Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

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Thanksgiving dinner may be one of the most important meals you will serve all year — which means it's especially critical to only use recipes you trust (read: now is not the time to experiment!). When it comes to tasty, trustworthy recipes sure to please, Ina Garten (aka the Barefoot Contessa) has proven herself to be a reliable source. So while the pros in the GH Test Kitchen dream up their own triple-tested recipes for every holiday and occasion, we're thrilled to share Ina Garten's Thanksgiving recipes for extra inspiration.

The award-winning cookbook author and television host has put together a no-stress but superb meal for all of us, starting with her thyme-roasted marcona almonds and ending on a sweet note with pumpkin mousse parfaits, pecan squares and her famous apple crostata. In between, she has everyone covered with her top-rated Thanksgiving turkey, plus all-star side dishes (including roasted veggies and mashed potatoes).

If you're thinking there's no way you can cook like this celebrity chef, think again. Ina has shared her top tips for Thanksgiving with us in the past. And her advice is all about keeping things simple and straightforward. Two rules of thumb? "Never, ever test a new recipe on guests for any reason. This is particularly true on Thanksgiving," and "skip complicated appetizers," she said. Instead, she suggests serving nuts, good olives, or figs and prosciutto with wine or Champagne.

She also recommends writing out a menu and making a game plan in advance. So, go ahead and get started by taking a look through these top-notch Thanksgiving recipes from Ina Garten herself.

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1

Luscious Roast Turkey

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2)

Brush the turkey all over with butter for a flavorful — and gorgeously golden-brown — bird.

Get the Luscious Roast Turkey recipe.

RELATED: 45 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes That You Won't Get Tired Of

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2

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

These creamy and slightly garlicky spuds swap in olive oil for the usual butter, but don't hold back on the heavy cream.

Get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

RELATED: How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes and Make Your Holidays a Little Easier

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3

Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

This well-balanced salad, featuring crispy bacon, toasted walnuts and fancy blue cheese feels fit for a holiday feast.

Get the Cape Cod Chopped Salad recipe.

RELATED: 21 Thanksgiving Salads That Complement Turkey Perfectly

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4

Herb and Apple Stuffing

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Studded with apples, celery and parsley, this stuffing packs in tons of fresh fall flavor.

Get the Herb and Apple Stuffing recipe.

RELATED: 28 Leftover Stuffing Recipes That Make the Most Out of Thanksgiving's Best Dish

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5

Homemade Gravy

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (10)

A splash of Cognac or brandy takes this gravy over the top. No Thanksgiving turkey is complete without it!

Get the Homemade Gravy recipe.

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6

Thyme-Roasted Marcona Almonds

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Marcona almonds are extra buttery and delicious — just buy 'em from the store, sprinkle with salt and herbs and roast until warm and nutty.

Get the Thyme-Roasted Marcona Almonds recipe.

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7

Winter Squash Soup

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

Start off your celebrations with a super-cozy one-pot soup.

Get the Winter Squash Soup recipe.

RELATED: 32 Easy Butternut Squash Recipes Perfect for Cozy Fall Dinners

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8

String Beans with Shallots

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (16)

Leave it to Ina to find a way to make these often-overlooked veggies the standout dish on the dinner table, using just four ingredients.

Get the String Beans with Shallots recipe.

RELATED: 23 Thanksgiving Green Beans That Are Delicious and Easy to Make for Turkey Day

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9

Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (18)

These OJ-braised veggies get a little flavor kick from crushed red pepper flakes — double the amount for even more oomph. No shallots? Half a small onion also works.

Get the Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips recipe.

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10

Brussels Sprouts Lardons

The addition of a smoky meat like bacon or pancetta will help convert any Brussels sprout haters.

Get the Brussels Sprouts Lardons recipe.

RELATED: 38 Brussels Sprout Recipes That Will Have You Asking for Seconds

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11

Cranberry Fruit Conserve

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (22)

It's time to skip the canned cranberry sauce. This sweet and tangy side gets crunch from walnuts and tang from lemon and orange zest.

Get the Cranberry Fruit Conserve recipe.

RELATED: 19 Cranberry Sauce Recipes That'll Convince You to Ditch the Can Opener

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12

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (24)

Squash and apples in one dish? Talk about a fall dream come true. Serve with toasted baguette slices spread with goat cheese.

Get the Butternut Squash and Apple Soup recipe.

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13

Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (26)

If assembling pumpkin pie recipes is too much work (we feel ya!), keep it simple with these 30-minute parfaits.

Get the Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits recipe.

RELATED: 80 Best Thanksgiving Desserts That Make Turkey Day Extra Sweet

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14

Green Beans Gremolata

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (28)

Top crisp-tender green beans with a bright and crunchy gremolata of parsley, Parmesan, pine nuts, lemon peel and garlic. Yum!

Get the Green Beans Gremolata recipe.

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15

Raspberry Cheesecake

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (29)

For a lacquer-like topping, toss fresh berries in warmed jelly. Easy!

Get the Raspberry Cheesecake recipe.

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16

Baked Chocolate Pudding

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (31)

This one's for all the chocolate lovers: A splash of framboise liqueur adds an elegant touch to Thanksgiving night's dessert.

Get the Baked Chocolate Pudding recipe.

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17

Pecan Squares

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (33)

Pecan pie has a whole new look — but the same quintessential (and delicious) flavor.

Get the Pecan Squares recipe.

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18

Apple Crostata

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (35)

The dough for this easier, free-form version of apple pie can be made in advance. All you have to do on the big day is roll it out, fill it, and pop it in the oven as you sit down to feast.

Get the Apple Crostata recipe.

RELATED: 50 Apple Desserts That Are Delicious to the Core

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19

Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (37)

This pumpkin pie and its whipped cream topping are made with a splash of dark rum, making this American classic even more irresistible.

Get the Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream recipe.

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20

Clarkson Potter Modern Comfort Food

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (39)

20

Clarkson Potter Modern Comfort Food

Now 37% Off

Can't get enough? We totally understand. Check out Ina's latest cookbook for more staple sides, comforting mains and delicious desserts that will wow your guests at any dinner party.

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is Ina Garten's favorite dinner? ›

The one meal Ina simply couldn't live without is roast chicken. She even cites it as one of the reasons her husband, Jeffrey, proposed marriage in 1968.

How many dishes to make for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What ethnicity is Ina Garten? ›

Born Ina Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, Garten was one of two children born to Charles H. Rosenberg, a surgeon specializing in otolaryngology, and his wife, Florence (née Rich), a dietitian.

Is Ina Garten a Millionaire? ›

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ina Garten's net worth in 2024 is estimated at $60 million. When combined with that of her husband Jeffrey, that amount is estimated at a whopping $120 million.

What is the most important food on a Thanksgiving table? ›

Just as it's a traditional meat used for Christmas dinner, turkey is favoured because it's big – and that means it can feed a whole family. Turkeys are usually stuffed with chestnuts and/or sausage meat and grains and baked in the oven before being carved at the table for everyone to enjoy.

What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What is the perfect Thanksgiving menu? ›

Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
  • Roast Turkey. So, what are the top five traditional Thanksgiving foods? ...
  • Pumpkin Pie. If you only make one dessert for your traditional Thanksgiving food ideas, make sure that it's pumpkin pie. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Smoked Turkey. ...
  • Stuffing. ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Gravy.
Jul 25, 2024

What is a traditional Black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

This is usually a mix of traditional Thanksgiving food and Black culture. You'll see the classic Thanksgiving dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing paired with collard greens, yams, mac and cheese, and other traditional Black dishes.

What is the key ingredient to a perfect Thanksgiving Day dinner? ›

If you are serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you would need turkey with dressing and gravy to start. You would need mash potatoes and green bean casserole. You would need sweet potatoes and cranberry in some form.

How can I make Thanksgiving more special? ›

Write down what you're thankful for.

In all the fun and frenzy, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Dole out black Sharpies and, before digging in, invite each guest to write what they're thankful for on a butcher paper cloth laid over the table.

What makes you tired at Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The Turkey-Tryptophan Connection—Is There Really One? Turkey meat contains tryptophan, an amino acid that the body needs to make Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and serotonin, a hormone that helps you relax and—yes, makes you sleepy.

What is the best order to cook Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Thanksgiving Day:
  1. Defrost premade bread. ...
  2. Chill wine and beer.
  3. Prepare the stuffing stuffing. ...
  4. Roast the turkey. ...
  5. Prepare other side dishes while the turkey roasts. ...
  6. Remove the fully cooked turkey from the oven and rest it for 1 hour. ...
  7. Make the gravy.
  8. Re-heat anything that needs to be warmed.
Oct 20, 2021

What fast food does Ina Garten like? ›

Garten visits In-N-Out Burger whenever she's in California

The veteran cookbook writer avoids fast food (though she enjoys Shake Shack's fried chicken sandwiches on occasion). However, when on the West Coast, often on a book tour, stopping at In-N-Out for a cheeseburger is a tradition.

What was Julia Child's favorite meal? ›

Vichyssoise. Well-known as one of Julia Child's favorite dishes, this chilled leek and potato soup is startling in its simplicity. Aside from the leek, potato, and water, Child's version of the soup calls for barely any additional ingredients.

What does Ina Garten have for breakfast? ›

Garten makes her favorite breakfast with milk, salt, and butter, and enjoys it with espresso or a pot of coffee, as she explained to Bon Appetit, "depending on my mood." She also went on to say that while most people don't make their oatmeal seasoned, she finds it delicious that way, and without salt, it reminds her of ...

What brand of dishes does Ina Garten use? ›

If you're looking for a Barefoot Contessa-approved set, check out the Maison pattern from Crate and Barrel, a mainstay Ina has said she owns over the years. Another, pricier option is the White Dinnerware set from Pillivuyt, a French brand Ina recommends for serving ware as well.

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