How to Plan Your Thanksgiving Dinner Menu + Fun Holiday Quiz

Looking for some classic Thanksgiving dinner menu and some new ideas for your Thanksgiving feast? Look no further! This simple guide will get your dinner table ready for this special event. This guide helps you add a little spice and depth to your classic Thanksgiving family recipes. And anyone can definitely pull off the best feast with these easy, yet delicious holiday recipes.

Simple Guide to Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

It’s that time of year again; it’s time to plan out your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Perhaps you have tried and true recipes that you like to cook up year after year. I do too, but each year I like to try at least one new recipe, to change things up a bit and see if I can find a new family favorite.

As always, I prefer making things from scratch, rather than buying them pre-packaged, because I think homemade tastes so much better.  Plus, I like to be the one controlling the ingredients of the foods I eat. That means, of course, that I like to make everything from the mashed potatoes (no boxes!) to the cranberry sauce.

Appetizers

1. Greens with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

How about a fall salad? This greens with pomegranate vinaigrette salad is full of nutrients; plus the dressing is loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats.

2. Warm Brie with Cranberries and Walnuts

Or this beautiful Thanksgiving appetizer? This recipe is one of the most reliable crowd-pleasers around the holidays!

3. Cheese and Walnut Stuffed Dates

Cheese and walnut stuffed dates recipe is a nice last-minute snack and is easily customizable – all you need is basically just assembling everything you can find in the fridge and pantry.

4. Stuffed Mushrooms

These stuffed mushrooms are a healthy and tasty way to begin dinner. You'll love this Thanksgiving appetizer!

Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes

1. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are probably my classic all-time favorite Thanksgiving side.  This recipe is smooth and creamy, makes a perfect side dish for any meal.

2. Smashed Potatoes

Perhaps, though, you’d prefer these Smashed Potatoes. This recipe may sound simple but the roasting after boiling makes the inside incredibly tender yet amazingly crisp on the outside!

3. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Kefir Sour Cream

If you are looking to make sweet potatoes, you can’t go wrong with these Baked Sweet Potatoes with Kefir Sour Cream.

4. Spiral Sweet Potatoes with Almonds and Sage

Or you can try them in a different way, like these spiral sweet potatoes with almonds and sage.

5. Sweet Potato Mash with Tangerine Balsamic Glazed Red Onions

Sweet potatoes can also be served as a Sweet Potato Mash with Tangerine Balsamic Glazed Red Onions. Another great Thanksgiving side dish you can make.

Other Side Dishes

1. Green Bean Casserole

A classic Thanksgiving side dish, Green Bean Casserole is probably one of the most popular sides.

2. Maple Thyme Roasted Carrots

Having other vegetables is important, too, though.  How about these Maple Thyme Roasted Carrots?

3. Cauliflower in a Feta Sauce

Or this Cauliflower in a Feta Sauce? If you are a big fan of cauliflower, then this recipe is for you!

4. Cranberry and Sausage Cornbread Stuffing

Whether or not you stuff your turkey, Thanksgiving isn’t the same without stuffing.  This Cranberry and Sausage Cornbread Stuffing looks great to me.

5. Honey Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash

Other Fall vegetables like this Honey Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash are also a perfect fit for Thanksgiving.

Cranberry Sauces

I’ll give you two different alternatives to the stuff in a jar or can…

1. Roasted Cranberry Sauce

Here's a homemade cranberry sauce to complete your Thanksgiving dinner. This would be wonderful served as a simple condiment on the Thanksgiving table.

2. Classic Cranberry Sauce

Nothing can ever beat the classic. This classic cranberry sauce has a perfect combination of sweet and sour, with a little kick of citrus and some cinnamon.

Breads & Spreads

1. Sourdough Dinner Bread

Serve up a classic for your Thanksgiving dinner. This sourdough dinner bread has a great dipping qualities for sauces and mild sourness makes a nice compliment to a savory winter meal.

2. Buttermilk Biscuits

Completely from scratch buttermilk biscuits. This recipe is so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.

3. Sweet Potato Biscuits with Maple Cinnamon Butter

Or, better yet, how about combining your sweet potatoes and biscuits and trying these Sweet Potato Biscuits with Maple Cinnamon Butter?

4. Raspberry Honey Butter

Whichever bread you choose, this raspberry honey butter will accompany it well.

Drinks

1. Spice Pomegranate Cider

How about a festive drink to accompany dinner? This spiced pomegranate cider might appeal to you.

2. Pumpkin Spice Latte

This Ppumpkin spice latte is good enough to be dessert, especially if you’re too full for pie.

Desserts

1. Apple Pie

If you still have room for pie, though, apple pie is a classic.

2. Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust

If you want to try a classic in a slightly different way, though, perhaps you’ll enjoy this apple pie with cheddar cheese crust.

3. Butternut Squash Pie

Butternut squash pie is basically like pumpkin pie, but there are no cans involved here!

4. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Pie Bars

A twist on having pie for dessert, these dark chocolate hazelnut pie bars will satisfy the chocolate lovers. This is sure to be a big hit on your Thanksgiving dinner table.

5. Gluten Free Chocolate Chai Muffins

This gluten free chocolate chai muffins are moist inside with an excellent crumble. You can add some sort of topping or you can leave it plain.

6. Acorn Squash Custard

If you don’t want pie, though, this acorn squash custard looks tasty. This recipe is not only yummy, it's delicious, too.

7. Pumpkin Mousse

Pumpkin Mousse is a new way to enjoy this fall favorite. This recipe is a perfect light ending to a typically heavy meal.

Ways to Use the Leftovers?

1. Turkey Rice Soup

Don’t throw the skin or bones away or you wouldn’t be able to try my favorite way of serving the leftovers, a turkey rice soup.

2. Turkey Nachos

These turkey nachos look like a great idea, too! This is a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner menu.

I hope this has helped give you some ideas for planning out your Thanksgiving meal.

And now for some Thanksgiving fun! 

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Did you enjoy our list of easy Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas? Let me know in the comments section below!

And if you want to have a cute Thanksgiving dessert, then learn how to make choco turkey pretzels!

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