Dinner Ideas For Thanksgiving In 2021

Thanksgiving is one time of year we all (well, most of us) look forward to. The delicious smell of warm and freshly prepared food hangs in the air, and the house once again comes alive with the clatter of young and old alike. Though it is pretty impossible to dampen the festive spirit, serving your guests with lip-smacking delights can be a little overwhelming, especially if you have just begun your journey through the thanksgiving get-togethers. Here are some simple and delicious recipes to complete your Thanksgiving dinner table!

Dinner To Serve At The Table

Thanksgiving has always been about warmth rather than an extravagance. But that does not mean there have been compromises on the delicacies. From smoking turkeys to sweet pies, the dining is filled with delights that count no calories. As you eat to your heart’s content, get equal (if not more) joy by creating those magical delicacies from scratch. Stock up the ingredients and find yourself some partners to accompany you and set the table on thanksgiving.

Roast Turkey

No Thanksgiving is complete without turkey. Roasted, smoked, or grilled turkey, choose your pick but make sure to have the star of the dinner on your table (unless you don’t eat meat!). Here is an easy one for your dinner: a butter and herb roast turkey.

1. Preheat the oven to 450F. 
2. Clean the turkey under flowing water and pat it dry. 
3. Season the turkey with salt and pepper according to the taste. Make a stuffing of herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Squeeze or add whole oranges and lemon slices. 
4. Make a smooth paste by using another set of the same ingredients and adding some onions. Dress the turkey with the herb paste and let it sit in the oven, and roast it with frequent basting. 
5. Once the turkey finishes cooking fully, let it cool down. Then, remove the stuffing and serve!

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

This one is on the list because people never get tired of it! Well, no one can deny perfectly mashed potatoes, let alone a combination of mashed potatoes with cream!

1. Boil some potatoes in water. To boil them faster, sprinkle a teaspoon of salt while putting the potatoes for boiling. Make sure they are soft enough for you to mash. 
2. Drain the water, peel the skin off and mash them using a wooden smasher. 
3. Add butter and continue the mixing. Slowly add milk and cream to the potatoes and mix evenly. 
4. Sprinkle some black pepper and a few herbs to finish! 

Green Beans

It is on the list because it is a part of a traditional dinner. Yes, not a fan of boiled veggies. But here is a way to cook them deliciously!

1. Boil water. Bring down the heat to low and add salt-pork fatback—cover and cook for an hour. 
2. Add beans and cook till the beans are tender. 
3. Discard the fatback.
4. Season to match the flavor of the dinner table!

Scalloped Corn

Add a scoop full of delicious corn to your dinner table to add a dash of sunshine to the plate. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Prepare the batter by whisking eggs, milk, and crushed crackers. Add corn, butter, and a pinch of sugar and salt for the taste. 
3. Pour the above mixture into an oiled baking pan.
4. Bake until the mixture sets in the pan. 

Side Dishes

Keep one or two side dishes to make the dinner more extravagant. 

Mac And Cheese

1. Boil the pasta. Add a teaspoon of oil while boiling. Drain the water off and wash with cold water to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick to each other. 
2. Preheat the oven to 425F.
3. Heat pan over medium heat. Add some butter and fry minced onion and garlic till they turn golden brown. Add some all-purpose flour and continue cooking while whisking. Continue whisking as you add a splash of whisky and half-and-half. Cook until the batter thickens and continues. After the mixture boils, reduce the flame to low and continue as instructed above. 
4. Remove from flame and grate in your favorite cheese combinations. Mix to get an even consistency. 
5. Season the pasta with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and cover it with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown. 

Grape Salad

1. Take a mixture of seedless grapes and cut them into equal halves.
2. Whip cream cheese and sour cream in a bowl. Sprinkle some salt and sugar and mix. Add the grapes and mix them evenly. 
3. Top the salad with your favorite dry fruits.   

Cheesy Rice

1. Heat the cooking oil. As the oil becomes hot, add onions and garlic and cook with regular stirring until it becomes golden brown. 
2. Add diced vegetables of your choice. Cook the vegetables in the above pan till they are soft. 
3. Add rice and cook for a few minutes. Add in cheese and melt it. Additionally, you can add chicken stock here instead of water and cook the rice. 
4. Add some fresh parsley on the top and serve.

Pumpkin Tarts

No meal is complete without a sweet sugar melting in your mouth. So give the traditional pies a modern twist that will surely win both young and old hearts. 

1. Make the tart shells using all-purpose flour or graham crackers, as you please. Mix butter, sugar, egg yolk, and flour/crackers till you get a stiff non-flowy batter. Add vanilla extract or cinnamon for additional taste.
2. Cover the batter in plastic wrap and refrigerate. 
3. Take the batter and roll it into small pieces, and evenly spread them on tartlet sheets. Make sure to maintain even thickness. 
4. Make a pumpkin puree with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and egg yolk. Cook while whisking. Add milk with a little gelatin to the above puree. Cook for a minute and cool the mixture over an ice-cold water bath. Fill the puree mixture into the tarts and top them with your delicious berries or chocolate shavings. 

Conclusion 

With classic dinner dishes checked, add some dinner rolls and cranberry sauce. Now all you are left to take care of is a good quality wine to make the night merrier! Bring in the festive cheer and good vibes by taking charge of everything. As the family settles in to spend quality time together, brighten the time with precious memories created over food!