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This year, I'm sharing my ideal Thanksgiving menu that balances nostalgia with a few unexpected twists that'll have your guests asking for recipes instead of reaching for their phones!
So, let's dive into a menu that honors tradition while giving you a serious upgrade.
Before You Start: Two of My Game-Changing Tips
Before we get into the actual menu, let's talk strategy. These two techniques are the foundation of how I approach Thanksgiving cooking (or any major holiday that leans into protein as the main event). They're simple, they work, and they'll completely change how stressed you feel on the big day.
Do these right, and everything else falls into place.
If you're going the turkey/poultry route, brining is non-negotiable.
A good brine keeps your bird juicy and adds flavour from the inside out. Mix water, salt, sugar, and your favorite aromatics (I love bay leaves, peppercorns, and citrus) and let your turkey soak overnight. Trust me on this one.
My oldest brother, Moshe, is a master with Poultry. And no matter what, he always brines, even if it's just for an hour! Brine away, baby!
Whether it's your protein or your vegetables, marinating ahead of time is your secret weapon.
It builds flavour, saves you time on the actual event day, and means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of panicking in the kitchen. I like to prep my marinades two days before and let everything sit overnight.
A Glimpse of the Menu
APPS - Marinated cheese & olive checkerboard, Lemon shallot dip
MAIN - Dry rubbed turkey breast or Tandoori masala cornish hens
SIDES - Harissa broccolini, Butternut squash & apple tart, Corn Salad, Abby Fisher’s Corn Egg Bread
DESSERTS - Lemon rosemary olive oil cake, Thanksgiving Trifle, Carrot halwa cake with coconut cardamom cashew frosting
BEVVYS - Thanksgiving sangria, Olive oil martini
1. Start Strong with Easy Apps
Marinated Cheese & Olive Checkerboard
This is my go-to appetizer because it looks stunning and requires zero cooking. Marinate good quality cheese and olives in our olive oil with herbs and spices, then arrange them in a checkerboard pattern on a platter. It's sophisticated, it's delicious, and it buys you time while you finish up the main event. Plus, it pairs beautifully with a glass of wine while everyone catches up.
Lemon Shallot Dip with Island Creek Oysters Mignonette Blend
If you want to elevate your appetizer game even more, this dip is it!
It's bright, tangy, and has this incredible depth from the mignonette blend that makes it taste way more complicated than it actually is.
Serve it with crackers, crusty bread, or vegetables, and watch it disappear. The lemon and shallot combo is classic for a reason, and it pairs beautifully with everything else on your table. Plus, it takes about five minutes to throw together, which means more time for hanging out with the people you love. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be hard, especially if you want to actually be a part of it!
2. The Main Event: Choose Your Own Adventure
Here's where I break from tradition. You don't need a whole turkey. You really don't.
Dry-Rubbed Turkey Breast
This recipe comes from the legendary Buxton Hall BBQ, and it's a total showstopper. A perfectly seasoned, beautifully cooked turkey breast gives you all the Thanksgiving feels without the stress of roasting an entire bird. The dry rub creates this incredible crust that honestly might be better than any gravy you'd make anyway.
OR
Tandoori Masala Cornish Hens
Want to really shake things up? This is what my parents used to do (they lived for an Indian-themed Thanksgiving dinner), and I love carrying on that tradition of making Thanksgiving fancy and a little unexpected.
Individual Cornish hens marinated in tandoori masala are elegant, flavorful, and way easier to cook evenly than a massive turkey. Each guest gets their own perfectly spiced bird. How's that for special?
3. Sides: Where the Real Magic Happens
Let's be honest, most people come for the sides anyway. At least, I know I do!
Here are some of my personal faves:
Harissa Broccolini
I need something green on my Thanksgiving table that isn't drowning in cream. This harissa broccolini is spicy, bright, and cuts through all the richness of the other dishes. It's also ridiculously easy and comes together in minutes.
What is Harissa? Check out this Spice Advice to learn more.
Want to learn how to make your own harissa paste? Check out this Harissa Paste How-To Guide to really dive in!
Butternut Squash & Apple Tart
This is the dish that makes people stop talking and start eating. Sweet butternut squash, tart apples, all nestled in a flaky crust. It's technically a side, but it eats like a celebration. And it's gorgeous, which doesn't hurt.
Corn Salad
A fresh, crunchy corn salad adds texture and brightness to a meal that can sometimes feel a little one-note (even when you use fresh-frozen corn!). This is especially great if you're going the Tandoori route, as it complements those warm spices beautifully.
Abby Fisher's Corn Egg Bread
This historic recipe is a must-make.
It's richer than cornbread, more interesting than rolls, and it has this incredible texture that soaks up everything on your plate. Plus, there's something really special about making a recipe with this much history behind it.
My grandmother will not allow a Thanksgiving table without corn bread, and who am I to tell her no? Respect your matriarchs & give them what they want, ya know?!
4. Desserts: The Sweet Finish
Lemon Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
Light, fragrant, and not too sweet. After a heavy meal, this olive oil cake is exactly what you want. The rosemary adds an herbal note that feels very Thanksgiving without being obvious about it.
Plus, the recipe is straight from Italy! Directly from the family who owns the farm that creates our delicious Spicewalla Le Vigne Olive Oil!
Make a Thanksgiving Trifle
I am a lady who lives for kitchen hacks to make my life easier and time in the kitchen shorter. I’m allll about working smarter, not harder. And the trifle approach is the perfect hack for someone like me!
Layer leftover (or store-bought) cake, whipped cream (which can also come directly from your grocery-store aisles, no homemade necessary), and any fruit compote or cranberry sauce you have on hand. It's a genius way to use leftovers, and it looks impressive with minimal effort.
Imagine tender apples, rich caramel, and pumpkin spice layered into a dessert that feels like a hug on a plate—no baking required.
- Cake: store-bought coffee cake or pumpkin bread, cubed
- Fruit: stewed cinnamon apples
- Custard: vanilla pudding swirled with caramel sauce and 1 tsp Pumpkin Spice
- Crunch: crushed gingersnaps or pecans
- Topping: whipped cream with a sprinkling of Pumpkin Spice
→ Riff: pear compote + crushed Gingerbread Spice; or try pumpkin custard topped with Speculoos
Carrot Halwa Cake with Coconut Cardamom Cashew Frosting
If you went with the Tandoori Cornish Hens, keep that elegant, globally-inspired vibe going with this stunning cake. It's based on the classic Indian dessert but in cake form, and that frosting is absolutely incredible.
5. Beverages: Don't Forget to Hydrate (And Celebrate)
Here's my strategy: I make myself a big hydrating mocktail to sip while I'm cooking all day, AND THEN I reward myself with a proper cocktail once everything's done. And, as I’m sure you can guess by now, I’m all about batching my cocktails in advance so everyone can have something yummy without me having to spend time that day serving them!
My Favorite Mocktail: Fill a large mason jar with 1 sliced lemon, a handful of raspberries, and 1 sliced baby cucumber. Muddle them as much as you can, then add a pinch of our Flake Sea salt, a dash of sugar, ice, and water. Keep refilling this all day.
It keeps you hydrated, tastes amazing, and that little bit of salt and sugar keeps your energy up while you're running around the kitchen.
Now, here are some ideas for cocktails!
Thanksgiving Sangria
Batch this the night before. Your guests will love having something festive to sip, and you won't be playing bartender all night.
Olive Oil Martini
Savory, sophisticated, and unexpected. This is for the adventurous drinkers in your crowd, and it pairs beautifully with all the rich flavours on your table.
Spread Love, Cook Food
My ideal Thanksgiving isn't about cooking everything from scratch or impressing anyone with complicated techniques.
It's about creating a meal that feels special, tastes incredible, and doesn't leave you exhausted. Pick the recipes that speak to you, prep what you can ahead of time, and remember that the best part of Thanksgiving isn't the food (though it helps). It's gathering around a table with people you love.
Now get in that kitchen and make something delicious!
Spread Love, Cook Food ❤️
Cara, E-commerce & Brand Manager at Spicewalla
