Culture

How to Look Like a Total Pro on Thanksgiving

The first step to holiday success: Don't panic. Instead, use these 11 tips to convince everyone that you're a Thanksgiving boss.
Image may contain Food Meal Dish Platter Cutlery and Fork
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott

If you're the family cook, you already know that Thanksgiving isn't just about turning out a dreamy holiday meal—it's about making the whole process look really, really easy. The first step to success: Don't panic. Instead, use these 11 tips to convince everyone that you're a Thanksgiving boss.

  • Image may contain Plant Food Egg Dish Meal Confectionery and Sweets
    Diane Fields
    1/9

    Serve Snacks

    Thanksgiving apps should be brightly-flavored and just salty enough that your guests keep going back for more cocktails. We opt for olives, nuts, and a few spreadable cheeses.

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  • Image may contain Food Bread and Cracker
    Christopher Testani
    2/9

    Make Dip!

    Plain and simple—everyone loves dip. Just be sure to serve yours at its correct temperature (i.e. chilled or room temperature).

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  • Image may contain Food Bowl Meal and Dish
    3/9

    Do Cocktail Hour Right

    Create a signature cocktail—and serve lots of it. A punch bowl or two-ingredient drink will be just the thing to get everyone in the mood to party. Slightly boozed-up guests are happy guests.

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  • Platter of spatchcock turkey with halved heads of garlic and other aromatics on blue tablecloth.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
    4/9

    Spatchcock (Yes, Spatchcock!) Your Way to a Better Bird

    Do you want the bird to actually taste good? And be juicy? With perfectly browned skin? Of course you do. To achieve such perfection, you need to spatchcock it. Not only will this method yield great results, but you'll win bonus points for teaching everyone a new word.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Dish Meal and Vegetable
    5/9

    Prep Ahead, Dress Later

    We know you'd never dress your salad in advance (right?!). But you can get everything ready to go the weekend before the big day. Wash your greens, make your vinaigrette, and store everything in air-tight containers until tossing together just before serving.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant Platter and Vegetable
    Alex Lau
    6/9

    Up Your Stuffing's Ingredient Ante

    Adding oysters and bacon incorporates textural contrasts and bold flavor hits to up the intrigue.

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  • Image may contain Plant Fruit and Food
    7/9

    Remember: This Is Why Cranberry Recipes Are Sweet

    On their own, cranberries are incredibly bitter, so using some kind of sugar makes them palatable (and delicious!). If you're using fresh berries, be sure to carve out time to soften them by simmering or roasting them before serving.

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  • Image may contain Food Dessert Creme Cream Confectionery Sweets Icing Cake Animal Seafood Lobster and Sea Life
    Christopher Testani
    8/9

    Press (Don't Roll) Your Pie Crust

    A press-in pie crust is so forgiving that you could even feel safe passing it off to someone else. This stunning pie also requires a simple-but-seriously-impressive blow-torched topping. Oh, and did we mention that, since this pie doesn't need to be baked, you can save yourself plenty of oven space? That, too.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Lentil and Bean
    Christopher Testani
    9/9

    Send People Home Happy

    Wrap up bark, granola, muffins—even a pre-made waffle could work—and watch your guests shake their heads in awe. You actually thought of everything.

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