Thanksgiving

102 Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Ideas (Turkey! Sides! Pie! And More!)

A traditional Thanksgiving menu features all the classics: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie—lots of pie. You'll find recipes for all those things below, plus recipes for biscuits, sides, and even a few options for that new classic: the Thanksgiving cake.

By The Editors of Epicurious

November 20, 2019

Top view of roast turkey with herbs on a white platter with a side of shallotdijon gravy.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
1/102
Salted Roast Turkey with Herbs and Shallot-Dijon Gravy
Looking for a classic turkey with some added depth of flavor? This is the one for you. The meat tastes of sage, rosemary, and thyme.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
2/102
Very Classic Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
If you feel like skipping the infused-butter baste, brush occasionally with a light coat of extra-virgin olive oil to get that golden brown skin.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Laura Rege
3/102
Turkey for Twenty
Roasting turkey in pieces is a great strategy when cooking for a large crowd. You can buy the turkey already cut up, separate two turkeys yourself, or ask your butcher to do the work for you.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
4/102
The Simplest Roast Turkey
Perfect for first-timers and holiday pros, this Gourmet classic is seasoned simply and comes out beautifully bronzed.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson
5/102
Braised Turkey Legs
Cook turkey legs separately from the breasts and be prepared for the greatest holiday-food “Aha!” moment ever.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
6/102
Grilled Turkey Under a Brick
A 24- to 72-hour dry brine inspired by barbecue flavors gives this spatchcocked bird a ton of flavor, while the bricks (or cinder block!) help press the bird onto the grill for even heat exposure.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
7/102
3-Ingredient Thanksgiving Turkey with Orange and Sage
Spatchcocking the turkey before roasting ensures that all parts of the bird will cook evenly at the same rate—and in just 1 1/2 hours.
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Photo by Bobbi Lin
8/102
Bourbon and Brown Sugar Glazed Turkey
Separate cooking techniques for breast and legs in this recipe ensure that the different cuts reach their most delicious potential.
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Photo by Alex Lau
9/102
Easy Roast Turkey With No-Roux Gravy
It’s important to follow the measurements for the salt and to use a low-sodium stock (or, better yet, a homemade one) for this recipe—otherwise, the gravy could wind up being too salty.
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Michael Graydon and Nicole Herriott
10/102
Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs
Preparing the breast and legs with distinct cooking techniques results in unbelievable flavor and texture for each. In this recipe, the breast is brined overnight before roasting, and the legs are cooked in duck fat and left to confit until fall-off-the-bone tender.
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Photo by Gentl & Hyers
11/102
Boudin Blanc–Stuffed Turkey Breasts with Chestnuts
White meat becomes rich and luxurious with the addition of boudin blanc sausage, white wine, and plenty of butter. This recipe is a little work, but it's a stunner worthy of this special holiday.
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Gieves Anderson, food styling by Anna Hampton
12/102
Quick-Roasted Turkey with Parsley-Caper Sauce
Spatchcocking your turkey significantly cuts the roasting time, and it's easy to dojust take out the backbone and flatten the bird. If you're nervous about doing it yourself, just ask a butcher at the meat counter to handle it for you.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson
13/102
Cider-Brined Turkey with Star Anise and Cinnamon
Many of the ingredients in this recipe are classic 'red-cooking' flavorings used in Chinese cooking to braise and glaze meats like pork or duck. Note: Brining the turkey overnight keeps it moist and seasons the interior of the meat.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
14/102
Roasted Turkey Legs With Ghee
These crispy roasted turkey legs are easy to pop in the oven; serve with a super-moist sous vide turkey breast or on their own for a smaller feast.
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