A Full Thanksgiving Day Menu with Recipes
Last year I cooked my very first full Thanksgiving Day meal. I’m not going to lie, it was super intimidating because a Thanksgiving Day meal is iconic. It has very high expectations because it’s only served once a year and it’s honestly my favorite meal of the entire year. I was a little nervous and overwhelmed, but I did some research and was so pleased with how the menu turned out. I honestly feel like this Thanksgiving Day menu truly sums up Thanksgiving and will 100% be the menu we use every single year.
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I can’t take all the credit because some of the recipes are not my own, but do not worry, I will be sure to add links to the exact recipe I used. I’m honestly so excited about making it again this year.
Thanksgiving Day meals should be special, so I make sure I take the extra time and make everything from scratch. For a couple of items I ended up sourcing them from the experts like the dinner rolls from the one and only Mediterra Bakehouse. This was why I was so overwhelmed last year because I just thought for sure I wasn’t going to be able to do it in time, but several of these recipes can be prepped ahead of time so the day of was honestly so easy and it was a lot of just popping things in the oven! You are going to love this Thanksgiving Day Menu with all the traditional classics and some have eve have a little modern twist.
Thanksgiving Day Menu
Charcuterie Board to Start – I love having something to munch on before dinner is ready and my weakness is 100% a good charcuterie board. Sure, this is something that you could put together, but I honestly love leaving this up to the experts because it’s the time of year to indulge and my friend Danielle, owner of Nosh and Curd, KNOWS good cheese and meats. I love supporting local, Pittsburgh small businesses. Nosh and Curd is a female owned business specializing in a variety of charcuterie boards and fine grazing. I ordered the small charcuterie board which serves 4-6 people, but there are a ton of options to suit your needs! 
Citrus Brussels Salad– I like to a light and bright option with all the heavy sides and this is the perfect salad to do that with! How Sweet Eats is actually one of my favorite food bloggers out there. I cannot tell you how many of her recipes I’ve tried that are on my menu line up on the regular basis. I knew that I didn’t even have to test this salad out, and it was perfect.
Green Bean Casserole– I love green bean casserole, but have you ever had it made 100% from scratch? It is absolutely life changing. This dish is actually the one I look forward to eating the most. I use this recipe by Guy Fieri exactly every year for it and I PROMISE it is worth the extra care.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes– What a fun twist on a timeless classic. I loved the idea of doing sweet potatoes two ways, but you can also get creative with it and see what other combinations you can come up with. This recipe from Lil Luna is so yummy!
Simple Brined Turkey Breast– I honestly really enjoy brining a turkey breast as opposed to roasting an entire turkey. I feel like this is way easier and less risky than a whole turkey. Not to mention, this recipe from Simply Whisked is so good.
Garlic and Herb Beef Tenderloin Roast– I know, I know this is not exactly traditional Thanksgiving, but I really like to do both the turkey and a beef option. This recipe by Chef Billy Parisi was so easy to make and the horseradish cream sauce paired with the roasted garlic is HEAVENLY. It’s not a step to miss. Trust me.
Individual Stuffing Cups- Okay we can’t forget about the stuffing. OH THE STUFFING. I like to do mine in cute little ramekins so they are individual size. It kind of makes it a little more elegant and modern. This is another recipe that you cannot just do the box stuff with because it makes a difference. However, I will let you in on a secret, I like to mix the box with the homemade recipe for extra flavor. It’s truly the best combination. I use this recipe from Liz Grows Wild and just add the box mix to it- and it’s so delicious.
Cocktail Time
Ginger Pear Bourbon Spritz – I just made this and it would pair so well with this dinner.
Wines-
Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon – I love, love this wine. We tried it on a wim and it’s so good.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is always a solid option!
Both of these wines are in the $80-$90 price range. If you are looking for something under that price point I would suggest the following:
Benzinger Cabernet Sauvignon ($18!)
Meiomi Cabernet Sauvignon ($21)
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon ($19)
Cheers! I hope this menu will make your Thanksgiving as stress free as possible. Trust me, these recipes are not going to disappoint! Happiest Thanksgiving to you!
