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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Ina Garten's Top 10 Thanksgiving Recipes of All Time (1)

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 are the top 10 Thanksgiving food? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

What are the best classic Thanksgiving dishes? ›

A Traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
  • 01 of 12. A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 12. The Best Turkey Gravy. ...
  • 03 of 12. Grandma's Cornbread Dressing. ...
  • 04 of 12. Baked Ham. ...
  • 05 of 12. Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • 06 of 12. Best Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • 07 of 12. Creamy au Gratin Potatoes. ...
  • 08 of 12.
Oct 18, 2023

What is the number one 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.

What is a must for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What is the least favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Another poll conducted by SurveyMonkey on behalf of The Vacationer showed cranberry sauce (31.5%), sweet potatoes (29.2%), green bean casserole (28%), turkey (27.7%) and stuffing (26.8%) were the top five most “disliked” Thanksgiving dishes. (This survey allowed to respondents to choose multiple dishes they disliked.)

What is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and though the turkey (or ham) might take top billing, everyone knows the sides are the true stars of the table. What would our national holiday be without stuffing and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, green beans and rolls?

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What was the original traditional Thanksgiving dinner? ›

But according to the two only remaining historical records of the first Thanksgiving menu, that meal consisted of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, cod, bass, and flint, and a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving foods? ›

Here are the top 10 most popular Thanksgiving foods you'll likely see at every celebration.
  1. Turkey. Turkey is a symbol of Thanksgiving, and it's hard to imagine the holiday without it. ...
  2. Mashed Potatoes. ...
  3. Green Bean Casserole. ...
  4. Sweet Potatoes. ...
  5. Dinner Rolls. ...
  6. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  7. Pumpkin Pie. ...
  8. Stuffing.
Oct 26, 2022

What are the 3 most popular sides on Thanksgiving? ›

  • Cornbread Stuffing.
  • Creamed Spinach. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Scalloped Potatoes. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Cornbread. ...
  • Rolls. PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: Taylor Ann SPENCER. ...
  • Mac And Cheese. Before you bring out the pitchforks, hear us out: mac and cheese is incredible in every way but as a Thanksgiving side. ...
Nov 16, 2023

How many sides should a Thanksgiving dinner have? ›

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 the three most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving? ›

Three of the New York Times cooking section's most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes. As with potatoes, there's a Thanksgiving-preferred way for green beans to be consumed: the casserole, of course.

What is served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You will likely be eating roast turkey, barbecued turkey, deep fried turkey, glazed country ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed and covered with marshmallows, corn, cornbread, yeast/potato rolls, black eyed peas, rice, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce from ...

What is the most common main dish for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

There's no doubt that a big, roasted Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of any holiday dinner. But that doesn't mean there isn't room at the table for other main courses, too.

What are the traditional Thanksgiving sides? ›

We're talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce… If you wanted to, you could make all those, stop right there, and have pretty much the perfect meal.

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

24 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. These mashed potatoes are a must on Thanksgiving! ...
  • Easy Sausage and Herb Stuffing. ...
  • Brussels Sprouts Gratin. ...
  • Fresh Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Turkey Gravy. ...
  • Potatoes Au Gratin. ...
  • Creamed Spinach. ...
  • Challah, Wild Mushroom & Herb Stuffing.
Nov 11, 2023

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

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

FoodTimeline library Food Timeline> What does the average American eat for Thanksgiving? If you ask the "average" American today what he eats for Thanksgiving he will likely answer turkey & stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pies (yes, plural!).

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