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Thanksgiving is a holiday with a heavy emphasis on our favorite thing at the Dr. Yum Project: food! We don’t believe there should be any rules when it comes to what you serve. The important thing is that it’s yummy food shared with people you love. With that in mind, you’ll find recipes on this list that feel very traditional and others that might feel a little different from your usual Thanksgiving menu. Either way, they’ve all been selected because they highlight some of the best ingredients the season has to offer. Here are our recipe picks for the Thanksgiving table. We hope you’ll enjoy some of these as a part of your spread this year!
Pear and Cranberry Crisp
Don’t let apples get all of the attention! Pears deserve some love too. This dessert combines pears with cranberries into a tasty crisp. With no pie crust to worry about, this is a great option for a relatively simple dessert that’s sure to please. VIEW RECIPE»
Brussels Sprout Slaw
Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts get tossed with a warm bacon and citrus dressing for a cozy and crunchy side dish. We especially love this one for Thanksgiving, because it doesn’t require any precious time in your oven! Plus, the sprouts could easily be prepped ahead of time and stored for when you’re ready to cook the bacon and make the dressing. VIEW RECIPE»
Roasted Fennel
Love roasted vegetables, but looking to switch things up for the holiday? Try roasted fennel! This often underappreciated vegetable brings a ton of flavor all on its own and is likely to be sitting unnoticed while everyone at the store is crowded around the typical Thanksgiving favorites. VIEW RECIPE»
Sticky Pomegranate Chicken
If you’re looking to deviate from the flavors of the typical turkey dinner or still want poultry, but don’t want to deal with a giant bird, try Sticky Pomegranate Chicken. Chicken thighs are baked on a sheet pan coated in a sweet, sour, and salty sauce made with pomegranate juice, honey, and soy sauce as key ingredients. VIEW RECIPE»
Red Cabbage, Carrot and Beet Salad with Orange Dressing
A combination of fall produce, this recipe is the perfect way to celebrate. The ingredients in this raw salad can be prepped ahead of time and then combined together right before you’re ready to eat. It will add beautiful color and a satisfying crunch to go with the rest of your meal. VIEW RECIPE»
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots with Maple Glaze
Roasted Brussels sprouts are a staple on many Thanksgiving tables. Our version pairs them with carrots for a beautiful color combo. Adding maple syrup and dijon mustard along with the usual olive oil brings an extra flavor boost. VIEW RECIPE»
Almond Lemon Cake
As citrus is coming into its peak, this lemon cake is a great option. If a celiac diagnosis means your family needs to have a gluten-free holiday, this cake will do the trick. It’s made with almond flour and gets its light, airy texture from whipped egg whites. VIEW RECIPE»
Dinosaur Kale Salad
This Dr. Yum Project classic is one of our favorites for Thanksgiving! It’s a crowd pleasing recipe that’s also easy to prepare and features pomegranates, which are bountiful this time of year. It’s easy to scale up for larger crowds and requires no cooking. VIEW RECIPE»
Fennel and Orange Salad
This one is a great no-cook recipe that showcases the beautiful variety of oranges that you can find starting this time of year. Fennel, avocado, and a vinaigrette dressing join the orange to make a great combination of sweet and savory that can bring some bright colors and fresh flavors to your Thanksgiving table. VIEW RECIPE»
Sesame Ginger Green Beans
Green beans are a classic Thanksgiving vegetable. In this version, green beans are blanched and then tossed in a skillet with a sauce that features sesame oil and ginger along with garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey. This one requires no time in the oven (key for Thanksgiving strategizing) and can be partially prepped ahead of time by blanching the green beans and storing them in the fridge until you’re ready to combine them with the sauce. VIEW RECIPE»
Cauliflower Gratin
Combining cauliflower with a cheesy sauce and crispy breadcrumb topping creates a tasty side dish that feels new and familiar at the same time. VIEW RECIPE»
Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan
Thanksgiving usually involves several dishes that you only make once a year, meaning you have to pay attention to a lot of recipes that don’t have the ease of something you make regularly. It’s always a good idea to have a few items that don’t require as much attention to detail, and roasted broccoli is one of those. Just because something is familiar, doesn't mean it isn’t still delicious! This simple preparation means you can focus on other dishes and it has the bonus of being easy to scale up or scale down depending on how many people you’re cooking for. VIEW RECIPE»
Winter Quinoa Salad
Butternut squash, collards, and pomegranate combine with quinoa and an orange dressing for this seasonal salad. This is a dish that’s great hot or cold, so it can easily fit into your Thanksgiving menu no matter if you want to prepare it the day of or use as one of your prepped dishes so you can focus on other things you want to serve hot for the big meal! VIEW RECIPE»
Roasted Balsamic Beets
Roasting beets is one of the best ways to bring out their sweet flavor. The addition of balsamic vinegar and rosemary kicks things up a notch in this recipe. They’re sure to look like little gems in your Thanksgiving spread. VIEW RECIPE»
Kale and Apple Slaw
This recipe combines some of our favorite features in a Thanksgiving side dish: it’s simple to make, doesn’t require any cooking, can be made ahead of time, and makes enough to feed a crowd. Kale is cut into thin ribbons and spends time hanging out with an apple cider vinegar dressing, transforming into a soft and flavorful slaw. Sliced apple brings a touch of sweetness to the dish. VIEW RECIPE»
Crunchy Cauliflower Salad
If you're looking to add a little crunch to your Thanksgiving spread, this dish will do the trick! Crunchy Cauliflower Salad is the rare recipe that showcases raw cauliflower. Fresh herbs and a lime dressing bring the flavor to this no-cook recipe that will bring a nice contrast to your other Thanksgiving fare. VIEW RECIPE»
Pear Party Salad
We love the simplicity of a fruit salad as a fresh option on the Thanksgiving table, but a lot of fruit salads are heavy on summer produce like fresh berries. This one features cool weather fruits like pears, apples, and clementines. VIEW RECIPE»
Pumpkin Cornbread
Pumpkin doesn’t have to be limited to the dessert table! This cornbread muffin recipe incorporates canned pumpkin giving it a deep golden hue. So while you’re shopping for your pie ingredients, pick up another can of pumpkin and make these too. VIEW RECIPE»
Pomegranate Pear Salsa
If you’re starting your Thanksgiving eating with appetizers or forgoing a formal sit-down meal entirely, this salsa is a wonderful addition to your menu. It features seasonal fruits that are at their peak this time of year and is great served with tortilla chips! VIEW RECIPE»
Kale and Brussels Sprouts Saute
Two cool season vegetables combine for this warm side dish. Add a splash of bright green to your table with this kale and Brussels sprouts recipe that is cooked on the stove top, keeping your oven free for the turkey. VIEW RECIPE»
Tangy Broccoli Salad
One of our fan favorite recipes, this is a great make-ahead dish so you can cook less on Thanksgiving day. Plus, it adds some nice color and satisfying crunch to the Thanksgiving plate. It’s also a great dish for young chefs to help with because it involves some simple chopping, measuring, and stirring. VIEW RECIPE»
