9 Complete Thanksgiving Menus

More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is a day built on culinary ritual. Turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pies might be non-negotiable—but a little variation never hurts, so we've come up with 9 complete menus: A comforting Southern spread is ideal for feeding a hungry crowd, while a rustic California menu is perfect for a casually refined evening. Our Mexican-inspired feast will bring some spice to your table, and our vegetarian menu leaves no one missing the meat (you can even make it vegan with our suggested adaptations). And if there will be just two at the table this year, we've got the perfectly proportioned meal for you. Cook all the recipes from one menu, or mix and match!

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A Rustic California Thanksgiving

Celebrate harvest season with this rustic menu inspired by the farm-fresh fare of Northern California. Start off with an hors d'oeuvres spread of fresh chevre with herbs and lemon zest, marinated olives, cipollini onion hummus, grilled oysters, and fresh homemade bread. Grilling a turkey outside makes room in the oven for dishes like fennel baked in cream, apricot and walnut stuffing, and vanilla-scented pear and quince pie.

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Comments (4)

by YURCHO@GMAIL.COM on 2012-11-01

Do you have a Thanksgiving menu without Turkey and marshmallows? I hate turkey and like to make other entres' along with a small turkey. I've brined turkeys in beer, wine, salt, vinegar, herbs and spices and countless other things and they're still turkey. I know it's traditional but I get tired of Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and other vegetables. Except for the mashed potatoes and gravy I don't eat any of the other things. I try to be creative. All the November issues of all the food magazines have is turkey. Yuk. Does anyone have a different menu? I am not a vegan, just a meat and potatoes, fish and seafood person.

by WILLWARD on 2012-11-01

If you make a good dressing (stuffing) with sausage, lots of sage, onions, peppers and maybe other veggies, and a gravy that includes giblets and spices, you don´t need mashed potatoes. Make a pork roast using the spicy dressing. Not difficult to substitute although your family may not like changes from the traditional.

by MRP55 on 2012-11-01

There are many recipes included in the 9 different menus other than green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows and mashed potatoes--although I would be very unhappy without mashed potatoes on my menu. Plus there have been other choices from soup to nuts included throughout the magazine and website! Choose from the many other side dishes and bake (or order) a ham, roast a pork loin or standing rib roast to create your own holiday menu. I have seen many alternatives offered including vegetarian menus.

by Jessiet on 2012-11-19

For a menu that still seems "Thanksgivingish", if you will, why not try a roast capon instead? They taste wonderful, are a notch up from other chickens, and are not turkey! Happy Thanksgiving!