Your Thanksgiving Dinner Inspiration

With all the prep that comes along with the holidays, we thought we would give you some inspiration a little early this year! From drinks to side dishes, to dessert, we have all the recipe inspiration you need to feed the entire family!

Before Your Guests Arrive

The first step to hosting a gathering is to create a cozy atmosphere. There's nothing that does that better than a simmer pot. About 30 minutes before your guests are to arrive, toss the ingredients in your Dutch oven filled with water, then let simmer. Find all of our favorite simmer pot recipes here!

 Getting the Party Started

While your guests are trickling in, have a table set up with appetizers and drinks ready. Now, what do we recommend? Glad you asked! Our all-time favorite appetizer is baked brie, but not any kind. The Honey Nut Baked Brie is perfect for any Fall or Winter occasion. Pair it with something crunchy like a toasted baguette or pretzels for a nice texture.

For the drink, we figured we would share a Fall-inspired recipe: Mulled Apple Cider. You can customize this recipe to your liking by swapping the brandy for your favorite liquor or completely omitting the brandy for a delicious mocktail!

Show-Stopping Side Dishes

We all know the sides are the main attraction! You need mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and of course a creamy gravy to smother everything in. We also know everyone has a secret family recipe for their stuffing, but if you don't here's a recipe to add to your tradition every year: Garlic Herb Stuffing.

Don't forget about the gravy though. With all the stress of hosting and cooking, we tend to forget about the gravy and cranberry sauce, but we are here to remind you, and help you find the best recipe. Instead of a simple brown gravy, this Cider & Sage Gravy takes it to a whole new level with the flavor. Don't worry, you can tell everyone it's a secret family recipe.

Who Wants Dessert? 

It's our two favorite things in one recipe - skillet desserts and pumpkin pie! Our Pumpkin Pie Skillet is the easiest way to tackle dessert time. With our Skillets' wind handles, it makes for an easy transfer from oven to table, just don't forget your oven mitts. 

 Leftovers Reimagined 

Don't throw out those leftovers! Here are two very different uses for your Thanksgiving leftovers and scraps. If you have any green bean casserole or turkey left, you can recreate these dishes into Mini Pot Pies. If you thought chicken pot pies were the #1 comfort meal, guess again!

Now, this idea may not be considered as fun and tasty as the first, but it sure is helpful. Instead of throwing away all of your onion peels, carrot tops, and any other veggie scraps, toss them all in a freezer-safe bag. Any herbs you didn't end up using? Throw those in the bag too. Once you have at least 2 cups worth, you can make your own homemade Vegetable Stock! Toss in fresh veggies and herbs to add even more flavor to your stock. You can store it in your fridge for up to 3 days or simply freeze it until ready for use.