Thanksgiving Every Way

If you're cooking Thanksgiving for the very first time this year, guess what? It doesn't have to be a stressful proposition. This easy menu, which includes our simplest roast turkey recipe and a few foolproof sides, will take you from cocktails to dessert with your wits intact. 

The star of this menu is a Moroccan-inspired stuffed squash filled with dried fruits and barley—a hearty but vegan centerpiece that still calls for a carving knife. But before we get there, we'll traipse past a refreshingly light cocktail and a dip that makes the most of plant-based dairy, as well as side dishes that ensure your guests get their fill, even without any meat or meat substitutes on the menu. We end with not one but two desserts that stay true to sprit of the holiday without compromising on the vegan promise.

Apathetic turkey-eaters, rejoice! This Thanksgiving, you need not settle for the bigger (but lesser) bird. A miso-butter roast chicken and gravy act as the centerpiece here, with a few flavorful sides (green beans, salad) playing backup. We also call for two desserts, one of which is a chocolate cookie. No, cookies are not customary for Thanksgiving—but if chicken's on the table, you've already broken one tradition. What's the harm in breaking another?

Thanksgiving is usually filled with the starchy, filling vegetables that gluten-free eaters tend to flock to anyway. But if you want to ensure the holiday is entirely gluten-free, there are a few dishes to watch out for. First, find a gravy recipe that uses cornstarch instead of flour (or lean into cranberry sauce and skip the gravy altogether). Then, look for a cornbread that uses only corn flour (such as this cheesy spoon bread), and a dressing that uses wild rice. The trickiest place to avoid gluten will be dessert, but here you'll find some great options: a crust made with easy-to-find GF gingersnaps, and an all-purpose GF dough that can be used in pie crusts, tarts, and cookies. There's also the option of serving brûléed apples or a chocolate-chestnut mousse. Pie who?

If finances are tight this year, Thanksgiving might make you nervous. But there's no reason to shell out for an expensive whole turkey. Instead, this luxurious (but affordable!) menu features turkey drumsticks, which are, by far, the least-expensive-per-pound turkey option available in most supermarkets. Roasted and basted in ghee (make your own for minimal budget impact), this turkey dinner is likely to outshine any previous birds you've cooked. On the side, offer winter squash confit with garlic and herbs, a crisp wedge salad with a sprightly sour cream dressing, and a simple cranberry sauce that comes with plenty of leftovers. No need to skimp on appetizers or dessert, either: A dip of sweet roasted carrots blended with smoky hot paprika and a fennel-dusted apple tart bookend this holiday dinner, which comes together for less than $10 per person.