Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and over the years, I’ve done it a lot of different ways.
Thanksgiving
Common Thanksgiving Challenges and the Recipes That Help Solve Them
Perennial Thanksgiving conundrums, handled.
By Published Nov. 7, 2019.
I’ve enjoyed intimate Thanksgiving gatherings of two and hosted boisterous gangs numbering well into the 20s. I’ve celebrated with friends, family, and strangers, as both a host and a guest. I’ve traveled and stayed put, held Thanksgiving dinners abroad, and welcomed international visitors to our table and traditions here in the US. I’ve found essential equipment, had a handful of near-misses (and actual misses, like that time I dropped the turkey on the kitchen floor), and created a list of must-have dishes.
Sign up for The Thanksgiving Success Series
Be Thanksgiving-ready with the help of the Test Kitchen experts.
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.
But even now, when Halloween has come and gone and my mind starts drifting towards turkey, those familiar Thanksgiving anxieties crop up again. Fortunately, surrounded by ATK’s treasure trove of kitchen wisdom, tested techniques, and foolproof recipes, and with some thoughtful planning and organizing ahead of time, it’s easy to put Turkey Day stress to rest. Here are some perennial Thanksgiving conundrums and the recipes that solve them.
1. You're Tired of the Same Old Thanksgiving Dishes
A lot of people look forward to the same dish your mom and her mom made, so some favorites you might want to keep around. But as a host (and cook) I’m always looking for inspiration. Here are some suggestions for new twists and fresh flavors.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Apple
Think squash is a snore? Think again: this year I’ll be making this bright, seasonal take on squash and apples.View Recipe
Brussels Sprout Salad with Smoked Gouda, Pecans, and Dried Cherries
Who says brussels sprouts have to be roasted on Thanksgiving? This light, bright, raw preparation is just as delicious.View Recipe
Braised Fennel with Radicchio and Parmesan
If you’re looking for a new vegetable for your Thanksgiving spread, try fennel, which becomes sweet and silky when braised.View Recipe
Indian-Spiced Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Raisins and Cashews
Celebrate the diverse culinary traditions—your own or others’—that make the US unique, like these sweet potatoes flavored with garam masala.View Recipe
Chopped Carrot Salad with Mint, Pistachios and Pomegranate Seeds
Sometimes a new technique with a familiar vegetable is all you need to liven up your Thanksgiving spread. This chopped carrot salad brings crunch, color, and fresh flavors.View Recipe
2. You Tend to Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
You're not alone! There's a pressure surrounding the Thanksgiving meal that leaves even the most experienced home cooks chasing unrealistic expectations. (Thanks a lot, Norman Rockwell.) You can pull off an amazing meal without all the stress by focusing on recipes you've made before (bonus points if they have make-ahead components), keeping some sides super simple (but not boring), and using shortcuts when they won't compromise the dish. Here are some ideas.
Asparagus with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette
Simple doesn't have to mean boring. This recipe, including the simple sauce, can be completed in just 10 minutes.View Recipe
Modern Cauliflower Gratin
This cauliflower gratin is rich and flavorful without the heft—and it can be made in advance.View Recipe
Slow-Cooker Brussels Sprouts With Lemon, Thyme, and Bacon
Put your slow cooker to work with this mostly hands-off Thanksgiving side dish.View Recipe
Tarte Tatin with Pears
This spin on the French classic, uses pears instead of apples, store-bought puff pastry and can be made in 30 minutes. All around win.View Recipe
3. Your Guests Have a Variety of Dietary Restrictions, Allergies, and Food Preferences
As a host, having food that your guests can eat and enjoy is rule #1. But it can feel a bit like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle to plan a menu that works for everyone. Fortunately, Thanksgiving is really all about the sides (am I right?), which if thoughtfully planned, can easily combine to make a meal for every guest, regardless of their diet. (Find even more Thanksgiving recipes for special diets.)
Gluten-Free Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
No gluten? No problem! Even your gluten-free guests can partake in this Thanksgiving favorite.View Recipe
Celery Root Puree
In this paleo-friendly alternative to classic mashed potatoes, the celery root breaks down beautifully into a perfectly smooth, luscious puree.View Recipe
Butternut Squash Galette with Gruyere
Need a show-stopping vegetarian Thanksgiving main? Try this easier-than-pie savory galette. (Bonus: The dough can be made in advance!)View Recipe
Paleo Brussels Sprout Salad
This recipe—also vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and low-carb—treats this vegetable like the mini-cabbages they are, shredded and tossed in a bright, simple vinaigrette.View Recipe
4. You Always Need More Oven Space Than You Have
Two words: Make. Ahead. If juggling limited oven space and varying temperatures is boggling your mind, start your Thanksgiving prep early. Pie dough (and even entire pies), breads, and stock for gravy can be made a few weeks early and frozen. Many other dishes can be made earlier in the week and reheated. And don’t forget to put your stovetop, slow cooker, grill, and microwave to work! (Check out even more no-oven-required Thanksgiving recipes.)
Grill-Roasted Turkey
If your grill isn’t at risk of being covered in snow come late November, free up your oven by cooking your turkey outside.View Recipe
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Make the stock in early November and freeze. The rest is, well, gravy.View Recipe
Green Beans with Hazelnuts and Brown Butter
Cooked on the stovetop, make-ahead friendly, and has brown butter. Need we say more?View Recipe
Perfect Pecan Pie
You can always make and freeze pie dough up to a month in advance, or you can make this entire pie and keep it at room temperature two days before Thanksgiving.View Recipe
Slow-Cooker Garlic and Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Don’t worry about having to reheat your mashed potatoes—plug in your slow cooker to cook them and keep them warm.View Recipe
5. You Want to Bring a Dish That Doesn't Have to Be Reheated When You Get There
Are you attending Thanksgiving at someone else’s home this year? Don’t be “that guy” who arrives to a crowded Thanksgiving dinner with a dish that needs to be reheated in the (already-packed) oven or has to be chilled in the (bursting-at-the-seams) fridge. These dishes will guarantee you’ll get invited back next year.
Whipped Feta and Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Using cow's milk feta—instead of the traditional Greek feta—makes for a firm appetizer that holds up well at room temperature.View Recipe
Cranberry Chutney with Apple and Crystallized Ginger
Bring this chutney-inspired option to the fresh versus canned cranberry sauce debate.View Recipe
Farro Salad with Butternut Squash and Radicchio
Grain salads travel well (see our recommendations for the best glass and plastic storage containers), won’t wilt from dressings, and are great at room temp.View Recipe
Pumpkin Bread
Sweet quick breads offer a less decadent dessert option, and are travel-friendly. This recipe makes two loaves so your host can tuck one away for a morning-after treat.View Recipe
6. You Want to Make That Perfect Dessert But Don't Have the Necessary Equipment
As someone who has overcome her fear of pie making and now loves to make pie, I strongly encourage you to invest in a few good pie-making tools and give this Thanksgiving favorite a shot. (Picking up a copy of our first-ever pie-focused cookbook, The Perfect Pie, is a great place to start.) But there are plenty of lovely fall desserts that don’t require a pie plate, rolling pin, or food processor.
Skillet Apple Crisp with Vanilla, Cardamom, and Pistachios
If you have a skillet, you can make this fragrant twist on traditional apple crisp.View Recipe
Ultranutty Pecan Bars
All the nutty goodness of pecan pie, in bar form.View Recipe
Butterscotch Pudding
Classic butterscotch pudding with a dollop of whipped cream and a gingersnap cookie on the side? Sounds like a perfect ending to me.View Recipe
Banana Cream Pie in a Jar
Easy enough for kids to help make, this all-ages-friendly dessert puts the flavors of banana cream pie in a personalized size portion, without the need for any special equipment.View Recipe
7. You Always Find Yourself in a Leftovers Rut
The holiday is over, your guests have gone home, your stomach is still full—and so is your fridge. While many folks are more than happy with turkey sandwiches on repeat, here are a few ideas to spice up your post-Thanksgiving meals.
Green Chile Turkey Enchiladas
This south of the border-inspired dish with cilantro, pepper jack cheese, and green chiles is a welcome change of pace from traditional Thanksgiving flavors.View Recipe
Turkey Pot Pie with Stuffing Crust
Kill two birds with one stone by creating a creamy filling with leftover turkey and a crunchy, savory crust with leftover stuffing.View Recipe
Turkey Barley Soup
No one wants to toil over turkey stock on the day after Thanksgiving, but this recipe practically makes itself.View Recipe