The Thanksgiving Dishes Our Editors Can't Wait to Cook This Year
We at Serious Eats take a food-centric holiday like Thanksgiving very seriously. Here’s what we plan to make for our own celebrations this year.
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Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. For me, it’s a time to gather with family, rest, and forget about all of life’s troubles for at least a day, if not through the long weekend. It’s also, of course, the perfect time to pull out all the stops in the kitchen—and to no one’s surprise, we at Serious Eats take the menu very seriously. Appetizers? There will be at least three. Side dishes? Lots to choose from! Desserts? The limit does not exist.
Whether you haven’t started on your menu and need some serious inspiration or you’re looking to slot in a few extra dishes to round out the meal, we wanted to share a few recipes we’re excited to make for our own Thanksgiving spreads. There will be mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, of course, along with deviled eggs with a Caesar salad twist and a very autumnal tiramisu—just to name a few! Take a look through our picks, and then head on over to our Thanksgiving page for all of your other Turkey Day needs.
Caesar Deviled Eggs
"Look, if you invite me to any gathering—be it a birthday, holiday, or wine night—and ask me to bring something, I will most likely show up with deviled eggs. This year for Thanksgiving, I'm going to step up my game, however, and tackle Daniel's Casear deviled eggs, because who doesn't love anchovies? (Well, my sister, but maybe this will convert her.)" —Amanda Suarez, associate director, visuals
French Onion Soup Tarte Tatin
"I am not a Thanksgiving conformist. I will not make a standard sweet potato pie or green bean casserole, regardless of what the people want. I will, however, bring a dish that's a twist on a classic or cook a recipe that's completely unexpected. French onion soup tarte tatin straddles that line nicely. It's unique yet familiar, and the jammy caramelized onions hit on all the autumnal vibes. And the best part? It's pretty much guaranteed that no one else will bring this to the potluck. Can you say that about mac and cheese?" —Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor
Make-Ahead Fall Harvest Salad
"I've said it before, and I'll complain about it again: There aren't enough salads at Thanksgiving! This year, I'm taking matters into my own hands and bringing this hearty, make-ahead salad. I'm probably going to swap out the sunflower seeds for toasted pepitas because I always have those on hand." —Rochelle Bilow, commerce editor
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots with Balsamic Vinegar
"It's simply not Thanksgiving if there aren't Brussels sprouts on the table. I'm willing to fight people about this! I love this recipe from Kenji, which includes shallots and balsamic vinegar for that sweet-tart combo that delivers. Every. Single. Year." —An Uong, commerce writer, news & deals
Ultra-Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
"Please, I just want to sit down and eat a giant bowl of mashed potatoes and just fall asleep on the couch. No Thanksgiving is complete without these fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes, and I can't wait to make them again this year." —Genevieve Yam, culinary editor
"I know Genevieve already chose this recipe, but I can't not pick it. I'm pregnant and have some serious food aversions going on at the moment, but mashed potatoes are one of the few things I can eat. I haven't tried Kenji's recipe, but it promises to be ultra-fluffy and I get to use my food mill (I rarely break it out, so it'll be nice for it to earn its keep!)." —Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director, commerce
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
"I'm not one to eat a lot of vegetables (or any, really) on Thanksgiving, mainly because there are never any on the table that excite me. Green bean casserole may not be exciting for everyone, but it's not something my family has made in the past, so I really want to give it a try this year and form my own opinion. This recipe is a serious upgrade from green bean casserole made with canned beans and soup—it's made with fresh beans, freshly fried onions, and a homemade mushroom sauce. And best of all, I can prepare it ahead of time so I don't hog the kitchen space on the big day." —Yasmine Maggio, associate editor
Smoked Turkey
"Last year, my husband decided to smoke the Thanksgiving turkey. He was so gung-ho about it that he made a practice version about a month beforehand to work out any kinks (that’s commitment). All that practice paid off, and the day-of Thanksgiving bird was a winner-winner turkey dinner—never had so many people raved about the turkey. Nearly everyone went back for seconds, which is unheard of! So we’re doing it all again this year, following Kenji's same highly-tested and ultra-nerdy recipe." —Grace Kelly, commerce editor
*Editor's note: For a smaller format but equally delicious recipe, try Leah Colins' new smoked turkey breast recipe.
Baked Sangkaya Faktong (Kabocha Pumpkin Custard)
"I'm sick of pumpkin pie. There, I said it. All I want for my Thanksgiving dessert is this creamy pandan-scented coconut milk custard inside a hollowed-out kabocha squash. The stuffed gourd is baked until tender and sliced into wedges like a pie." —Leah Colins, senior culinary editor
Pumpkin Spice Latte Tiramisu
"This is speculative, since I'll be out of town in an unfamiliar kitchen, but if I can, I would love to make this autumnal twist on tiramisu. I'll admit PSL-flavored dishes can feel a little gimmicky, but this is an instance where I think it really works—who wouldn't want warm pumpkin spices in a tiramisu with just a touch of pumpkin purée to give it a slight pumpkin pie vibe? This flavor combo, with the coffee and mascarpone, just makes sense." —Daniel Gritzer, editorial director
Chocolate-Pecan Galette
"I grew up in the South, so for me, pecan pie is even more emblematic of Thanksgiving than pumpkin pie. Plus, it's just a better dessert than pumpkin pie. Fight me. And since I pretty much have never met a dessert I didn't think would be better with chocolate, this chocolate-pecan galette looks like the absolutely perfect Thanksgiving dessert to me." —Megan Steintrager, associate editorial director
Roasted Sweet Potato Cheesecake With Maple Walnut Caramel Sauce
"I think I made this cheesecake in 2020, but the pandemic fever dream has blurred my memories so I’m not entirely sure. Regardless, I’m making it this year. A sweet and earthy cheesecake with saucy caramel and crunchy walnuts speaks to me on a primordial level. (Growing up, I was the kid whose favorite restaurant was The Cheesecake Factory—but only for the cheesecake.)" —Grace Kelly
