22 Thanksgiving Recipes Our Recipe Testers Loved
Pickle biscuits, sour cream pound cake, esquites stuffing and more new recipes we think you’ll adore, too.
A pear and cranberry crisp tastes like pie, but is far easier to assemble.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
At New York Times Cooking, we rely on professional recipe testers to ensure each and every new recipe is clear, works and tastes great. They test about a thousand recipes a year, which is a lot of cooking and eating, so when they really love something, it’s worth taking note. These are a few of the new Thanksgiving recipes that a handful of our testers — Kayla Hoang, Janet McCracken, Lisa Nicklin, Tina Ujlaki and Ben Weiner — couldn’t stop raving about.
“PICKLEBISCUITSSSSWOWOW. The pickle is super pleasant and not overpowering. The brine adds a nice little tang that was delightful.”
Sandwich these with ham and cheese or enjoy them on their own.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
As if biscuits couldn’t get any better, Andy Baraghani adds finely chopped pickles and their brine for super flaky results. For some salty-sweetness, serve them with honeyed ham.
See the recipe.
A pear and cranberry crisp tastes like pie, but is far easier to assemble.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“Very accessible, looked beautiful, tasted terrific. This was a big hit in my house!”
Yossy Arefi combines sweet pears with tart cranberries (fresh and dried) in this gorgeous crisp that has everything you want in a Thanksgiving dessert.
See the recipe.
Cilantro-mint chutney and tamarind chutney are delicious accompaniments to this puffed rice dish.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
“So festive! I loved the lightly fried tortilla strips in the mix.”
Priya Krishna’s sweet-salty-fresh-crunchy chaat is the ultimate Thanksgiving food: You can prep it in advance, and assemble (or rather, show off) in front of your guests.
See the recipe.
The turkey’s already juicy and the gravy makes it even better.Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
“The turkey was really, really good. So juicy, tender and not at all dry.”
If you’re serving a small crowd, have limited oven space or just need more white meat for the table, Sarah DiGregorio’s slow-cooker turkey breast is here for you.
See the recipe.
Queso and crema on top of this double corn stuffing bring richness and freshness.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
“Fun and delicious! If it had another pound of chorizo in it, it could be the centerpiece of the meal (and without chorizo, it would be awesome for vegetarians too).”
In this recipe from Rick Martinez, fresh corn, chorizo, onions, poblanos, jalapeños and garlic jazz up Southern-style cornbread stuffing, finished with a healthy drizzle of crema and a sprinkle of queso blanco on top.
See the recipe.
Setting fried chicken on a rack keeps the craggy skin crispy.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
“If I had the time and my body could handle it, I’d make this chicken at least once a month. This was insane (in the very best way).”
Once you try Sohla El-Waylly’s fried chicken, which is seasoned with parsley and sage for a just-right Thanksgiving-y flavor, you’ll never go back to the big bird.
See the recipe.
Oyster crackers make this version of the snack easy to pop in your mouth.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“These were great, and super easy to make. The spicy-salty mix would make this great as a drinking snack.”
Hungry guests can be hangry guests, so don’t forget the pre-dinner snacks. Sheela Prakash’s spicy little crackers, also known as comeback crackers, are seasoned with from-scratch ranch seasoning and crushed red pepper, then baked until crunchy and perfectly poppable.
See the recipe.
This is all the creamy, cheese richness you want on the Thanksgiving table.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“This was a super satisfying dish. The cauliflower is cooked wonderfully with the cheese being perfectly melty and toasty right on top.”
Here’s a gloriously rich side dish from Andy Baraghani that can be made with just six ingredients: cauliflower, shallots, Cheddar, heavy cream, rosemary and garlic. Yum.
See the recipe.
Classic vanilla pound cake develops a fine, tender crumb with sour cream.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
“The aroma that came from making this batter brought me straight back to the days I’d help my mom prepare boxed cake mixes as a kid (and I mean this is a very good, nostalgic way).”
Show up at the potluck with this tangy stunner from Vallery Lomas, and you’re sure to be invited back next year.
See the recipe.
Baking rolls in deep pan gives you tall, tender bread.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“This recipe is so easy and rewarding! Hot, pillowy, tender rolls that cry out for a slab of salted butter.”
Making Thanksgiving rolls can seem like a tall ask, but with this breezy recipe from Yossy Arefi, they’re completely doable. Slather them with butter, and forget your troubles.
See the recipe.
The crisp, flavorful crust on the seasoned rice is a highlight of this stunner,David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“The cranberries and caramelized onion with the rosemary provide this perfectly autumnal flavor profile that is just wonderfully comforting and absolutely crucial.”
Deeply savory and buttery with crisp edges and pockets of tart cranberry, this Thanksgiving-inspired tachin from Andy Baraghani would make a spectacular stand-in for stuffing.
See the recipe.
The icing is optional, but highly recommended for these muffins.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“This was a really tasty muffin.”
A classic combination done right in these light muffins from Yossy Arefi. It also works great with gluten-free flour.
See the recipe.
Ras el hanout makes caramelized vegetables more flavorful.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
“The vegetables are perfectly roasted with a fantastic tenderness, and great deep caramelization. The mint is a very welcome herbaceous note that perfectly complements all throughout.”
Nargisse Benkabbou makes this simple dish of roasted vegetables special by adding ras el hanout, a warm and aromatic blend of spices from North Africa including turmeric, coriander, ginger, cumin, cardamom and nutmeg.
See the recipe.
Butter sizzles all around the dough, infusing these biscuits with richness and making them crisp.Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“Really tasty and super straightforward biscuit. This is a great building block recipe for just about any novice to learn a basic baking recipe.”
The batter for these easy biscuits from Naz Deravian is made in one bowl, then spread over melted butter, which makes it look like it’s — you guessed it — swimming in butter. As it bakes, the butter gets absorbed into the biscuits, which means crisp, buttery edges and pillowy insides without any rolling out or cutting.
See the recipe.
With this easy technique, you get tender carrots and crisp kale at the same time.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“I loved this — it’s so simple, but so delicious. The carrots (even the thickest ones) were tender and sweet. The kale was soft with a few crispy edges and the two went beautifully together.”
This simple, four-ingredient side dish from Yossy Arefi comes together on a single sheet pan so you can work something green and vegetal onto the table.
See the recipe.
Cornbread goes even more savory with the addition of roasted peppers and salty cheese.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“It was perfect. Soft, tender interior with just a little bit of sweetness. Happy to make this without pulling out a mixer!”
Basic cornbread is great, but fold bits of roasted red pepper and feta crumbles into the batter, as Lidey Heuck does, for a real treat. The sour cream in the batter keeps the bread moist, which means it’s ideal for making ahead.
See the recipe.
This lovely fall dish would be just as tasty as a vegetarian main.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“Terrific, easy and clean method for roasting beets (very satisfying to hear the sizzle inside the bags when they get removed from the oven) and I can’t say enough good things about the bright, lemony flavor of the yogurt. Great contrasting textures and flavors — a big hit.”
Beets are delicious, but cooking them can be a messy venture leading to pink fingertips for days. In this smart recipe from Vivian Chan-Tam, she calls for roast-steaming them in foil packets until the flesh is soft and the skin can be more easily removed.
See the recipe.
Here’s a dip for you cottage cheese lovers.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“Loved it best with potato chips but great with crudités, pretzels, etc., too. And yay for featuring the eternally unsung cottage cheese!”
Long considered a 1950s diet food, cottage cheese gets its star turn in this herb-packed dip from Yossy Arefi. For the best flavor, be sure to use the full-fat option.
See the recipe.
Cranberries give this pie a lovely tang and beautiful hue.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
“I’ve never had cranberry-flavored meringue before and loved it. The citrus custard is a lovely balance of tangy and sweet.”
Readers are already in love with this gorgeous pie from Vaughn Vreeland. Inspired by lemon meringue, the filling is a lemon-orange curd made even brighter with a pale pink, cranberry-infused topping.
See the recipe.
These biscuits taste great with savory dishes and as a sweet treat.Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
“These are super simple to mix together by hand. The ‘somewhere between sweet and savory’ is spot on, and the honey butter is excellent with that little bit of salt that makes all the difference.”
These pumpkin drop biscuits from Yossy Arefi are a great way to use up the last bit of pumpkin purée in the can, and the honey butter makes them sing.
See the recipe.
A fragrant spice rub seasons these juicy turkey legs.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
“I was so impressed by what the air fryer could do in such a short amount of time. The drumsticks came out deeply colored in some spots and with a nice char in others. Great, flavorful rub — a bit smoky and very savory.”
Fans of dark meat and Renaissance fairs alike will love this easy and relatively fast recipe from Vivian Chan-Tam. In just 35 minutes, you’ll end up with perfectly cooked turkey legs that taste like they’ve been roasting for hours.
See the recipe.
This is delicious with meat, but also great with roasted vegetables.Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
“Delicious gravy, perfect to serve alongside any roast, with the extra perk that it’s vegetarian and can be served alongside any vegan meal. It’s also handy if you are looking to make a do-ahead gravy.”
Carolina Gelen combines caramelized shallots, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs for a rounded and complex vegan gravy that will make everyone happy.
See the recipe.
