^{Photo by Karolina Grabowska}

You know there will be a turkey on the table–but what else will fill the serving bowls and platters surrounding that ravishingly roasted bird? How about this collection of must-try best Thanksgiving recipes?

As you prepare for Thanksgiving, you may feel creative fatigue making the same items as last year. And even if you only serve your immediate household, you still want the meal to be unique! The easiest way to elevate that tired, old menu is by substituting modern takes on classic delish, showing off what you can do in the kitchen while still sticking with holiday flavors.

Accomplishing this balancing act can prove difficult, as finding brand-new takes on classic recipes can consume a lot of time. But fear not, as this article rounded up some of the must-try best modern twists on Thanksgiving staples. Get ready to get creative with these recipes!

Best Thanksgiving Recipes You Must Try

For The Appetizer. Cranberry Brie Pastry Tarts are the best.These Cranberry Brie Pastry Tarts will become your favorite last-minute appetizer. They are quick and easy, and most importantly, everyone loves them! Puff pastry, creamy brie, and fresh cranberries are baked to create the perfect cheese-filled mini tarts. Finish each tart off with a bit of fresh thyme for a festive appetizer that is perfect for holiday entertaining.  

Start by mixing fresh cranberries with a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon. Since the recipe uses fresh cranberries, it is necessary to sweeten them with some form of sugar, or they will be too tart to eat. Use 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar, but use more or less to your taste. The cinnamon adds a warm touch that pairs nicely with the tart cranberries and creamy brie.

Cut each sheet of pastry into shapes of rectangles and spread with fig preserves. The preserves add another layer of flavor and help balance the cranberry’s tartness. The exact amount of honey or maple syrup can be of good use.

Top the preserves with slices of brie, add the cranberries, and throw them in the oven.

Quick, easy, and perfect.

For The Side Dish. Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is EPIC! It is a loaf of cheesy garlic bread, but so much fun AND delicious! Cheese, garlic, and bread – in a pull-apart bread form. You can not go wrong. It is guaranteed to be popular at any gathering you take it to!

The best bread for Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread is crusty sourdough, but it works well with plain crusty loaves. It works better with sourdough because the bread is thicker, so it tends to hold together better when you pull bits off. For the best cheese, mozzarella cheese is recommended, as you want it to stretch and pull when you tear the pieces off. As to other flavorings, keep it relatively simple: go for a slice of garlic bread with cheese, but you can go wild with this flavor. Ranch dressing, kick of chili, other herbs – the possibilities are endless!

For The Main Dish. Easy Lentil Meatballs are guaranteed to be mouth-watering. This plant-based take on meatballs resembles the flavors of Italian-American meatballs made with herbs and breadcrumbs. The story of Italian-American meatballs conveys that Italian immigrants served them with tomato sauce and spaghetti to make the meal more filling without much additional cost.

This simple recipe requires just ten ingredients and 30 minutes to prepare (when you start with cooked lentils). It is the perfect way to utilize leftover cooked lentils in an exciting, new way. Putting anything atop pasta and red sauce is exciting! Apart from being simple, these meatballs are vegan and gluten-free, packed with flavor thanks to dried herbs, fresh parsley, vegan parmesan cheese, and tomato paste. Their golden brown crust is from the vegan parmesan cheese, and a quick sauté in a skillet before finishing off in the oven. This is to help them crisp up even more. And while that is happening, prepare your accompaniments. Go for carrot noodles and store-bought marinara sauce to save time.

Final Words

Whatever you serve at your Thanksgiving dinner, you can not go wrong by adding a few of these recipes to your table.   Further, it helps to grab a copy of Eleanor Gaccetta’s book on the Generation of Good Food we love. Eleanor’s book is a compilation of recipes that span six (6) generations and will raise your interest whether you are a professionally trained cook, a home cook, or a beginner cook. Specifically, the book is a compilation of heartfelt stories of Italian life with nearly 200 effortless recipes that brought families jointly around the table. Simply glancing through the table of contents will urge you to cook, bake and eat.