8 Expert Recipes for an Outstanding Thanksgiving
Photo: Dan Wynn
Wed, November 12, 2025
Keep it classic with the turkey, but get adventurous with the sides.
Thanksgiving is a day to express your gratitude for friends and family and to savor time with loved ones over a festive feast. To help take the guesswork out of your menu planning or to inspire new additions to your holiday line-up, we’re sharing eight of our favorite chef-approved Thanksgiving recipes. From James Beard’s foolproof turkey to all-star appetizers, scene-stealing sides to dazzling desserts, these delicious dishes will help create a memorable Thanksgiving dinner—and are bound to elicit recipe requests too.
Appetizers
Photo: Yewande Komolafe
Vegan Callaloo Dip
Chef Bootcamp alum Kwame Williams draws inspiration from the Caribbean to craft a satisfying vegan dip starring hardy sautéed callaloo greens and a creamy coconut milk–based béchamel.
Wild Mushroom Toasts
James Beard Award nominee® Alex Guarnaschelli’s simple yet elegant toasts feature a medley of wild mushrooms folded with sour cream and brightened up with lemon zest, parsley, and tarragon.
Turkey
James Beard’s Roast Turkey
Anchor your Thanksgiving menu with James Beard’s classic roast turkey—his dialed-in family recipe turns out a golden, juicy, and perfectly seasoned bird every time. Plus, the turkey roasts with the buttery, herb breadcrumb–stuffing inside, saving on dishes and oven space.
Sides
Photo: Judy Kim
Oyster Dressing
Chef Bootcamp alum Jim Smith relies on a duo of flavor powerhouse ingredients to add savory depth and richness to his oyster dressing: the state’s iconic Conecuh smoked sausage and briny whole oysters.
Pan-Griddled Sweet Potatoes with Miso–Ginger Dressing
Leave it to vegetable savant and five-time James Beard Award–winning cookbook author Deborah Madison to dream up this tasty riff on sweet potatoes, starring a bright sauce punched up with white miso and fresh ginger that you’ll want to drizzle on everything.
Pimento Cheese Spoonbread
Chef Bootcamp alum Jennifer Hill Booker turns spoonbread into a celebratory side by incorporating a base layer of pimento cheese crafted with extra-sharp cheddar and a garnish of chopped green onions.
Desserts
Chocolate Chess Pie
With its flaky pie crust and fudgy, chocolatey filling, this classic Southern pie from James Beard Award nominees Marilynn Brass and Sheila Brass deserves a prime spot on your holiday dessert table.
Photo: Stephen DeVries for the Local Palate
Coconut–Pecan Cake
This show-stopping layered coconut confection is a signature creation of James Beard Award–winning pastry chef Dolester Miles—and makes the case for team cake usurping team pie this Thanksgiving.