Thanksgiving recipes, decor, and crafts for a simple holiday with real, traditional foods and easy, nature-inpired decorating.
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Thanksgiving has always been a special time for our family - the whole month of November actually - to focus on being thankful for what we already have and to spend time with family and friends without a focus of the gifts and consumerism that comes with Christmas (though I like that holiday, too - it's just that Thanksgiving seems much quieter and simpler to me).
Doing a few easy crafts and using what nature gives us for our decor is just one way help our families focus on being thankful for our world and each other. It's pretty easy to add to all the glorious fall elements we all usually already have like pumpkins, dried hydrangeas, and fall leaves.
And the food? Thanksgiving just goes hand-in-hand with traditional foods. Our family is all about having the same foods we remember and love since we really only have them once a year. But we do make room for one or two new recipes. The one place we're not as traditional is with pumpkin pie and pumpkin-flavored things - believe it or not, it's just not our (okay, my) favorite!
I hope you find some soon-to-be family favorite recipes here and inspiration to add simple touches to your home for the holiday. And that you and your family enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving!
AOC's Thanksgiving Recipes, Decor & Crafts
Thanksgiving Recipes
Appetizers
- Easy Homemade Onion Dip {better than a mix!}
- Cheesy Chicken Artichoke Skillet Dip
- Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers with Roasted Corn Salsa
Side Dishes
- Real Food Slow Cooker Cheesy-Garlic Scalloped Potatoes
- Sweet & Savory Sausage-Cranberry Dressing (or, stuffing) THE BEST - really.
- Garlic & Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
- Amazing Garlic Green Beans {with Skillet or Grill Options}
- Long-Cooked Green Beans with Onions & Bacon {Cooking with Unblanched, Frozen Green Beans}
- Spicy Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
- Green salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Shaved Cabbage Salad with Creamy Feta Vinaigrette
- Maple Sweetened Orange Cranberry Sauce
Breads
- The Original Soft 100% Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls - the rolls people dream about!
- Quick & Tender Homemade Breadsticks
- Simple French Baguettes {aka, The Bread You Can’t Stop Eating}
- Easy Artisan Bread Recipe
Main
Desserts
- Crumb Topped Apple Pie {Make Ahead & Freeze - bake from frozen!}
- Decadent Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie
- Tutorial: The Best Homemade Pie Crust {finally!}
- Black Bottom Maple Pecan Pie Bars
Recipe ideas for leftovers
- Turkey Noodle Soup (a classic)
- Curried Turkey & Rice Soup (my favorite!)
- Chicken-Spinach Frittata with Feta & Tomatoes (replace chicken with turkey)
- Individual Chicken-Tomato Shepherd’s Pies (use turkey and leftover mashed potatoes)
- Quick & Easy Rotisserie Cooked Chicken Recipes (any of these will work with turkey)
- Cranberry Feta Chicken Salad with Chutney Dressing (again, sub the chicken with turkey)
- Thai Inspired Turkey Curry (leftover turkey and vegetables)
Decor & Crafts
- Wood Cone Wreath Thanksgiving Chalkboard
- Beautiful & Unique Thanksgiving Tablescapes
- Thrifted Rustic White Turkeys
- Simple, White & Natural Thanksgiving Table
- Book Page Decoupaged Coasters {thrifted}
- Chalkboard & Gold Thanksgiving Table
- "Give Thanks" Book Page Banner
- Give Thanks Mantel
- Rustic and Gold Thanksgiving Table {Plus 4 Easy Crafts & Free Printable!}
- Rustic Purple & Green Hydrangea Fall Tablescape
- Wood Cone Wreath Thanksgiving Chalkboard
- Beautiful & Unique Thanksgiving Tablescapes