Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays at home! Whether you’re cooking just for your family this year or looking for shortcuts that save you time and energy, I’ve got you covered with recipes for a flexible Thanksgiving! Check out all of my flips and tricks below for hosting a flexible Thanksgiving feast. Most importantly, I hope you enjoy your festive feast, despite perhaps being far from your family and friends. We have a lot to be grateful for and as always, there’s never anything more nourishing than a hearty meal with your loved ones.
Recipes For A Flexible Thanksgiving:
Easy Peasy Thanksgiving Turkey
If you aren’t entertaining the way you are used to this year, you can still make the best turkey ever, flexibly! Ditch the massive turkey and instead, get a turkey breast or a turkey roll and brine it in my all-time-fave turkey brine! You could even brine a chicken to make it taste maple-y and delicious!
Crockpot Brisket
The best part about slow cooking is that there is minimal prep and clean up required. Who doesn’t love a nice hearty brisket paired with the colder weather? Simply follow my recipe for Sarah’s Meltaway Brisket from my cookbook Food You Want. Season your brisket with salt and pepper (or a spice rub if you wanna get fancy), then pop it into the slow cooker with the sauce and veggies. I leave mine on low all night. Or pop it on high for 4 hours, or until brisket is soft. Then, Place under broiler to get some color and crispness. Use a second cut brisket, its fattier but better for slow cooking. Don’t worry, if you don’t have a crockpot, this can also be made in the oven or pressure cooker! Check out my favorites here.
Air Fried Brussel Sprouts
Traditionally, I love my recipe for crispy stovetop Brussel sprouts, but air frying might be my new favorite way to cook Brussel sprouts. Not only is it crazy easy, the leaves turn into the most delicious snacking chips. Often times my Brussels-based dishes leave my dinner guests saying, “Seconds please!” And that’s really the test to a good recipe, don’t you think? This sweet yet spicy side dish is the perfect accompaniment to pretty much any protein — steak, chicken, or even a perfectly seared salmon. Or, mix them into some greens for a satisfying salad.
5 Minute Cranberry Sauce
No time to make a cranberry sauce from scratch? No problem! Pick up a can of cranberry sauce and jazz it up with freshly diced apples, vanilla and cinnamon. Pop it all into a saucepan and cook until the apples are soft. This takes about 5 minutes and will look way more impressive than just a jellied cranberry sauce log that’s been cut up and served on a dish.
Apple Cider with Spiced Coconut Cream
If you’re looking to ditch the overly sweet Pumpkin Spice Latte and broaden your drink order this season, try whipping up a batch of my spiced-up apple cider. It’s loaded with fresh fruit, citrus slices, and comforting spices! Plus, top each serving with a dollop of homemade vanilla-infused coconut cream. Yummmm!
Pumpkin Pancakes
I originally created this gluten-free spiced version for Thanksgiving specifically, but these pumpkin pancakes are perfect for any winter morning. The flour makes it a slightly heavier and more filling choice for chilly, winter mornings. The aroma and the flavors are divine and always remind me of the holidays. The best part: your kitchen will smell like pumpkin pie all morning!
