The Best Wines to bring to a Holiday Party

From thank-you gifts to office parties, (complete with reindeer-antler headbands), ’tis the season to uncork lots and lots of wine bottles. A bottle of wine is a thoughtful gift and a welcome addition to any seasonal potluck. Use this handy guide to choose the best wines to bring to a party.

Choose the best wines to bring to a party

a pack of wines to bring to a party

Easy, Affordable Gifts

Strategy: Get great value by purchasing a pack of six bottles of wine and dividing it up as thank-you gifts for coworkers, friends, or handyman who fixed that leaky pipe.
Reds: Look for red wines that can pair well with food or be consumed on their own. Something light like a Pinot Noir will please everyone on your list.
White: Chardonnay is the perfect rich white wine for the Holiday season.

Special Gifts

sparkling wines to bring to a party
Blue Apron’s Blue Barrel Reserve Brut

Strategy: Make the recipient feel special the moment the bottle is unwrapped. Give memorable bottles that will surprise and delight the recipient.
Reds: Consider gifting an older bottle. A bottle that has been aged over 7 years will have a mellow complexity that makes it a special gift.
Whites: Consider a lesser-known varietal like Chenin Blanc or Vermentino. Of course, you can never go wrong with a beautiful bottle of sparkling wine.

Office Holiday Party

Strategy: Keep the focus on chatting, reconnecting, and reminiscing with co-workers. Choose fruity, spicy wines that stand up to hearty winter fare.
Reds: Bone-warming, palate-coating reds like Malbec or Syrah.
Whites: Versatile, crowd-pleasing wines like Sauvignon Blanc.

Family Holiday Dinner

wines to bring to a party with family

Strategy: Take the lead and pick out a few bottles to minimize group decision making. Try choosing a few special wines you wouldn’t uncork on an ordinary weeknight.
Reds: Please every palate by selecting two red wines. Go for a fruity and concentrated red that complements rich holiday foods, such as a Rioja, along with a lighter blended bottle. Consider serving a dessert wine like Port to end dinner on a high note.
White: Choose a crowd pleasing white, like Chardonnay or Viognier, that has the heft to stand up to everything on the table.

Gathering Among Friends

Strategy: Make it all about the party, not the wine. Choose a bottle that everyone will love, but not so good that it’s the subject of discussion.
Reds: Try a wine that everyone is likely to be familiar with, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. These approachable wines make cheerful party pours.
White: Get two: a sparkling wine, and a quaffable white from Spain, such as a fruity Albariño.

Sign up for Blue Apron Wine and save on your first order! Click here.

7 Fruit Centerpiece Ideas

holiday centerpiece with fruits and vegetables

So many fruits and vegetables are show-stoppingly attractive, even in the dead of winter. Take advantage of their natural beauty for your holiday centerpiece this year. It’s easy! Just take a trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market, but a few extra pomegranates, persimmons, or plain old tomatoes, and use them to decorate your holiday tables and entryways. 

How to Make a Holiday Centerpiece

Once you’ve selected your produce, it’s time for the creative part. You can mix and match produce, or just fill a bowl with your favorite fruit. Experiment with cutting a few fruits open to create a still life effect. You can scatter fruits freely across the table, or use a rimmed platter like a vase. It’s an easy way to keep things organized. These are some of our favorite fruits and vegetables to use as edible centerpieces.

Ideas for Table Centerpieces with Fruits and Vegetables

holiday centerpiece with fruit

Pears

You might have pears around anyway. To make them into a beautiful table centerpiece, try mixing several different types—an assortment of colors will feel beautiful and bountiful. This works with apples, too! When you’re done, you can make apple pie bars or pear butter.

Persimmons

Whole persimmons bring a beautiful orange color to your holiday table. To make a festive plate setting, try cutting one in half to reveal its star-shaped seed pattern. After you clear the table, you can try making a persimmon grilled cheese or a stir-fry.

Satsumas

Satsumas are like clementines, but with stems and leaves. Pile a few handfuls on a footed cake plate to beautify your table.

satsumas as a holiday centerpiece

Pomegranates

You might love pomegranates for the jewel-like little seeds inside, but don’t discount the outsides! They’re rustic and a deep, dark red. We like them lined up on a skinny platter or set right on the plate. Try cutting one in half to reveal the beautiful interior. After your meal is over, eat the seeds straight, or drop a few into a glass of sparkling wine for a beautiful cocktail.

Artichokes

Artichokes are technically flowers, so it’s no surprise that they’re beautiful. Set an artichoke on a plate to prop up a place card, or slice a few in half to reveal their beautiful layers.

Lemons

lemon holiday centerpiece

Lots of chefs have dozens of lemons around. Pile them up in a pretty bowl to create the easiest possible centerpiece. When you’re ready for your next meal, use their juice to helps balance flavor, and their zest to add some zing. Did you know there’s a right way to cut them into wedges?

Pumpkins

pumpkins

You probably have some leftover pumpkins hanging around from Halloween. You don’t need plates or platters to make these feel festive. Just scatter small pumpkins across the table, or leave larger pumpkins in the entryway. When you’re cleaning up, crack them open and make soup. If you have gourds around, they can make a beautiful centerpiece too.

In the holiday spirit? Check out our gift guide to find the perfect present for the cooks in your life.

An Extra Juicy Leftover Turkey Sandwich

leftover turkey sandwich

Leftover turkey sandwich Friday is as much of a tradition as Thanksgiving itself. We love thick slices of turkey slathered with cranberry sauce and gravy in between two slices of hearty bread. If you’re feeling wild, toss a little stuffing in there too. We’re not here to knock the classic approach, but if you look forward to leftovers as much as we do, you might love this alternative take on a leftover turkey sandwich. 

The spirit here remains the same—it’s all about mixing together and piling up leftovers. Here, we’re transforming the experience into a warm and gooey sandwich reminiscent of a sloppy joe

making a leftover turkey sandwich

To do this, we’re taking our turkey and shredding it. Use two forks to pull a few slices of turkey apart into thick strands, as shown above. Once you have a sizable pile (however much you’d like to eat), add it to a medium-sized sauce pot with a few spoonfuls of gravy. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn, until the gravy has melted into a saucy texture and the turkey is warmed through. 

Even the simplest version of this sandwich will be delicious. For a quick and easy preparation serve your turkey and gravy mixture over a single slice of toast. Eat it as an open-faced sandwich, or grab a knife and fork.

If you’re craving a little more decadence, go all out and load your sandwich up with fixings. We created an over-the-top breakfast sandwich with pulled turkey and gravy, bacon, cranberry sauce, lettuce, and a fried egg. For a little textural contrast, we recommend serving on buttery Texas toast.

Try this technique to give your leftovers new life on Friday. This might become your new favorite way to create a turkey delicious breakfast or hearty lunch. Once you’ve finished your sandwich, check out some of our favorite ways to enjoy leftover mashed potatoes, greens, and pie.

What to Do If You Can’t Find Turkey & Other Thanksgiving Swaps

Every year people rush to the grocery store before Thanksgiving. The problem is that most of us are searching for the same ingredients. If you’re late to the game, the store could be out of Brussels sprouts or cranberry sauce. This might be a setback, but not even a Turkey shortage will stop us from celebrating. Chef Lili Dagan is here to help you work through any missing ingredient emergencies. We planned an alternative Thanksgiving menu that’s packed with flavor and full of seasonal produce. 

An Alternative Thanksgiving Menu

Roasted cabbage with warm pancetta vinaigrette

If Brussels sprouts are in short supply, this roasted cabbage dish is a great solution. Cabbage is readily available all year round, and it’s from the same family as Brussels sprouts. Once this head of cabbage is roasted and covered with a savory pancetta dressing, you might not even be able to tell the difference. 

Baked beets with hazelnuts and goat cheese

Green beans are in season in the spring, so Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily the best time to find these legumes. Instead of turning to canned beans, try switching to seasonal beets. These delicious baked beets bring sweet and tart flavors to your holiday table. 

Fresh and roasted citrus relish

Thanksgiving is the cranberry’s time to shine. If your store is out of fresh cranberries (or canned cranberry sauce), you can create a sweet and bitter relish using seasonal citrus. This dish combines roasted and citrus to create a complex, tart jam that would be delicious on a turkey sandwich. 

Beef tenderloin with sherry-dijon pan sauce

No alternative Thanksgiving menu would be complete without the protein. If Turkey is out of stock this year, opt for a flavorful beef tenderloin. This dish is faster and easier to prepare than a whole turkey, but will still make for a show-stopping centerpiece.

Looking for more tips from Chef Lili? Check out our guide to making pantry pastas, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

What Went Wrong with My Thanksgiving Turkey?

Most of us only make a whole turkey once a year. Cooking an extra-large bird isn’t the easiest kitchen task, and we don’t get a lot of practice! If you’re in charge of the main dish this Thanksgiving, a little preparation can help you pull it off perfectly. These are some of the most common problems with Thanksgiving turkey and how to avoid them 

perfectly cooked thanksgiving turkey

Why is my turkey dry?

This is the most common complaint when it comes to Thanksgiving turkey. If your turkey is dry, it means that the outer portion has overcooked. The size of the bird is what makes this a challenge. It can be difficult to achieve food safe temperatures at the center of the meat before the exterior dries out.

How to prevent it 

Keep your turkey moist by cooking it evenly. Let the turkey sit out of the refrigerator for about an hour before roasting. If you put a cold turkey into the oven it will take longer to cook. The heat works its way from the outside in, and the longer oven time will mean that the exterior has more time to dry out.

How to fix it

If you’re set on a whole turkey, just slather on the gravy! If the turkey is too dry to be enjoyable, dry dicing it up and serve turkey pot pie instead. The moist filling will disguise the dry turkey. 

roasted thanksgiving turkey

Why is my turkey bland?

If your Thanksgiving turkey is bland, it has probably been under-seasoned. Turkeys are big, and it takes a lot of salt and pepper to flavor the entire bird. 

How to prevent it 

Before cooking, season the entire turkey thoroughly with salt and pepper. This can be done the night before Thanksgiving. An overnight brown allows time for the flavors to penetrate deep into the meat. 

How to fix it

Once the turkey is cooked, there’s not much that can be done to correct the seasoning. Yet again, it’s gravy to the rescue. 

My turkey doesn’t have crispy skin 

This is a bummer, but not a disaster. Turkeys are large, and the ratio of meat to skin means that most pieces only include a small strip anyway. 

How to fix it

If you notice this problem before the turkey is completely done, you can turn the heat of the oven way up for the final few minutes. A blast of heat from a 450ºF oven might be enough to crisp up the skin before serving. If your turkey is done but the skin is rubbery and inedible, just take it off of the breast after carving. 

How to prevent it 

Water is the enemy of browning. Before your turkey goes in the oven, make sure that the skin is as dry as possible by patting the entire bird with paper towels. Rubbing the turkey with olive oil or butter before roasting will encourage browning. You can also baste the turkey with fat while it’s in the oven. 

My turkey exploded 

It can happen! If you fry a damp or partially frozen turkey, it can explode. The temperature of frying oil is around 350ºF, well above the boiling point of water. When water droplets or ice fragments are introduced to hot oil, they instantly expand and turn into steam. This rapid transformation generates pressure that can tear the bird apart, sending hot oil flying in the process. 

How to prevent it 

If you’re frying a turkey, be sure to thaw it for at least three days in the refrigerator. Dry the entire bird (including the cavity) thoroughly before setting it in the oil. For safety, stand as far away from the pot as possible when lowering the bird in. Oil can splash out of the pot if even a tiny bit of water remains. 

How to fix it 

There’s no coming back from this—order a pizza.

Looking for a delicious Thanksgiving meal that’s easy to prepare? Try one of Blue Apron’s holiday offerings and get everything you need delivered to your door. Once the holiday is over, try some of our favorite recipes with Thanksgiving leftovers.

Decanting Wine: Why & How to Decant Wine

wine decanter
How to decant wine

Put simply, decanting is pouring the wine from the bottle into another vessel, then serving it from that vessel into each person’s glass. This isn’t just for show—it ensures the wine smells and tastes its best. Here’s why and hot to decant wine.

What is a Decanter and What Does it Do?

Exposure to oxygen brings out the flavors and aromas in a glass of wine. Some red wines, particularly aged or bold red wines, need a little time to relax and show their full potential. Wine bottles have a narrow opening, so even when you uncork the bottle, not much air flows through. Decanters are designed to let air flow. A wide-bottomed decanter will create a shallow pool of wine with a large surface area. This exposes the wine to oxygen more quickly.

Why Decant Wine

Decanting wine brings out the best flavors in robust red wines. It can also help eliminate unwanted aromas, like the burning smell of alcohol. If you’re serving an aged wine, decanting gives you an opportunity to remove any sediment that may have formed in the bottle. As a bonus, decanters are beautiful, and will add an elegant touch to your table.

How to Decant Wine

Start by tasting your wine. Pour a small bit of the wine directly from the bottle into a glass and taste it. If you don’t smell and taste much of anything, that’s a sure sign that decanting is necessary.

Place your clean decanter on the counter, pour the wine slowly into it. If you’re serving an aged wine, stop once you start to see the sediment—that can stay behind in the bottle.

After an hour, take another sip. Do you notice a difference? The wine’s aromas and flavors should already be more obvious.

When to Decant Wine

Decant wines aged over 7 years and bold red wines like California Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, or Zinfandel. Let wine breathe for about an hour before serving. You can always open a white wine to enjoy while you wait.

Side note…
Have a bottle that you’re saving for a special occasion? Be sure to store it on it’s side in a cool, dark place.

Try this at home! Order your own wide-bottomed decanter here. It’s even dishwasher safe!

No-Bake Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

We love a great pie, but let’s face it: sometimes, we’re looking for something a bit easier. Allow us to present our no-bake pumpkin chocolate cheesecake. It looks (and tastes!) like a showstopper, but comes together in a flash: no oven, rolling pin, or elbow grease required. Try something new this Thanksgiving, or serve this dessert alongside your favorite traditional pumpkin pie.

no-bake pumpkin cheesecake
You can’t have too many desserts on the table

No-Bake Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake

Active Cook Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Cook Time: 4 hours (up to overnight)

Ingredients:
(For the crust)
1 9-oz package chocolate wafer cookies
¼ tsp salt
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
(For the filling)
3 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
2 tsps vanilla extract
¼ cup sour cream
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse the cookies until finely ground. With the motor running, add the salt and slowly stream in the melted butter until well combined. Using your hands, evenly press the cookie mixture into the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan.

Make the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium-high 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth. Add the vanilla and sour cream; reduce the speed to medium and beat 1 to 2 minutes, or until light and smooth. Evenly divide between 2 medium bowls. Add the melted chocolate to 1 bowl; stir to combine. Add the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to the other bowl; stir to combine.

Assemble the cheesecake: Evenly spread the chocolate-cream cheese mixture into the crust. Evenly top with the pumpkin-cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Find more holiday inspiration from Blue Apron

The Best Squash for Pumpkin Pie

pumpkin pie
Butternut squash, or pumpkin?

In the U.S., fall is synonymous with big, orange pumpkins. We carve pumpkins at Halloween, and they grace our tables as pumpkin pie Thanksgiving. It’s always the same type of pumpkin: round and orange, with a thick green stem. It’s time to shake that image up. Emotional ties aside—there’s nothing sacred about that particular gourd. 

There are hundreds of varieties of squash and pumpkin. In fact, many of the pumpkin pies and pumpkin ravioli you’ve eaten over the years have been filled with another variety of sweet, orange, winter squash. You never would have noticed the difference. 

What’s the difference between pumpkin and squash?

pumpkin and squash puree
Top: pumpkin puree, bottom: butternut squash puree

Technically speaking, there isn’t much of a difference. Any hard-shelled squash could be called a pumpkin. 

What is canned pumpkin? 

Canned pumpkin puree can be a variety of winter squash. It could be a sugar pumpkin or a butternut squash, but it also could be a lesser known variety, like the hubbard squash. Make sure you read the labels, some canned pumpkin will be marked as pumpkin pie filling, that means it already has spices and sweeteners mixed in. If you want to know exactly what type of pumpkin is in your pie, you can always make your own pumpkin puree at home.

When it comes to pumpkin pie, what’s the best squash? 

pumpkin and butternut squash pie
Top: butternut squash, bottom: pumpkin

Any winter squash can make a pretty good pie. It’s hard to go wrong when you’re adding cinnamon and topping with whipped cream. If you’re making pumpkin pie from scratch, try swapping in butternut squash for a sweeter, smoother pie. Sugar pumpkin tends to have stringy fibers. These are broken up when it’s pureed, but pumpkin will never get as silky smooth and butternut squash.

Ready to get baking? Try one of our variations on classic pumpkin pie.

Easy Thanksgiving Wine Pairings

thanksgiving wine pairing
These wine parings will make your turkey taste even better

As soon as you have your Thanksgiving menu figured out, it’s time to start thinking about the wine. Wether you’re planning to have one glass for a toast, or to fill the table with multiple bottles, this easy guide to Thanksgiving wine pairing will make your meal taste even better.

A Guide to Thanksgiving Wine Pairings

There are a lot of different flavors on a Thanksgiving table. There are rich and buttery mashed potatoes, tart cranberries, and sugary sweet potatoes. Finding one wine to go with all of those dishes can be complicated. The best place to start is by thinking about your (and your guests’) preferences. Depending on which element of the meal you’re focused on, there are multiple red and white wine pairing that could work. If you know what you like, you can narrow it down a bit.

If you want to take the work out of this process, Blue Apron has put together a bundle of our Holiday Feast Favorites.

white and red wine for thanksgiving

White Wines for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner is a very flavorful meal. That’s an important thing to keep in mind when picking your Thanksgiving wine pairing. Some white wines are very light and delicate. While they may pair nicely with fish and vegetables, they would be overpowered by the food on turkey day. Look for a rich and creamy white that will stand up to the flavors in those mashed potatoes. Here are a few wines to look for:

Best All Around White Wine for Thanksgiving: Chenin Blanc

Chenin blanc is an extremely versatile wine. Depending on how it’s made in can be sweet or dry, subtle or exploding with fruit. A dry Chenin Blanc will be at home on your Thanksgiving table if you’re a big fan of Turkey. The delicate fruit will complement light and dark meat perfectly.

Best White Wine for Mashed Potatoes: Chardonnay

If mashed potatoes are your favorite dish, consider pairing with Chardonnay. Chardonnay has a rich and buttery flavor of its own, and will play nicely with your creamy spuds.

Best White Wine for Vegetables: Sauvignon Blanc

A refreshing Sauvignon Blanc will enhance the bright herbaceous notes in roasted Brussels sprouts and other vegetable side dishes. 

Red Wines for Thanksgiving

Best All-Around Red Wine for Thanksgiving

A fruity, medium-bodied wine like Grenache is versatile and can stand up to a variety of flavors and spices without being too overpowering.

Best Red Wine for Turkey: Pinot Noir

If you like spooning cranberry sauce onto your turkey, this is for you. The ripe red fruit in a good pinot noir (like the one in the Blue Apron Holiday Favorites wine bundle) will add a little zing to your whole meal.

Best Red Wine for Sweet Potatoes: Zinfandel

A bottle of zinfandel has almost as many flavors as a Thanksgiving dinner. Drink this if you’re the type of diner who doesn’t really mind if your food touches. This big, luscious, fruit wine will stand up to just about anything on the table, and work especially well with sweet potatoes.

How to Carve a Turkey Breast

When it comes to carving, a turkey breast is easier to handle than a whole bird. There’s no need to worry about removing the wings, or if you should slice the drumsticks off the bones. Watch the video below to learn how to carve a turkey breast, and read along for a few bonus tips.

After the turkey breast comes out of the oven, transfer it to a cutting board, skin side up, and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. Resting the meat gives the muscle fibers time to relax, and lets the juices settle in. That means that they’ll stay in the meat once you start slicing. If you skip this step, delicious juices will run right out of your bird as soon as you touch it with a knife.

Place your chefs knife on one side of the breast bone. Working along the bone, cut down and past the ribs. Cut the breast completely away from the bones. Repeat on the other side. Some meat will be left, but that’s not a bad thing. The breast bone, meat scraps and all, can be saved and used to make broth

Once off the bone, place the breasts skin-side up on your cutting board. Slice crosswise. Don’t saw back and forth, use long knife strokes to cut cleanly through the meat. This will help keep the skin in place.  Repeat with the remaining breast.

Tips for cooking a turkey breast 

a carved turkey breast
Beautifully carved and ready to eat

Season your turkey the night before cooking. This gives you a change to season the inside of the meat. Over night, the salt will be drawn into the meat, ensuring flavorful turkey all the way through. Store in the refrigerator. 

Let the meat come to room temperature before cooking. Take the seasoned turkey out of the refrigerator about an hour before it should go in the oven. This will help the meat cook evenly 

Before roasting, thoroughly coat the turkey with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. This will help the skin brown in the oven. 

How long to cook a turkey breast 

Roast until the turkey is browned and cooked through. A turkey breast will need to roast for 65 to 80 minutes in a 425°F oven. If your turkey is close to 5 pounds, cook for 65 minutes. If your turkey is close to 5.5 pounds, cook for 70 to 75 minutes. If your turkey is closer to 6 pounds, cook for 80 minutes.  Save any drippings from the sheet pan to add to your gravy

Your Blue Apron Thanksgiving turkey breast comes from Diestel Family Ranch, a family-owned farm that’s been in business since 1949. 

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

thanksgiving leftover ideas
Thanksgiving leftovers, waiting to be reborn

What’s more important: Thanksgiving dinner, or Thanksgiving leftovers? Our test kitchen chefs see a fridge full of last night’s leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing as a world of opportunity. Try these ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers from our professional chefs. 

Thanksgiving Leftovers Nacho Platter

thanksgiving leftover nachos
Truly loaded turkey nachos

Nachos are the perfect vehicle to take advantage of any leftovers that are laying around the next day—and really, who doesn’t love a nacho? Mashed potatoes, shredded turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, gravy (!!), it’s all fair game! Just layer your favorite leftovers with corn chips and shower it all with shredded white cheddar. Pro tip: add a diced jalapeño (or your favorite chile pepper) to your cranberry sauce to make for the perfect spicy “salsa” to dip your nachos in! —Alex Saggiomo

Thanksgiving Leftovers Mashed Potatoes & Greens Breakfast Cakes

I always have creamed kale on my thanksgiving table. For breakfast the next day I combine half of the leftover mashed potatoes and half of the greens in a big bowl. I mix those up, form them into cakes, and then fry up in a skillet to reheat. Each person gets a potato/green cake with a fried egg on top…with or without cranberry sauce! —Tim Kemp

Leftover Turkey Idea: Turkey Club With Stuffing 

It doesn’t get more classic than a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. My version is a twist on a club sandwich filled with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a fried egg. I make it for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving every year with a few good slices of sourdough. I truly look forward to it more than Thanksgiving itself. —Jessica Goodman

Leftover Smoked Salmon Roll

My uncle has a smoker, and no Thanksgiving is complete without his famous smoked side of salmon. The next day I flake up some of the leftovers and mix in mayo, fresh herbs, lemon, and capers. I’ll take a leftover roll, toast it up, and serve the salmon salad on top, open faced. It’s delicious —Lauren Katz

Leftover Pie Milkshake or Apple Crumble with Greek Yogurt 

A slice of pie blended with ice cream and milk makes for a killer milkshake. I also love any leftover apple crumble with some greek yogurt for breakfast the next morning. —Claire King

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes With a Twist

Thanksgiving stuffing recipe
Stuffing with cranberries and walnuts

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the sanctity of stuffing is something you don’t mess with. It always deserves a place at the table, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow the same recipe year after year. One of these a delicious Thanksgiving stuffing recipes could inspire a holiday-worthy change-up. You might even have some of the ingredients on hand already.

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes We Love

Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing

thanksgiving stuffing recipe with pork and mushrooms
A pork and mushroom stuffing with all the classic flavors of Thanksgiving

If you like a more traditional stuffing (read: classic autumn flavors like pork and sage), try Pork & Mushroom Stuffing with Sourdough Bread & Fresh Herbs. Using the combination of both pork and mushrooms gives this stuffing its irresistibly savory, umami-packed flavor.

Rosemary-spiked Stuffing

Is the crackle of a fresh baguette music to your ears? Can’t resist scooping one up on your grocery run “just in case?” The Rosemary Baguette Stuffing in this recipe delivers that crunchy, crispy satisfaction in every bite.

Tart and Sweet Cranberry-Walnut Stuffing

Cranberries aren’t just a good partner for turkey. Teamed up with a classic flavor companion like orange in this Cranberry-Walnut Stuffing, the tart-sweet fruit perks up the stuffing’s earthier elements, like parsnip and walnuts.

Hearty Chestnut, Leek & Apple Stuffing

Chestnut and leek stuffing served inside an acorn squash

The cool-weather trio of rich, roasted chestnuts, sweet apples and woodsy thyme in this Chestnut, Leek & Apple Stuffing lets the flavors of the season shine. Take your presentation to the next level by filling sweet winter squash with the stuffing before baking it all in the oven.