23 Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Keep Everyone Talking About Food, Not Politics

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Thanksgiving is known for bringing family together, but the conversation doesn’t always have to get awkward. These 23 recipes will ensure that the only thing everyone’s talking about is how great the food is. Whether it’s the main dish or the sides, every recipe is designed to keep the focus on what’s on the plate, not on politics. Serve these, and you’ll have guests asking for seconds instead of debating the latest headlines.

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

1. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Roasted balsamic glazed brussels sprouts in a black bowl.
1. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

These Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts are roasted to perfection and tossed with a tangy balsamic glaze, offering a deliciously modern side dish. They’ll give your Thanksgiving spread a flavorful edge, keeping everyone’s attention on the food and not on divisive topics. Their sweet and savory balance will be the highlight of any table. After tasting these, no one will be discussing anything but how good they are.
Get the Recipe: 1. Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

2. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

2. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A fresh take on green beans, these Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions will bring a new favorite to your Thanksgiving feast. The garlic flavor and crispy fried onions ensure this dish stands out, making it impossible to stray from conversations about the food. It’s an easy, impressive alternative to green bean casserole, with guests praising it instead of worrying about small talk. You’ll hear them asking for seconds, not opinions.
Get the Recipe: 2. Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

3. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

A pan of freshly baked and frosted apple cinnamon rolls on a dark blue background.
3. Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

These Apple Cinnamon Rolls, featuring fresh apples and a cream cheese frosting, are perfect for those early Thanksgiving mornings. Warm and comforting, they’ll be the sweet distraction your guests need, ensuring the conversation stays on the irresistible food. These rolls add a festive touch that will leave everyone reminiscing about this Thanksgiving for years to come. After one bite, no one will be thinking about anything but these cinnamon rolls.
Get the Recipe: 3. Apple Cinnamon Rolls

4. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

A bowl of butternut squash soup with a spoon on a colorful blue and white plate.
4. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup brings together autumn’s best flavors in one comforting dish. It’s a simple yet elegant starter that will keep guests focused on the meal, not the chatter. With the subtle sweetness of apples and the richness of squash, it’s an easy way to add warmth to your Thanksgiving. Once served, everyone will be too busy enjoying it to discuss anything else.
Get the Recipe: 4. Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

5. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

A loaf of cranberry orange poppy seed bread on a cutting board.
5. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread adds a burst of bright flavors to your Thanksgiving table, blending tart cranberries with zesty orange and crunchy poppy seeds. It’s quick to prepare and perfect for keeping the focus on food. Its vibrant appearance and refreshing taste will have everyone raving about the bread rather than anything else. It’s sure to be the topic of conversation long after dessert is served.
Get the Recipe: 5. Cranberry Orange Poppy Seed Bread

6. Buttermilk Brined Turkey

A buttermilk brined roasted surrounded by festive holiday side dishes.
6. Buttermilk Brined Turkey. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This Buttermilk Brined Turkey locks in moisture with a flavorful brine of buttermilk, rosemary, thyme, and sage, creating a Thanksgiving centerpiece that will keep everyone talking about the meal. Its tender, juicy texture will have your guests focused on the food, not what’s happening outside the dining room. Serve this turkey, and watch it become the main topic of discussion, long after the plates are cleared.
Get the Recipe: 6. Buttermilk Brined Turkey

7. Carrot Ginger Soup

7. Carrot Ginger Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Carrot Ginger Soup brings a spicy and sweet kick to the Thanksgiving table, offering a warming starter that will capture everyone’s attention. The easy preparation makes it a great choice for keeping conversations light and focused on the food. This soup will be a refreshing change from the usual holiday chatter, with guests complimenting the flavor instead of engaging in debates. Expect smiles and compliments to follow every spoonful.
Get the Recipe: 7. Carrot Ginger Soup

8. Cranberry Apple Stuffing

8. Cranberry Apple Stuffing. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cranberry Apple Stuffing combines sweet and tangy flavors in a stuffing that perfectly complements the Thanksgiving spread. Its unique mix of cranberries and apples ensures guests will stay engaged with the food, leaving little room for off-topic discussions. This stuffing will shine on your table, becoming the favorite that keeps everyone talking about how it stole the show from the turkey.
Get the Recipe: 8. Cranberry Apple Stuffing

9. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

9. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts bring an exotic flavor to your holiday meal, with fragrant spices that elevate this dish to the center of attention. The bold spices ensure this dish will be a conversation piece, with everyone marveling at the flavors instead of veering into less savory topics. These sprouts will have guests wondering why they haven’t been the star of Thanksgiving before.
Get the Recipe: 9. Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

10. Spiced Shortbread Cookies

A white plate of a line of Spiced Shortbread Cookies lined up.
10. Spiced Shortbread Cookies. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Spiced Shortbread Cookies, infused with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, offer the perfect finish to your Thanksgiving feast. These cookies will keep the focus on sweet treats rather than tense discussions. Their warming spices and buttery texture will have guests reaching for seconds, ensuring that the conversation stays on food, where it belongs. By the time dessert ends, everyone will remember this meal for the right reasons.
Get the Recipe: 10. Spiced Shortbread Cookies

11. Virgin Moscow Mule

Two virgin moscow mules garnished with lime on a gold platter.
11. Virgin Moscow Mule. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This Virgin Moscow Mule, featuring lime and ginger beer, is a refreshing non-alcoholic drink that’s perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings. It’s a cool, crisp beverage that pairs well with the heavier dishes, keeping the conversation lively and light. The fresh flavors will have your guests toasting to the food instead of anything else. Once they sip this, no one will miss the traditional drinks.
Get the Recipe: 11. Virgin Moscow Mule

12. Parsnip Potato Soup

A bowl of loaded parsnip potato soup topped with bacon and cheddar cheese.
12. Parsnip Potato Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Parsnip Potato Soup is a creamy, hearty dish that’s perfect for warming up your Thanksgiving dinner. The rich combination of parsnips and potatoes will draw everyone’s attention to the flavors, making it impossible for the conversation to drift elsewhere. Topped with bacon and cheddar, this soup will be the talk of the table for all the right reasons. Serve it once, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: 12. Parsnip Potato Soup

13. Butterscotch Apple Crisp

A butterscotch apple crumble in a cast iron skillet on a wooden cutting board.
13. Butterscotch Apple Crisp. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Butterscotch Apple Crisp offers a sweet, crunchy finish to your Thanksgiving feast that rivals any traditional pie. The combination of Granny Smith apples and a butterscotch sauce will keep everyone’s attention on dessert rather than post-dinner debates. This simple, comforting dessert will have guests raving about how it stole the show from the other dishes. Once served, they’ll be begging for more.
Get the Recipe: 13. Butterscotch Apple Crisp

14. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

14. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving meal, with rich, savory flavors that will keep the conversation firmly centered on the food. The Yukon gold potatoes and brown butter garlic sauce offer a simple but luxurious twist that guests will be praising long after dinner. After one taste, no one will want to talk about anything but how good they are.
Get the Recipe: 14. Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

15. Blackberry Crumble Pie

Overhead shot of blackberry crumble pie with one slice on a serving plate.
15. Blackberry Crumble Pie. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Blackberry Crumble Pie combines sweet blackberries, a buttery crust, and a spiced crumb topping, creating a holiday dessert that will keep the Thanksgiving table buzzing about how it outshines the usual options. This pie’s rich flavors will keep everyone talking about the food, not any controversial topics. Serve it with ice cream, and you’ll have guests clamoring for seconds.
Get the Recipe: 15. Blackberry Crumble Pie

16. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

Three bowls of brown butter roasted pecans on a gray background next to a red tartan cloth.
16. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Butter Roasted Pecans are the ultimate holiday snack, offering a sweet and savory bite that’s perfect for keeping guests focused on the flavors. The brown butter and honey create a rich coating that pairs beautifully with Thanksgiving dishes, ensuring the conversation stays about food. These pecans will be the snack that everyone remembers, long after the meal is over.
Get the Recipe: 16. Brown Butter Roasted Pecans

17. Easy Oven Asparagus

17. Easy Oven Asparagus. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Oven Asparagus brings a fresh, crisp side to your Thanksgiving spread, and its simplicity ensures that it won’t pull you away from other dishes. This easy recipe lets the conversation stay on the food, not the effort behind it. Its light, flavorful crunch will have guests appreciating the side dish rather than any heavy topics. Everyone will want to know how you made something so simple taste so good.
Get the Recipe: 17. Easy Oven Asparagus

18. Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies

One Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies cookie on a white plate next to a bottle of milk.
18. Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies add a touch of indulgence to your Thanksgiving dessert table. The buttery shortbread and smooth caramel will keep everyone focused on how these cookies are the perfect sweet ending to the meal. Their rich, decadent flavor ensures that the only debate will be about who gets the last one. These cookies will be the highlight of your dessert spread.
Get the Recipe: 18. Salted Bourbon Caramel Shortbread Cookies

19. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board

19. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board provides a variety of options that will keep your Thanksgiving guests happily occupied with food, not conversation. The assortment of meats, cheeses, and crackers ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy while waiting for the main course. It’s the ultimate appetizer, keeping the table busy with all the right kind of chatter.
Get the Recipe: 19. Charcuterie and Cheese Grazing Board

20. Homemade Cinnamon Twists

20. Homemade Cinnamon Twists. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Cinnamon Twists offer a sweet, flaky treat that will keep everyone at the table smiling. Their light texture and comforting cinnamon flavor are perfect for a Thanksgiving brunch or dessert. These twists will be the talk of the table, ensuring that the conversation stays focused on the food. Serve these, and your guests won’t stop asking for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: 20. Homemade Cinnamon Twists

21. Spiced Pear Cobbler

21. Spiced Pear Cobbler. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Spiced Pear Cobbler brings together juicy, spiced pears and a buttery biscuit topping, creating a warm and satisfying dessert for Thanksgiving. Its cozy flavors will keep guests focused on the meal rather than any other distractions. This cobbler is the perfect way to wrap up the feast, making it a conversation piece that keeps the mood festive. Once served, it’ll be the dessert everyone’s talking about.
Get the Recipe: 21. Spiced Pear Cobbler

22. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

22. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts offers a sweet and tangy twist on the traditional Thanksgiving main. The combination of pomegranate molasses and crunchy walnuts creates a dish that will stand out from the usual turkey and keep everyone’s attention on the unique flavors. Ready in just an hour, this Persian-inspired recipe is sure to spark conversations about the food, not anything else. Serve this, and your guests will be asking for the recipe instead of the turkey.
Get the Recipe: 22. Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

23. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

23. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast brings a sophisticated yet easy option to your Thanksgiving menu. The crunchy hazelnut topping pairs beautifully with the tender turkey breast, creating a dish that will keep guests focused on how delicious it is rather than unrelated topics. With a cooking time of around two hours, this flavorful turkey is sure to be a standout at your holiday table. By the end of the meal, everyone will be talking about the nutty, comforting flavors.
Get the Recipe: 23. Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

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