Chef John's Best Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mascarpone cheese creates wonderful texture and a buttery, golden-brown crust. Make these mashers in advance; spoon them into a casserole, and then simply bake until the tops are beautifully golden brown. They're so good, gravy is almost optional. (Almost.)

If you're serving ham or prime rib, try making Chef John's richly flavored Mashed Potato au Gratin instead.

Pecan and Apricot Sourdough Bread Stuffing

The pilgrims avoided soggy stuffing by not actually having stuffing on the Thanksgiving menu. But that's not really an option for us. Good thing Chef John has a few slick tricks for keeping it crispy. See how he does it.

French Onion Green Bean Casserole

This is not your mother's green bean casserole. Although it could be your grandma's. Chef John reaches into the past for inspiration, giving traditional green bean casserole a delicious update. Homemade from start to finish, his version features caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese—the French-onion-soup treatment, you might say.

Roast Turkey and Gravy

Chef John shows you a terrific way to loosen the turkey's skin so you can slip herbed butter beneath it. Buttering up the bird like this, keeps the meat wonderfully moist and flavorful. The turkey bastes itself, essentially. For the gravy, a touch of balsamic vinegar balances out flavors.

If turkey isn't your thing (or you want a second or third main dish), try Chef John's other showstoppers:

• Chef John's Honey-Glazed Ham Recipe
• Chef John's Perfect Prime Rib Recipe
• Cranberry Stuffed Game Hens Recipe
  

Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls

Chef John says, "This very Instagram-friendly roll is the perfect thing to bring to that holiday gathering, and can be made using your favorite dinner roll recipe. Sure, these take longer to make than your already perfectly fine dinner rolls, but that's nothing when you consider all the compliments that will be coming your way."

Tangerine Cherry Cranberry Sauce

Does anything say "I care" like cranberry sauce made from scratch? Homemade cranberry sauce is just so incredibly easy to make. Combine a few ingredients, simmer on the stove, done! The big reveal here is that you should make this recipe instead of opening a can of cranberry sauce.

Try Chef John's Mango Cranberry Sauce, too.

Chef John's Ultimate Mashed Potatoes

Chef John's mashed potatoes do not shy away from the butter. And that's pretty much the secret to these amazing mashers. Chef John insists his bold butter method is not only rational, it's also reasonable. You be the judge.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Chef John's slightly less sweet take on Sweet Potato Casserole features a touch of maple syrup instead of brown sugar and pistachios instead of pecans or mini-marshmallows.

Fast Upside-Down Turkey

"Here I've tested out not one, but two new things—cooking a turkey at a very high heat, as well as cooking it upside-down, which I've heard for decades is the way to go if you want moist, juicy meat," Chef John says. "Whether you're looking to cook your turkey in half the time, or just want to see some raised eyebrows when you bring it to the table, I really do hope you give this a try soon!"

Check out these other unique Thanksgiving turkey recipes from Chef John:

• Stuffed Hasselback Turkey Breast
• Roast Peruvian Turkey
• Chef John's Boneless Whole Turkey
  

Old-Fashioned Cracker Dressing

Here's a very simple variation on a classic stuffing recipe, only crushed saltine crackers stand in for bread crumbs. And there's also a little cream in the mix. These two simple additions create a dressing with a firm, dense texture.

Sweet Potato Souffles

"People love puffy food, souffles being one of most versatile. As long as you don't knock all the air out of the egg whites in the batter, not much can actually go wrong. Since mashed sweet potato is the base, these souffles are even easier than the traditional method that requires a saucy base." — Chef John

Butterhorn Dinner Rolls

The Thanksgiving table isn't complete without a basket of rich, buttery dinner rolls on the table. "You might have grown up calling these crescent rolls," says Chef John. "The only real difference is that crescent rolls are shaped into crescent shapes, verses the usually straighter design of your average butterhorn."

Try Chef John's Parker House Rolls Recipe or his Rosemary Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls, too.

Chef John's Root Vegetable Gratin

Here's a great way to get your (root) vegetables! Thinly sliced Yukon Golds bake with turnips, rutabaga, celery root, parsnips, and garlic, along with heavy cream chicken broth, a little butter, and some seasonings. You'll top it off with finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and give it a little more time in the oven. "This is still a very delicious and enjoyable way to eat root veggies," says Chef John.

For a potato-only version, use Chef John's Mom's Scalloped Potato Gratin recipe. Or, for a potato-free version, try his Truffled Cauliflower Gratin.

Chantilly Mashed Potato Casserole

Folding whipped cream into buttery mashed potatoes makes them even more luxurious. "The addition of whipped cream into mashed potatoes is what makes them Chantilly mashed potatoes," says Chef John. "I was skeptical, but this was one of the most outstanding alternative mashed potato recipes I've ever had. With a light and luxurious texture, it's a perfect side dish for any holiday or special occasion."

Chef John's Creamy Corn Pudding

It's a shame that corn pudding doesn't get the same attention as some other holiday side dishes. But Chef John is here to right the wrongs. "It's a real crowd-pleaser that pairs perfectly with all your favorite special-occasion meats," says Chef John.

Classic Green Beans Au Gratin

"This classic green bean au gratin recipe is one of my favorites. It's perfect next to your holiday ham or turkey; this casserole has a creamy, rich cheese sauce that enhances but doesn't cover up the green beans, so they are still the star of the show." You can use Gruyere or sharp white Cheddar in place of Comté cheese.

Chef John's Candied Yams

Chef John's candied yams (OK, sweet potatoes) get a flavor boost from maple syrup and brown sugar, which, together with lemon juice, ground ginger, and cinnamon create a show-stopping glaze. Delicious topped with chopped pecans, walnuts or pistachios. "I'm not a huge sweet side dish person, but I make an exception for these candied yams that use lemon instead of orange juice as a sweetener," says Chef John.

Truly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

For a green vegetable, you can't go wrong with Brussels sprouts...even if some folks at the table aren't fans. "My wife HATES Brussel sprouts but agreed to try them because of Chef John's comments. Wow! She absolutely loved them. Prepping takes a little time but [is] so worth it." – John Wallace

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy with Porcini Mushrooms and Marsala Wine

Make this Marsala and porcini mushroom gravy before the Thanksgiving crush even begins! "With this make-ahead gravy on the menu, there's no scrambling to make gravy when the turkey comes out of the oven," says Chef John. He'll show you how to make turkey stock in advance. Once you have the stock prepared, you're well on your way! Simply make a roux with butter, sautéed porcini mushrooms, and flour, and add the stock, letting it simmer on the stove. You can add pan drippings from the roast turkey to the gravy if you like. A smidgen of cream at the end gives this delicious Thanksgiving sauce a bit of extra richness.

If you'd prefer a wine- and mushroom-free version, try Chef John's Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy recipe.

More Like This

• Chef John's Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
• Chef John's Best Potato Side Dishes
  
• Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides That Hold Up in the Freezer
• Chef John's Best Pumpkin Recipes