Creole Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
Serve up a Louisiana Thanksgiving menu this year by making these six Creole recipes:
Main Dish: Spice-Rubbed Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce Side Dish: Savory Collard Greens Side Dish: Paella-Style Stuffing Side Dish: Maple-Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes Dessert: Salted Pecan Bourbon Pumpkin Pie
See photos and learn how to make each of these Creole recipes below.
Entrée: Spice-Rubbed Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce
Turkey is the traditional option on Thanksgiving Day, but this bird is anything but ordinary. Paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder team up to give this Thanksgiving dinner some Creole flair. While the turkey roasts, work on the cranberry barbecue sauce—it’s a tasty twist on classic Thanksgiving cranberry sauce! Poultry Pick: To score a quick cooking time and succulent meat, opt for bone-in turkey breasts or skinless, boneless turkey breasts instead of a whole bird. Get the recipe: Spice-Rubbed Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce
Vegetable Side Dish: Savory Collard Greens
Every Thanksgiving dinner has a few different veggie side dishes to choose from, but this collard greens recipe is head-and-shoulders above the rest. Skip Thanksgiving-typical green bean casserole or a ho-hum iceberg lettuce salad in favor of Creole collard greens. Pancetta and crushed red pepper add extra flavor to this Thanksgiving side dish. Test Kitchen Tip: To remove grit from collard greens, immerse greens in a clean sink filled with water. Rinse well and drain in a colander. Get the recipe: Savory Collard Greens
Stuffing: Paella-Style Stuffing
One part classic stuffing, one part pepper-and-sausage paella. While this recipe technically serves six, the fully loaded skillet will feed a few more when served as a Thanksgiving side. The extra spiciness from the chorizo sausage will make this Thanksgiving stuffing recipe fit right in with the other Creole dishes on the menu. Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble this stuffing recipe the night before you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, then bake it in the oven 1 hour before dinnertime. Get the recipe: Paella-Style Stuffing
Potato Side Dish: Maple-Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mix Creole and traditional Thanksgiving cuisine this holiday season in your sweet potato recipe. Bourbon, bacon, and maple syrup take this side dish to new heights that might even make you forget about the classic marshmallows and sweet potatoes pairing. These creamy mashed potatoes will have everyone coming back for seconds. Get the recipe: Maple-Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Dessert: Salted Pecan Bourbon Pumpkin Pie
This dessert combines your favorite fall flavors, plus bourbon and ginger. You won’t have to choose between pumpkin pie and pecan pie this year—this Creole dessert recipe has both! Get the recipe: Salted Pecan Bourbon Pumpkin Pie
