Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’re still mulling over your menu… or maybe you haven’t even thought about it yet! With so many Capital-C Classic Thanksgiving dishes out there, I worked myself up hemming and hawing about which dishes were essential. To sort it all out, I started separating them out into categories. Ideally, every Thanksgiving table will have at least one item from each category.
Those essential categories, according to me, are as follows:
The Bird
The Creamy Carbs
The Can-You-Even-Call-Them Veggies
The Actually Veggies
The Absolutely Non-Negotiables
A Little Something Funky
and
The Dessert
There’s a chance that depending on what you choose, one of your items could end up fitting into more than one category. That is absolutely okay, and hell I’d even encourage it. Sometimes less can be more, but more being more is fine too!
Let me explain those categories a little bit more.
The Bird
I’ll call it what it is, the protein. Usually people are the least excited to eat this, and just as usually it ends up taking up the most time and effort. In my eyes, this doesn’t even need to be turkey. In fact, many people may be more happy if it’s not a turkey. Don’t get me wrong, turkey can be damn good, but you could also do any number of other things. A chicken, a ham, a tofurkey, a box of Popeyes chicken, a loaf of polenta. If you say it’s your bird, it’s your bird.
- NYT’s Dry-Brined Turkey With Sheet-Pan Gravy
- Food 52’s Sticky Chili Chicken With Hot & Sour Pineapple
- Shreddable Seitan Vegan Turkey Roast from My Quiet Kitchen
The Creamy Carbs
Most people automatically assume mashed potatoes are going to be included because mashed potatoes are awesome. I raise you, however, Thanksgiving mac and cheese. Some will argue it doesn’t belong, but I ask you this – is there ever really a table that mac and cheese doesn’t belong? There are numerous other directions you could take this… potato soup, cornbread casserole, a loaded baked potato, spinach and artichoke dip served in individual bread bowls. I’m all for mixing it up.
The Can-You-Even-Call-Them Veggies
This category is for your veggies that have been blasted within an inch of their life with cream of something-or-other soup, mini marshmallows, brown sugar, or served with so much bacon they’re hardly recognizable. This is the place for your green bean casseroles, those yams with marshmallow toppings, and even jalapeño poppers.
The Actually Veggies
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory, it’s not a well rounded meal without something at least a little healthy. This is where your kale or your roasted zuchhini comes in. I love a salad with some fresh apples, dried cranberries, kale, romaine and some poppyseed dressing. If your family loves greens this is a great place for collards or creamed spinach, although those can be quite decadent – depending how much pork or butter you use! Regardless of what you choose, some extra veg on the table will make everyone’s tummies happier!
The Absolutely Non-Negotiables
There are a few things that simply must be at a Thanksgiving table, or else it’s just not Thanksgiving. The answer for this may vary per person or family, but for me these items are as follows:
Cranberry Sauce is the glue that binds the whole thing together. You may not realize she packs such a punch but when she is gone you MISS her. She is the best supporting character, often overlooked but incredibly important to the story. Cranberry is one of the flavors that just screams Thanksgiving. If you don’t agree, maybe start by trying something a little different. My grandfather’s wife Emma added crushed pineapple to her canned cranberry sauce (the kind with the whole berries) and that is a tradition I bring back year after year. If it’s the cran that you’re not a fan of, go the Ikea route and try lingonberry jam. Give those berries a chance!
Stuffing (or Dressing, whichever you call it) is the best dish on the whole table when done right. Let’s be honest, nobody’s really after that turkey. A lot of the time the bird can be dry or lacks a little bit of flavor, but the stuffing is there to pick you right back up. There are so many ways to do stuffing that you could have it with every meal and never eat the same dish twice – in fact, why don’t we eat stuffing outside of the holidays? It’s absolutely delicious! I’ve had family members add oysters, the giblets, raisins, sausage, and practically anything else you can imagine to their stuffing. It’s always bomb.
Gravy can really be your saving grace. Cooked the turkey a little too long this year? Add gravy. Grandma made bland mashed potatoes? Gravy ’em up. Stuffing somehow a little dry? Gravy. Your cousin is vegan now? Mushroom gravy. In truth, not enough of our problems are solved with gravy. Simply put, you’ve just gotta have it.
A Little Something Funky
On occasion I like to mix it up, present something a little out of the ordinary that is sure to wow people. Bacon wrapped dates come to mind – they’re so easy and people will be scarfing those down like it’s their job. I’m also a fan of a classic devilled egg, and there are so many fun variations on devilled eggs these days! This can be your pre-dinner snack, a baked brie with fig jam, seeded crackers and an assortment of cheeses nobody can pronounce. Throw down something pickled. No matter what you choose, just get creative with it!
The Dessert
I know, pumpkin pie is the default. I personally prefer sweet potato pie. Apple is always a hit too. All of these are classics for a reason, obviously, but I think Thanksgiving dessert needs a makeover. Throw some banana pudding out there, maybe some creme brulee, cinnamon babka? Keep your classics but if you have the time and energy this season, try something new too!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes?
