Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family and friends to gather and share a hearty meal. If you're in charge of the cooking this year and feel the pressure, worry not! This guide will help you craft a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that will delight your guests, all while keeping stress at bay. From a juicy, perfectly roasted turkey to creamy mashed potatoes, we've got simple recipes and a detailed timeline to get everything ready just in time. Let’s get started on this delicious journey!
Classic Turkey Recipe
Ingredients
1 whole turkey (12-14 pounds)
1 stick of butter, softened
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
4 cups of chicken broth
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
Prepare the turkey: Remove the turkey from its packaging and take the giblets out from the cavity. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels inside and out.
Season the turkey: Rub the softened butter all over the turkey. Sprinkle it generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and rosemary. For extra flavor, make sure to work some of the seasoning under the skin.
Roasting setup: Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the pan, which will help keep the turkey juicy.
Roast: Cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Roast for about 13 minutes per pound, or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
Let it rest: Once it’s fully cooked, let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
1 loaf of bread, cubed and dried
1 stick of butter
1 onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 teaspoons dried sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups of chicken broth
Instructions
Sauté vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and celery. Cook until soft, usually around 5-7 minutes.
Combine: In a bowl, mix the dried bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, sage, thyme, and salt. Pour chicken broth over this mixture and stir to combine.
Bake: Transfer the stuffing to a greased baking dish. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes until a golden crust forms on top.
Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
5 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 stick of butter
1 cup of milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Boil potatoes: In a large pot, cover cubed potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.
Mash: Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot, and add butter and milk. Mash until creamy, adding salt and pepper to taste.
Keep warm: To maintain warmth, cover the pot and set it on the stove over low heat.
Gravy
Ingredients
Pan drippings from the turkey
¼ cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Make the roux: After roasting the turkey, collect the drippings in a measuring cup and let the fat separate.
Thicken the gravy: In the roasting pan, mix together ¼ cup of reserved fat and ¼ cup of flour over medium heat, cooking until golden.
Add broth: Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, stirring until the mixture thickens. Add the drippings for enhanced flavor and season with salt and pepper.
Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
12 ounces of fresh cranberries
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Instructions
Cook cranberries: Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Boil, then simmer until cranberries burst, about 10 minutes.
Add zest: If you choose, stir in orange zest for extra flavor.
Cool: Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it until serving.
Rolls Recipe
(no one is going to complain if you buy premade rolls)
Ingredients
4 cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of sugar
1 packet of instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of warm water
½ cup of melted butter
Instructions
Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
Add wet ingredients: Gradually add warm water and melted butter. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead: On a floured surface, knead for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Let it rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
Shape: Punch down the dough, shape into rolls, and place them in a greased baking dish. Let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
2 cans of green beans (or 4 cups of fresh beans)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 cup of milk
1 cup of fried onions
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Combine: In a bowl, mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and half of the fried onions.
Transfer to a dish: Pour this mixture into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.
Add topping: Remove from the oven, stir, and top with remaining fried onions. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.
Cooking Timeline
To achieve a perfectly timed Thanksgiving dinner where every dish is hot and ready, follow this timeline:
Day before: Prepare the cranberry sauce and stuffing. Store in the refrigerator overnight. You could even make your bread dough for tomorrow's rolls.
Morning of: Preheat the oven for the turkey. Begin roasting the turkey.
1 hour before turkey is done: Prepare mashed potatoes and set them to keep warm. Prep the green bean casserole for baking.
30 minutes before turkey is done: Bake the stuffing and green bean casserole.
15 minutes before turkey is done: cook rolls
Cook gravy: After removing the turkey, make the gravy while baking or warming the other dishes.
By following these straightforward recipes and following the cooking timeline, you can create a delightful holiday feast while enjoying the company of loved ones.
A Joyful Thanksgiving Celebration
Thanksgiving should be a time of joy, not stress. By planning ahead and sticking to these easy recipes, you can create a festive meal that everyone will love. Savor the dishes you’ve crafted, share laughs around the table, and let the festivities begin!
Happy Thanksgiving! May your table overflow with love, laughter, and delicious food.
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