Okay friends, we’ve been revving our Thanksgiving engines by slowly rolling out the recipes we’re planning to serve at our house this year, and today’s the day when we’re finally bringing it all together.
I had hoped to photograph Adam’s step-by-step process for the fried turkey he’s made for the past 7 or 8 years, but the month got away from me… next year! But never fear, I’ve included the recipe he’s making this year from Food & Wine, along with all the best sides — some are CS originals, others we’ve culled from other foodie friends.
Our family’s Thanksgiving is always a potluck, so in addition to these, our meal will include my dad’s classic cornbread stuffing, my mother-in-law’s famous broccoli casserole, and of course my mama’s pumpkin and pecan pies. Just so you know, we’re not forgetting the classics. 😉 Scroll on for the ultimate Thanksgiving Day menu I cannot wait to dig into in (eek!) just 10 days…
Deep Fried Turkey Brined in Cayenne and Brown Sugar, from Food & Wine
Frying a turkey is actually super easy — and bonus points that it frees up valuable oven space for other dishes. It’s all about having your supplies ready to go, an open space outside or in the garage, and a timer so you can keep it in the hot oil for exactly the right amount of time. The crispy skin and succulent turkey is always a major crowd-pleaser at our house.
Gin & Tonic Bar by The Forest Feast
Thanksgiving cocktails should be simple (’cause you’ve already got enough going on in the kitchen), FUN (obvi), and not too sweet (’cause you know you’re about to have multiple slivers from allll the pies.) This Gin & Tonic Bar setup from my friend Erin Gleeson checks all the boxes.
Kale & Wild Rice Salad with Maple Mustard Vinaigrette, by Two Peas and Their Pod
This salad is bursting with harvest flavors, lots of crunch, hearty grains, seasonal fruit, and that insanely fall-feeling maple-mustard dressing. It’s your wild rice dish and your green salad all in one, and you’ll want to devour it.
Melting Sweet Potatoes, from Feel Good Foodie
Aptly names, these melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes are caramelized to let all the veggie’s natural sweetness shine. Super tender and packed with flavor.
Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts, by Half-Baked Harvest
I’m already obsessed with Brussels sprouts, but when you add parmesan, lemon zest, and hazelnuts to the mix… consider me dead.
Beet & Blood Orange Salad by Athena Calderone
Gorgeous blood oranges and earthy beets get married for the most stunning salad of the season.
Easier-Than-Pie Warm Apple Tart, from Everyday is Saturday
The most artfully-arranged dessert for the Thanksgiving table, this tart has all the goods of apple pie with a quarter of the work, tucked into an easy press-in crust.
