Our 2018 Thanksgiving Menu.
So excited to be sharing our 2018 Thanksgiving Menu. This year I’ve created a traditional Thanksgiving menu with a few twists and updates on the holiday classics. I’ll be sharing fun cocktails, colorful side dishes, updated sauces, my favorite popovers, sweet pumpkin and chocolate desserts, and so much more. It’s going to be DELICIOUS!
It’s finally November and that means Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Today I’m sharing the HBH 2018 menu with you all and I am so very excited about it. This is now the third year I’ve shared our full menu (see year one and two…lots of good tips in this post). Hands down, this year’s menu is my favorite. It’s traditional, but with twists, and I’ve really made an effort to make each recipe incredibly flavorful, but at the same time simple.
If you’ve already read over my make ahead gravy post, then you know that last year’s Thanksgiving after my Nonnie’s passing was a bit of a struggle for me (in many ways). I totally messed up the gravy…ok and I maybe slightly burnt a couple of side dishes too. I took on more than I could handle for sure. But in my defense, I was cooking in my grandma’s kitchen. Which wasn’t really equipped to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for thirty plus people. It honestly makes me cringe when I think about it. Of course everyone said everything was delicious, but I don’t plan to repeat it.
Anyway, the point is that this year I knew I needed to be realistic with what I could handle. I wanted to create delicious recipes, many of which could be created ahead. Including a make ahead gravy recipe that would save me from mass amounts of last-minute stress. Happy to say that I perfected the gravy and developed a menu that I love!
The recipes below are a mix of both old and new. The older recipes are some of my favorites…the ones I just have to remake every single year. The new recipes are ones that I’ll be sharing over the next couple weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. So many delicious recipes to come!
Hope you all find some inspiration from our HBH menu! Happy Turkey Day planning!
Half Baked Harvest 2018 Thanksgiving Menu
breakfast
Every good holiday meal starts with breakfast…so don’t skip it.
Extra Sticky Maple Pecan Sticky Buns
Cocktails
These are some of my favorites. Each can be made ahead for super easy entertaining…because no one wants to play bartender all night.
Appetizers
My tip? Don’t do too many appetizers…you want to save room for the mains and all the sides!
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Holiday Cheese Board…with a fun twist (new and coming soon)
Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twist
MAINS
I always love to have a veggie option on the menu…this year’s is a new favorite.
Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey (my go-to turkey recipe that never fails)
Spaghetti Squash Pesto Lasagna (the perfect vegetarian main)
SIDES
You can never have too many sides…so make them all (most can be prepared in advance)!
Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
Buttery Herbed Mashed Potatoes
Herby Mushroom Croissant Stuffing
Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad and Warm Cider Vinaigrette
Sweet Potato Soup with Burrata and Sage Pesto
Perfect Popovers with Cranberry Butter
Easy Flaky Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
DESSERT
A variety of pumpkin and chocolate…because it’s Thanksgiving and you can never have too much.
Pecan Pie Cookies with Butter Pecan Frosting
Chai Pumpkin Cake with Maple Browned Butter Frosting
Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
What recipes are you most looking forward seeing in the upcoming weeks? Excited to hear your favorites!
Loved this menu. Looks extremely scrumptious. Can’t wait to spend my next thanksgiving with some of the food recipes from here <3
Thank you so much!
Looks amazing!!! Great menu line up, plenty of side dishes which are my personal favorites. Looking forward to seeing the recipe’s.
Thank you Wendy! I hope you love some of the recipes!
When will the new recipes on here be ready? It all sounds amazing and delicious. Also, where is that gorgeous china from??? Love everything about your recipes, pictures and styling!!!! Congrats and hope you make another book!!!!
Hey Syliva, the recipes are going live this week! The dishes are from Anthropologie an Willamas-Sonoma, but they are older. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
I have absolutely loved your blog for sometime and have been trying every recipe. I love your use of fresh ingredients and your recipes push me to expand my palette. I especially love your thanksgiving menus. As someone who also hosts 30+ people and does all the cooking its so nice to have an idea what to do ahead of time. I loved your prep schedule last year. Can the same type of schedule be applied to these dishes this year? Looking forward to reading your content each day.
Hey Laura! Yes, you can use the same schedule (roughly) as I gave last year. It works great. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help in anyway I can!. Thanks so much! xTieghan
So excited to see the mushroom croissant stuffing recipe! How can that not be amazing?
I am so glad you are! I hope you love it when the recipe is out!
Mashed potatoes – yummmm – looking forward to your take on them! (said the stereotypical Irish woman…!)
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Ugh they totally are the best though! I hope you end up loving my recipe for them, Rebecca!
Gravy looks fantastic. Love the make ahead part. Love to see a new creative pie. You are always my go to for great meals.
Awh this is so sweet! I am so glad you like this menu and end up making some recipes for your thanksgiving! Thank you Joyce!
Looking forward to all of the recipes!! You always have the best photos and tastiest recipes. The recipes are easy to follow and they are a hit with family and friends.
Thank you so much Nicole!
Simply gorgeous – a visual feast as well as an edible one!
I am most excited about the veggies, because they are my absolute favorite part of Thanskgiving dinner. Can’t wait to see the Brussels sprouts salad, the pumpkin soup, and the honeynut dish. Never seen a honeynut, but I’m on the lookout.
Do you make your turkey the day ahead? I am considering doing that (and the gravy) on Wednesday for lower stress levels, and would love tips on reheating them on “the big day.”
Hey Julie!! I prefer to roast my turkey on Thanksgiving day, but love making the gravy the day before (or even earlier). Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Yes! Thank you for this! We are having a tiny, two-person Thanksgiving this year and I am leaning toward just a few sides and desserts (of course). Even without seeing the recipes I am excited for the Brussels Sprouts Salad, Roasted Honeynut Squash, and Pumpkin Butter Cookies! I have loved every recipe of yours that I have ever made so it’s a given that our mini Thanksgiving feast will be centered around HBH recipes!
Thank you so much Amanda! I hope you love all of the recipes I put out for thanksgiving and have an amazing dinner!
Can you bring this Thanksgiving spread to Cleveland? Thanks 😉
Haha I so wish! I hope you try some of these recipes, Liz!
Marvelous menu! The breads, the sweet potatoes, sides, veggies, fresh salads, and desserts are always my favorite part of a Thanksgiving feast!
Thank you so much Cassie! I am so glad you love this menu!
This menu is out of control in the best possible way. I’m pinning this (will you be updating the links here as the recipes are published?) and plan on making a few things on here! I’m also loving that you have included drinks recipes. Yayyy
Thank you so much! I am so glad you like this menu and hope you try some of the recipes when they’re posted!
Definitely excited about the Brussels… and going to have to think about suubstituions for the bacon so I can bring it as a vegetarian side. Looks beautiful though and I’ve been needing a cold/room temp. Brussels, so yay!
Thank you so much Hilary!
Sounds fabulous !! Your guests are going to be there eating for days.
I bet they will be! Thank you so much Cherie!
Wow, you are so talented and creative! I love the inspiration your blog gives me. I have something in common with you, I come from a big family (with 7 kids) and I started cooking to help out and found out how much I loved it, too!
Thank you so much Victoria!
The herby mushroom croissant stuffing… drool ?. Everything sounds amazing!
Thank you so much Mandy!
Very helpful article, Thank you for sharing. I love you
everything sounds so good! Definitely need that mashed potato and popovers with cranberry butter recipes!
Thank you so much Shanice! I hope you absolutely love those recipes!
I’ve been waiting for you to post this menu! I’m so excited. This is my first year hosting and I want it to be GOOD. My bigger concern right now is that I only have 1 oven. I’m assuming I’m going to have to heavily rely on prepping. Any tips other than that? Also, are you going to post a guide again like you did last year?
That is so exciting, Mary! And I am sure your Thanksgiving will turn out amazing! I am not posting another guide this year, but I will link the one from last year below! Please let me know if you have any questions before you prepare everything! Thank you!
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/my-2017-thanksgiving-menu-and-guide/
I was also planning to make a cheese board for my thanksgiving appetizer so I am looking forward to seeing what you put on yours!!
They are the best! Thank you Melissa!
Wow I am obsessed!
Thank you Rosie!
Your photos are amazing and all the food looks delicious and so yummy!!! I’m new to you and your website. I’ve been trying several of your recipes and look forward these new ones. Honeycrisp Kale salad, Pesto Squash, Polenta Veg Bolognese, and the Tempeh Reubin I make for my 16 yr old daughter at least twice weekly for her school lunch. So so good! THANKS
Hi Patty! Wow this is so amazing and sweet of you! I am so glad you and your daughter have been loving my recipes and I hope you continue to! Thank you!
Croissant stuffing!!?? I need my hands on that! It all looks to delicious and I can’t wait for the rest of the recipes.
Thank you so much Jasmin! I hope you love them all!!
I can’t wait for the Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad and Warm Cider Vinaigrette
I hope you love them when you get the chance to try them, Rita! Thank you!
Can I come to yours for dinner?
But seriously, I am so excited for you to post these recipes. Everything sounds so delicious, particularly the croissant stuffing. What a genius idea! I just love this time of year. Best not to think of the calories!
Haha the more company the better! Thank you so much Lauren! I hope you make some of these recipes for your Thanksgiving!
Can’t wait to try the rest of the Thanksgiving dinner..waiting for recipes….thank you soon much, everything looks delicious.
Thank you Joan!
Cranberry pomegranate salsa! Can I please get the recipe?? 🙂
Hey Jessica! Mix 1 cup of homemade cranberry sauce with 1 cup pomegranate, 1 jalapeno, juice of 1 lime, and about 1/4 cup cilantro! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks so much! xTieghan
You always make the most gorgeous and delicious Thanksgiving spreads – this looks perfect!!
Thank you so much!
Where do you get the sticks for over the glasses in the cranberry cocktails ??
Hi Laura, I am sorry I am not sure what sticks you are referring too. Can you you please clarify?
Hi, This Farhat
Looking great, thanks For the menu. Anxiously waiting for more.
https://greetingscardtalk.blogspot.com/2020/06/happy-eid-ul-adha-wishes-quotes.html
Thank you! xTieghan