Whether you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving or your fiftieth, use our tips, techniques and recipes to help make it the best ever

MENUS: simple to showstopping

No matter what kind of Thanksgiving cook you are, you've come to the right place. Wondering where to begin? For total ease, try one of our menus, complete with shopping lists and timelines. Regardless of whether you have four hours or forty-eight, whether your guest list is small or large, we've got the solution for you:

Make the big day a breeze with our Mostly Make-Ahead menu.

Cooking for a crowd? Try our Special Vineyard Thanksgiving menu, with a timeline that makes it all manageable.

If you're just having a few guests, our Intimate Thanksgiving menu, starring stuffed boneless turkey breast, is the perfect solution.

Even procrastinators can put a delicious dinner on the table with our Feast in Four Hours menu.

 

BOOK EXCERPT

Click to view

Find delicious ideas to continue your Thanksgiving feast in this complete chapter excerpt from the book, How to Cook a Turkey...And All the Other Trimmings. Eleven great leftover recipes are included.

Download: Thanksgiving Leftovers

RECIPES

If you'd rather create your own menu, choose from more than 50 recipes in our Thanksgiving collection. Browse the list on the left of this page, or try one of our favorites below.

Brined Turkey with Sage-Butter Rub. Click to view

Turkey and Gravy

• Brined Turkey with Sage-Butter Rub
• Juicy Roast Turkey
• Dry-Brined Roasted Turkey
• Cranberry-Honey Glazed Chicken
• Turkey with Cider-Thyme Gravy
• Stuffed Turkey Breast
• Maple-Brined Grilled Turkey
• Classic Pan Gravy
• Gravy with Cream, Cognac & Thyme

Sautéed Butternut Squash with Walnuts & Parsley Click to view

Stuffing and Sides

• Sautéed Butternut Squash with Walnuts & Parsley
• Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing
• Wild Rice, Apple & Sourdough Stuffing
• Classic Potato Gratin
• Spicy Sweet Potatoes with Orange & Honey
• Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts & Lemon
• Whipped Yukon Golds with Horseradish
• Cranberry Citrus Compote

Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie

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Desserts

• Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie
• Caramel Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Cider Pie
• Autumn Fruit Pie
• Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Gingersnap Crust
• Bourbon-Sweet Potato Pie
• Pear, Cherry & Apricot Crisp
• Pumpkin & Ginger Poundcake 

VIDEO: Turkey Techniques

Video: Carving a Roast Turkey Click to view

Learn expert cooking techniques with FineCooking.com's exclusive videos on demand. Our editors walk you step-by-step through the process of preparing a delicous Thanksgiving meal.

How to Truss a Turkey
Learn this great method for creating an attractive compact shape

Flavor a Roast Turkey with Butter
Dress up the flavor of a roast turkey by putting a flavored butter underneath the skin

Making Gravy from Pan Drippings
Use the turkey drippings and your roasting pan to make a delicious Thanksgiving gravy

How to Carve a Turkey
Learn two techniques: one for carving at the table, and one for carving in the kitchen.

Browse all videos

• Menus, Simple or Spectacular
  • A Feast in Four Hours
  • A Special Vineyard Thanksgiving
  • An Intimate Thanksgiving for Four
• Starters
  • Lemon Poached Shrimp Cocktail
  • Sesame Parmesan Twists
  • Cheddar-Cayenne Coins
  • Spiced Pecans
  • Buttercup Squash & Leek Soup with Herb Butter
  • Wild Mushroom Soup with Sherry & Thyme
  • Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Salad with Spiced Pecan Vinaigrette
  • Warm Salad of Autumn Greens with Plum Vinaigrette
• Side Dishes
  • Cranberry Citrus Compote
  • Cranberry-Orange Relish with Ginger
  • Fresh Cranberry Relish
  • Dressing with Apples, Bacon & Caramelized Onions
  • Wild Rice, Spiced Pecan, Apple & Sourdough Bread Stuffing
  • Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing
  • Browned Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts & Lemon
  • Green Beans with Mushrooms, Cream & Toasted Breadcrumbs
  • Green Beans with Pancetta, Garlic & Herbs
  • Roasted Winter Vegetables with a Maple-Ginger Glaze
  • Slow-Sautéed Broccoli with Parmesan
  • Slow-Sautéed Carrots & Turnips
  • Sautéed Butternut Squash with Lemon, Walnuts, & Parsley
  • Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Orange & Honey
  • Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes with Horseradish
  • Purée of Yukon Gold Potatoes with Parmesan
  • Smashed Red-Skinned Potatoes with Boursin & Scallions
  • Classic Potato Gratin
• Rolls & Bread
  • ‘Cat-Head’ Biscuits
  • Classic Dinner Rolls
  • Roquefort Popovers
  • Cheddar-Pecan Gougères
• Turkey & Gravy
  • Brined Roast Turkey with Sage Butter Rub
  • Juicy Roast Turkey
  • Dry-Brined Roasted Turkey
  • Roasted Turkey with Apple Cider Thyme Gravy
  • Simple Butter-Rubbed Roast Turkey
  • Dried Apricot & Date Stuffed Turkey Breast with Marsala Glaze
  • Cranberry-Honey-Glazed Chicken
  • Classic Pan Gravy
  • Silky Pan Gravy with Cream, Cognac & Thyme
  • Mushroom Gravy
• Desserts
  • Apple Cider Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie with a Leafy Rim
  • Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie
  • Caramel Pumpkin Pie
  • Autumn Fruit Pie
  • Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
  • Pear, Cherry & Apricot Crisp
  • Pumpkin & Ginger Pound Cake
  • Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Gingersnap Crust
  • Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Walnut Streusel
• Delicious Leftovers
  • Book Excerpt: Thanksgiving Leftovers
  • Turkey & Blue Cheese Salad with Tarragon-Mustard Vinaigrette
  • Turkey Cakes with Spicy Roasted Tomato Salsa
  • Turkey Soup with Ginger, Lemon & Mint
  • Turkey Stock
• Tips,Techniques & Solutions
  • Baking a Classic Potato Gratin
  • How to Stuff a Turkey
  • How to Truss a Turkey
  • Making Gravy from Pan Drippings
  • Flavor a Roast Turkey with Butter
  • Carving a Roast Turkey
  • Crimp or Flute a Pie Crust to Seal It
  • Rolling Out a Pie Crust
  • What to Pour on Thanksgiving
  • Shopping for a Turkey
  • To the Rescue! Emergency Fixes for the Top Ten Thanksgiving Disasters