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 | Updated November 9, 2020
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.

                    Essential Thanksgiving Tools

                    We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission.

                    1 of 7Courtesy of Made In Cookware

                    Made In Cookware’s Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan

                    Cheaper than the competition and induction-burner-compatible. 

                    Made In Cookware's Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan, $119
                       
                    2 of 7Courtesy of Willams Sonoma

                    Shun Classic Blonde 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

                    Don’t bother with the single-purpose carving knife. Buy this chic, blonde, Pakawood-handled, Japanese-made chef’s knife that’s got all the ceremonial swagger but year-round usefulness.

                    Shun Classic Blonde 8-Inch Chef's Knife, $150
                       
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                    3 of 7Courtesy of Sur la Table

                    John Boos Cutting Board

                    You’re going need that little juice groove. Made of antimicrobial maple, it’s handsome enough to use as a rustic serving platter. 

                    John Boos Cutting Board, $78
                       
                    4 of 7Courtesy of Filson

                    Filson Tin Cloth Apron

                    Sturdy and large enough to protect you from errant cranberry juice, spattering turkey fat, and spilled Pinot Noir.

                    Filson Tin Cloth Apron, $95
                       
                    5 of 7Courtesy of OXO

                    OXO 9-Inch Pie Plate with Lid

                    Slightly deeper than competition, this updated version of the classic glass pie plate also comes with a handy domed lid that’ll protect even the loftiest cream pies.

                    OXO 9-Inch Pie Plate with Lid, $12.99
                       
                    6 of 7Courtesy of Amazon

                    OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Fat Separator

                    Gotta love a fat separator for easily discarding the lipids while tidily reserving the drippings (which have about 10 times the flavor of the turkey itself). Plus it doubles as a measuring pitcher you can use the rest of the year.

                    OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Fat Separator, $32.95
                       
                    7 of 7

                    How to Style Your Thanksgiving Table

                    The finishing touch your Thanksgiving feast needs might not be another pie—it might be one of these stylish and functional accessories.

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