Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. It’s the holiday we spend with our family and friends, talking about what we’re thankful for and, of course, eating great food. Whether it’s your first-time cooking Thanksgiving dinner or you’ve done it a thousand times before, the thought of cooking a big meal for a lot of people can be intimidating! Luckily for us, Michigan food bloggers have created easy to follow recipes so that you can prepare a meal that will impress without all of the stress.
Read through these recipes from our favorite bloggers to get inspiration and step-by-step guides on cooking your entire meal, starting with the main course and going all the way through dessert. We’re sure you’ll find something here that your whole family will enjoy!
The Main Course
The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey
When it comes to Thanksgiving, your main course sets the tone for your entire meal. If you’re the one responsible for cooking the bird this year, check out these tips from Kitchen Joy before you get started! She outlines the best brine recipe, gravy recipe and even how to make a delicious sandwich with your leftovers.
Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner
For those who are planning on a smaller Thanksgiving this year, we can’t recommend this Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner from Rachel Cooks enough. This easy recipe lets you make the turkey breast, stuffing, potatoes and asparagus all on one pan so you can enjoy time with your family instead of cooking or cleaning up.
Easy Cornish Hens Recipe
If you’re looking for a smaller alternative to turkey this Thanksgiving, try This Worthey Life’s Easy Cornish Hens recipe! It allows you to make small, individual birds for each guest and comes together easily in a Dutch Oven.
Side Dishes
Ultimate Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This show-stopping side dish from Liz on her blog The Lemon Bowl features sweet potatoes whipped with pure maple syrup, creamy whole milk yogurt and a hint of orange zest! The best part? It only takes about 20 minutes to make.
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
If you’re on the hunt for a slightly healthier potato option this year, don’t miss Fit Mitten Kitchen’s Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, which swaps some of the potatoes for fresh cauliflower and plenty of fragrant garlic.
Aged Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
While classic mashed potatoes are already pretty tasty, if you want to do something a bit different this year, try this recipe for Aged Cheddar Mashed Potatoes from Foxes Love Lemons! It includes a hunk of aged cheddar cheese, white pepper and plenty of butter.
Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
While soup may not be the most classic Thanksgiving side dish, we think this Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup from Fred’s Food Adventures will add the perfect sophisticated (and tasty!) touch to your feast this year.
Creamy Collard Greens with Bacon
Sometimes it’s the basics that can make or break your Thanksgiving meal! Fortunately, we don’t think this Creamy Collard Greens with Bacon recipe–which features fresh greens, heavy cream and thick-cut bacon—from This Worthey Life will disappoint.
Old-Fashioned Dressing
Stuffing and/or dressing is one of the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes around. If you’re looking for a new recipe to add to your 2021 feast lineup, check out this one from Kitchen Joy! It calls for celery, mushrooms, rubbed sage, dried marjoram and a ton of other spices to create a savory treat that all your guests will enjoy.
Classic Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without some incredible mac and cheese. Luckily, Angela from The Kitchenista Diaries has us covered with her famous Classic Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese. This recipe will have you making a thick bechamel sauce and baking your creation for 30-40 minutes, but we promise it’s worth it!
Easy Homemade Honey Cornbread
This easy Honey Cornbread recipe from Persnickety Plates is one of our favorites, resulting in a sweet, moist and slightly salty bread that is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.
Easy Homemade Gravy from Scratch
Every home chef should know how to make an easy homemade gravy from scratch—especially on Thanksgiving! We love this recipe from Foxes Love Lemons, which uses either broth or drippings to create a creamy, savory sauce that will go on everything from turkey to potatoes to corn bread.
Classic Cranberry Sauce
Who needs the stuff from the can when delicious, sweet and homemade cranberry sauce only needs five ingredients and 15 minutes of your time? We love this recipe from Melissa at Persnickety Plates which adds a cup of orange juice to the sauce for some sweetness and acidity.
Dessert
Maple Almond Crumble Apple Pie
Next to pumpkin pie, apple pie is our favorite Thanksgiving feast treat! This recipe from Angela at The Kitchenista Diaries uses honeycrisp apples, pure maple syrup and sliced almonds to create a stunning end-of-feast dessert.
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Bars
Healthy, simple and 100% Paleo, these Pumpkin Bars from Fit Mitten Kitchen are the best “guilt-free” way to top off your Thanksgiving feast.
Grain Free Apple Pie
If you or someone you know has a gluten-intolerance or is currently on a gluten-free diet, this Grain Free Apple Pie from MI Gluten Free Gal is a fantastic treat. It uses Chebe All-Purpose Mix and six-eight medium apples to create a delicious (and gluten-free) dessert that everyone will enjoy.
