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Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu: 12 Easy & Amazing Recipes

  • Author: basmer1517
  • Total Time: 4 hours
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Low Lactose

Description

A classic Thanksgiving dinner menu featuring traditional dishes like roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, designed for a joyful and stress-free holiday feast. This menu emphasizes simple ingredients and foolproof methods to create edible memories.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 whole turkey (12–14 lbs)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 6 cups day-old bread cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 tsp dried sage
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F. Pat the turkey dry and rub it all over with softened butter, including under the breast skin.
  2. Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Pour chicken broth into the bottom of the pan.
  3. Tent loosely with heavy-duty aluminum foil and roast for 2 hours.
  4. Remove the foil and continue roasting, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices, for approximately 1 more hour, or until the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F on a meat thermometer.
  5. While the turkey roasts, prepare the stuffing: Toss bread cubes with diced onion, celery, sage, and thyme in a large bowl. Add about 1 cup of broth from the turkey pan to moisten the mixture.
  6. Transfer the stuffing to a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until the top is crispy.
  7. For mashed potatoes: Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15 minutes). Drain well.
  8. Mash the potatoes gently with warmed milk and butter until smooth but still textured. Keep warm.
  9. For cranberry sauce: Combine cranberries, sugar, and orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
  10. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until most cranberries have burst. Remove from heat and let cool; it will thicken as it sits.
  11. Once the turkey is cooked, let it rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 20 minutes before carving.
  12. Carve the turkey and serve with the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

Notes

  • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator for 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds. A 12-pound turkey needs 3 days.
  • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the turkey is cooked to 165°F in the breast, thigh, and wing joint.
  • Allow the turkey to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes before carving to retain juices.
  • Stuffing can be prepared ahead of time; cube bread days in advance or toast them. Chop vegetables the night before.
  • Frozen cranberries can be used for the sauce; they may require a few extra minutes of cooking.
  • Reheat mashed potatoes slowly on the stove with a splash of milk or broth to maintain creaminess.
  • For gluten-free options, use gluten-free bread or quinoa for stuffing and cornstarch or arrowroot powder as a gravy thickener.
  • For dairy-free options, use olive oil or coconut milk for mashed potatoes and olive oil or duck fat for basting the turkey.
  • Vegetarian options include stuffed acorn squash or portobello mushrooms as a main, vegetable broth and walnuts for stuffing, and mushroom gravy.
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Category: Holiday
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 plate
  • Calories: 850
  • Sugar: 25g
  • Sodium: 1200mg
  • Fat: 45g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 25g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 75g
  • Fiber: 8g
  • Protein: 55g
  • Cholesterol: 180mg

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Find it online: https://www.recipesmollybaz.com/thanksgiving-dinner-menu/