I love planning the Thanksgiving menu. The holiday season is one of the only times of the year when I spend extra time (like 2-3 hours) in the kitchen preparing family favorite dishes we enjoy year after year. If you haven’t planned your Thanksgiving menu yet or still need a few ideas, take a peek at this Thanksgiving menu. Recipes are included to make it easy for you.
Growing up, I remember cooking Thanksgiving dinner with my Grandmother. She would make homemade cornbread stuffing, fried cabbage, and cornbread. Some years on Thanksgiving, I helped her make her homemade stuffing and fried cabbage. When I make these recipes now, they still taste so good, I think she was right there making them with me.
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Thanksgiving Menu Ideas & Recipes
Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving review all the recipes you have chosen to use and be sure you have all the ingredients you need. If you are missing any ingredients, make a shopping list and shop early.
More Recipes: 20-Side Dishes for An Amazing Holiday Dinner
Easy Roasted Turkey
Roasted Turkey is easy to make. If you purchased a frozen turkey, thaw your turkey in the refrigerator for 2-3 days before you plan to roast it. Personally, I like turkey best served the day it is cooked, but many people enjoy turkey leftovers.
Once your turkey is thawed and you are ready to cook it, wash it completely. Then trim away any extra fat, don’t forget to remove the neck parts from inside before you roast your turkey.
Rub your turkey with butter all over. I prefer real butter, but you can use margarine. Be sure it’s completely covered in butter.
Next, season your turkey with salt and pepper. I also like to add poultry seasoning, too.
If you add dressing to the inside of your turkey, add it now.
Now, you are ready to roast it. I use a counter-top roaster oven or you can use the oven roasting bags in a roasting pan. Place your turkey in the roaster oven or in your roasting bag and set it to cook. To keep the white meat juicy, bake your turkey breast side down (so it can soak up the juices).
Bake your turkey in the oven at 350 degrees for 2-3 hours or about 12-15 minutes per pound. Based on the size of your turkey, estimate how long it will need to cook and about 1 hour before the estimated completion time start checking for doneness. You don’t want to overcook your turkey.
If you use a counter-top roaster oven, I have found these cook faster than a regular oven, so I usually cook my turkey on 325 degrees for about 12-15 minutes a pound. Always checking about once an hour to be sure it’s not cooking too fast or too slow. If this your first time using a roaster oven, you will probably need to adjust the temperature once during the first 30 minutes of cooking too.
Homemade Cornbread Stuffing
You have many options with stuffing. You can add sausage or fruit like apples or pears. But I like to keep the stuffing simple and easy to make. Here’s a simple turkey stuffing by Taste and See you will want to have year after year.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Always a Thanksgiving favorite. This sweet casserole has a twist with vanilla and cinnamon. Don’t miss this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans and Marshmallows.
Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped Potatoes were a family favorite when I was growing up. We would have them at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and sometimes for Sunday dinner. Here’s a recipe that reminds me of the scalloped potatoes we had when I was growing up by Recipes from a Pantry.
Southern Fried Corn
Corn can be served so many ways like on the cob, cream style, or in a casserole. Here’s a recipe for Southern Skillet Fried Corn by Julia’s Simply Southern.
Brown Sugar Bacon Brussel Sprouts
If you like Brussel Sprouts, you will want to try this delicious Brown Sugar Bacon Brussel Sprouts recipe by Savory Simple.
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
The best green bean casseroles are ones that have you make your own mushroom soup (canned soup is fine if you are in a hurry), but a homemade mushroom soup base makes all the difference in your recipe. I think you will love this green bean casserole by Simply Stacie.
More Recipes: 20-Side Dishes for An Amazing Holiday Dinner
Cranberry Sauce
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without cranberry sauce. Try this homemade cranberry sauce everyone is sure to love by Pink Fortitude.
Dinner Rolls
What Thanksgiving meal would be complete without dinner rolls?
Start with these brown butter brioche rolls by Foodal.
If you have diet restrictions, these Gluten-free Pull-Apart Rolls by My Gluten-Free Kitchen are a great choice.
While I love homemade rolls, I rarely have the time to wait for the yeast to rise, so I usually buy frozen rolls from the grocery store or a quick rise bread from the baking aisle.
Maple Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Pie is the classic Thanksgiving dessert. Growing up, we always had pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you love pumpkin pie, you will love this twist to the classic pie, Maple Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie.
More Pumpkin recipes: Best Fall Pumpkin Recipes
This complete Thanksgiving menu ideas with recipes will simplify your Thanksgiving menu planning. Review each recipe you plan to make, print the recipes, and make a list of ingredients you will need to pick-up at the store to make your Thanksgiving menu.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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