Make this year’s Thanksgiving Meal the best one yet! We’ve gathered some of our favorite recipes and dishes together for an easy, successful holiday gathering.
Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers
There’s nothing better than filling your home with friends, family, and enticing aromas of turkey and other Thanksgiving dishes for your holiday dinner! But, as the host, you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen the entire day. We’ve found some easy recipes for delicious make-ahead appetizers so you can cut back on cooking time, and spend more time with your guests!
Brie & Apple Tart
Preheat your oven to 400°F. On large sheet parchment, roll pastry to 12″ by 10″ rectangle. Fold ½ inch of edges to form a rim. With a fork, poke holes all over pastry sheet. Arrange the Brie in a single layer on the pastry. Top with apple. Sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon each salt and pepper all over apple. Slide parchment onto cookie sheet. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown.
You can prep this dish the night before, and heat up in the oven just minutes before serving. Drizzle honey and garnish this tasty appetizer with almonds and pomegranate seeds.
Cauliflower Soup
Heat butter and oil in large pot. Add onion, leek and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender (but not brown) for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in garlic and add cauliflower, broth, and cream and simmer until cauliflower is tender for about 15 to 18 minutes.
Puree until smooth.
Serve your soup drizzled with Chive Oil and cracked pepper if desired. To make Chive Oil, puree chives and ½ cup canola or grapeseed oil until smooth in a blender. Transfer to a small saucepan and cook on medium until mixture begins to simmer. Pour through a coffee filter set over a measuring cup.
This option is great for making the day before Thanksgiving, but takes less than 30-minutes so can easily be made the day of and left on the warmer for your guests to enjoy throughout the afternoon!
Dried Apricot & Blue Cheese Canapes with Walnuts
This is one of the easiest recipes out there! Place dried apricots on a serving platter and spread blue cheese on each, then top with walnuts and rosemary. Store in your fridge, and when you’re ready to serve, bring them to room temperature, drizzle honey, and enjoy! They’re sweet, tangy, and salty all at the same time, and won’t fill you up before the big meal.
Stick with Tradition
Obviously, the most traditional meats to serve on Thanksgiving Day are Turkey and Ham. Check out how to make the juicy, straightforward roasted turkey here!
Green Bean Casserole with green beans, onion, mushrooms, garlic, and French’s fried onions is a must! Classic Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are probably going to be expected, so don’t let your guests be disappointed!
Get Creative
While everyone loves their traditional Thanksgiving meal, it’s fun to change things up and add unique dishes to the table. Use your creativity this year!
Shingled Sweet Potatoes with Harissa
There’s really no need for marshmallows on these sweet potatoes! Whisk ⅔ cup oil, ⅔ cup harissa, and 1 tbsp. vinegar in a large bowl to combine. Slice your sweet potatoes crosswise on a mandoline ⅛” thick. Mix it all together and season with salt. Then, arrange the potatoes standing upright in concentric circles in a two-quart baking dish tight together. Roast for about an hour, but keep brushing any extra harissa oil onto the potatoes every 15-20 minutes! Find the full detailed recipe here.
Stir-Fried Brussels Sprouts
This sweet, tender-crisp dish will make all of your friends and family who have ever said “I don’t like brussels sprouts!” reconsider themselves.
Toast walnuts in your oven for about 8 minutes. While they’re getting golden brown, remove the cores from the brussels sprouts through the stem ends, and peel off the leaves. Heat some oil in a large skillet and add brussels sprouts to cook for about 4 minutes. Grate lemon zest over brussels sprouts, and then squeeze juice on top. Scatter walnuts over and drizzle with walnut oil! Yum!