15 Thanksgiving Day Menus

Feasts big and small celebrate the flavors of the West, from a traditional ranch feast to island fare and vegetarian delights

Sunset  – September 16, 2009
1 of 15 Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Diner-style Thanksgiving

Menu: Diner-style Thanksgiving

This menu evokes classic American style with a modern Western twist: turkey sliders, fried green beans and shallot rings, pumpkin bourbon shakes, and mini pecan pies.

2 of 15 Photo by Yunhee Kim

Farm-to-feast menu

Menu: Farm-to-feast Thanksgiving

This locavore menu celebrates heritage turkey, wild mushrooms, Ozette potatoes, and cranberries all grown in the West.

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3 of 15 Photo by Shelly Strazis; styling by Valerie Aikman-Smith

Mexican feast on the beach

Menu: Thanksgiving on the beach

If the weather's warm, take your holiday outdoors. The turkey cooks on the grill, and traditional side dishes get a Mexican Thanksgiving twist.

4 of 15 Photography by Leigh Beisch; food styling by Dan Becker

Thanksgiving menus: Five-star modern feast

Menu: Five-star modern Thanksgiving

Time-saving techniques turn this sophisticated Thanksgiving menu into an easy to prepare feast for the modern family.

Butterfly and grill the turkey this year and it will be ready for the table in no time.

5 of 15 Photography by Leigh Beisch; styling by Dan Becker

Traditional 2.0

Menu: Traditional Thanksgiving 2.0

The traditional Thanksgiving menu gets an upgrade via flavorful ingredients that boost the holiday classics. Mascarpone Chive Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry Cointreau Sauce are sure to be perennial favorites.

6 of 15 Photography by Leigh Beisch; styling by Dan Becker

Splendid vegetarian

Menu: Splendid vegetarian

Thanksgiving is about much more than just turkey. This year, give thanks for the season's rich bounty with this menu, featuring a recipe for Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach.

7 of 15 James Carrier

Big family, big meal

Menu:

Divvy up the work with this mostly portable Thanksgiving meal. The Gorgonzola Broccoli Casserole is always a hit.

    8 of 15 Lisa Romerein

    A Southwest Thanksgiving

    Menu:

    All the traditional favorites with a spicy, Southwest flair. You'll love the Cornbread-Chorizo Dressing and Chipotle-Corn Mashed Potatoes.

      9 of 15 James Carrier

      Vegetarian Feast

      Menu:

      This colorful and festive vegetarian meal showcases the season's harvest.

        10 of 15 James Carrier

        Potluck Thanksgiving

        Menu:

        This menu was inspired by a group of friends who loved to cook together. Each contributed a favorite dish to the fresh, abundant feast.

          11 of 15 James Carrier

          Elegant harvest dinner

          Menu:

          Fall fruits and nuts abound in this fresh, inventive twist on the classic Thanksgiving meal.

            12 of 15 Lisa Romerein

            Aloha Thanksgiving

            Menu:

            Coconut, papaya, and other island staples give the recipes in this Hawaiian Thanksgiving menu an exotic touch.

              13 of 15 Jim Henkens; Karen Shinto

              Northwest Thanksgiving

              Menu:

              This version of the classic feast is brimming with the Northwest's bounty of hazelnuts, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.

                14 of 15 Sunset

                Ranch-style Thanksgiving

                Menu:

                Rich colors and deep autumnal flavors shine in this rustic Thanksgiving meal.

                  15 of 15 James Carrier

                  Intimate Thanksgiving for two

                  Menu:

                  Traditional turkey gets replaced with cornish game hens for a pared-down Thanksgiving dinner that's perfectly suited for two.

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