If you're cooking Thanksgiving for the very first time this year, guess what? It doesn't have to be a stressful proposition. This easy menu, which includes our simplest roast turkey recipe and a few foolproof sides, will take you from co*cktails to dessert with your wits intact.
Maybe you're passing on the big Thanksgiving gathering again this year—maybe you never did the big Thanksgiving in the first place. Whether you're keeping it small as always or you're used to cooking for a dozen out-of-town relatives and wondering how to adapt, consider this menu your roadmap. It forgoes a whole turkey in favor of luscious turkey legs; calls for a skillet of stuffing rather than a big pan; and keeps dessert modest with a single (but dual-flavored) pie. And while it's meant to feed four to six people comfortably, take heart—this menu still leaves a little room for leftovers.
The star of this menu is a Moroccan-inspired stuffed squash filled with dried fruits and barley—a hearty but vegan centerpiece that still calls for a carving knife. But before we get there, we'll traipse past a refreshingly light co*cktail and a dip that makes the most of plant-based dairy, as well as side dishes that ensure your guests get their fill, even without any meat or meat substitutes on the menu. We end with not one but two desserts that stay true to sprit of the holiday without compromising on the vegan promise.
When we asked chef Erick Williams of Virtue Restaurant in Chicago to curate a Thanksgiving menu for thelinebykd, he revealed a couple of surprising facts about himself. First, the chef offered some controversial opinions about mac and cheese; second, he told us about his annual tradition of celebrating the holiday with…a bowl of cereal. (More on both of those revelations here.) Beyond those outlier positions, Williams's take on Thanksgiving is classic and exacting. Here, he's curated a menu that's based on memories of his family's Thanksgiving celebrations, but informed by decades of cooking French, Italian, and American Southern food in restaurants. At the heart of the menu? A brand-new recipe for a mac and cheese that even a chef like Williams can love.
Apathetic turkey-eaters, rejoice! This Thanksgiving, you need not settle for the bigger (but lesser) bird. A miso-butter roast chicken and gravy act as the centerpiece here, with a few flavorful sides (green beans, salad) playing backup. We also call for two desserts, one of which is a chocolate cookie. No, cookies are not customary for Thanksgiving—but if chicken's on the table, you've already broken one tradition. What's the harm in breaking another?
This vegetarian menu packs in tons of flavor. While you’re sipping a co*cktail, nibble on spicy chili lime cashews and a rich French onion blue cheese tart. The hearty mains that follow put the spotlight on butternut squash and collard greens, served with a bouncy focaccia scented with perilla leaves. The meal concludes with a classic bourbon pecan pie—and a pistachio cherry cake, because two desserts are always better than just one! Consider this menu an edible cookbook preview of a few of our favorite recently-published titles, including The Pepper Thai Cookbook, Nadiya Bakes, Black Food, The Korean Vegan Cookbook, Life Is What You Bake It, and The New Way to Cake.
Thanksgiving is usually filled with the starchy, filling vegetables that gluten-free eaters tend to flock to anyway. But if you want to ensure the holiday is entirely gluten-free, there are a few dishes to watch out for. First, find a gravy recipe that uses cornstarch instead of flour (or lean into cranberry sauce and skip the gravy altogether). Then, look for a cornbread that uses only corn flour (such as this cheesy spoon bread), and a dressing that uses wild rice. The trickiest place to avoid gluten will be dessert, but here you'll find some great options: a crust made with easy-to-find GF gingersnaps, and an all-purpose GF dough that can be used in pie crusts, tarts, and cookies. There's also the option of serving brûléed apples or a chocolate-chestnut mousse. Pie who?
This year, we’re granting ourselves full permission to skip the turkey and focus on the things that really matter. Things like luxurious potatoes, cheesy casseroles, and all the other dishes we've waited all year to devour. This menu is packed with those favorites—and they're all vegetarian.
If finances are tight this year, Thanksgiving might make you nervous. But there's no reason to shell out for an expensive whole turkey. Instead, this luxurious (but affordable!) menu features turkey drumsticks, which are, by far, the least-expensive-per-pound turkey option available in most supermarkets. Roasted and basted in ghee (make your own for minimal budget impact), this turkey dinner is likely to outshine any previous birds you've cooked. On the side, offer winter squash confit with garlic and herbs, a crisp wedge salad with a sprightly sour cream dressing, and a simple cranberry sauce that comes with plenty of leftovers. No need to skimp on appetizers or dessert, either: A dip of sweet roasted carrots blended with smoky hot paprika and a fennel-dusted apple tart bookend this holiday dinner, which comes together for less than $10 per person.
Going solo this year? Want to eat a blow-out Thanksgiving meal anyway? Respect. This recipe puts roast turkey, green beans, and your own personal sweet potato casserole on your plate in under two hours. For dessert, you could go with this individual apple crisp. But it's a holiday—why not make the whole damn pie?
