Thanksgiving Day Menus That Are Far From Traditional
Feasts big and small celebrate the flavors of the West, from a traditional ranch feast to island fare and vegetarian delights.
Photo by Annabelle Breakey
We all like a traditional Thanksgiving, but why not incorporate someone else’s traditions into your own feast this year? Below, we have menus that bring flavors of Hawaii, the Northwest, Southwest, and Mexico to traditional dishes. We’ve even got a vegetarian menu, if you want or need to go further outside the canon this year. Will your guest list be too small for a whole turkey? We’ve got a menu built around Cornish game hen that makes a manageable amount of food for two. Whatever the circumstances of your gathering this year, these and other ideas will help you balance the traditional and novel to make it work.
Diner-Style Thanksgiving
Menu: Diner-style Thanksgiving
This menu evokes classic American style with a modern Western twist: turkey sliders, fried green beans and shallot rings, pumpkin bourbon shakes, and mini pecan pies.
Farm-to-Feast Menu
Menu: Farm-to-feast Thanksgiving
This locavore menu celebrates heritage turkey, wild mushrooms, Ozette potatoes, and cranberries all grown in the West.
Mexican Feast on the Beach
Menu: Thanksgiving on the beach
If the weather’s warm, take your holiday outdoors. The turkey cooks on the grill, and traditional side dishes get a Mexican Thanksgiving twist.
Thanksgiving Menus: Five-Star Modern Feast
Menu: Five-star modern Thanksgiving
Time-saving techniques turn this sophisticated Thanksgiving menu into an easy to prepare feast for the modern family.
Butterfly and grill the turkey this year and it will be ready for the table in no time.
Traditional 2.0
Menu: Traditional Thanksgiving 2.0
The traditional Thanksgiving menu gets an upgrade via flavorful ingredients that boost the holiday classics. Mascarpone Chive Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry Cointreau Sauce are sure to be perennial favorites.
Splendid vegetarian
Menu: Splendid vegetarian
Thanksgiving is about much more than just turkey. This year, give thanks for the season’s rich bounty with this menu, featuring a recipe for Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach.
Big Family, Big Meal
Menu: Feast for 12 to 14
Divvy up the work with this mostly portable Thanksgiving meal. The Gorgonzola Broccoli Casserole is always a hit.
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A Southwest Thanksgiving
Menu: A Southwest Thanksgiving
All the traditional favorites with a spicy, Southwest flair. You’ll love the Cornbread-Chorizo Dressing and Chipotle-Corn Mashed Potatoes.
Vegetarian Feast
Menu: Vegetarian holiday menu
This colorful and festive vegetarian meal showcases the season’s harvest.
Northwest Thanksgiving
Menu: A Chef’s Holiday Feast
This version of the classic feast is brimming with the Northwest’s bounty of hazelnuts, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.
Ranch-Style Thanksgiving
Menu: A Ranch Thanksgiving
Rich colors and deep autumnal flavors shine in this rustic Thanksgiving meal.
Intimate Thanksgiving for Two
Menu: Festive Menu for 2
Traditional turkey gets replaced with cornish game hens for a pared-down Thanksgiving dinner that’s perfectly suited for two.
Essential Thanksgiving Tools
We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission.
Made In Cookware’s Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan
Cheaper than the competition and induction-burner-compatible.
Shun Classic Blonde 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Don’t bother with the single-purpose carving knife. Buy this chic, blonde, Pakawood-handled, Japanese-made chef’s knife that’s got all the ceremonial swagger but year-round usefulness.
John Boos Cutting Board
You’re going need that little juice groove. Made of antimicrobial maple, it’s handsome enough to use as a rustic serving platter.
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