7 Recipes to Get a Handle On Holiday Hosting
Who says hosting has to be complicated? These recipes and tips will help you put together a seamless holiday dinner with as less stress as possible.
Who says hosting has to be complicated? These recipes and tips will help you put together a seamless holiday dinner with as less stress as possible.
The list might surprise you
Alleviate stress and free up space by using your grill as a second oven this holiday season
Dig into these tips – and tasty recipes – to create a holiday spread that’s easy on even the pickiest of guts
Fend off that dreaded pie anxiety this year
Mixed with fried capers and topped with golden, crisped-up shallots, you’ll hear, “Pass the Brussels sprouts!” numerous times around the holiday table.
Inflation is driving up the price of traditional essentials, but these cost-conscious tips and tricks will help.
Is this berry bad news or just rumors?
Getting your hands on the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is going to be tougher this year.
We’re sharing a few nonstandard ways to use up your leftover bird, from an innovative papaya salad to potato pancakes.
Transform your holiday dinner leftovers into a savory breakfast with turkey, cranberries and pecans combined into one delicious muffin.
Eating decadent dinners on the Paleo diet is indeed possible on Thanksgiving. We’re proving it with this selection of compliant recipes fit for a party.
When it comes to holiday eats, keto is one of the hardest diets to cater to. We’re making it easier with keto-conscious recipes to incorporate in your menu.
The holidays can be a hard time for plant-based eaters, when family dinners often feature meaty mains like gigantic roasted birds. But with our recipes below, you can be sure your veggie-based friends will go home satisfied.
This Thanksgiving, those going gluten-free need not fear. We’re arming you with decadent, Instagrammable dishes in this celiac-friendly holiday menu.
Wondering how you can take an entire frozen turkey from rock hard to ready for the oven? This surefire thawing method is as simple as it is safe.
Your guests are going to love this stunning holiday meal peppered with super easy chef tips for an elevated menu. After all, we’ve earned an upgraded celebration this year. We're here to help you make it extra special.
This velvety, rich gravy is made from a homemade turkey broth and mirepoix of carrots, celery and onions.
Homemade jalapeño-infused corn bread croutons add a spicy crunch to this bread salad.
Turn up the dial up on your classic apple pie with a decadent homemade caramel sauce that’s baked into the filling.
Forget canned cranberry sauce – this recipe is simple and a bit spicy, and it'll totally change your traditional turkey game.
A simple sage butter infuses your holiday centerpiece with a ton of flavor. Make sure to prep the turkey the day before so it will be ready to roast on the day of.
This holiday crackle is the perfect sweet and salty treat — without added sugar or traditional flour.
These easy scones are made without traditional flour, making them the perfect gluten-free breakfast (or brunch) treat.
Liven up any gathering with this gingerbread roll that can be made in advance and refrigerated until guests arrive.
If you’re looking for the appeal of a deep-fried appetizer without any frying at all, these just might become your go-to option. Panko makes the exotic vegetable fries deliciously crunchy, while the cool, creamy, cashew-based dip adds a fresh, bright note.
If you’re a cheesecake fan, this goat cheese tart will make you fall in love all over again. The tangy filling is topped with a simple but elegant compote featuring fresh blackberries and figs.
This turkey is a labor of love, but the juicy results are totally worth the effort. Here, we use deboned meat, which cooks through faster than a whole bird, and the finished roll is easier to slice at the table. Ask your butcher to prepare it for you in advance, and request that they reserve about half of the bones as you’ll need them to make the gravy. A cranberry glaze is brushed on the turkey while roasting, while a homemade gravy gets drizzled on after serving.
Normally, gratins are layered horizontally so that the sliced vegetables lie flat in the dish. This recipe literally turns that on its side — the potatoes and artichokes are standing on their edges, so you get lots of crispy bits on top and a really fancy look that’s impressive on your holiday table.
Shishitos are usually mild, but every once in a while you get a firecracker. That’s what makes this dish really fun! Blistering the beans and peppers in a skillet gives them a nice charred taste without having to toss them on the grill or under the broiler. If you can’t find shishito peppers, try multicolored mini bell peppers instead.
Indulge — just make it mini. These teeny buns have all the sweet, cinnamon-laced appeal of their bigger cousins, but sub in a less- rich Greek yogurt drizzle for the traditional cream cheese frosting. They’re also gluten-free!
Flatbreads have the same broad appeal as pizza but are ideal for dolling up with sophisticated flavors. Here, a tasty homemade dough gets topped with caramelized onions, sweet squash, zesty sausage and creamy goat cheese for an appetizer that’s definitely not every day.
This salad makes the most of in-season citrus and creates a pretty-hued side. If you can’t find blood oranges, substitute more navel oranges. The salad won’t be quite as colorful, but it will still be tangy- sweet and delicious.
It's important to have healthy snack options in your arsenal during the holidays. This combo of spices and mixed nuts is the perfect good-for-you nibble to have on hand.
Heirloom carrots are a great go-to veggie for a side dish because they look gorgeous plated; plus, they’re delicious simply roasted with olive oil or coconut oil. But when you top with maple syrup and cashew cream, these carrots become next-level!
Few can resist the call of pumpkin spice! These grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free whoopie pies with their cinnamon-cream centers are a hit with all ages.
This dreamy dessert uses the magic of cashews to replicate the taste and richness of cream cheese. You’ll end up with extra Date Caramel Sauce to serve on the side, or keep for another use (such as with pancakes the next day).
It might seem strange at first, but wrapping your turkey in cheesecloth as it roasts locks in the moisture for extra-juicy meat. A simple glaze made from orange marmalade and a jus made with arrowroot round out the dish without any wheat flour, which most gravies would use.
Squash stands in for lasagna noodles in this hearty, vegan-friendly dish that makes both ricotta and béchamel out of cauliflower.
This showstopping cauliflower dish is smothered in a crowd-pleasing tahini sauce. Crunchy nuts, sweet raisins and fresh herbs lend even more taste and texture to this incredibly delicious side or vegetarian main.
Roasting the grapes intensifies their flavor, adding big bursts of sweetness against the savory veggies and lemon vinaigrette.
To ensure that your herb-infused turkey breast is impossibly moist – but still low in fat – leave the skin on during cooking to seal in the juices and discard prior to eating.
Cranberry glaze elevates simple chicken thighs. This dish is impressive and easy—and can grace both a weeknight or celebration table.
There's no fruit that screams holiday like cranberries. A classic clafoutis gets a holiday spin with cranberries and orange which lend just the right amount of sweetness and acidity.
Sweet and tart cranberries transform into a spicy jalapeño sauce for these cheesy quesadillas.
Thanksgiving dinner in an electric pressure cooker? Yes, you can! This recipe makes beautifully moist turkey with savory stuffing at the same time, and all those tasty turkey juices make up a quick herb gravy at the end. Broiling the stuffing briefly after it comes out of the pressure cooker makes it deliciously crisp on top, but this is entirely optional.
Yes, this three-tier holiday showstopper is actually called a naked cake thanks to its sheer, stripped-down frosting. Your guests might blush at the name, but you’ll gain points for creating the most epic dessert at your holiday table.
These indulgent shortbread squares are simply pressed into a baking pan – no rolling or fussing with the dough required.
Roasting thin slices of Brussels sprouts makes them deliciously caramelized, while Jerusalem artichokes and green olives add buttery flavor to this unique side dish. The sprouts can be cut up to 4 days in advance, but the cooked dish is best right out of the oven.
This rich sausage and walnut dressing freezes well and it can be cooked in a slow cooker, freeing up oven and stovetop space. The slow, even heat of a slow cooker yields moist stuffing with crispy edges.
Sweet potato wedges glazed with maple and vanilla are a healthier take on the traditional sticky-sweet marshmallow-topped casseroles. The sweet potatoes can be roasted up to a day in advance and reheated with the glaze just before serving. Spice-roasted pecans add crunch, but they are optional.
You can par-roast the cauliflower for this sweet-savory dish up to 3 days in advance and simply reheat before tossing the florets with the vinaigrette, cranberries and pine nuts before serving. It’s an ideal do-ahead side dish for everything from pork to turkey.
Removing the backbone from the bird (aka spatchcocking) ensures the dark and light meat cooks evenly. Do it yourself with the help of our easy instructions below, or have your butcher do it for you. The turkey is marinated with a dry brine of sage, fennel, orange zest and salt for 24 to 48 hours for juicy, flavorful meat, but you can add the rub just before roasting if you’re in a rush.
Infusing pork loin with zesty garlic-sage rub and wrapping it in prosciutto makes for a showstopping entrée that’s super-easy to make.
Rosemary takes top billing in this herb roasted turkey recipe that puts a tasty twist on a traditional entrée.
The classic shrimp cocktail gets a twist with a spicy, fresh Mexican pico de gallo and baked homemade sweet potato chips.
These roasted organic Brussels sprouts are perfectly paired with a sage brown butter dipping sauce.
A fresh, clean take on green beans, lightly sprinkled with organic sesame seeds and ginger.
We worked with Simply Organic to compile the below gallery of some of our favorite holiday recipes. Check it out!
Can’t decide between chocolate and pumpkin pie for your holiday gathering? This dessert has both with a velvety pumpkin filling and beautiful swirls of rich, dark chocolate.
Skip the fussy roasted turkey this year and try our laid-back stuffing-rolled turkey breast and an array of gorgeous holiday dishes made easier and more nutritious for a supremely flavorful and stress-free meal.
Coffee cake doesn’t have to be understated – with whole-grain flour, flaxseeds and squash for added nutrition, plus an indulgent maple glaze drizzled over top, this cake will surely get noticed.
From clean twists on the classics to daringly delicious new favorites, these potato dishes will enhance any holiday table.
Our resident farmer Mary Brower shares three fresh sides and one easy dessert for Thanksgiving that showcase delicious whole foods.
We’re taking the headache out of holiday entertaining with 10 incredibly delicious, festive recipes that won’t pack on the pounds. The best part? We’ve done all the planning for you so that you can do the bulk of the work in advance!
Our ultimate guide to Thanksgiving will help you get good, wholesome favorites on the table and leave your family wondering how you do it so easily. Use our handy checklist during the days leading up to the big event to make your Turkey Day meal a no-stress affair.
The entertaining season is upon us, and with it comes 3 scrumptious stuffing recipes for every kind of feast.
Quinoa and wild rice are loaded with protein to keep you full and fiber to keep your digestive tract running smooth. Flavorful herbs like sage, oregano and rosemary are not only fragrant but also rich in antioxidants that can improve circulation, reduce inflammation and help prevent cancer.
Onions are full of phytonutrients that reduce inflammation and can help prevent cancer and heart disease. Add healthy fats to your stuffing with protein-rich pecans and vitamin E–packed sunflower seeds. Season your stuffing while loading up on antioxidants with fresh tarragon, a peppery herb that contains potassium, iron, calcium and vitamin A, and with fresh parsley, an incredibly rich source of vitamins A, C and K.
This lemony roast stuffed with Parmesan and panko takes a bit of attention before it goes into the oven, but you’ll be rewarded with a turkey that avoids the last-minute muss and fuss of carving. After cooking, all you do is slice and serve.
Want to shake things up this holiday? Try our bold menu featuring pork loin roast, potato gratin, farro & fruit dressing and fiery cranberry sauce.
Here, a juicy pork loin gets stuffed right down the middle, so that each slice yields a ring of meat with a donut hole of filling. If you like, play with using different kinds of cheese and herbs.
Serving roasted potatoes means you’re not a slave to the stove top; the oven does the work and you get more time with your guests. And don’t be misled by the short ingredients list – this recipe is loaded with flavor.
If you're a traditionalist at heart, you'll love our classic holiday menu which features roast turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make the cranberry sauce up to 5 days ahead and the dressing the day before to save time on the big day!
This classic holiday turkey is made even more special by adding onions to the roasting pan and a splash of red wine to the gravy.
Gorgeous fall vegetables generously lace this traditional-style dressing. To make it your own, feel free to experiment with different combinations of your favorite veggies and herbs.
Mashed potatoes are a wonderfully blank canvas that can be enhanced by adding other vegetables to the cooking water. Here, cauliflower adds nutty notes while dill stirred in at the end adds lovely green flecks and a pop of fresh flavor.
If you’ve never made your own cranberry sauce, you’re in for a surprise. It’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you ever went with store-bought.
A quick and easy cranberry sauce gives our turkey grilled cheese a Thanksgiving feel — and it definitely takes a fraction of the time than your traditional holiday feast.
Turn your usual sweet potato pie into bite-size truffles, a totally rich and decadent treat that lets you flex your festive creativity!