7 Best Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas You Must Try in 2023

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that life and holidays are unpredictable; you can be completely unoccupied and still miss out on seeing your friends and family. This Thanksgiving, you may want to gather with friends and family and recall how the last two years taught you not to take your time with loved ones for granted.

Preparing an entire Thanksgiving dinner may appear to be a daunting task, but fear not. We have solutions for just about everything, whether it's your first time cooking a big dinner, you want something extravagant, or you want to cook outside without clogging up the kitchen. 

So feel free to browse our selection of 7 Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner ideas with few courses, which range from drinks to Thanksgiving desserts, that you must take into account. Read till the end to find out how to stay cool during this madness!

1. A First-Timer's Thanksgiving Menu

Image by Pro Church Media from Unsplash

Hosting your first Thanksgiving and preparing a feast for your friends and family doesn't have to be stressful. Plan your first Thanksgiving dinner at least two weeks in advance. Set your Thanksgiving table with linen napkins and a small length of twine. Some greenery for the centerpiece such as Eucalyptus or twigs from your backyard.

Drink:

• Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail

Main: 

• Roasted Turkey

Sides:

• Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing
• Brussels Sprouts Gratin
• Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Honey Butter Carrots

Desserts:

• Sweet Potato Snickerdoodles
• Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cookie Crust
• Grape Slab Pie

2. Grilled Thanksgiving Menu

Grilling isn't just for backyard barbecues in the summer. In fact, Thanksgiving is the ideal time to grill the entire feast while adding a unique twist to Thanksgiving dinner. Give your tabletop a completely new look with festive napkin rings and a bold tablecloth. Choose a seasonal design—something with autumnal shades like brown, burnt orange, or ivory while placing them around a log on a bed of moss. 

Drink:

• Dominique Lafon Meursault 2019

Main: 

• Grilled Turkey   
• Thanksgiving Turkey Burger 

Sides:

• Grill-Roasted Brussels sprouts 
• Grill-Roasted Root Vegetable 
• Cast-Iron Hasselback Potatoes
• Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter

Desserts:

• Salted Caramel-Apple Slab Pie
• Ginger Pumpkin Pie
• Grilled Apricots with Ice Cream

3. Vintage Thanksgiving Menu

Image by Cottonbro Studio from Pexels

Color scheme is everything. Choose a vintage-style dinner setting if you want something chic and shabby. Use a bold vintage tablescape with woven placemats, brown candles, and beige linen as table decoration. Decorate the centerpiece with a striking pumpkin, dried leaf, and bright blooms. Don't forget your old-school music playlist.

Imagine your hosts toil all day long to prepare this feast for you and you show up with a season's special token gift! Well, they will definitely feel appreciated.

Drink:

• Henriot Cuvee Hemera 2005

Main:

• Herb-Brined Turkey

Sides:

• Apple-Walnut Stuffing
•  Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
• Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing
• Rosemary-Port Cranberry Sauce

Desserts:

• Classic Sweet Potato Pie
• Butter Pecan Cookie Bars with Penuche Drizzle

4. Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu

Image by Christopher Ryan from Unsplash

Whether you have a gluten intolerance or have decided to avoid gluten for other reasons, there are a few dishes to avoid if you want to ensure the holiday is gluten-free. Whether it's starters or thanksgiving dessert, a delicious Thanksgiving feast is possible even without wheat. For the centerpiece, take Evergreen sprigs, bright red pomegranates, and dried orange slices with a yellowish tabletop. Put red candles in it to make it look more upscale.

Drink:

• Mulled Apple Cider

Starters:

• Feta-Stuffed Peppers
• Onion-Dip Potato Chips

Main:

• The Perfect Roast Turkey

Sides:

• Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash Polenta
• Wild Rice Dressing
• Cheesy Corn Spoon Bread
• Crispy Garlic Smashed  Potatoes
• Cinnamon-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Cranberries

Desserts:

• Maple Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate-Chestnut Mousse

5. Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

Image by Victoria Shes from Unsplash

For a lavish Thanksgiving meal that everyone will enjoy, forego the meat and add traditional vegetarian dishes to the table. From the main course to the Thanksgiving dessert, go meat-free. Instead of spending a fortune at Pottery Barn, use fruits and flowers from your backyard to create a stunning Thanksgiving table. May be decorate the centerpiece with two bundles of spray roses from Trader Joe's and a persimmon.

Drink:

• Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Starters:

• Corn Fritters
• Ricotta and Strawberry Toast

Main Courses:

• Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables
• Whole Roasted Cauliflower
• Fresh Cranberry-Apple Relish
• Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Dessert:

• Fall Apple Cranberry Pie
• Pistachio-Cherry Cake

6. Traditional American Thanksgiving Menu

Image by Monstera Production from Pexels

In the United States, the ideal traditional Thanksgiving meal includes everything from the turkey to the stuffing to the potatoes, as well as plenty of gravy. Use lots of autumnal colors for a traditional table setting, such as burnt orange, and ivory, and fill a pumpkin with fall mums for a quick centerpiece. Alternatively, use brown leaf shaped decors if you want to stick to less colorful theme.

Drink:

• White Wine Spritzer

Main: 

• Bacon Wrapped Turkey
• Foolproof Turkey Gravy

Sides:

• Jiffy Corn Casserole 
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Southern-Style Green Beans
• Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange

Desserts:

• Pumpkin Cheesecake 
• Homemade Pie Crust 
• Homemade Apple Pie
• Pecan Pie

7. Extravagant Thanksgiving Menu

Image by NoteWithLove Team

"Go big or go home," as the saying goes, and it's exquisitely shaped in the following extravagant menu.

Try using black-and-white buffalo check tablecloths instead of the usual white linens for setting the table. Combine jewel tones with natural accents such as wheat sheaves, pine cones, and wood slices to create a tablescape that is elegant enough for the holidays. If these are not available just use a dark colored table cloth. Even this will elevate the look greatly.

Drinks:

• Pumpkin Pie Martini

Starter:

• Black Cherry Jello Salad
• 7UP Lime Jello Salad
• Three-Cheese Fondue

Main:

• Deep-fried Sous Vide Turkey Porchetta
• Red Wine-Braised Turkey Legs
• Rosemary and Bourbon Gravy

Sides:

• Fried Brussels Sprouts With Shallot and Balsamic Vinegar
• Apricot-Wild Rice Stuffing
• Cheesy Onion, Bacon, and New Potato Gratin
• Buttermilk-Boursin Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Two-Cheese Rigatoni

Desserts:

• Pumpkin Pie with Oat-Pecan Crust
• Mocha Cream Pie
• Stuffing Waffles Recipe

You can pair some other dessert from these delicious list if you are not sold on these.

Conclusion

It goes without saying that Thanksgiving is all about food and family. Whatever dinner plan you decide on, make a to-do list. Here's our all inclusive Thanksgiving checklist for you. Use this and keep calm.

So get started early. Plan your feast. You can choose the right feast for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner based on your style and preferences. Do not feel overwhelmed; doing so would be contrary to the spirit of the holiday. Remember, family time is more crucial than anything else.