The Best Thanksgiving Menu

My favorite holiday is just around the corner – THANKSGIVING! Some people are all about Halloween, while some live for the Christmas/Hannukah seasons and the holiday decorations that go with them. But for me, Thanksgiving, particularly the Thanksgiving menu, is what I look forward to all year long. It’s a holiday centered around eating and drinking with friends and family (and counting our many, many blessings, of course). What’s not to love?

On the other hand, Thanksgiving has a special place in my heart because it’s always been a big part of Jed and I’s relationship. I met his family for the first time over a Thanksgiving holiday. At one point we were in a long-distance relationship, and Thanksgiving was Jed’s first trip to visit me when I lived in Las Vegas. Then somehow doing Thanksgiving “just us” became our thing. Over the years, we’ve created our own little traditions; the best and my most favorite part being our Thanksgiving menu! If you’re cooking for the first time this year and have no idea where to begin, or are looking for some menu items to spice up your spread, I’ve got you covered. I go back to this Thanksgiving menu year after year because it’s just that good!

The Best Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey

Turkey is at the top of this list only so I can touch on it and then move onto the good stuff – the sides. Because Thanksgiving menus are really all about the sides, anyway.

In terms of turkey, we cover the bird with dry rub from the Rendezvous in Memphis. We let it marinade for at least 12 hours before we put it in the oven, and then we inject the turkey with the marinade juices as it cooks. Even if you don’t like BBQ, Rendezvous dry rub is hands-down one of the best seasonings you’ll ever use. It’s good on everything.

Italian Sausage Stuffing

In full transparency, I hated stuffing with a passion until I tried this recipe a few years ago. You couldn’t pay me to eat stuffing until I fell in love with this recipe from Emril. The Italian sausage is such a gamechanger! You’re going to want seconds, and I’m willing to bet someone is going to ask you for your recipe. This one’s a crowd pleaser for sure!

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Ok, Jed “technically” makes these, too. Ha! The name pretty much explains this one. Boil red potatoes, mash them up with milk, sour cream and a ton of butter. Then add bacon, cheese and lots of green onion. If you need/want a recipe to follow, I love this one from The Pioneer Woman.

Spicy Mac and Cheese

I grew up in the South where mac and cheese is considered a vegetable. So it’s probably not surprising that I also consider mac and cheese a Thanksgiving food. I found my favorite homemade mac and cheese years ago on allrecipes years ago and it’s been staple of our house ever since. I will warn you, though. It’s super spicy, so tread carefully on the chipotles in adobo sauce if you’re not into the heat. If you’re feeling really crazy, you can add shrimp or bacon – or both!

Green Bean Casserole

The OG Thanksgiving menu staple item, green bean casserole is perfect for the less confident cooks in the kitchen. Follow the recipe that’s on the side of the French’s fried onion container and you can’t go wrong. You literally just dump cans of ingredients into a dish and put it in the oven. I’d eat green bean casserole every single day if I could.

Cranberries

For cranberries, I follow an especially easy recipe my mom uses. The canned cranberry sauce thing is not for me. Mom gets a bag of cranberries, two navel oranges and put them in the food processor. Then she’ll add sugar to taste. This dish is usually my pathetic attempt at working something “healthy” into the Thanksgiving menu. Cranberries are full of antioxidants and oranges are jam-packed with Vitamin C, right? Plus, it’s a good change from all of the heavier, hot casserole type items. And it’s the best spread for a next-day Thanksgiving leftover sandwich!

I’m counting down the days until I get to cook this Thanksgiving menu for Jed and our friends. I hope I inspired you to have some fun in the kitchen, too! As always, I’m here with any questions; and if you try any of these dishes I want to know how you liked them!