It is time to finalize your Thanksgiving menu and start early shopping while you still can find what you need. Here are some of my favorite recipes. As always, all recipes are easy to make and have complete step-by-step photo instructions.
Introduction
While I love Thanksgiving, the amount of work can be overwhelming. So let's get our plan started. First, how many dinners and how many leftovers do you want?
And second, how much time and energy do you have? Some super planners out there will pull everything off from scratch. I'm not there; honestly, I don't want to be. I have X amount of time and energy and will put it where it does most good.
Our smaller holiday feast is very traditional, with a Roasted Turkey Breast, Sausage Stuffing, and Sweet Potato Casserole.
Food Safety
When I was still practicing medicine, I saw several kids with food poisoning—primarily minor after every major holiday. After only a few questions, the cause was almost always apparent and preventable with little care.
Thanksgiving Food Safety
Thanksgiving is coming up fast, and many of us will be cooking large feasts. While many experienced cooks will be cooking, a lot of inexperienced chefs will be hard at work, too. So for everybody, experienced or novice, let's take a few minutes to review relevant food safety and find some resources if needed.
Read the food safety tips
🦃Turkey and More
Since this is cooking for two, we usually start with a turkey breast, not the whole bird. And you can do two if you need more. Other options are provided.
How to Cook a Turkey Breast the Easy Way
Learn how easy it is to roast the perfect turkey breast with moist meat and crispy skin. Anybody can cook delicious turkey—just follow these simple step-by-step photo instructions.
Check Out This Recipe
Smaller Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham
Crock Pot Honey Glazed Ham will enhance a smaller boneless ham with pineapple, honey, and spices to make a great holiday main dish.
Check Out This Recipe
Small Ribeye Roast
Ribeye roast is a classic main entree for special meals. A ribeye roast is Prime Rib without the bone, making it easier to cook and scale to the right size at home.
Check Out This Recipe
Turkey Tenderloin with Gravy
Learn how to cook a turkey tenderloin that is moist and tender with gravy. A brief searing on the stovetop then finishes by roasting in the oven.
Check Out This Recipe
Grilled Turkey Breast with Brown Sugar Rub
Learn to grill a turkey breast to be tasty and moist with a brown sugar rub. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving anymore but can be a summer grilling treat.
Check Out This Recipe
🍠Side Dishes
Side dishes make the meal. Every family has its traditions, so here are ours.
How to Make Gravy—Quick and Easy
Learn to make the best homemade gravy from scratch with these easy instructions. With or without pan dripping, you can have perfect gravy in about 10 minutes with either a roux or flour slurry. The same techniques can be used to thicken most liquids.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Sausage Stuffing
Our family's favorite sausage stuffing with herbs and savory sausage makes the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving turkey or other large feasts. This smaller recipe fits our current lifestyle, but it is easy to increase for a larger holiday feast. Or make this delicious and easy side dish for everyday meals.
Check Out This Recipe
Green Bean Casserole Without Mushroom Soup
Now you can enjoy a delicious green bean casserole without the mandatory can of soup. Just green beans, a simple homemade sauce, and a topping of your choice will give you a new appreciation for this classic Thanksgiving side dish.
Check Out This Recipe
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with a pecan topping (or a marshmallow topping) has become a traditional holiday classic. This sweet family favorite can be made ahead with the easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions.
Check Out This Recipe
Broccoli Slaw Salad
Broccoli slaw salad is a healthy side dish with veggies, crunchy almonds, sunflower seeds, rice noodles, and topped with a wonderful homemade dressing.or
Check Out This Recipe
🍞Bread
I do love great bread. Here are some easy homemade choices—except the Julia Child's bread, but it is worth the work.
Easy Yeast Dinner Rolls in 60 Minutes
Do you need a bread course for that special meal? Whip up some homemade 60 minute rolls with this easy recipe. Golden brown and buttery these tender yeast rolls will be the talk of the meal.
Check Out This Recipe
Lunch Lady Rolls—Smaller Version
Old fashion school lunch lady rolls, those wonderful hot rolls everybody loved in the cafeteria, can now be made with this smaller recipe. Mix by hand or in a stand mixer for some taste from the 60s.
Check Out This Recipe
Julia Child's French Bread - Simplified
Julia Child's French Bread recipe is the ultimate crusty artisan French bread. An excellent round bread, simplified to the essentials to get it done with less fuss. While speed was not a goal, it was 5 hours from the start to the cooling rack.
Check Out This Recipe
Quick and Easy Honey Wheat Rolls
Easy and quick honey wheat rolls will become a family favorite. Make them 100% whole wheat dinner rolls, or keep them lighter if you want. Homemade honey wheat rolls go with any meal or special holiday celebration.
Check Out This Recipe
🥧Desserts
We must have something sweet to finish the feast. Here are some easy treats.
Philadelphia Pumpkin Cheesecake
Delicious Philadelphia-style pumpkin cheesecake is much easier to make than you think. Inspired by Cheesecake Factory™ with a pumpkin spiced flavored filling and a buttery graham cracker crust. Think of it as pumpkin pie meets a cheesecake—great holiday comfort food.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Chocolate chip cheesecake is a creamy, decadent dessert but is one of the easiest recipes to make. While it is not "cheesecake for two," it will become your signature dessert for gatherings. Just follow the easy step-by-step photos to impress your friends and family.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Apple Cake
Easy and delicious, this moist apple cake is bursting with cinnamon apple flavor. An old fashion cake like grandma would make with only a few pantry ingredients and your favorite fresh apples.
Check Out This Recipe
Apple Berry Crumble—Quick & Easy
A quick and easy version of an old-fashion apple crumble even the beginner can make. Go the easy route with frozen berries and pie filling, or use fresh berries and apples. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect company dessert or a family favorite.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Homemade Apple Crumb Pie—Quick to Make
An everyday apple pie you will make over and over for the family. A refrigerated crust takes most of the work out of this homemade pie. Add a few fresh apples and some seasoning, and finish with an easy-to-make crumb topping. And you will be making this pie over and over.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Celebrate fall and apples with this easy classic dessert with juicy cinnamon apple filling with a sweet buttery and crispy oat crust. Great for the smaller households but easy to double for larger families. You need 10 minutes of prep time, a few ingredients, and your slow cooker.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy Cheesecake Bars
These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need.
🍬Candy
Time to get into the holiday spirit and give some love to those you care about.
Easy Oreo Fudge
This super easy Oreo fudge recipe is packed with great flavor. It will melt in your mouth with chunks of Oreo cookies in sweet white chocolate fudge. Only four ingredients and ultra-simple. Also known as "Cookie and Cream Fudge," it is perfect for an office holiday party, a gift, or just for yourself.
Check Out This Recipe
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate peanut clusters are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
Check Out This Recipe
Crock Pot Fudge
Let's make some great fudge with this super-easy recipe using the gentle heat of your crock pot and only 4 ingredients. Have fun making fudge with your child or just by yourself. This chocolate fudge recipe is just what you need for the holidays.
Check Out This Recipe
Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Fudge
With only 3 ingredients, you can make the best chocolate fudge. This easy, foolproof 5-minute fudge with sweetened condensed milk never fails and makes perfect holiday gifts, party snacks, or just for you.
Check Out This Recipe
Candied Almonds or Other Candied Nuts
This easy roasted candied almonds recipe makes the perfect holiday gift and a great crunchy party snack. Or make some delicious candied mixed nuts or other nuts with only a few ingredients and minimal skill.
Check Out This Recipe
Are you feeling like a bit of holiday shopping early? Check out the new Holiday Shopping section in THE SHOP.
Have a great Thanksgiving from
Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan
Editor's Note: Originally Published November 17, 2016. Updated yearly with current recommendations and discussion.
Elisabeth Wasslen
Hello Dr. Dan,
It isn't Thanksgiving here right now, being in Canada, but I want to say I hope you and your family and your beautiful dogs have a Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, including your blog. Life is good.
Jean Rawlings
Hi Dr. Dan,
You'll get a chuckle out of this..I wanted to make your recipe for Sweet potato Casserole before the big day Thanksgiving to see if my husband of 50 years would enjoy it. Well he whined a bit when I told him there were no marshmallows going on top. He offered a half a dozen times to go to the store and get some because he was certain it would be a total failure without them. He loved your recipe. He had seconds and is waiting for the left overs for dinner tonight.
Thank you..thank you!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Warmly
Jean Rawlings
DrDan
Thanks Jean,
You can feel free to change the topping but I want the nuts.
I'm republishing that recipe Sunday.
Have a good holiday.
Dan
Leslie
Thanks for posting your menu ideas, makes cooking a special dinner easier (keeps me from getting anxious) thank you Leslie
DrDan
Thanks Leslie,
Have a good holiday.
Dan
laurajay
Thanks Dr Dan, I always love the blog, recipes and pictures. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.
DrDan
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Joan
How I use leftover turkey
This is not a recipe although I am sure it started as one and is how my family uses some leftover turkey. My family calls it High Turkey Sandwich. It is really a form of a club sandwich and I first had it at Gilmore's Tea Room in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I think it may have been served at Marshall Field's in Chicago.
So here is my non recipe which I would like to share with you. One slice of white bread, a slice of cheese, cold turkey meat, a slice of bread, bacon, tomato, lettuce, a slice of bread, slices of hard boiled egg, and to top it off, Thousand Island dressing made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish. Once, I ate the whole thing, but now I leave out the center slice of bread and can't really get through that.
You are welcome to make it into a recipe if you wish, Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DrDan
Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays.
Dan