Note: This is a repeat of last year since, well, these are some of the best Thanksgiving recipes you can find and I am making them again. I will be posting new ‘side dish’ recipes on Monday for more ideas…

Below find my personal Thanksgiving favorites. This is a bit of a ‘best of’ but there are a couple of recipes new to the blog and I stand behind each, they will not do you wrong. 

GRAMERCY TAVERN’S CRANBERRY DAQUIRI

I wrote about this one for Christmas but it is perfect for Thanksgiving as well. Make the cranberry syrup now, it will keep in the fridge all through the holidays. I love this because it is not too sweet. Divine.

For the recipe, click here.

THE JUDY BIRD

Russ Parson’s dry brined turkey is justifiably famous. The ‘Judy-Bird’ is hands down the best turkey I’ve ever eaten. Perfect crisp skin, delicious moist meat. It is also the easiest recipe imaginable. NOTE: It needs to sit three days with the salt brine so get your turkey now!

For the turkey recipe, click here.

FOR THE REST OF THE THANKSGIVING RECIPES, CLICK HERE >

COMMANDER’S PALACE SMASHED POTATOES

This has been my ‘go-to’ holiday potato recipe for years. Incredibly delicious and flavorful, these potatoes make everyone go crazy… except, I guess, the vegetarians! I always make a double batch and never have any leftovers. These potatoes save well, so perhaps this year I will make a triple batch so I can eat some more the next day…

For the recipe, click here.

BECKHAM’S PLACE CREAMED CORN

I’ve written about my good friend Phyllis, who I would trust with my life. She gave me this amazing ‘creamed corn’ recipe two years ago, and I have made it numerous times since. It’s wonderful.

For the recipe, click here.

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Becoming world famous. The. Best.

For the recipe, click here.

THREE STUFFING CHOICES

I wrote about two great stuffings last year, from my dear friends Nan Schnebly and Jan Batchler. You cannot go wrong with either!

I also always make a terrific and flavorful Lemon and Mushroom stuffing from Food and Wine. Laced with fresh herbs and pine nuts, it is incredible. Ignore the muffin instructions in the recipe below, just make it as a regular casserole. 

For two traditional versions, click here.

For Lemon and Mushroom stuffing, click here.

SUZANNE GOIN’S FLAGEOLET GRATIN

I love this simple, healthy bean gratin so much, I make it all year round. It is also always on the Thanksgiving table. (This is easy to adapt into vegan as well.) Give it a try, it is so damn good!

For the recipe, click here.

SWEET POTATOES

I have tired of the regular sweet mush of sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Sacrilege to some, I know. Still, I discovered Serious Eat’s Roast Sweet Potato Salad with Chutney two years ago and I will never go back. This is so easy and so, so good! Trust me. Give it a try.

 

For the recipe, click here.

CRANBERRIES

These are my two favorites, a raw relish which I devour, and another more traditional version, though it is ramped up with a little bourbon. I always make both.

For the recipes, click here.

WORLD’S GREATEST PECAN PIE

This is my favorite pecan pie recipe. It’s a little different than the traditional pecan pie as it has pecans all the way through… more pecans means a better pecan pie. It also is rich with spice. I love this one.

For the recipe, click here.

Happy Thanksgiving! Do leave some of your favorites we can try!