Thanksgiving Menu Planning Tips & Recipe Ideas

Thanksgiving Day is probably my most favorite holiday.  Nothing makes me salivate more than the thought of roasted turkey,  mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and homemade bread piled on a plate with gravy poured on top.

Okay, maybe pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, and apple pie piled on a plate with whipped cream dolloped on top.

Thanksgiving dinner for my extended family is a shared experience. My mom hosts Thanksgiving. She also roasts the turkey and makes the gravy and the stuffing, but my aunts, uncles, and cousins all bring a dish and/or dessert to round out the meal. Nobody feels like they did all of the work and we all go home so stuffed and well fed.

I may not host Thanksgiving, but every year, I take advantage of my grocery store’s FREE turkey promotion and I roast a turkey with all the trimmings for my own family.

So whether you are hosting a large gathering or just your immediate family, follow these Thanksgiving tips for a seamless holiday, so you can focus on your family…and that proverbial after dinner nap!

Let’s Talk Turkey

• Calculate How Much Turkey You Will Need Per Person.
• Find Out How To Safely Thaw a Frozen Turkey.
• Easy Recipe for Roasted Turkey with Herbs and Lemon…Plus…9 More Turkey Recipes
• How {NOT} to Carve a Turkey…I’m just keeping it real here.
• How to Make Turkey Gravy…don’t be afraid.
• Two Ways to Make Bone Stock.  Don’t waste that turkey carcass. You DON’T have to do this on Thanksgiving day. Store the carcass in the refrigerator and make the next day.

Appetizers

• Baked Spinach Dip Mini Bread Bowls at Pickey Palate
• Corn and Bean Dip at Heart Health Journey
• Mini Tomato & Goat Cheese Tarts at Mini Baker
• Roasted Asparagus Wrapped with Ham at My Colombian Recipes
• Sweet Potato Bites at Cooking with My Kid

Side Dishes

• 20 Stuffing Recipes
• Cranberry Walnut Acorn Squash Bowls at FBS
• Classic Sweet Potato Casserole at Southern Living
• Hasselback Potatoes at FBS
• Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan at FBS
• Roasted Green Beans at Confessions of a Foodie Bride
• Ultimate Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes at Budget Savvy Diva

Bread & Rolls

• Crescent Dinner Rolls at Frosted Bake Shop
• Herbed Dinner Rolls at Annie’s Eats
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls at Alexandra Cooks
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Rolls at Beauty and Bedlam
• Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day at FBS

Desserts

• Apple Crumb Pots at FBS (Great for a small crowd)
• Apple Gingerbread Cake with Homemade Whipped Cream at FBS
• Bobby Flay’s Pumpkin Pie at Food Network
• Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping at FBS
• Chocolate Pecan Pie at Martha Stewart – I make this pie every year for Thanksgiving and it’s a hit!
• Crunchy Top Apple Pie at Paula Deen of Food Network
• Sweet Potato Pie with Gingersnap Crust and Spice Cream at Finding Joy in the My Kitchen

Follow my Thanksgiving Pinterest board for more Thanksgiving menu ideas.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner or taking a dish? Tell us all about your Thanksgiving plans in the comments.