Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

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Thanksgiving dinner may be one of the most important meals you will serve all year — which means it's especially critical to only use recipes you trust (read: now is not the time to experiment!). When it comes to tasty, trustworthy recipes sure to please, Ina Garten (aka the Barefoot Contessa) has proven herself to be a reliable source. So while the pros in the GH Test Kitchen dream up their own triple-tested recipes for every holiday and occasion, we're thrilled to share Ina Garten's Thanksgiving recipes for extra inspiration.

The award-winning cookbook author and television host has put together a no-stress but superb meal for all of us, starting with her thyme-roasted marcona almonds and ending on a sweet note with pumpkin mousse parfaits, pecan squares and her famous apple crostata. In between, she has everyone covered with her top-rated Thanksgiving turkey, plus all-star side dishes (including roasted veggies and mashed potatoes).

If you're thinking there's no way you can cook like this celebrity chef, think again. Ina has shared her top tips for Thanksgiving with us in the past. And her advice is all about keeping things simple and straightforward. Two rules of thumb? "Never, ever test a new recipe on guests for any reason. This is particularly true on Thanksgiving," and "skip complicated appetizers," she said. Instead, she suggests serving nuts, good olives, or figs and prosciutto with wine or Champagne.

She also recommends writing out a menu and making a game plan in advance. So, go ahead and get started by taking a look through these top-notch Thanksgiving recipes from Ina Garten herself.

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1

Luscious Roast Turkey

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2)

Brush the turkey all over with butter for a flavorful — and gorgeously golden-brown — bird.

Get the Luscious Roast Turkey recipe.

RELATED: 45 Easy Leftover Turkey Recipes That You Won't Get Tired Of

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2

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

These creamy and slightly garlicky spuds swap in olive oil for the usual butter, but don't hold back on the heavy cream.

Get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

RELATED: How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes and Make Your Holidays a Little Easier

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3

Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

This well-balanced salad, featuring crispy bacon, toasted walnuts and fancy blue cheese feels fit for a holiday feast.

Get the Cape Cod Chopped Salad recipe.

RELATED: 21 Thanksgiving Salads That Complement Turkey Perfectly

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4

Herb and Apple Stuffing

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Studded with apples, celery and parsley, this stuffing packs in tons of fresh fall flavor.

Get the Herb and Apple Stuffing recipe.

RELATED: 28 Leftover Stuffing Recipes That Make the Most Out of Thanksgiving's Best Dish

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6

Thyme-Roasted Marcona Almonds

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Marcona almonds are extra buttery and delicious — just buy 'em from the store, sprinkle with salt and herbs and roast until warm and nutty.

Get the Thyme-Roasted Marcona Almonds recipe.

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7

Winter Squash Soup

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

Start off your celebrations with a super-cozy one-pot soup.

Get the Winter Squash Soup recipe.

RELATED: 32 Easy Butternut Squash Recipes Perfect for Cozy Fall Dinners

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8

String Beans with Shallots

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Leave it to Ina to find a way to make these often-overlooked veggies the standout dish on the dinner table, using just four ingredients.

Get the String Beans with Shallots recipe.

RELATED: 23 Thanksgiving Green Beans That Are Delicious and Easy to Make for Turkey Day

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9

Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips

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These OJ-braised veggies get a little flavor kick from crushed red pepper flakes — double the amount for even more oomph. No shallots? Half a small onion also works.

Get the Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips recipe.

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10

Brussels Sprouts Lardons

The addition of a smoky meat like bacon or pancetta will help convert any Brussels sprout haters.

Get the Brussels Sprouts Lardons recipe.

RELATED: 38 Brussels Sprout Recipes That Will Have You Asking for Seconds

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11

Cranberry Fruit Conserve

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (22)

It's time to skip the canned cranberry sauce. This sweet and tangy side gets crunch from walnuts and tang from lemon and orange zest.

Get the Cranberry Fruit Conserve recipe.

RELATED: 19 Cranberry Sauce Recipes That'll Convince You to Ditch the Can Opener

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12

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (24)

Squash and apples in one dish? Talk about a fall dream come true. Serve with toasted baguette slices spread with goat cheese.

Get the Butternut Squash and Apple Soup recipe.

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13

Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (26)

If assembling pumpkin pie recipes is too much work (we feel ya!), keep it simple with these 30-minute parfaits.

Get the Pumpkin Mousse Parfaits recipe.

RELATED: 80 Best Thanksgiving Desserts That Make Turkey Day Extra Sweet

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14

Green Beans Gremolata

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (28)

Top crisp-tender green beans with a bright and crunchy gremolata of parsley, Parmesan, pine nuts, lemon peel and garlic. Yum!

Get the Green Beans Gremolata recipe.

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15

Raspberry Cheesecake

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (29)

For a lacquer-like topping, toss fresh berries in warmed jelly. Easy!

Get the Raspberry Cheesecake recipe.

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16

Baked Chocolate Pudding

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (31)

This one's for all the chocolate lovers: A splash of framboise liqueur adds an elegant touch to Thanksgiving night's dessert.

Get the Baked Chocolate Pudding recipe.

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17

Pecan Squares

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (33)

Pecan pie has a whole new look — but the same quintessential (and delicious) flavor.

Get the Pecan Squares recipe.

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18

Apple Crostata

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (35)

The dough for this easier, free-form version of apple pie can be made in advance. All you have to do on the big day is roll it out, fill it, and pop it in the oven as you sit down to feast.

Get the Apple Crostata recipe.

RELATED: 50 Apple Desserts That Are Delicious to the Core

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19

Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (37)

This pumpkin pie and its whipped cream topping are made with a splash of dark rum, making this American classic even more irresistible.

Get the Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream recipe.

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20

Clarkson Potter Modern Comfort Food

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (39)

20

Clarkson Potter Modern Comfort Food

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Can't get enough? We totally understand. Check out Ina's latest cookbook for more staple sides, comforting mains and delicious desserts that will wow your guests at any dinner party.

Impress Your Friends With Ina Garten's Very Best Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is Ina Garten's favorite dinner? ›

The one meal Ina simply couldn't live without is roast chicken. She even cites it as one of the reasons her husband, Jeffrey, proposed marriage in 1968.

How does Ina Garten bake sweet potatoes? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425*F.
  2. Cut sweet potatoes in wedges or like french fries.
  3. Place wedges on large baking pan or cookie sheet. ...
  4. Now sprinkle over brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. ...
  5. Spread out in a single layer. ...
  6. Place back in oven and bake another 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the outside.

What is Ina Garten's signature dish? ›

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

Garten's favorite show-stopping dessert? A layered chocolate cake, spiked with freshly-brewed coffee for depth and swirled with rich chocolate frosting. Get Garten's recipe or try our version of a Southern Buttermilk Chocolate Cake.

What is Ina Garten's favorite fast food? ›

Although the "best fries" debate is ongoing, one thing's for sure, In-N-Out is Ina Garten's favorite go-to. Whenever she's in California visiting or on a book tour, swinging by the local In-N-Out is a must. To give you an idea of how much Garten enjoys their burgers, it's the only fast food chain she'll eat.

Do sweet potatoes taste better baked or boiled? ›

Even if you are making mashed sweet potatoes, they will taste better with oven-cooked potatoes. To bake sweet potatoes in the oven, preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes clean and pierce each one all over with a paring knife. Bake on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet until tender, about 45 to 50 minutes.

Is it better to wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking? ›

Wrapping sweet potatoes in foil helps in a few ways. It prevents the exterior of the tuber from drying out and overheating too quickly, which would minimize enzymatic activity; it also results in a more evenly cooked texture.

Are sweet potatoes better in oven or microwave? ›

Can You Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave? Yes, you can! In fact, the shorter cook time will help the sweet potatoes retain more nutrients that are often lost in the long oven-baking process. It's not all that different than baking a sweet potato in the oven, except it's a whole lot faster.

What is the simplest dish in the world to cook according to Ina Garten? ›

The Simplest Dish In The World To Make, According To Ina Garten. After testing recipes for various projects all day, Ina Garten prefers to make something simple, quick, and ready straight out of the oven. Her favored dish is roast chicken. To make a roast chicken, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

What brand of dishes does Ina Garten use? ›

For example, my large serving bowls are Crate and Barrel brand, and my Pillivuyt and Apilco dishes are from Williams-Sonoma."

What kind of work does Ina Garten's husband do? ›

Currently, Jeffrey serves as the Dean Emeritus at the Yale School of Management and teaches courses on the global economy. According to his faculty page, prior to joining Yale, he worked for multiple White House administrations, served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and was a managing director on Wall Street.

What is Ina Garten's net worth? ›

Celebritynetworth.com estimates her net worth at $50 million, thanks to her Food Network show, cookbooks, grocery line, and merchandise. Ina husband, Jeffrey, is also a financial powerhouse.

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