Are you looking for the best Thanksgiving Dinner recipe ideas for your table this year? I have all of the basics you need right here: Thanksgiving Day Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, & Gravy!
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Whether it is your first time cooking Thanksgiving Dinner, or you are looking for some traditional recipes to bring to the table this year, this post will teach you four staple recipes that you can use for any holiday meal, especially Thanksgiving Day!
This post will teach you how to make a Thanksgiving Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing and Turkey Gravy.
These four recipes have been in my family for four generations now & have been served on EVERY holiday table I have been to since I was born. The recipes are noted as originating with my Great-Grandmother, who was born & raised in central Pennsylvania. In other words, this meal is Old-Fashioned!
This post is all about how to make a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner!
Pennsylvania Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Turkey
Be sure to prep your frozen Turkey bought from the store according to the directions on the package!
DON’T FORGET TO DEFROST!!!!
Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Turkey
Ingredients
- Turkey
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 3 Sticks Butter
- Poultry Seasoning to taste
- 1 Whole Onion
- Fresh Herbs (Thyme, Rosemary, etc.) to taste
- 1 bottle Zinfandel Wine
Instructions
- Make sure to completely thaw your Turkey overnight before cleaning!
- Clean turkey with warm water and soap, scoop out kidneys, remove giblet bag, & pull off excess fat.
- Place the turkey in a roaster & add 1-2 inches of water & zinfandel wine, mixed.
- Melt the butter in a sauce pan, then spread all over the bird using a turkey baster.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, & poultry seasoning to taste onto the turkey while the butter is still wet.
- Stuff the turkey with the whole onion & fresh herbs (add carrots, celery,potatoes, etc. if you would like).
- Bake the turkey according the its packaging instructions, being sure to baste 30 minutes-1 hour.
- Once the turkey has reched the requiired temperature according to the packaging, remove from oven and let sit before taking out the stuffing.
Marvelous Mashed Potatoes
Season the Mashed Potatoes to your taste. I occasionally add in diced onions for a crunch, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, or parsley to “fancy it up”!
Marvelous Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 Bag Red Potatoes
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- ½ Cup Whole Milk
- 2 tbsps Garlic Powder
- 2 tbsp Onion Powder
- 2 sticks Butter
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes & cut into halves.
- Boil the potatoes until soft.
- Drain the water. Place the potatoes in a bowl.
- Add melted butter, milk & seasonings to the potatoes.
- Using a masher, mash the potatoes until they form togther.
- Using an electric mixer, whip the mashed potatoes.
- Add additional milk, butter & seasonings to taste & consistency of your liking.
Scrumptious Stuffing
This recipe is SUPER SIMPLE! It is also my husband’s favorite recipe on the Thanksgiving table. You can’t go wrong with carbs & butter!
Holiday Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 Loaf Torn Bread Pieces
- 2 sticks Melted Butter
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 Cup Diced Onion
- 1 Cup Zinfandel Wine
- 1 Cup Diced Celery
- ¼ Cup Currants
- ¼ Cup Pecan Pieces Optional
- ½ Diced Granny Smith Apple
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients & add melted butter to mixture until moist.
- Line a crock pot with foil & place the stuffing mixtrue inside.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Turkey Gravy
If you want to really “WOW” your guests this Thanksgiving, this Turkey Gravy will take your table and dishes to the next level!
Turkey Dinner Gravy
Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup Corn Starch Powder
- Water to taste
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Turkey Drippings
Instructions
- Add cornstarch to a bowl, then enough water to make a thick liquid.
- Heat strained turkey drippings.
- Add cornstarch mixture to the turkey drippings a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the desired consistency & ammount.
In this post, you learned how to make four basic Thanksgiving Dinner recipes from Old-Fashioned Pennsylvania!
I know that you and your family will LOVE these basic recipes. Remember, these are just the basics. There are so many other AMAZING recipes you can pair these basics with.
For more recipes you will love, check out our FAVORITE RECIPES PAGE!
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