what is the favorite main course for thanksgiving dinner

by Ona Jacobson 4 min read

What are the main dishes for Thanksgiving?

Traditional Thanksgiving Food List: 12 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes (with Quiz!)

  1. Turkey. No traditional Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without turkey! ...
  2. Stuffing. Stuffing is another one of the most popular Thanksgiving dishes! ...
  3. Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes are another staple of any traditional Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  4. Gravy. ...
  5. Cornbread. ...
  6. Rolls. ...
  7. Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  8. Butternut Squash. ...
  9. Jellied Cranberry Sauce. ...
  10. Spiced Apples. ...

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What are some good recipes for Thanksgiving dinner?

All Thanksgiving Ideas

  • The Pioneer Woman's Best Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Our Top 50 Thanksgiving Recipes
  • The Kitchen's Best Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Top Thanksgiving Recipes in Every State
  • Bobby's Best Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Our Best Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
  • Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Our Best Thanksgiving Stuffing and Dressing Recipes
  • Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes. From delicious honey-mustard pork to turkey pot pie, get Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis' favorite Thanksgiving stand-by recipes.

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What is traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu?

  • This fragrant, moist bread dressing is a Thanksgiving classic. ...
  • Our old-fashioned, Southern-style cornbread dressing has cornbread and soft breadcrumbs along with chopped vegetables and herbs.
  • If you have any gluten-free guests at your table, this stuffing is definitely a good option for them to have an equally filling and hearty meal.

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What is the main course of thanksgiving?

Turkey may take center stage on the traditional Thanksgiving table, but there are plenty of other options to serve as your main dish instead of, or in addition to, the traditional oven-roasted gobbler.

What is the most popular main dish for Thanksgiving?

turkeyThanksgiving dinner is an important tradition for Americans and this day is among the most popular holidays in the country. According to a survey conducted in 2020, the most popular Thanksgiving dishes in the United States were turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing or dressing.

What is the perfect Thanksgiving menu?

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of roast turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

What are the three main dishes for Thanksgiving?

We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course. But no less necessary, if slightly less obvious, is something orange (yams, squash or even mac and cheese).

What can I serve instead of turkey for Thanksgiving?

Seven Delicious Alternatives to Turkey to Serve on ThanksgivingCrown Roasts. For a centerpiece that rivals a whole bird, consider a crown roast. ... Roasted Tenderloin. Just as its name implies, tenderloin is one of the most tender cuts of beef and pork. ... Vegetable Centerpieces. ... Seafood. ... Other Birds.

What are the Top 10 side dishes for Thanksgiving?

Top 10 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side DishesNew Green Bean Casserole.Sweet Potato Casserole. ... Baked Cranberry Sauce. ... Cauliflower Blossom. ... Butternut Squash Mash. ... Creamy Corn for a Crowd. ... Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits. ... Best Bacon Sprouts. ... More items...

What are the Top 5 Thanksgiving dishes?

Top 5 Thanksgiving foods, rankedStuffing. Stuffing/Shutterstock.Mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes/Shutterstock. ... Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie/Shutterstock. ... Homemade cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce/Shutterstock. ... Turkey. Roast turkey/Shutterstock. ...

What do black families cook for Thanksgiving?

You will likely be eating roast turkey, barbecued turkey, deep fried turkey, glazed country ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed and covered with marshmallows, corn, cornbread, yeast/potato rolls, black eyed peas, rice, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce from ...

What the Pilgrims really ate for Thanksgiving?

Fowl. Items such as waterfowl, wildfowl (yes, there were turkeys, but they were wild, not domestic), venison, chestnuts, shellfish, possibly porridge made from corn (sometimes sweetened with molasses, if available), and wild fruits graced that first table, where pilgrims and Wampanoag broke proverbial bread.

What is a traditional Southern Thanksgiving menu?

A typical Southern Thanksgiving dinner usually includes ham or turkey—sometimes both—along with cornbread dressing, sides, and spectacular desserts. You're likely to find a big layered salad, the quintessential green bean casserole, mashed or scalloped potatoes, and soft dinner rolls or hot buttered biscuits.

What is the number one side dish for Thanksgiving?

1. Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes are a staple side for many families throughout the year, but Thanksgiving is really time for these creamy, fluffy, pillowy piles of heaven to shine.

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish?

Topping the list was mashed potatoes, with nine states claiming it as their favorite. Last year, 10 states said mashed potatoes, but the fact of the matter holds up: Americans love potatoes on Turkey Day.

What meat is traditionally eaten on Thanksgiving?

TurkeyTurkey was chosen by 32% of respondents. At Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is served with a variety of side dishes which vary from traditional dishes such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, to ones that reflect regional or cultural heritage.

How long do you cook game hens in the oven?

If you've never worked with game hens before, they're very user-friendly. Even stuffed to excess, they only roast for about an hour in a hot oven, and as long as you don't overcook them (use a thermometer!), you'll be enjoying the kind of juicy, flavorful meat that people cooking turkey only dream of. By Chef John.

How many pounds of turkey should I use for Thanksgiving?

Easy to prepare, a definite hit at parties, this is how Thanksgiving was meant to be enjoyed! I like to use about a 16-pound bird.

What is the secret to a moist, delicious, and beautiful turkey?

One of the secrets to a moist, delicious, and beautiful turkey is spreading butter under the skin.

Can you air fry a turkey breast?

Air Fryer Turkey Breast. If you have a taste for turkey, but don't want the time or the hassle of a full bird, try a split turkey breast, prepared in the air fryer. This recipe gives the flavor of an oven-roasted turkey, but in much less time, and with much less fuss! Use any combination of fresh herbs that you and your family will enjoy!

Can you make gravy out of an oven bag?

This is a very easy way to make a Thanksgiving turkey using an oven bag. The bird will be perfectly moist when done, and you can make gravy out of the juice that forms in the bottom of the bag. Plus, cleanup is a snap! The cooking time will vary for different sized turkeys. By DYCLARK.

Is there a reason to scale back on turkey?

Having a smaller celebration this year? There's no reason to scale back on turkey satisfaction, not when there are so many ways to make juicy, flavorful turkey breast.

Does Instant Pot make turkey breast moist?

The Instant Pot® made the moistest turkey breast I have ever made. I usually let this cook in the slow cooker all day, but this turned out so much better. I couldn't believe that I had such a wonderful meal ready in less than an hour total!

What to do with a ham that is almost ready to cook?

When your ham is almost ready, make the glaze combining the mustard and the peach preserves (and some Schnapps if you'd like) and glaze it for the last bit of cooking time. This sweet and tangy combination creates a thick coating on the ham that caramelizes the outer part and gives the ham a beautiful appearance.

How long to bake a ham with beer glaze?

Ham with Beer Glaze: Choose the beer of your liking and pour it over a large ham before baking it 20 minutes per pound. Make a mustard, vinegar, and sugar glaze with additional beer and give the ham fantastic flavor and texture. Use the pan drippings to make a sauce by blending them and straining them before serving in a saucer.

How long to bake a pound of ham?

Use sugar, mustard, cinnamon, and vinegar to make a glaze that you'll use during the final moments in the oven. Bake 20 minutes per pound of ham and have this beauty at your table in approximately 4 hours.

What to use to glaze ham?

You can add more ingredients to this simple glaze if you'd like. Some sautéed onions or crushed garlic would be good or use herbs such as thyme or marjoram in place of the whole cloves.

How long to bake a 5 lb chicken?

Bake for roughly 20 minutes per pound of chicken, or approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes for a 5-pound chicken.

What spices are used in beef tenderloin?

Herb and Spice Beef Tenderloin: Rosemary, thyme, garlic, tarragon, nutmeg, and allspice are the base of the mixture that covers this tenderloin while it roasts in the oven. Simple and flavorful, it just needs to be seasoned and placed in the oven until your preferred doneness, approximately 1 hour.

How long to cook a crown?

Make a flavorful stuffing with apples, celery, onions, cranberries and spices, and stuff the crown before baking it for an average of 3 hours (2.5 to 3.5 depending on size).

How many test cooks are there in Cook Smarter?

Cook smarter and succeed every time. Every recipe in this collection was developed and refined by our team of 50 test cooks until they arrived at the best version.

Is rack of lamb the simplest?

If you have the know-how, rack of lamb can be one of the simplest—and most elega…

Can you roast leg of lamb?

Roast leg of lamb can be difficult—it cooks unevenly and is hard to both flavor …. Cure and smoke pork belly and you’ve got bacon. Roast the belly instead and you’…. Roast Beef Tenderloin with Caramelized Onion and Mu... Beef tenderloin is perfect holiday fare.

Just because tradition dictates that you eat turkey for Thanksgiving doesn't mean you have to do it every year! Try one of these delicious and different main courses and add some variety to your feast

Just because tradition dictates that you eat turkey for Thanksgiving doesn't mean you have to do it every year! Try one of these delicious and different main courses and add some variety to your feast.

Moist Cranberry Pork Roast

I love to serve this tender, flavorful pork to guests. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia

Duck Breasts with Apricot Chutney

When serving this entree as part of a buffet, try using chafing dish to keep it warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Pear and Pomegranate Lamb Tagine

Pomegranate, pear and orange go together so well that I decided to use them to prepare a Middle Eastern-themed tagine with lamb. This tastes delicious served over couscous, polenta or cauliflower mashed with feta cheese. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Festive Fall Tortellini Toss

Fall is my favorite season and I love the foods of autumn, such as mushrooms, squash, apples and walnuts. I combined these all with pasta to make a delicious side dish perfect for sharing at a potluck; the recipe can easily be doubled and can be served either warm or at room temperature. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Mustard-Crusted Prime Rib with Madeira Glaze

This juicy prime rib is spectacular on its own, but the rich Madeira glaze takes it up a notch to wow at special dinners. What's even better is that it roasts with a bed of tender veggies, so you have the whole holiday meal covered in one pan. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Holiday Crown Pork Roast

Crown roast makes a regal Christmas dinner. Flavored with rosemary, sage and thyme, it’s elegant and simple, a real blessing during the hectic holidays. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

Copycat recipes from the most popular fast food restaurants in America

The experts at QSR recently released data on the 50 most popular fast food restaurants in America for 2018, which led Stacker to scour the plethora of popular lifestyle blogs and online cooking sites available to find copycat recipes from the top 20 most popular fast food restaurants.

McDonald's chicken nuggets

McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are fried, easily dunkable, and loved by children throughout the world. This copycat recipe is sure to be a godsend for busy parents of picky eaters, and it only takes 30 minutes.

Starbucks pumpkin spice latte

The iconic drink is notorious for warming hearts and stomachs alike during the holidays and has caught on well outside the Starbucks spectrum. This recipe combines creamy pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, espresso, milk, brown sugar, and decadent vanilla syrup to bring the famous latte to your home kitchen.

Subway sandwich bread

Any fan of Subway knows that the bread makes or breaks the sandwich. This recipe lets you enjoy that soft, delicious bread in the comfort of your own home. Combine warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil, and flour. Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes, and bake for 25 minutes for the perfect loaf.

Burger King Whopper

Utilize a charcoal grill to get the classic flavor Whoppers are known for. This recipe gets technical, taking into consideration everything from patty depth to onion-slicing techniques.

Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

This crunchy wrap is loaded with flavorful ground beef, crisp lettuce, melty cheese, and fresh tomatoes, just like the classic Taco Bell version. To go even more homemade, make your own taco seasoning for the beef.

Wendy's chili

There’s nothing like a warm bowl of chili from Wendy’s to spice up a cold evening. This version of hearty chili stews the spices, ground beef, vegetables, and beans for an hour to get the very best depth of flavors. You can even adjust the amount of heat for those who can’t handle the spice.

What is the main dish of Thanksgiving?

Fresh lasagna noodles are layered with sage-flecked butternut squash and creamy ricotta in a Thanksgiving main dish that will delight vegetarian guests. This dish freezes well, so you can get a head start on preparing the holiday feast.

What is the best side dish to serve with a pork roast?

Roasting apples and pears alongside this herb-rubbed pork roast results in a sweet, seasonal side dish. To complete the Thanksgiving meal, the pork is served with a white-wine-and-apple-cider gravy made from the pan juices.

What is the best stuffing for a Cornish game hen?

These individual-serving-size Cornish game hens are paired with a flavorful rye bread stuffing season ed with fresh herbs and dried cranberries. A hen on each plate drizzled with a luscious Port-wine pan sauce makes an impressive presentation for Thanksgiving dinner.

Can you double turkey for Thanksgiving?

These Thanksgiving entrée ideas are just as festive and satisfying as a whole roasted turkey. Most can be easily doubled or even tripled depending on the crowd around your table. For a well-made Thanksgiving dinner for any number of guests, we offer a selection of festive main course recipes including roast beef, pork tenderloin, Cornish hens, salmon, duck, and roast chicken.

Can you make lasagna a month in advance?

Whether you have vegetarian guests coming to Thanksgiving dinner or your family simply loves lasagna, this version, made with fresh lasagna sheets and stuffed with ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, will be a knockout. As an added bonus, it can be made a month in advance and stored in the freezer, tightly wrapped.

Is a roasted turkey on Thanksgiving dinner?

Not every single Thanksgiving dinner features a massive roasted turkey —after all, a roasted bird may be off the menu for guests with dietary restrictions, or you may simply be too pressed for time to prepare a heritage turkey in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

What to do with leftover cranberries and pumpkin?

Put leftover cranberries and pumpkin to great use in this moist quick bread. It’s very good with my "secondhand turkey" casserole for an after-Thanksgiving meal. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois

Why do I turn to this recipe frequently?

I turn to this recipe frequently because I can prepare it a day ahead—it's so convenient when company's coming. And with only a trace of fat, the fruity side dish is nutritious and delicious.—Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

What to serve on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a day to gather around the table and share a meal with the loved ones you’re most thankful for. While there are plenty of creative ways to cook your Thanksgiving favorites, you can’t go wrong with classics that everyone knows and loves. Stuffing, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie: there are so many delicious dishes that deserve a place on the table each year — including the turkey, of course! This butter-basted bird is stuffed with onion, celery, carrots and apple for a lightly-seasoned main that’s tender and juicy. It’s the perfect centerpiece for your timeless Thanksgiving table and pairs wonderfully with stuffing, green bean casserole and other amazing sides.

What is Sunny's 5 star dish?

Sunny’s 5-star dish is filled with rice, mushrooms, frozen broccoli and Cheddar. It’s hearty and filling, so a little bit goes a long way when served with turkey, stuffing and other wonderful side dishes.

Can you reheat a precooked ham for Thanksgiving?

A precooked ham makes a great choice for Thanksgiving dinner because all you need to do is reheat it. If you really want to make it special, add some extra flavor like Molly does here with her sweet-and-tangy marmalade glaze. It’s as easy as combining a few ingredients and brushing the mix over the ham while it finishes roasting.

Can you skip bourbon in B's corn pudding?

Those who like their sides a bit sweeter will adore B’s corn pudding. If you prefer to skip the bourbon, simply use water to dissolve the cornstarch, which holds the dish together.

Is Molly's pumpkin pie good?

The glowing reviews don’t lie — Molly’s pumpkin pie is one of the best you’ll ever have. Her secret? She caramelizes the sugar along with pumpkin puree to deepen the flavor and ensure a silky-smooth filling.

Is a roast turkey a main course?

I don't have to tell you this, but a roast turkey is the classic Thanksgiving main course — and this recipe has over 1,500 glowing reviews. Recipe creator Shelly White says, "My friend from France taught me to cook turkey like this, but she never measures anything so use your own judgment for vegetable amounts, etc. I usually err on the side of 'more is better'!"

Can you make turkey gravy without gravy?

And of course there's no Thanksgiving turkey without gravy. This version is made with the fat from the turkey drippings, but you can also make your gravy without turkey drippings. Reviewer Audrey Cook describes it as, "Simple and so good! The best turkey gravy we've had, and it reheated perfectly days later."

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