Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes, Menus, Strategies, and Tips for 2023
If you ask us, the true pleasure of Thanksgiving comes in the bounty of Thanksgiving leftovers: A slice of pie for breakfast, a midnight turkey sandwich enveloped in a pillowy dinner roll. But these stolen moments can’t happen if you don’t first put out a delicious Thanksgiving day spread. Below, you’ll find our favorite ways to cook turkey, our best potato recipes, more autumnal desserts than you can make in a year, and plenty of tips to guide you along the way. Want to know our go-to pie crust recipe? Did your great-aunt just request a pumpkin cheesecake? Need a quick substitute for sour cream? Suddenly found out you need a gluten-free gravy recipe? We’ve got you. And when the brown sugar and breadcrumbs settle, we’ll be here to help you out with those leftovers, too.
The Star of the Table
The Simplest Roast Turkey
The key to this set-it-and-forget-it Thanksgiving centerpiece is buying a bird in the Goldilocks range of 14 to 16 pounds, which will feed at least 10 people. Cooking for more? Buy a second bird. Now: Can we interest you in some turkey gravy?
The Case for Thanksgiving Chicken
Turkey might be traditional, but a chicken is the better bird for your wallet, stress levels, and leftovers game.
The 18 Best Turkey Breast Recipes for Thanksgiving
Hosting a small gathering this year? Skip the whole bird in favor of these superlative turkey breast recipes.
We’re Just Here for the Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwiches
Build your whole holiday meal around these pastrami-spiced turkey sandwiches and no one will complain.
Skip the Whole Bird and Make Crispy Fried Turkey Wings This Year
Deep-fry flavorful turkey wings for a more casual main that’s juicy on the inside and incredibly crispy on the outside.
Turkey 101
Choosing the right Thanksgiving bird for your holiday gathering is one thing. But it’s also a good idea to brush up on a few essential techniques as you embark upon your holiday planning.
Non-Turkey Mains
There’s more to the holiday than roast turkey, and these mains prove it.
One-Stop Menu Planning
From vintage Gourmet classics to our best modern tips for getting your meal together, here’s how the staff of Epicurious pulls off Thanksgiving.
Nothing Says Thanksgiving Like a Spreadsheet
Meet the people tackling the holiday dinner with colorful spreadsheets, elegant scrum boards, and very organized Google drives.
I Can't Do Thanksgiving Without My Le Creuset Braiser
Dutch ovens get all the love but enameled cast-iron braisers are amazing, too. Especially on Thanksgiving.
Do You Have Enough Serveware for Thanksgiving?
Don’t make a plethora of sides, only to realize you don’t have enough spoons to serve them all. Here are a few serving pieces that will fill the gaps—and be useful to you year-round.
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes
73 Side Dishes to Round Out Your Thanksgiving Table
Turkey and dressing are great, but you’ve got to get a vegetable on your plate. That’s where our favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes come into play. Think garlicky roasted brussels sprouts, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots, and silky braised butternut squash.
Don’t Forget the Stuffing
Sure, you could keep the stuffing simple; but, you don’t have to. Here are a few of our favorite variations.
Just How Important Are Potatoes?
Absolutely Everything You Need to Know About Thanksgiving Potatoes
Start here for all the advice you need, since potatoes are very important, indeed.
Our Favorite Mashed Potatoes
These perfect mashed potatoes are light and fluffy yet rich and creamy, with just a hint of garlic and thyme.
For the Crispiest, Crackliest Roasted Potatoes, You Need Egg Whites
Tossing baby potatoes in egg whites before roasting them means you’ll have crispy-crackly spuds—in record time.
The 12 Types of Potatoes You May Encounter at Thanksgiving
No, sweet potatoes aren’t actually potatoes. Yes, we’re covering them anyway.
Would You Like Some Bread With That?
Somewhere That’s Green
87 Thanksgiving Salads to Round Out Your Meal
We love to have a little something leafy on our plates, even if that leafy thing is bathed in cream or glazed in honey.
Quick and Easy Collard Greens
A quick and easy version of often ong-braised Southern favorite.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
With crispy edges and deep caramelization, these streamlined brussels sprouts are the ultimate addition to holiday meal.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic and Pancetta
As this whole dish bakes, the salty pancetta fat will melt over the sprouts, imparting luscious porky flavor as the pancetta crisps.
Iceberg With Dried Oregano Dressing and Creamy Sheep’s Milk Cheese
There is something really good about crunchy lettuce and a bright shallot dressing filled with the flavor of dried oregano completed by creamy feta.
Dive Into These Classic Desserts
Our Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
With so many mouthwatering Thanksgiving dessert ideas, how will you choose just one?
Our Favorite Apple Pie
This classic apple pie recipe makes the perfect holiday dessert with a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, perfectly cooked fruit filling.
Shoofly Pie
Shoofly pie starts with a classic pie crust that cradles a dense and sticky molasses filling.
Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie
This easy dessert is loaded with nuts and gets a little verve from orange zest.
Sweet Potato Pie
This alternative to pumpkin pie has an optional caramelized pecan praline topping. Pro-tip: Don't consider it optional.
Explore Even More Desserts
Sweet tooth still not satisfied? Get the desserts you crave below, or go straight to our best pie recipes or our full collection of fall desserts. Oh, and don't forget the whipped cream.
Thanksgiving Recipes for Everyone at Your Table
It's easy to go gluten-free at Thanksgiving. Ditto vegetarian—and even vegan. And if you seek still more Thanksgiving dinner recipes, try out our holiday recipe finder.
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The Friday Gameplan
23 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Even Better on Day Two
Don’t get so caught up in Turkey Day that you forget what comes after.
How to Turn Leftover Turkey Into Taiwanese-Style Turkey Rice
Plus, how turkey became a Taiwanese specialty.
Make the Absolute Most of Your Turkey Bones With Bone Butter
Before you stick them in a stockpot, slowly cook poultry bones in butter to give your gravy, stuffing, and other dishes a poultry-rich boost.
What to Drink
Our Best Thanksgiving Cocktails for 2023
Whether served with hors d’oeuvres or sipped post-pie, these seasonal cocktail recipes are just right for a festive holiday.
21 Big Batch Cocktails for Stress-Free Entertaining
Step away from your cocktail shaker—if more than a couple of people are having drinks, you need to batch.
29 Nonalcoholic Drinks for Festive Occasions
These alcohol-free cocktails aren’t mocking anything. They’re just plain delicious.
Thanksgiving Sangria
Combining favorite fall fruits and spices with sparkling cider, rum, and wine gives sangria a refreshing new spin.
Classic Whiskey Sour
The whiskey sour, a simple combination of whiskey, sugar, and fresh lemon juice, is a bonafide crowd-pleaser.
Back to the Beginning
53 Thanksgiving Appetizers to Nibble While You Cook
It may seem like an afterthought, but having a solid Thanksgiving appetizer will keep sticky fingers and prying eyes at bay. Plus, you should never start a cooking marathon on an empty stomach.
How to Snack on Thanksgiving So You Don’t Get Hangry
Have a plan. Stick to the plan.
This Homemade Snack Mix Is Full of Biscuits
Sorry, rye chips, but there’s a new girl in town, and she’s taking your place as the best snack mix ingredient.
Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes for 2023
Pulling off a Thanksgiving meal takes three things: an exciting menu; delicious, fail-proof recipes; and solid Thanksgiving techniques. All three of which you'll find here.
61 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes for a Less-Stressful Feast
These easy-to-prepare recipes will ensure a delicious holiday.
29 Punch Recipes for Easy, Elegant Entertaining
It’s the set-it-and-forget-it of the cocktail kingdom.
47 Thanksgiving Cookie Recipes to Give Pie Some Competition
It’s never a bad idea to have a plate of festive cookies around for holiday snacking.
29 Pumpkin Desserts to Bake Your Way Through Fall
Pie is just the start.
31 Butternut Squash Recipes You’ll Absolutely Fall For
These autumnal dishes highlight the natural sweetness of butternut squash.
47 Fall Desserts to Cozy Up to All Season Long
The minute the weather turns chilly, turn the oven on and start baking these seasonal sweets.
29 Easy Pie Recipes for Laid-Back Bakes
With simple fillings and (shhh) the occasional store-bought crust, these recipes make baking pie a breeze.
29 Green Bean Recipes That Go Beyond the Simple Sauté
Show off the versatility of this long, lanky legume with our best green bean recipes.
61 Finger Food Ideas, Because Football Season Doesn’t Require a Fork
Finger foods for the big game, the holiday party, a chill fest, or just because.
23 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Even Better on Day Two
Truth: Leftovers are actually the best part of the holiday.
13 Recipes That Prove You Don’t Need Oven Space to Cook Thanksgiving
You've got other tools in your arsenal.
The Best Thanksgiving Pie Is Actually a Cheesecake
They’re foolproof, easy to make ahead of time, and perfect for carrying all of those fall flavors.
17 Portable Sides for a Thanksgiving Potluck
These dishes travel well—and won’t crowd your host in the kitchen.
33 Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes to Feed a Crowd Without Fuss
You've got a lot to do today. Let's make the morning meal as easy and delicious as possible.
This $2 Tool Is the MVP of Your Vintage Thanksgiving
This handy little tool is capable of so much more than fruit salads.
What We're Actually Cooking for Thanksgiving
The Epicurious team thinks about Thanksgiving for months before the big day. Here’s what we’re actually putting on our menus.
43 Thanksgiving Pies Worthy of Your Holiday Table
Just add whipped cream.
21 Ways to Make Mashed Potatoes
There's more than one way to creamy, dreamy potato deliciousness.
Milk Bread Meets Sourdough in These Pillowy Dinner Rolls
Set aside a full day for these pillowy, lightly tangy rolls. It will be worth it.