Food Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas 31 Extra-Special Food and Wine Thanksgiving Recipes There's a time and place for traditional holiday spreads. These are aspirational Thanksgiving ideas for the extra-special occasions. By Kim Wehby Kim Wehby Kim Wehby is a copy editor with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage space, including a senior editorial role at Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She's edited and developed content for Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Eating Well. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 15, 2024 Close Photo: Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer / Set Construction by Johnny Figueroa When it comes to Thanksgiving, menus tend to be extra by default — crisp, bubbling dishes of macaroni and cheese, mounds of creamy, gravy-laden mashed potatoes, and, the star of the show, turkey. If you're ready to turn your menu up to 10, you're ready for our curated collection of ultra-extra food and wine Thanksgiving recipes, from impressive appetizers to unforgettable desserts. Dazzle your guests with an adults-only wine gelatin, caviar-topped eggs, or even spatchcocked smoked turkey. Whether you pick just one of these Thanksgiving food ideas or use them all to curate your menu, you'll be bringing something extra special to the table this year. 01 of 31 Turkey Roulade Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Amy Thielen, James Beard award-winning writer and chef, brings us this stunning turkey ballotine featuring nuts, greens, and speck or prosciutto. Get the Recipe 02 of 31 Caviar-Topped Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel These deviled eggs from private chef Evan Babb are dressed up with sturgeon caviar and olive brine. Get the Recipe 03 of 31 Gougères with Smoked Salmon, Caviar and Prosciutto Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman These cheesy, savory choux pastries from Food & Wine's Chandra Ram feature Gruyère cheese and fresh thyme. Get the Recipe 04 of 31 Thanksgiving Gravy Fountain with Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer / Set Construction by Johnny Figueroa / Floral Design by Chelsea Olayos In this retro recipe from John Somerall, our Best-Ever Turkey Gravy is converted into a gravy fountain. Pair it with seasonal vegetables, mashed potato croquettes, and other festive hors d'oeuvres. Get the Recipe 05 of 31 Oyster Casserole with Cracker Crumbs Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer In this quick casserole, tender and juicy oysters are drizzled with cream and hot sauce, then baked in a sumptuous buttery crumb mixture for a bit of crunch. Serve as an appetizer for a dinner party or as a side dish with ham or turkey. Get the Recipe 06 of 31 Cranberry-Orange Sparkling Wine Gelatin Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer This dazzling layered gelatin comes to us from Food & Wine's former senior food editor Mary-Frances Heck. Bits of citrusy mandarin oranges meet rich cranberries in the mold, while elderflower liqueur meets sparkling wine for fruity, playful flavors. Get the Recipe 07 of 31 Mushroom-and-Herb Gravy with Apple Brandy Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer Cultured butter-sauteed mushrooms and shallots develop golden caramelization, while an herb "whisk" adds festive, herbaceous flavors to this savory gravy. Get the Recipe 08 of 31 Chipotle-Spiced Smoked Turkey Legs Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer An autumnal dry rub featuring freshly processed chipotle chiles gives these smoked turkey legs golden, crispy skin and supremely juicy meat. Get the Recipe 09 of 31 Cornmeal Cake Trifle with Sabayon and Candied Kumquats Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely This cornmeal cake trifle from pastry chef Kelly Fields and baking legend Claudia Fleming features layers of candied kumquats, marinated oranges, and a citrus-studded cake, but the real stars of this show are the Prosecco sabayon and Italian meringue. Get the Recipe 10 of 31 Rustic Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Chestnuts David Malosh This meatless stuffing is full of meaty flavors and chewy textures thanks to a clever combination of porcini mushrooms and roasted chestnuts. Get the Recipe 11 of 31 Spatchcocked Smoked Turkey Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer & John Somerall / Prop Styling by Christine Keely James Beard award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott brings us this smoked turkey. It starts with a complex dry rub of paprika, chili powder, brown sugar, garlic, onion, and cayenne for bold sweet and spiced flavors. Get the Recipe 12 of 31 Old Fashioned Doughnut Croquembouche Photo by Sarah Crowder / Food Styling by Drew Aichele This gorgeous dessert from pastry chef Paola Velez melds luxury and comfort in this take on the traditional croquembouche. Cinnamon-kissed doughnuts are glued together with caramel, then strands of more caramel adorn the doughnut tree with shine and sparkle. Get the Recipe 13 of 31 Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon and Crème Fraîche Erin Kunkel Sweet roasted butternut squash and slow-caramelized onions create a gorgeous depth of fall flavor in this phenomenal soup from Clare Carver. Get the Recipe 14 of 31 Lobster Mac and Cheese Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley No need to bring a sad, dried-out mac to your Thanksgiving table. This decadent macaroni and cheese might just be the best you (and your holiday guests) will ever taste. Get the Recipe 15 of 31 Cranberry-and-Citrus Chutney with Fennel Pollen Eva Kolenko The slightly sweet, citrusy flavors of fennel pollen combine with candied orange peel, orange zest, and orange juice for a bright, tingly fresh cranberry sauce that cooks up in just 20 minutes. Get the Recipe 16 of 31 Green Bean Casserole with Almost-Burnt Almonds David Malosh F&W's Justin Chapple's version of green bean casserole boasts tender-crisp beans, a creamy sauce, and near-burnt almonds with incredible toasty flavors. Get the Recipe 17 of 31 Salt-Crusted Turkey Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver John Somerall's recipe shows us how a salt crust encases turkey while it cooks, trapping in steam, moisture, and flavor. This holiday bird is one for the books. Get the Recipe 18 of 31 Apple Flambé Pie Photo: Victor Protasio / Food Stylist Torie Cox /Prop Stylist Claire Spollen Food & Wine food editor Paige Grandjean brings three forms of apple to this fall-forward pie filling. Flaming apple brandy tops the pie for a final touch of golden sweetness. Get the Recipe 19 of 31 Four-Layer Caviar Dip Justin Walker It takes just 15 minutes to prepare this rich, luscious caviar dip. This understated appetizer works well for all the wintry holiday parties. Get the Recipe 20 of 31 Lobster Risotto Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Clam juice and creamy lobster create a luxurious risotto for the winter season. A hint of saffron brings floral notes and a touch of gold to the delicious dish. Get the Recipe 21 of 31 Mushroom Toasts with Délice de Bourgogne Eva Kolenko Top Chef season 10 winner chef Kristen Kish brings us these ultra-umami toasts topped with triple-cream cheese, roasted mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Get the Recipe 22 of 31 Pecan-Pumpkin Cream Pie Tara Donne This beautiful pie comes to us from James Beard award-winning pastry chef Joanne Chang. Two fillings — pumpkin custard and pecan — come together for picture-perfect pie slices, plus a whole lotta seasonal flavor. Get the Recipe 23 of 31 Cheddar-Scallion Biscuits Greg DuPree "The buttermilk dough bakes atop a pile of grated cheddar, bringing not just a wonderfully caramelized flavor, but a clever textural element in the form of crisp, lacy 'feet' that form around the bottom of each biscuit," Food & Wine's Kat Kinsman says. "Add a hefty amount of chopped scallion into the mix and it's a savory, joyous match for the ages." Get the Recipe 24 of 31 Smoked Macaroni and Cheese Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer Upgrade creamy mac and cheese in the smoker with chopped green chiles, barbecue seasoning, and dried mustard. Use apple or pecan wood chunks for a mild smokiness and hickory wood chips for bolder flavor. Get the Recipe 25 of 31 Apple and Celery Salad with Calabrian Chiles Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Balance the intense heat of a Calabrian chile-infused vinaigrette with thick slices of apples for a seasonal salad with celery, dill fronds, flat-leaf parsley, and chopped celery leaves, plus nuttiness from sunflower seed kernels. Get the Recipe 26 of 31 Corn Biscuits with Savory Herb Streusel Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox Cornmeal, creamed corn, and freeze-dried sweet corn bring the ultimate corniest flavors and textures to these autumnal biscuits from 2021 F&W Best New Chef Thessa Diadem. Get the Recipe 27 of 31 Candied Sweet Potatoes Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Kay Clarke Brush sliced sweet potatoes with a glossy glaze for a deliciously sticky, candy-like version of the classic side, with grated orange zest to balance the rich sweetness. Get the Recipe 28 of 31 Citrus, Beet, and Arugula Salad with Halloumi Croutons Photo by Dan Perez / Food Styling and Prop Styling by Nurit Kariv Bring vibrant colors to the Thanksgiving table with this gorgeous salad from Adeena Sussman. Beets, citruses, and a honey-mustard vinaigrette mix with fresh arugula and halloumi croutons. Get the Recipe 29 of 31 Herb-Scented Mashed Potatoes Con Poulos Justin Chapple's unique mashed potatoes feature herb-steeped cream and a buttery top that gets crusty and crisped under the broiler. Get the Recipe 30 of 31 White Gold Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This golden, foam-topped soju cocktail from Kim Kyungmoon boasts sweet and sour flavors and earthy, grain-forward notes of barley. Get the Recipe 31 of 31 Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing Eva Kolenko This white bread-meets-cornbread stuffing represents the Midwestern and Southern roots of Top Chef winner Kristen Kish's family. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit