Blog Posts by Southern Living

Forget about juggling bake times and wedging casseroles around a 20 pound turkey in a tiny oven. Using your slow-cooker is the secret to an easy-and delicious-Thanksgiving dinner.
Balsamic Root Vegetables, Green Bean Casserole, and Cornbread Dressing
Balsamic Root Vegetables
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. sweet potatoes
1 lb. parsnips
1 lb. carrots
2 large red onions, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation
Peel first 3 ingredients, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Combine parsnips, carrots, onions, and cranberries in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker; layer sweet potatoes over top.

Whisk together sugar and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; pour over vegetable mixture. (Do not stir.)

Cover and cook on high 4 to 5 hours or until vegetables are tender. Toss with parsley just before serving.

Related: 60 Spectacular Thanksgiving Sides

Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
2

Don't look any further. We've got the best recipes for sweet potato casserole, turkey and ham, pumpkin pie, and all the fixin's.

Apple-Bourbon Turkey Gravy
Apple-Bourbon Turkey and Gravy
Ingredients
4 cups apple juice
1 cup bourbon
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 (12- to 15-lb.) whole fresh turkey
Cheesecloth
Kitchen string
4 celery ribs
4 large carrots
3 small apples, quartered and halved
1 large onion, sliced
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chicken broth (optional)

Preparation
Stir together apple juice and next 2 ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Remove giblets and neck from turkey, and rinse turkey with cold water. Drain cavity well; pat dry. Place turkey in a large roasting pan. Dip cheesecloth in apple juice mixture. Wring dry. Cover turkey with cheesecloth; pour apple juice mixture over cheesecloth, coating completely. Cover and chill 12 to 24 hours, basting occasionally with marinade.

Preheat oven to 325°. Remove turkey from pan, discarding

Pumpkins aren't just for carving! Try one of these delicious pumpkin recipes from classic pumpkin pie to pumpkin risotto.

Pumpkin Pie Spectacular
Pumpkin Pie Spectacular
Ingredients
1/2 (15-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
1 cups crushed gingersnaps (about 40 gingersnaps)
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
Pecan Streusel
7 thin ginger cookies, halved
Ginger-Spice Topping

Pecan Streusel
Stir together 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. melted butter, and 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans.

Ginger-Spice Topping
Stir together 1 (8-oz.) thawed container frozen whipped topping, 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp. ground ginger.

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°. Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions;

There's more to sweet potatoes than casseroles and pies. Try one of these sweet potato recipes at yourThanksgiving dinner. Whether you stick with the classic sweet potato casserole or branch out, you'll be pleased!
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

















Scalloped Sweet Potato Stacks
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. small sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme, divided
1 cup (4 oz.) freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 to 3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Garnish: fresh thyme

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°. Layer half of sweet potatoes in a lightly greased 12-cup muffin pan. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tsp. thyme and 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining sweet potatoes. (Potatoes will come slightly above the rim of each cup.)

Microwave cream, next 3 ingredients, and remaining 1/2 tsp. thyme at high 1 minute. Pour cream mixture into muffin cups (about 1 Tbsp. per cup.)

Bake at 375°, covered with aluminum foil, 30 minutes. Uncover and

Your Thanksgiving menu isn't complete without a pecan pie. This pecan pie recipe is to die for! So forget your tried-and-true recipe and replace it with this one. You'll never look back.
Photo: Jennifer Davick























Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie
Ingredients
1/2 (14.1-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. milk
1 1/2 tsp. bourbon (vanilla extract may be substituted)
1 1/2 cups pecan halves

Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°. Fit piecrust into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet; sprinkle piecrust with powdered sugar.

Whisk eggs in a large bowl until foamy; whisk in brown sugar and next 6 ingredients. Pour mixture into piecrust, and top with pecan halves.

Bake at 325° for 30 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 300°, and bake 30 more minutes. Turn oven off, and let pie stand in oven, with door closed,

Pecan pie is already a delicious and sweet-tooth satisfying Thanksgiving dessert, but watch as Test Kitchen Professional Norman King turns it into an insanely decadent deep-fried treat.

Find Deep Fried Pimiento Cheese, Candy Corn, Jack Daniel's, and More!

These satisfying slow-cooker suppers are perfect for your busy schedule. Just toss in the ingredients and let your slow cooker do all the work.

Photo: Jennifer Davick























Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Potatoes
Ingredients
1 medium onion
4 medium-size new potatoes (about 1 lb.)
2 cups baby carrots
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/4 tsp. salt, divided
1/2 tsp. pepper divided
1 tsp. paprika
6 skinned, bone-in chicken thighs

Preparation
Halve onion lengthwise, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place onion in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker; top with potatoes and carrots.

Combine broth, next 3 ingredients, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Pour over vegetables.

Combine paprika and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper; rub over chicken. Arrange chicken on top of vegetables.

Cover and cook on low 6 hours or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender.

Related: 15

Find our entire Thanksgiving Meal Planner with amazing desserts, sides, main dishes, and decorating ideas.

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11 Ways with Sweet Potatoes
Slow-Cooker Thanksgiving Sides

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