Thanksgiving Recipes: Turkey, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. It's a remembrance of the first Pilgrim feast in 1621 where they gave thanks for a bountiful harvest.

This is also one holiday that warrants nearly as many recipes for leftovers as it does the meal itself. In fact, many people claim that the leftovers are their favorite part of the holiday!

Every few years a new trendy fad develops to put a new spin on the traditional fare. For example, deep frying a turkey in place of roasting has become popular over the last few years as has brining the bird before cooking it.

Traditional Thanksgiving food (not to be confused with the food served at the original feast, only some of which is still served today) consists of a roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing (dressing), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin or pecan pie. Of course, many variations are common in different parts of the country and every family has developed their own traditions.

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October (same as the former Columbus Day in the U.S.). Many of the same foods are eaten on both US and Canadian Thanksgivings.

Learn the tricks of the trade for keeping your potatoes lump free and preventing them from turning gluey

gravy basics

Lose the lumps, brown your flour, and other handy gravy tips

storing leftovers

A handy guide on how long to safely store those leftovers.

cooking the turkey

Tips for a perfectly juicy and tasty turkey every time

Recipes / thanksgiving

Purple Smashed Potatoes

Made with white pepper, salt, purple or blue potatoes, whole milk, butter

Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes

Orange And Herb Roasted Turkey

Made with fresh thyme, frozen orange juice concentrate, oil, fresh rosemary, margarine or butter, chicken broth, cornstarch, Candied fruit

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 2-5 hours

Butterscotch Yams

Made with cinnamon, salt, butter, yams, corn syrup, brown sugar, evaporated skim milk

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Apricot Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Made with butter, orange peel, water, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, apricot puree

Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes

Wild Rice Turkey Dressing

Made with salt and pepper, stuffing mix, wild rice, chicken bouillon, celery, green bell pepper, poultry seasoning, butter, water

Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes

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Stuffed Baby Pumpkins

Made with vegetable stock or water, onion, celery, dried sage, garlic, dry bread crumbs, dried thyme, pine nuts, dried apricots, salt

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes

Sweet Potato Cranberry Casserole

Made with ground ginger, nutmeg, salt, orange, sweet potatoes or yams, onions, olive oil or vegetable oil, cranberries, brown sugar, butter

Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Turkey Pumpkin Curry

Made with onion, garlic, fresh ginger, pumpkin puree, coconut milk, red curry paste, kosher salt, cooked turkey pieces, chicken or turkey stock, sweet potatoes or yams

Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes

Honey And Spice Glazed Turkey

Made with vegetable oil, chili powder, garlic powder, ground allspice, cumin, salt, ground red pepper, honey, water, turkey

Method: oven
Time: 2-5 hours

Turkey Gravy Noodles

Made with tomato, baby carrots, broccoli, turkey gravy, beef Ramen noodles, salt, pepper and olive oil, water, green bell pepper

Method: stovetop, microwave
Time: under 30 minutes

Wild Rice & Mushroom Stuffing

Made with butter, carrots, celery, salt, dried thyme, black pepper, shiitake mushrooms, white mushrooms, white rice

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Holiday Carrots Casserole

Made with carrots, onion, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, black pepper, cracker crumbs

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: under 30 minutes

Twice Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Made with pecans, sweet potatoes, butter, orange juice, salt, crushed pineapple

Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Turkey And Cranberry Corn Muffins

Made with cranberry sauce, corn muffin mix, fresh parsley or cilantro, cooked sliced turkey

Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes

Thanksgiving Creamed Peas With Mushrooms

Made with salt and pepper, mushrooms, frozen peas, heavy cream, bacon, Bermuda onion, flour, sherry, Worcestershire sauce

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 30-60 minutes

Quick Microwave Cranberry Relish

Made with sugar, water, cranberries, orange

Method: microwave
Time: 30-60 minutes

Fancy Mashed Potatoes

Made with butter or margarine, butter-flavored crackers, green onions, potatoes, garlic, cream cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper

Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours

Slow Cooker Peachy Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Made with ground cinnamon, sweet potatoes, peach pie filling, margarine or butter, ginger root, salt, brown sugar

Method: stovetop, crock pot
Time: 2-5 hours

Green Beans With Caramelized Onions And Porcini Mushrooms

Made with black pepper, sea salt, green beans, vidalia or other sweet onion, butter, garlic, porcini mushrooms

Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Trifle

Made with ground ginger, nutmeg, butter, cream cheese, pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, French vanilla pudding mix, cinnamon

Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Deep Fat Fried Turkey

Made with seasoning, turkey, onion juice, garlic juice, prepared mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, liquid smoke, white wine

Method: deep fryer
Time: over 5 hours

Thanksgiving Punch

Looking to jazz up your Thanksgiving spread? This can't-miss punch combines classic flavors for a festive beverage your guests will love, and you'll love how simple it is.

Time: under 30 minutes

Thanksgiving Stuffing Loaf

Made with nutmeg, olive oil, sesame oil, whole wheat bread, fresh thyme, fresh sage, onion, parsnips, carrots, turkey or chicken broth

Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours

Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce Cake

Made with margarine, cranberry sauce, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, pecans, mayonnaise or salad dressing, orange, orange juice

Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours

Pumpkin Pecan Pudding

Made with pecans, vanilla extract, salt, solid pack pumpkin, evaporated skim milk, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, sugar

Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes

Cured Turkey

Made with turkey, kosher salt, juniper berries, sugar, bay leaves, thyme, whole cloves, allspice berries

Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours

Turkey and Cranberry Salad

Made with mayonnaise, turkey, celery, dried cranberries, dried thyme, dried sage, garlic powder, salt and pepper

Time: 1-2 hours

Thanksgiving Jello

Made with applesauce, orange gelatin powder, cranberries

Time: 1-2 hours

Thanksgiving Praline Yams

Made with yams, nutmeg, brown sugar, heavy cream, butter or margarine, pecans, salt, ground cinnamon

Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes

Southern Rice Dressing

Made with black pepper, bay leaf, sausage or bacon drippings, gizzards, pork sausage, onion, green bell pepper, garlic, green onions, parsley

Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours

Quinoa Stuffing with Oyster Mushrooms and Chestnuts

Made with salt and pepper, thyme, fresh sage, quinoa, chicken or turkey stock, olive oil, sweet Italian sausage, oyster mushrooms, chestnuts

Method: stovetop
Time: under 30 minutes

Maple-Glazed Turkey Breast

Made with lemon juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, corn bread stuffing mix, celery, pecans, pimientos, turkey breast cutlets, maple syrup

Method: oven
Time: 30-60 minutes

Wheat Berry Stuffing

Made with water, salt, white bread, croutons, onion, butter, celery, ground sage, dried whole sage, dried thyme

Method: oven, stovetop
Time: 30-60 minutes

Smoked Sausage Dressing

Made with oil, onions, celery, green bell peppers, Cajun sausage, butter, sweet paprika, garlic, Tabasco sauce, turkey, duck or chicken stock

Method: stovetop, oven
Time: 1-2 hours