Hosting Thanksgiving should be enjoyable—but with all the shopping, cleaning, planning, and cooking involved, it doesn't often feel that way. A foolproof, simple Thanksgiving menu goes a long way toward making the holiday meal one that even the host can enjoy. We turned to the best-selling Epicurious Cookbook for a fuss-free feast of all-star Thanksgiving favorites, including turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes, plus a pumpkin layer cake and apple pie for dessert. All the recipes have four-fork ratings, so they're among the very best on Epicurious. And these recipes just flat-out work
electric motor dc, which means you can focus on enjoying the friends and family gathered around your table. Ready for your most satisfying, stress-free Thanksgiving ever? Here's the plan.
Pre-Dinner Bites and Drinks
Pop a bottle or two of Champagne or prosecco and serve a light spread of pickled vegetables, cheese, crackers, and one or two purchased dips or spreads. Remember: The point is to keep Thanksgiving simple and enjoyable, and besides, you don't want guests filling up on hors d'oeuvres. Hosting a cocktail-loving crowd? Steer clear of elaborate, time-consuming holiday cocktails, and instead, set out your favorite spirits, mixers, and garnishes at a self-serve bar where guests can easily make their own drinks.
Tom Colicchio's Herb-Butter Turkey
This easy turkey recipe is a great choice for a simple Thanksgiving menu. Rubbing butter and herbs under the turkey's skin is one of the most effective ways to add flavor and moisture to the holiday bird. Chef Tom Colicchio's butter blend
ip networking, made with thyme, tarragon, rosemary, and sage, is a winner, but feel free to experiment a bit and find your favorite herb combination. Another bright idea from an Epicurious member review: Add freshly grated lemon zest to the butter rub to give your turkey some citrus flavor.
New England Sausage, Apple, and Dried Cranberry Stuffing
Nothing fancy or complicated here—just a classic sausage-studded stuffing that can be stuffed inside the turkey or baked separately alongside the bird. Be sure to drizzle your stuffing with extra turkey or chicken stock first if you decide to bake it casserole-style. Using a rich homemade stock guarantees the best flavor, but canned low-sodium broth works too. If you plan to stuff the turkey, use hot, just-made stuffing. And when you take the temperature of the meat, be sure to stick the thermometer into the stuffing as well. If it's not 165°F, spoon the stuffing into a dish and return it to the oven (or pop it in the microwave) until it reaches that temperature.
To put your own personal spin on this recipe, Epicurious users suggest swapping in challah for the white bread, and raisins or dried apricots for the dried cranberries. See our Stuffing and Dressing Primer for more tips
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Brussels Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots
The secret to a stress-free Thanksgiving menu: speedy stovetop side dishes like this one, which can be quickly put together at the last minute, while the turkey is resting—plus, it doesn't require any oven space. To get a jump start on this easy sauté, one Epicurious member recommends prepping all the ingredients ahead and storing them in plastic. Keep the butter, shallots, and Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator; the rest can stay at room temperature. This recipe is generous for 8 people, but leftovers pair perfectly with fried eggs for brunch the next day.
Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cherries and Cloves
Cranberry sauce will stay fresh in the fridge for 4 days, making it an ideal dish to prepare in advance. Refrigerate your cranberry sauce in an airtight container, or a jar or bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap, so it won't absorb any fridge odors. Extra cranberry sauce can be enjoyed on your Turkey Day–leftovers sandwich, but we also recommend spooning some over vanilla ice cream—if your sauce is too thick, gently warm it in a small saucepan over low heat.
Kale and Potato Purée
Hearty kale puts a fresh spin on puréed potatoes in this easy 3-ingredient side dish. You can make the purée up to a day in advance and then warm it up over low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. To add some umami goodness, here's a genius idea from an Epicurious member review: Sprinkle the top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake
Packed with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg, as well as pumpkin purée, orange zest, and coconut, this is one flavor bomb of a dessert. It's also completely foolproof, so you can make it with kids—just omit the rum. You can also make this cake ahead of time, because it's very moist and won't dry out. Once the layers are completely cool, wrap them in a double layer of plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 month. If you prefer your cream cheese frosting more tangy than sweet, add the confectioners' sugar gradually, and taste as you go.
Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie
This crumble-topped beauty proves it's possible to improve upon classic apple pie. The homemade dough uses both butter and shortening for rich flavor and tender, flaky pastry. Be sure to use chilled butter and frozen vegetable shortening, and feel free to use a food processor to make the dough. We recommend serving this apple pie warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.
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