Sifting through the internet’s near-infinite supply of Thanksgiving recipes is an impossible task. At a certain point, trying to find the best recipe for turkey, pumpkin pie, or stuffing will stop you from enjoying the holiday and all the very good—even excellent—dishes you make to celebrate it. To help you avoid getting stuck in menu-planning purgatory, we asked members of our test kitchen and editorial teams to weigh in on their favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Put together, they make for a winning holiday meal that leans heavily on tradition, while also embracing new, unexpected twists.
Dry-Buttermilk-Brined Turkey
“I love the use of dry buttermilk powder here—a pantry staple that can really do some heavy lifting for turkey day. It flavors and tenderizes the bird, and any day you don’t have to do a wet brine is a good day.” —Anna Billingskog, Senior Food Stylist
Cider-Sage Gravy
Added Anna, in our roundup of gravy recipes: “This gravy is my hallmark of gravies. It's a little sweet from the cider, while being very savory and herbaceous from the sage.”
Diane Morgan's Classic Mashed Potatoes
“When it comes to holiday sides, I'm a fan of the classics. Give me a heaping dollop of mashed potatoes with some gravy on top and I'm happy.” —Julia Kramer, Senior Editor
Momofuku's Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Fish Sauce Vinaigrette
“The Momofuku recipe is a deliciously subversive way to introduce new flavors (brighter! funkier!) to this traditional side. They just kind of wake up the Thanksgiving plate. (And it's fun to watch the skeptics fall in love with it.)” —Allison Bruns Buford, Test Kitchen Manager
Brown Butter Stuffing
“It’s as simple as it gets with all the best things. Bread and butter. As a stuffing skeptic, this one really does it for me.” —Anna Billingskog, Senior Food Stylist
Spice-Roasted Cauliflower With Pine Nuts & Tahini Drizzle
“Sherri Maxman—who shared the story of her mom starting Thanksgiving prep in August with us—turned me on to this recipe, which she serves every Thanksgiving. The pine nuts add great texture (though you can easily sub in walnuts), and the tahini tempers the spiciness. For the holiday, when my family table will be filled with different palates, I plan to take the cayenne down a notch to a half teaspoon.” —Nicole Davis, Managing Editor
Dan Kluger's Roasted Butternut Squash with Spicy Onions
“What I love foremost is the beautiful bright color [this squash] brings to the Thanksgiving table. It’s salty from the cheese, sour from the pickled onions, and sweet from butternut squash. It shouts ‘main character energy’ from the vegetable portion of the table.” —Anna Billingskog, Senior Food Stylist
Vegan Apple Crisp
“I can’t have dairy (as I’ve mentioned a million times before, sorry) and frankly? The Thanksgiving table really isn’t safe for someone like me. So, when I find a recipe that will both satisfy myself and all my dairy-loving friends and family, I jump right on it. Plus, I’m always a crisp over pie gal when it comes to apples.” —Emily Ziemski, Food Editor
Derby Pie
“Pecan is peak pie, and this version with chocolate, bourbon, and flaky salt is as good as any.” —Paul Hagopian, Editorial Assistant
Ginger Apple Torte
“A dessert that's part gingerbread, part apple cake? I shouldn't have to say more.” —Julia Kramer, Senior Editor
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Top-notch recipes, expert tips, and all the tools to pull off the year’s most memorable feast.
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