Five Menus to Try This Thanksgiving

Whether you’re a by-the-book Thanksgiving traditionalist or a fan of make-ahead holiday meal-planning, we’ve compiled five tried-and-true Thanksgiving menus for every taste, budget, and time allowance.

From roasted turkey breast to pumpkin pie, this decadent Thanksgiving menu contains all of your family’s favourite fixings. Serve up prosciutto-wrapped smoked gouda appetizers alongside classic white wine coolers before sitting down for the main event. You’ll find that roasting the green beans and skillet-toasting the Brussels sprouts gives them a delicious nuttiness, making these veggies a perfect pairing for bacon, sharp cheese, and other big flavours.

No turkey? No problem! This meat-free Thanksgiving menu will leave everyone feeling satisfied and satiated after the big meal. In the absence of a traditional main dish, we’ve curated a selection of hearty side dishes featuring the season’s best produce. Finish the meal with a melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu featuring a secret ingredient: store bought angel food cake.

A Thanksgiving meal to celebrate the ocean’s bounty, this menu features crab, shrimp, scallops, and salmon over multiple courses. We suggest visiting your local fishmonger for the freshest seafood you can find, as well as tips on preparing and serving your catch. End the meal with an easy, zingy lemon pie that can be made and frozen up to two weeks in advance.

Who says Thanksgiving needs to be fancy? Put on your coziest PJs and enjoy this comforting selection of recipes. Stuffed mushrooms, cheesy cauliflower, and turkey meatloaf (don’t forget the mushroom gravy!) are paired with garlic-mashed potatoes and a kale and escarole Caesar salad. We’ve chosen a classic orange bourbon sour as an accompanying cocktail but feel free to substitute your favourite familiar libation. Keep dessert simple with a batch of fudgy chocolate cookies and an optional scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt.

Make your Thanksgiving meal a snap to serve by prepping each dish ahead of time. At most, you’ll have to defrost and heat before serving (or add the ingredients to the slow cooker the morning of, or even day before, the event.) For an easy appetizer, prepare the lemon-fennel cauliflower spread a few days ahead and serve with crackers, sliced baguette or cut-up veggies from a salad bar or deli. Always a crowd pleaser, sangria is an ideal make-ahead cocktail that can be customized to suit any bottle of inexpensive wine and seasonal fruit.