Real Food Thanksgiving Menu Master List!

From the turkey and rolls, to stuffing, cranberries, and pie that don’t come from a box or can, you can savor all of the Thanksgiving food memories using real ingredients!

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That 1980’s Thanksgiving vibe…

Grandma getting up at 3am to start basting a *huge* turkey. The red-boxed, stovetop stuffing. Congealed cranberries from a can. Green beans smothered in canned cream soup and canned crispy onions. Boxed freezer pies….all the makings of a classic 1980’s and 90’s Thanksgiving holiday! I actually have super sweet and happy Thanksgiving memories growing up. It is, after all, all about the family, cousins, and enjoying a meal together!

A thought process shift…

When I had my first baby 16 years ago, though, everything changed. I was maybe 4 or 5 years into my real food journey, and up until that point, had just gone along with whatever was served at Thanksgiving, and then go back to eating real food the next day. But I really, really wanted my daughter to grow up enjoying the same Thanksgiving memories that I had. And I just knew that we could make that “know better, do better” thought process shift, and start making some Thanksgiving dishes using actual real ingredients.

Mission accomplished!

My girls are now teenagers and I have one tween left, and when I tell you that Thanksgiving is one of their favorite holidays, I am not actually making that up! They saw me pulling up all these recipes that they have been eating at the holidays for over a decade, and they absolutely lit up. If you have teenagers in the house, you know they don’t always “light up” for very much! Food memories are the real deal, and if you have little ones at home, it starts now!

THE TURKEY

My super easy and quick dry brine method that yields the most tender, flavorful turkey! You’ll never make it another way! It is so fast to get set up days before Thanksgiving, and then roast on the big day. You won’t believe how hands-off this method is, and everyone will comment on how super juicy and flavorful the meat is! This recipe is in my first cookbook, Nourished Beginnings. I included how to serve this delicious meat to your youngest of first foods little ones in the house using the meat stock that the bird cooks in too!

THE ROLLS/BREAD

CORNBREAD – Use this GF/DF cornbread as your bread side, or as the bread for your stuffing! Super fast to prep, and so soft and yummy!
FLUFFY SKILLET DROP BISCUITS – These biscuits started as a breakfast biscuit in my cookbook, Nourished Mornings, and have very quickly become my “go-to” biscuit for everything from breakfast to soup, and fancy dinners like Thanksgiving too.
FLUFFY PUMPKIN BISCUITS – Soft and sweet like a Hawaiian Roll! These fluffy drop biscuits have an easy prep too!
GRAIN FREE HERB BUTTER BISCUIT – The flavor on these buttery biscuits is so delicious, and if you have grain free guests, they will appreciate getting to have some bread too!
TRADITIONAL ROLLS – My super versatile and super easy bagel dough in my cookbook, Nourished Mornings makes the BEST rolls! If you have the cookbook, just make the dough as is, and then roll up into little balls and bake – it is SO fast and easy! We brought these to Thanksgiving last year and everyone loved them!

THE TRADITIONAL SIDES

STUFFING – I challenge all my “stuffing from a box” kids that grew up in the 1980’s to try this easy homemade version! It is so good, and can be made gluten free too!
CRANBERRIES – Canned cranberries have nothing on homemade! Minutes to make, and just so delicious! This is a good one to make days in advance!
CORN – I mean, buttered corn is about as easy as it gets, but if you are ready to take it up a notch, my creamed corn recipe is incredible! Looks fancy, but this will take you just 15 minutes to make to level up that corn side dish! I’ve made this one GF & DF too!
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE – I have a secret in this recipe to make it prep super fast, & you can skip the junky onions from a can! This version has an easy crispy onion for the top using real food ingredients and it’s fast to make!
THE BEST BONE BROTH/MEAT STOCK GRAVY – Use those pan drippings and make the best gravy for your turkey!

THE “NOT-SO-TRADITIONAL” SIDES

THE DESSERT

PUMPKIN PIE – My “Busy Momma” pumpkin pie is a quick prep! My family has been eating this for years at large family gatherings without anyone noticing it’s gluten and dairy free!
APPLE PIE – Dutch apple pie that is! That’s how we do it around these West Michigan parts, and you’ll love this easy to make apple pie favorite!
APPLE CRISP – Pretty presentation with very, very minimal hands-on time! Perfect for newborn season mommas and those of you having to make multiple dishes – no fuss!
PUMPKIN CAKE – This was a new recipe this fall for us to use on Sunday dinner nights occasionally. But I really think it would be a pretty alternative for anyone that doesn’t fall into the pie-loving crowd!
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE – For your more chocolate-loving dessert guests! This chocolate option will make them so happy to see on the dessert table!

THE DRINKS

FERMENTED CRANBERRY SODA – The color on that drink though, right?! You’ll also get an extra hit of probiotic goodness for your gut with this naturally fermented cranberry soda!
WASSAIL – This is a favorite winter solstice night tradition in our house. But it makes for such a warm and comforting beverage for your guests for any holiday too! Keep it warm in a slow cooker with some cute mugs next to it. The family can scoop this warm cider all night!

BONUS! BREAKFAST/BRUNCH IDEAS!

A breakfast plan is so important for those of you with guests staying the night! Or if you have the Thanksgiving meal later in the day. I’m just going to bust out a big list of some fall flavor breakfast favorites for a crowd here!