Easy Thanksgiving Menus

Easy Thanksgiving Menus | 11 Thanksgiving Menus

Stress-free and Easy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas, Recipes, and Party Tips

I love everything about Thanksgiving.  It reminds me to be slow down long enough to be thankful for all the many blessings in my life and to look for the blessings in the less than perfect situations.

This is the one time of year I (almost) miss the cold autumn days of “up-north”.

It’s just not the same going on a hayride or picking the perfect pumpkin wearing shorts and a tank top, with temperatures hitting 85º degrees.  But the still warm temperatures mean we can Grill a Turkey, relax by the pool, watch football outside and take boat rides throughout the day to visit friends and neighbors.

For us, we start with brunch around 11, and Thanksgiving Dinner is usually served around 4:00 in the afternoon (that way we can eat all day and night long).

The stress-free key to having fresh, good food available all day long is a little pre-planning.

Everyone loves Thanksgiving but no one loves spending the day in the kitchen while everyone else watches football and noshes on pre-dinner goodies.

Each one of these easy Thanksgiving menus are designed to taste great and wow your guests, plus they are super easy to cook, fail-proof, and guaranteed to get you out of the kitchen and into the party.

Thanksgiving at my house starts with brunch around 11:00,

So grab an Irish coffee, kick back and enjoy good food and good company.

This Thanksgiving you WILL join the party and eat food while it is still hot.

Try one of these party-perfect, easy Thanksgiving Menus.

Cheers,

K—

?‍♀️ ❤️

Thanksgiving Menus with Recipes and Entertaining Ideas

Easy Thanksgiving Menus + Recipes

Make-ahead Thanksgiving Day Brunch

Mimosa Bar

Simple Scrambled Eggs and Roasted Peppers

French Toast Casserole

Peppered Bacon

Cracker Barrel Copycat Hash Brown Casserole 

Mid-day Tapas Thanksgiving Menu

After our trip to Spain last year we’ve really embraced the idea of serving a bunch of small plates and nibbling for hours with a pitcher of Sangria.

It’s a very casual and relaxing way to spend a Thanksgiving afternoon.

Classic Spanish Sangria

Cambozola, with pistachio and almond drizzled with honey

Dates Wrapped with Bacon

Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese and Fried Sage

Spanish Garlic Prawns (Gambas Al Ajillo) with Crusty Bread

Slowcooker Mojo Pork Sliders 

Grilled Corn or Sweet Ancho Chili Grilled Corn

Blue Cheese Potato Chips

Mediterranean Crudités and Tapas  or Charcuterie Platter

Fail-proof Traditional Thanksgiving Menu

Dreaming of a perfectly cooked Thanksgiving Turkey surrounded by stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, finished off with a pumpkin pie?

Citrus Brined Turkey

Slow Cooker Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Apple Cranberry Chutney

Rum-Spiked Mulled Apple Cider

Warm Cinnamon and Apple Crumble

Vegan(ish) Thanksgiving Feast Menu

Veggies don’t have to be boring.  A variety of fresh veggies with vibrant colors and different textures are the key to creating this hearty and satisfying vegan feast.

Baguettes with Wild Mushroom Ragout

Curried Apple And Butternut Squash Soup

Honey Orange Green Beans

Homemade Hummus and Vegetable Platter

Quick Simple Roasted Potatoes

Grilled Zucchini, Squash, and Asparagus  

“Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler” Creole  Thanksgiving Menu

“Laissez les bon temps rouler” (pronounced “Lay-say le bon tom roo-lay”) just means “let the good times roll.”

Crabmeat Au Gratin

Jambalaya

Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

Shrimp Étouffée

Red Beans and Rice

Grilled Corn with Toppings

Southern Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Spinach and Cheddar

Grilled Corn with Toppings

Classic New Orleans-Style Bread Pudding

French 75 | Classic Champagne Cocktail

Sazerac

Mexican Flavors | Thanksgiving Recipes and Menu

Fajitas are so easy to make, travel well and are fun.  Serve with warm flour tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole and black bean salsa and Mexican street corn.

If you want a dessert try an easy to make Mexican Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Mole

Fresh Pico De Gallo

Spicy Guacamole

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Grilled Mexican Street Corn

Mexican Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding

Classic Margarita, Strawberry Basil Margarita or Blue Moon Margarita

Simple and Elegant Grilled Lobster Thanksgiving Dinner

Sometimes the best days are spent lazing around the backyard or the pool and firing up the grill.  Try a twist on the traditional burgers and hot dogs and grill up some lobster.

It’s lobster season here in Florida and there is nothing better than fresh-caught Florida Lobster for a Labor Day or late summer feast.

If you can’t get reasonably priced lobster look for Florida Keys Pink Shrimp at Whole Foods and use that as a substitute

Pitchers of Bourbon Smash

Simple Grilled Lobster 

Simple split lobsters brushed with a little garlic butter.  Perfect.

The Perfect Baked Potato

Apple, Brie, and Pistachio Tossed Salad

Easy Hazelnut Chocolate Fondue

or

S’mores

Southern-style Thanksgiving Menu

Cajun Beer Can Chickens or Smoked Turkey Breast on the grill

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Toppings Station

Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Spinach, Bacon and Cheddar Cornbread

Warm Cinnamon and Apple Crumble

Taste of the Islands + Jerk Pork Thanksgiving Menu

Lime Daiquiris,  jerk pork, caramelized sweet plantains.  A simple and easy Labor Day party menu filled with just the right balance of sweet and spicy.

Lime Daiquiri or Zombie Cocktail

Jerk Pork or Jerk Turkey

Caramelized Sweet Plantains

Coconut Rice with Curried Bananas and Cashews

Pina Colada Bread Pudding

Simple, Casual Football Food | Thanksgiving Menu

Grilled Chicken Wings with 5 Dipping Sauces | Thanksgiving Recipes and Party Menu

Grilled Chicken Wings

These are so easy to make and since they are naked, just whip up a couple of dipping sauces so everyone can enjoy dunking the wings in the sauce of their choice.

Try one of these wing sauces:

Anchor Bar Buffalo Sauce (the original)

Sweet & Spicy Orange Glaze

Tropical Coco Loco

Honey BBQ

Chili Sesame Soy Sauce

World Famous Tony Luke’s Philly-style Italian Roast Pork

Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Blue Cheese Potatoes Chips

Buffalo Chicken Beggars Purse

Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Root Beer Ice Cream Bourbon Floats

to make these kid friendly just leave out the bourbon.

22 Gourmet S’more Recipes

Steak and Classic Cocktails | Thanksgiving Menu

Choose one of these awesome steak recipes.  This is such a simple classic meal that will satisfy the meat lovers.

Grilled Cajun-spiced Brisket 

Easy Grilled Santa Maria Tri-Tip Steak

Whole Grilled Beef Tenderloin (Filet Mignon) with Roasted Garlic and Blue Cheese

Potatoes Au Gratin Tart

Honey Orange Green Beans

Bourbon Bread Pudding

Sazerac

Honey Mint Julep

The Perfect Old Fashioned

French 75