Ina Garten's Top 10 Thanksgiving Recipes of All Time (2024)

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Lauren Masur

Lauren Masur

Lauren was the Groceries Editor for Kitchn.

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updated Nov 22, 2023

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For those of you looking for a one-stop shop for all the recipes to include on your Thanksgiving table, look no further than this roundup of Ina Garten’s 10 most popular Turkey Day recipes. Our food team even gave a few of them a test drive, and SPOILER ALERT: Not a single one disappoints. It’s what we’ve come to expect from Ina, but a reminder every now and then can’t hurt.

So without further ado, here’s a list of the best Ina Thanksgiving recipes — and why you should make them.

If Ina’s roast turkey is anything like her roast chicken, it’s the stuff of legends. Her Thanksgiving bird is seasoned liberally (of course) with salt and pepper; stuffed with thyme, halved lemons, quartered onions, and garlic; and then brushed with a dreamy, zesty, herby butter mixture. We tested out the recipe ourselves, and it delivered on all its promises.

Read more: I Tried Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey (and Brine)

This Thanksgiving essential is next-level, thanks to an entire stick of butter, yummy sourdough bread cubes, diced Granny Smith apples, and Italian sausage. Make your life a little easier and make it ahead.

We are officially riding the Ina Garten gravy train. Her secret ingredients? Cognac and white wine — and of course onions, butter, flour, turkey drippings, and chicken stock. I can’t wait to pour this into my mashed potato volcano.

Speaking of mashed potato volcanoes, there’s no one that makes ’em better than Ina. They’re luscious, rich, and have a hint of tang, thanks to the addition of sour cream. Our Associate Food Editor Kelli Foster tested out the recipe and rated it a 10 out of 10. She said “If I could eat just one mashed potato recipe for the rest of my life, it would be Ina’s.”

Read more: I Tried Ina Garten’s Classic Mashed Potatoes

It’s pretty much impossible to cook an entire Thanksgiving spread in just one day, so consider lightening your load and preparing a few things in advance. (Ina’s an expert on this.) Cranberry sauce is a great make-ahead option, since you can pop it in the fridge when it’s done. Ina’s sauce is perfect for those who prefer tart over sweet, since it’s made with both lemon and orange juice and zest.

Don’t swap out regular mashed potatoes for Ina’s smashed sweet potatoes just yet — because you’re going to want BOTH. Ina’s sweet potatoes are baked to perfection, mixed in with orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, then baked again until heated through.

Ina’s pumpkin pie is topped with rum whipped cream. I repeat, RUM WHIPPED CREAM, made with “good dark rum, such as Mount Gay.” Is it time for dessert yet?

Out of all of the green bean recipes that our food team tested these past few weeks, Ina’s won out by a mile. According to Assistant Food Editor, Sheela Prakash, this recipe might sound fancy, but it’s actually super straightforward and only takes 20 minutes to prepare. “They also looked the most impressive and tasted the best — the garlicky gremolata made them downright irresistible.

Read more: I Tried Ina Garten’s Green Beans Gremolata

You heard it here first: Ina Garten’s Perfect Pie Crust delivers on all of its promises. If you’re intimidated by homemade pie crust, don’t be — Ina breaks it down so that even a beginner baker will feel confident in the process. Associate Editor Meghan Splawn tested the crust out herself and agrees that this crust reigns supreme.

Read more: Who Wins the Title of “Best Pie Crust Ever”?

Your guests are likely split down the middle in terms of pumpkin versus apple pie preferences, so it’s wise to have both in the mix. Fans of Ina’s deep-dish apple pie call it “the best apple pie recipe ever.” In Ina we trust.

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Ina Garten's Top 10 Thanksgiving Recipes of All Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 rated side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November. Click here for the recipe!

What is the least favorite dish for Thanksgiving? ›

The Most Interesting Discoveries:

Most people over 60 chose Green Bean Casserole as their most hated side dish. Those under 40 also disliked Green Bean Casserole, but they had equal distaste for Sweet Potato Casserole. These two “retro” or “vintage” recipes were the most disliked on the list.

What is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Turkey is usually the main dish of Thanksgiving. It is roasted and served with stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Another popular dish is mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are usually served as a side dish.

What is the best order to cook Thanksgiving dinner? ›

For the big day, we've figured out just the right order to pull together the rest of the feast.
  1. Defrost premade bread. ...
  2. Chill wine and beer.
  3. Prepare the stuffing stuffing. ...
  4. Roast the turkey. ...
  5. Prepare other side dishes while the turkey roasts. ...
  6. Remove the fully cooked turkey from the oven and rest it for 1 hour.
Oct 20, 2021

What to bring as a guest to Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Here are a couple of suggestions:
  1. Flowers (arranged in a vase or container)
  2. Cornucopia.
  3. Box of chocolates.
  4. Box of teas.
  5. Gourmet treats like specialty cheeses, jam containers, crackers or a beautifully packaged gourmet gift basket.
  6. Wine.
  7. Holiday drink mix.
  8. Book.
Nov 16, 2023

How many sides per person for Thanksgiving? ›

I argue that a full 3/4 cup is allocated per person. They're just too good! 1/2 cup of a variety of vegetable sides is ample for Thanksgiving. Whether it's Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes, Wild Rice Pilaf with Apples, Perfectly Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Brown Sugar Acorn Squash Wedges, 1/2 cup will be plenty!

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

Millions of people across the United States will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and cranberries. These foods have become synonymous with Thanksgiving, but how did they end up on tables from Maine to California?

What was the original traditional Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Although turkeys were indigenous, there's no record of a big, roasted bird at the feast. The Wampanoag brought deer and there would have been lots of local seafood (mussels, lobster, bass) plus the fruits of the first pilgrim harvest, including pumpkin. No mashed potatoes, though.

What is the most popular Thanksgiving meat? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What is the number 1 Thanksgiving side dish? ›

mashed potatoes! Rising from second place in 2022, mashed potatoes take the crown for America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Creamy, rich, and comforting, they're the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy, so it makes sense that mashed potatoes came out on top.

How many side dishes should you have for Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

If you're lucky, there might even be leftovers to enjoy the next day!
  • 01 of 51. Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy. ...
  • 02 of 51. Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever. ...
  • 03 of 51. Buttermilk-Brined Turkey. ...
  • 04 of 51. Classic Candied Yams. ...
  • 05 of 51. Cornbread Dressing. ...
  • 06 of 51. Turkey Gravy. ...
  • 07 of 51. Classic Cranberry Salad. ...
  • 08 of 51. Yeast Rolls.
Jul 6, 2022

What is the famous meal of Thanksgiving? ›

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

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