgence during the holidays. I personally believe that the healthiest thing you can do during the holidays is enjoying your family, friends, and meals without counting calories or points.
How to cook a Thanksgiving Turkey from start to finish
Turkey is the centerpiece for Thanksgiving. You can overcook the stuffing, you can drop a pie, and you can even burn your crescent rolls, but serving a dry Thanksgiving turkey? In 2020? The year's been hard enough. Let's do this right.
The Thanksgiving Turkey
This series of recipes will guide you through the prep work and roasting of a beautiful Thanksgiving Turkey that your whole family will love.
The Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
This turkey has all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving, but it is revamped to make it so flavorful and moist. Some people tend to go a little experimental with holidays, but I like to keep with the classic flavors that remind me of family.
Make Ahead Turkey Stock for Thanksgiving
Nothing is more important than make-ahead turkey stock for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Turkey Citrus Herb Dry Brine
This Citrus Herb Dry Brine is my favorite dry brine to use for a classic Thanksgiving flavor for my family's turkey.
How to Make Gravy from Turkey Pan Drippings
My method uses the fat and pan drippings to make the silkiest, tastiest, most luscious gravy you can serve.
Thanksgiving side dishes guide
While I love Thanksgiving Turkey, I live for the sides. As you may know, this is predominantly a healthy food blog. I eat turkey all the time. I don't however, eat mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, or stuffing. Thanksgiving has the best side dishes. Below you can find the recipes to what I'm serving this Thanksgiving and a few healthy Thanksgiving recipes already on my blog.
Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Simple Roasted Green Beans
These simple roasted green beans are my go-to vegetable year-round because they are done in about 15 minutes and they are super tasty.
Sausage Cornbread Dressing
Unlike the often untouched stuffing questionably cooked in the turkey growing up, this sausage cornbread dressing is packed with flavor and texture--it’s the dressing your family will be fighting over instead of politely taking a scoop of but not eating.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Roasted butternut squash soup is a delicious, low-point soup that is easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy night in with family; everything roasts on a sheet pan and blends together using a regular blender or immersion blender.
Roasted Honeynut Squash with Tahini Maple Dressing
I'm going to show you how to roast a honeynut squash, and how to dress it up to make it really shine.
Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes
The Best Classic Stuffing Recipe
What makes this the best classic stuffing recipe is using fresh herbs and a ton of butter. Ditch the stale poultry seasoning this year, please.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Make-Ahead
It's a simple way to upgrade and elevate a menu item on your Thanksgiving table. If you've never made homemade cranberry sauce form scratch, it is way more flavorful satisfying than the old can-shaped jelly mold.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
They are sweet, caramelized, and have such a rich flavor. I start mine on the stove and finish in the oven during the last half hour of Thanksgiving cooking to develop its deep color and richness.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
My secret to getting the perfect texture of creamy mashed potatoes involves using a mix of potatoes and full fat cream and butter. Of all the places to cut calories, mashed potatoes is not one of them. Live a little and enjoy the real deal creamy mashed potatoes.
Thanksgiving E-Book
Want a full, downloadable e-book covering all of this and more? I wanted to create an ebook that you can download, save, and pull up from your own devices during your own Thanksgiving planning and cooking. I didn't want to charge any money for it as a thank you for all your support on here. Because of you, I have been able to afford to take time off from work while staying home with my children during online learning this year.
In lieu of payment, I did open up a Toy Drive Registry at Tildie's Toy Box, a local and independently owned toy store in Philadelphia. It is not required, but a donation is appreciated. While I have the privilege and choice to stay home with my children, not many people can say the same. This pandemic has left so many without jobs or extra money this holiday season, I wanted to use this opportunity to help out in some way.
If you download my book, you are not obligated to donate, but it is greatly appreciated. Not only will you be helping out a local small business in Philadelphia, but you will be helping a family in need. While you are there, you should also check out Tildie's Toy Box--it's the girls' favorite store in Philadelphia.
