Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Recipes with a LinsFood Twist

I’m not American, so I’m not going to pretend this is the definitive guide to a traditional American Thanksgiving.

What I can give you is a very good collection of recipes for a celebratory autumn feast.

Some are unmistakably Thanksgiving – roast turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie aren’t fooling anyone – while others are recipes I’d happily put on the table when feeding family and friends at this time of year.

That includes alternative centrepieces, autumn vegetables, make-ahead dishes and desserts that make the most of pumpkin and other seasonal ingredients.

And yes, quite a few of them work for Christmas too.

Good food is allowed to have more than one job.

Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Turkey is the traditional centrepiece, and my Marmalade Roast Turkey works particularly well if you want something recognisable but with a little more flavour.

But you certainly don’t have to serve turkey.

A Three Fish Roast makes an impressive pescatarian Thanksgiving centrepiece, while my Slow Braised Lamb Shanks are another option if you’d simply prefer something different.

There’s no rule saying the centre of the table has to gobble.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

For me, the sides are often the best part of a roast dinner anyway.

Autumn vegetables such as pumpkin and butternut squash are obvious choices, along with potatoes, greens and all the dishes designed to soak up gravy and sauces.

My Roasted Butternut Squash with Burrata and Spicy Basil Oil, for example, isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving side in the slightest, but that’s rather the point of this collection.

Choose a few dishes that work together rather than feeling obliged to recreate someone else’s Thanksgiving menu.

Cranberry Sauce

This one absolutely belongs here.

My Homemade Cranberry Sauce is ridiculously easy to make and can be prepared in advance, which is exactly the sort of recipe I want when cooking a large meal.

Make more than you think you’ll need, because the leftovers are useful for sandwiches, cheese boards and all sorts of post-Thanksgiving improvisation.

Pumpkin Recipes for Thanksgiving

If ever there were a time to embrace pumpkin, this is it.

You’ll find both Eggless Pumpkin Pie and Eggless Pumpkin Cheesecake in the collection below, alongside savoury pumpkin recipes.

The pumpkin pie is especially useful if you’re looking for an egg-free Thanksgiving dessert, while the cheesecake offers a less traditional way of getting the obligatory pumpkin onto the table.

There are only so many pies one household can reasonably be expected to eat.

Alternative Thanksgiving Recipes

You don’t need to reproduce the classic American Thanksgiving menu for the meal to feel festive.

Perhaps you’re cooking for a smaller group, feeding pescatarians or vegetarians, or you simply don’t fancy roasting an enormous turkey.

Fish, lamb, squash dishes, interesting vegetable sides and less traditional desserts can all form part of a Thanksgiving meal.

That’s really where this collection comes into its own: familiar Thanksgiving flavours alongside dishes that are a little less expected.

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

When several dishes need to reach the table at roughly the same time, anything that can be made ahead is useful.

The cranberry sauce, desserts and many sauces can be prepared in advance. Some vegetable dishes can be partly cooked ahead, while slow-cooked mains free you from trying to squeeze everything into the oven at once.

A little planning also means you might actually get to sit down with everyone instead of spending Thanksgiving conducting air-traffic control in the kitchen.

Thanksgiving Desserts

Pumpkin may get most of the attention, but it doesn’t have to be the only dessert on the table.

The Eggless Pumpkin Cheesecake is a particularly useful make-ahead dessert, while the Eggless Pumpkin Pie gives you the recognisable Thanksgiving classic without eggs.

Cheesecakes, autumn fruit desserts and rich chocolate puddings can all work beautifully after a celebratory meal.

And because Thanksgiving sits so close to the Christmas season, you’ll inevitably find some crossover between the two collections.

I’m perfectly happy with that. A good cheesecake doesn’t check the calendar before allowing itself to be served.

Looking for Christmas Recipes?

If you’re already planning December – or you’ve landed here looking for a recipe that works for both holidays – head over to my Christmas Recipes from Around the World collection.

You’ll find festive mains, sides, desserts, baking, party food and drinks there.

Have a family Thanksgiving recipe you’d like to share with me? I’d love to hear about it. And if you’re looking for something you don’t see here, let me know.