This Basic Thanksgiving Menu Is the Only One You’ll Ever Need
Introduction
Thanksgiving is all about gathering loved ones around the table and savoring a memorable meal. But with so many dishes and traditions, planning can quickly feel overwhelming. This basic Thanksgiving menu streamlines your holiday by offering crowd-pleasing classics that are simple to prepare and guaranteed to impress. Featuring timeless flavors and straightforward steps, this truly is the only Thanksgiving menu you’ll ever need.
Why This Basic Thanksgiving Menu Is a Crowd Pleaser
The secret to stress-free hosting lies in mastering the essentials. This menu pairs a perfectly roasted turkey with flavor-packed sides and classic desserts, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Each recipe focuses on balance and ease, letting you spend more time with your guests and less time in the kitchen—while still serving a meal to remember.
Easy Thanksgiving Staples Worth Making
This menu includes everything you expect at a traditional Thanksgiving feast: tender roast turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, bright herbed stuffing, zesty cranberry sauce, and a golden pumpkin pie for dessert. The harmonious flavors and textures create a festive spread that’s both nostalgic and delicious.
Smooth Prep for a Seamless Thanksgiving Dinner
A little organization goes a long way toward a smooth Thanksgiving. By tackling certain recipes ahead of time—like assembling stuffing and preparing the cranberry sauce—you can enjoy a relaxed and confident holiday, even with a full house. This basic Thanksgiving menu is perfectly designed for prepping ahead and keeping things simple.
The Ultimate Basic Thanksgiving Menu
- Roast Turkey with Herb Butter
- Classic Bread Stuffing
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Turkey Gravy
- Sweet Cranberry Sauce
- Green Bean Almondine
- Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this menu on CookifyAI to instantly create a smart shopping list organized by grocery aisle—making your Thanksgiving prep as easy and efficient as possible!
Instructions
- Preheat your oven: Set to 325°F for the turkey.
- Prep the turkey: Pat dry. Mash butter with chopped herbs, salt, and pepper. Loosen turkey skin and rub herb butter under the skin and on top. Tie legs and place in roasting pan. Roast (about 13 minutes per pound), basting with pan juices.
- Prepare stuffing: In a large skillet, melt butter, add onions and celery; sauté until soft. Toss with dried bread cubes, herbs, salt, and pepper. Gradually add broth until moistened. Bake in a covered dish at 350°F for 35 minutes.
- Mashed potatoes: Boil potatoes until very tender, drain. Mash with butter and warmed milk/cream. Season with salt and pepper.
- Gravy: Heat turkey drippings or butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour to form a roux. Slowly add broth, whisking constantly, and simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cranberry sauce: Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until berries burst, about 12 minutes. Stir in orange zest if using. Cool to thicken.
- Green beans: Blanch beans until crisp-tender. Sauté almonds in butter, add beans and toss with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Pumpkin pie: Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk all filling ingredients, pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and bake 35–40 minutes, until set. Cool before serving.
Weekly Meal Planning
Thanksgiving leftovers are just as treasured as the meal itself. By planning ahead, you can enjoy dishes like turkey sandwiches, casseroles, and soups using the ingredients you already have. Schedule this menu with CookifyAI and let the platform intelligently combine recipes, calculate total quantities needed for all your meals, and generate a consolidated shopping list so nothing is overlooked.
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically totals quantities for all planned recipes
- Organizes every item by grocery section for smooth trips
- Eliminates duplicate purchases and missed ingredients
- Optimizes leftovers for easy next-day meals
Pro tip: When planning your weekly menu, schedule this Thanksgiving menu alongside your post-holiday meals for total ingredient coverage and zero waste.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 3–4 hours (for turkey and sides)
Total Time: 4–5 hours (including dessert)
This basic Thanksgiving menu is your recipe for a classic holiday meal that’s simple, delicious, and thoughtfully organized—ensuring you spend less time planning and more time celebrating.