This post includes traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas plus a planning calendar so you can create your own menu and traditions for this annual gathering. I include my best recipes, tips and tricks from years of hosting so you enjoy a delicious and stress-free holiday.
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Start your own Thanksgiving traditions
Thanksgiving tradition in our home started with my now tattered copy of The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins. We would trade off hosting Thanksgiving with my brother and sister-in-law, and we always made The Silver Palate turkey and stuffing.
Over the years, my husband and I became the Thanksgiving hosts and my brother and SIL host Hanukkah. The recipes have also evolved and occasionally a new non-traditional dinner idea finds a home, like key lime pie. But one thing always remains the same: on Thanksgiving, calories don't count and seconds are a must.
Plan your menu and relax!
Hosting Thanksgiving can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to. Whether it's your first Thanksgiving or you're an experienced host, a Thanksgiving menu plan and checklist will take all the stress out of the preparation.
Prior to the pandemic, we always ran/walked a 5K race the morning of Turkey Day and still had everything ready to go by mid afternoon. And you can too!
No matter what's on my Thanksgiving menu - traditional or non-traditional dishes - my general planning calendar guides me through the process with ease every single year. Sub in your specific recipes and planning details and you'll reach the Thanksgiving finish line with ease! (double click on the calendar for a printable pdf)
Traditional and non-traditional dinner ideas
From a non-traditional fantastic vegetarian entree to a traditional fool proof dry brine turkey plus all the sides and desserts, these recipes will help you create the Thanksgiving gathering that you want without the stress.
Traditional turkey and trimmings
Our family is definitely rooted in our traditional Thanksgiving dinner - the turkey, gravy, stuffing combo. Once we figured out how to make a moist turkey every time by dry brining, the planning became so much easier. I highly recommend this approach to preparing the turkey - no leaky wet brine solutions and perfect results every time!
I am also a big proponent of taking the time to make your own homemade turkey stock and stuffing cubes. Each one will elevate the flavor of your gravy and stuffing so much!
Non-traditional main course ideas
Now let's look at some non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas. Feeding non-meat eaters? My vegetable Wellington, inspired by a Melissa Clark recipe, will please your vegetarian eaters, I promise.
Don't like traditional turkey? What about your favorite roast chicken dish? Sure, it's a non-traditional dinner idea but who cares. Eat what you love. I enjoy the clementine chicken shown below because it's so flavorful and uses seasonal citrus. Perfect for November.
Other non-traditional ideas? Maybe you have a small crowd and don't like a lot of leftovers, use a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey! Not too far from tradition, but a turkey breast is a bit easier to wrangle and quicker to cook.
Traditional side dishes
I love to use seasonal vegetables and pick dishes that I can prepare ahead. Any roasted vegetable, especially root vegetables and squashes lend themselves to roasting, a great technique for holiday vegetable side dishes. Use some pomegranate arils to decorate the top for flavor and color.
Cranberry jam can also work as sauce and can be prepared ahead and even frozen. And cornbread can be used to make stuffing cubes or serve as a side dish. And don't forget the dinner rolls and mashed potatoes cuz there are never enough carbs on Thanksgiving right?
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Non-traditional side dishes
Do you love to serve soup but it's just one too many dishes with all the other food on the buffet? Try serving the soup in shot glasses! It's a fun way to transition from appetizers and announce the main course is coming. You can use a traditional seasonal soup but serve it in a non-traditional format.
Or how about rice? My Persian friend said they love to serve basmati race with their Thanksgiving meal. My husband insists on a pot of rice because it's such a great way to enjoy his gravy and it's what he grew up eating.
Traditional desserts
We like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving because we love to eat it for breakfast the next day! Really! Traditional desserts for Thanksgiving are rooted in the seasonal offerings - pumpkins, persimmons, pecans, or even cranberries or creative combinations of a few of them. Here are a some ideas to get you started.
Non-traditional desserts
But who says you need to follow tradition? If pumpkin pie is not your thing or even if it is, feel free to diverge. We started serving key lime pie one year and now it isn't Thanksgiving without it.
My cranberry orange rugelach were born when Thanksgiving and Hanukkah overlapped. Or try cheesecake. Eat what you love and just enjoy the day!
Non-traditional appetizers and cocktails
One year I served cocktail cookies as part of our appetizers. What? A cookie appetizer? Yup - it's a thing and they are lovely and fun and I highly recommend them. Pair with champagne, a cocktail, an aperitif and enjoy this non-traditional approach to your appetizer course!
I also love this pomegranate mule because it uses seasonal pomegranate arils (seeds) and is just so festive for the whole holiday season.
What to do with those leftovers?!
Personally I love leftovers. Day after, you'll find me eating pumpkin pie for breakfast, then a turkey sandwich for lunch with cranberry sauce on a soft roll. And for dinner, we usually make a full-on replica of the big meal with whatever is left. But by Day 2, it can be fun to transform those leftovers into a new meal. Here are a few ideas.
Have questions about any of these traditional or non-traditional Thanksgiving recipes? The OMG! Yummy Thanksgiving hotline is always open! You can reach me by:
- Leaving a comment on this post below
- Leaving a comment or message on Instagram: @omgyummy
- Leaving a comment on any OMG! Yummy Facebook post.
- Emailing me at beth (at) omgyummy (dot) com.
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Click here for a web story of traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas or one that includes some non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas as well.
Laura
Loving all these ideas! I always throw in a new and unexpected dish in my thanksgiving spread, along with the traditional favorites. It's a great way to mix things up a bit! Those challah rolls are calling my name!
Beth Lee
It's fun to mix it up - keep the basics so the crowd doesn't go crazy 🙂 and then spice it up with something new.