The Ultimate Thanksgiving Roundup

The countdown is on, people. T-1 week to Turkey Day!!

It’s just Logan, my mom, and me feasting at my apartment this year, which I’m pretty pumped about. I’ll spend the day cooking all of my favorite things, Logan will eat pigs in a blanket on the couch while watching fooseball, and my mother will show up in the nick of time with fancy booze and table decor. (I am not mature enough to own things like napkin rings or “chargers.” Thank god my mom hoards such items!) And since it’s impossible to scale down Thanksgiving dinner, the three of us can eat a disturbing amount, yet still have leftovers for days. HALLELUJAH.

How are you feeling about T-Day festivities? Excited? Tired? Hungry? Anxious? Grateful? All of the above? (It’s such an emotional and delicious time of year!) As always, I’m here to help. I’m sure the planners already have their menus set, but for the rest of you, this crazy blog lady’s got alllll your bases covered. I’ve rounded up my best recipes for all your Thanksgiving needs—from easy one-pot meals for the night before and T-Day breakfasts to my favorite roast turkeys and what to do with your leftovers. I know that having so many options can be overwhelming, so I’ve taken the liberty of starring my personal favorites. For those who have The Dude Diet, I’ve also included any relevant recipes and page numbers in italics.

Go forth and conquer, friends! I’m thankful for the year’s most epic feast. And all of you. (duh.)

ONE-POT MEALS FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE
Spicy Jicama Tortilla Soup
Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta
Pork and Pinto Bean Chili
Tomato and White Bean Stew with Chicken Sausage
Smoky Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Kale*
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Sausage and Apple Risotto with Goat Cheese*
Coconut Green Curry Chicken (page 217)
Sausage and Peppers Skillet (page 267)
Penne with Spinach Pesto (page 260)

BREAKFAST
Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats with Maple Pepitas
Baked Oatmeal with Orange and Almonds
Banana-Berry Baked Oatmeal Bites
Sour Cream Pumpkin Muffins
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal*
Açai Power Parfait
Apple Cinnamon Baked Doughnut Holes
Morning Glory Bread*
Pumpkin-Banana Bread* (page 301)
Apple Pie Overnight Oats (page 37)
Green God Smoothie (page 49)

SOUPS AND SALADS
Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Parmesan, Toasted Almonds and Golden Raisins*
Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Garlic, Goat Cheese and Pepitas
Harvest Pumpkin Soup with Candied Bacon
Autumn Kale Salad with Roasted Cauliflower and Apple
Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate and Avocado
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese
Kale Salad with Quinoa Cranberries and Toasted Almonds*
Pomegranate, Clementine and Ricotta Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprout and Cauliflower Salad

THE TURKEY
Roasting a turkey may seem intimidating, but it’s really not that bad. I promise. Here are my top turkey roasting tips and some of my favorite turkey recipes from peeps I trust.
Mark Bittman’s 45-Minute Roast Turkey.
Ina’s Perfect Roast Turkey.
Alton Brown’s Deep-Fried Turkey. (Godspeed, deep-frying friends.)
Ree Drummond’s Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey.
And for those cooking for a smaller group, this Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast will serve you well.

ON THE SIDE
Two Potato Gratin with Herbs and Goat Cheese
Farro with Chipotle Glazed Squash, Kale and Toasted Pepitas
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan and Sage
Kabocha Squash Quinoa Bake with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta
Three Cheese Cauliflower Gratin
Sweet Potato Gratin with Pancetta, Parmesan and Sage*
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese, Sage, and Pepitas
Sausage and Apple Stuffing
Butternut Squash Brown Rice Bake with Sausage and Apples*
Skillet Cornbread
Sautéed Asparagus with Bacon (page 239)
Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Red Pepper and Pecorino Romano (page 242)
Cauliflower Puree with Parmesan and Chives* (page 243)

KILLER COCKTAILS
Pomegranate Vodka Gimlet
The Serendipity Cocktail*
Bourbon Spiced Cider Punch*
Sparkling Fig and Apple Sangria
Spiced Pumpkin Punch
Spiced Cider Margaritas
Autumn Sangria
Rosemary Gin Fizz (page 282)

DESSERTS
Baking has never been my strong suit, so I’m outsourcing dessert to the best of the best…
Ina Garten’s Apple Pie Bars via the great Joy The Baker.
Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Praline Sauce from Smitten Kitchen. (Deb’s recipes never fail.)
Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies by Kelly Senyei.
Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pie also from Deb. Like I said, I trust her.
Classic Apple Pie from the NYT. Classic for the win.
Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie by the geniuses at Epicurious.

BOSS IDEAS FOR YOUR LEFTOVERS
(Substitute leftover turkey in any of the recipes that call for chicken.)
Thanksgiving Enchiladas*
20-Minute Chicken Posole
Cure-All Chicken Soup with Quinoa and Sweet Potatoes
Chicken and Wheat Berry Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Arugula
Mashed Potato Pancakes with Goat Cheese and Chives
Turkey and Sweet Potato Taquitos with Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce
Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Hash with Chicken Sausage* (page 34) (Substitute 1 cup diced turkey for the chicken sausage.)
Dude Diet Shepherd’s Pie (page 84)
Buffalo Chicken Salad (page 176)
Chopped Chicken Club Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing (page 187)
Turkey Melt with Spinach and Mushrooms (page 268)

Image Credits:
Top photo via Vanessa Rees for Saveur.
Roast Turkey Photo via Food Network.
Apple Pie photo via Annie Schlechter for The New York Times.