Thanksgiving dinner isn’t just about the turkey, it’s the side dishes that make the meal unforgettable!
I’ve rounded up my family-favorite and reader-favorite recipes to help you plan your feast with zero stress. From classic mashed potatoes to buttery dinner rolls, the sides might be the best part of the meal!
First Things First
First things first… let’s nail those side dishes. Think of this roundup as your Thanksgiving cheat sheet: everything you need to wow your guests and keep the kitchen chaos to a minimum.
I’ve listed a bunch that can be made ahead of time and just warmed up so that your big day doesn’t have to be stressful at all! When the sides are solid, the whole meal tastes more delicious!
Tips for the PERFECT Sides
Plan Ahead: Most of these sides can be made a day or two in advance. Do the chopping, mixing, or baking early to save oven space on Thanksgiving Day.
Double Up on Favorites: Mashed potatoes, rolls, and stuffing always go fast so make extra if you’re feeding a crowd.
Balance the Menu: Mix richer, more classic dishes (like sweet potato casserole) with lighter veggie sides (like Brussels sprouts or green beans) for variety.
Warm Everything at Once: Keep a slow cooker or warming trays handy to hold sides at the perfect serving temp without overcooking.
Use a Cooler as a Warming Drawer. If your oven is full, line a clean cooler with foil and towels to keep casseroles, rolls, or veggies warm for up to an hour. It frees up precious oven space and keeps everything at serving temperature until mealtime.
Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes
5 from 8 votes
My dad's famous mashed potatoes are always the star of the dinner table! Perfectly creamy, buttery, and they have such amazing flavor. People are always begging him to make the recipe!
The best sweet potato casserole is smooth and creamy, sprinkled with a brown sugar pecan mixture. It's a sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for the holidays!
Cornbread stuffing is a delicious hearty dish that your family will go crazy over this Thanksgiving! It's loaded with fresh herbs, fruits, and veggies for the perfect sweet and savory side.
1-hour rolls are the perfect solution for making fresh bread in a pinch! This easy and delicious roll recipe will become your new favorite, just in time for the holidays!
Roasted brown butter honey garlic carrots make the perfect side dish. Roasted to tender perfection in the most incredible sauce, these will instantly become a new favorite!
Green bean casserole uses fresh mushrooms salted with onions and garlic, topped with crispy onions, and loaded with fresh, crunchy green beans! This might be your favorite dish next Thanksgiving!
This five-ingredient cornbread casserole can be prepped and ready to go in the oven in less than five minutes. It's packed with sweet, juicy corn and fluffy cornbread and tastes amazing! You can make this side dish for the holidays, to go with your favorite chili or any weeknight dinner.
The sweet maple glaze and bacon complement these roasted brussel sprouts perfectly. This will be a side dish that the family won't be able to get enough of!
Turkey gravy is rich, thick, and creamy! This gravy takes less than 15 minutes to make! Once you drizzle it all over your turkey and potatoes, well, you will use this recipe for every holiday season!
Calling all Thanksgiving pros! I want YOUR input on how to make the sides of thanksgiving the best part of the meal this year. What’s your can’t-miss side dish or secret prep tip? Share it in the comments below. The more comments we can get, the better ALL of our meals will be!
from The Recipe Critic https://ift.tt/SrGvtgz
Stop making boring pork chops. You NEED this pork chop marinade, with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, Dijon, and citrus! It all comes together for the most juicy, tender, flavor-packed pork chop you’ve ever had!
The Secrets to Juicy, Flavor-Packed Pork Chops
The Secret Ingredient? Orange juice! It isn’t just for flavor; it’s acidity that tenderizes the meat, giving you melt in your mouth juicy pork chops.
No More Dry Pork Chops: This marinade locks in moisture so every chop turns out tender and flavorful, no matter how you cook it.
Versatile & Family-Friendly: Not just for pork! Use it on chicken or veggies for easy, delicious dinners everyone will love.
Pork Chop Marinade Ingredients
Soy sauce as brine: Soy sauce adds savory umami and helps brine the meat. Substitute with tamari (gluten free) or coconut aminos (soy free) if needed.
Citrus: Citrus juice not only brightens flavor but also tenderizes the meat. Orange juice is preferred, but pineapple or lemon juice works.
Pork chops: The marinade works for about 4 pork chops. Both bone-in and boneless cuts are great! You can choose your favorite.
How to Make Pork Chop Marinade
It’s so simple, all you need to do is mix a few pantry staples together! You’ll never buy store bought marinade again. Other must try marinades include my steak, chicken, and salmon marinades.
Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. *Set aside a little marinade before adding raw pork. Then, brush it over the pork chops in the last few minutes of cooking for extra flavor and juiciness.
Marinate: Pour your marinade into a sealable plastic bag, then add the pork chops and allow them to marinate for at least an hour. *Marinating for a few hours or even overnight will make the pork chops extra tender and flavorful. Cook your pork chops with your preferred method. You can grill, air fry, or cook them on the stovetop. Discard any used marinade.
Alyssa’s Pro Tips
Cooking Options: This recipe works great on the grill, skillet, or in the air fryer. Each method gives a slightly different texture and flavor.
Don’t Overcook: Pork is perfectly done at 145°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juices can settle back into the meat.
In a medium bowl, whisk together ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
Pour your marinade into a sealable plastic bag and place 4 pork chops into the bag with the marinade and allow them to marinate for at least an hour.
Cook your pork chops with your preferred method, you can grill, bake or cook them on the stovetop.
Discard any used marinade.
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Notes
Storing Unused Marinade
Unused pork chop marinade can be stored in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If the marinade has already been used on raw meat, discard it; don’t reuse it.
Pork chops were a staple dinner growing up, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t love them. They’ve always had a reputation for being boring or dry. Oh, how I wish I had these recipes back then!
If you’ve never tried a congo bar, they’re basically chocolate chip cookie bars with a little added flair. They’re usually made with chopped nuts or coconut for some extra texture, and let me tell you… They are what dreams are made of.
Why My Congo Bars Are the Best
Butter Over Shortening: Old-school recipes used shortening, but I went with butter to give them a rich flavor and chewy texture.
Sweet & Nutty Balance: Milk chocolate chips bring the sweetness, while walnuts add crunch and cut through, so it’s not too sweet.
Classic Congo Bar Style: I load these with three full cups of mix-ins and use all brown sugar to create that deep, caramel-like flavor.
A Reader’s Review
Excellent recipe. Will make many more times. I made it for an event and it was loved by all. I wouldn’t change a thing
– Barb
Congo Bar Ingredients
Switch Up the Nuts! You can use pecans, almonds, chopped peanuts, or pistachios instead of walnuts.
Chocolate Chip Variations: Use milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips, all semi-sweet, or mix in butterscotch, caramel, or peanut butter chips.
Sea Salt: Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to the top before baking.
Toppings: Want to make your congo bars even more indulgent? Add a drizzle of caramel sauce or white chocolate sauce! Serve warm and à la mode.
How to Make Classic Congo Bars
This congo bar recipe is just as easy, if not easier, than making a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Prepare to meet your new potluck staple! These are so simple to throw together and are always a hit wherever they go.
Prep & Dry Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13 x 2 pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
Wet Ingredients: Add the butter and brown sugar to a large bowl and mix until combined. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until fully combined.
Combine: Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts by hand into the batter.
Bake: Add the dough to the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. The center will still look underbaked. If it is baked any longer, the bars will become dry and crumbly. Let the Congo bars cool completely before cutting them for the cleanest bars.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Don’t Overbake! Really, don’t overbake these congo bars. They will continue to cook after they come out of the oven, so if you bake them for longer, they will end up being dry and crumbly.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13x2-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Whisk together 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
Add ⅔ cup melted unsalted butter and 2 ¼ cup packed brown sugar to a large bowl and mix until combined. Add 3 large eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and mix until fully combined.
Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until combined. Stir in 2 cups milk chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped walnuts by hand.
Add the dough to the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. The center will still look underbaked, and it should! If it is baked any longer, the bars will become dry and crumbly.
Let the bars cool completely before slicing and serving.
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Notes
Storage Instructions
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Heat in the microwave for 5-10 seconds for a warm treat!
Freezer: Congo bars can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Leave at room temperature overnight to thaw.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls are everything you love about your favorite takeout appetizer, made right at home! They’re crispy, crunchy , loaded with flavorful chicken filling , and cooked without the hassle of deep frying. The Egg Roll Upgrade You’ll Love Perfectly Crispy Without Deep Frying: The air fryer gives these egg rolls an irresistibly crunchy exterior while keeping the filling juicy and tender. Better Than Takeout: Loaded with seasoned chicken, crunchy veggies, and bold Asian-inspired flavors, they’re fresh, flavorful, and made right in your own kitchen. Great for Dinner or Appetizers: Serve them with a good sweet chili sauce or sweet and sour sauce s for an easy weeknight meal, game day snack, or party appetizer everyone will devour. A Reader’s Review These are delicious!! So much healthier than store bought or take-out. Pretty easy to make. – Janice Ingredients For Air Fryer Egg Rolls Gr...
