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You can thank Alton Brown for some last-minute Thanksgiving menu inspiration. The food scientist and television personality has been posting all of his favorite holiday recipes on his Instagram feed. Here are the five recipes that are must-haves on his table—plus more ideas to have the most delicious dinner spread.
Spatchcocked Roast Turkey
We love a spatchcocked turkey, and Brown’s highly rated version is an easy way to enjoy your bird. This Spatchcocked Roast Turkey only needs six ingredients to perfect, and that includes the basics like salt and pepper. And fans say that it’s a “staple every Thanksgiving.”
Brown’s recipe calls for dried herbs, but if you’re wanting a more fresh herbaceous flavor, our Spatchcocked Turkey with Sage & Thyme will prove to be a tasty bite while being just as easy to prepare. Plus, spatchcocking the turkey will help it cook faster.
Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Gravy
You can make Brown’s Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Gravy right now to have ready for next Thursday’s dinner—yes, really! No need to wait for drippings to prepare, and it’s easy to keep in the fridge for days prior or in the freezer for months in advance.
It’s a time-consuming process to make this gravy, but the flavor is bound to be worth it with its high rating. Our own Turkey Stock & Gravy only takes 20 minutes of prep time if you're looking for something less involved.
Brown and Serve Dinner Rolls
“What if I told you that you could pre-bake your dinner rolls, freeze them, and brown them immediately before serving?” Brown writes on his Brown and Serve Dinner Rolls recipe. “Well, you can. Their high deliciousness-to-labor ratio makes them impossible to resist.”
You may not think to make dinner rolls for the big dinner, but there’s nothing better than fresh bread. Another bready option for the table is these two-ingredient biscuits that will make you say goodbye to store-bought ones.
Bacon Maple Sprouts
Thinking about what veggies to whip up this holiday? It seems like Brown’s Bacon Maple Sprouts are a safe bet. A sweet and savory forkful, this five-ingredient side dish will end up being a part of your regular dinner rotation.
For a healthier version with the same flavors, our new Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon take half the time and have EatingWell readers raving that they’re even better as leftovers. Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving recipe to us!
Leeked Whipped Potatoes
If you’re wondering whether Brown prefers roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes with his Thanksgiving dinner, you just got your answer.
“There are many simple pleasures in Thanksgiving dishes, but mashed potatoes are the topper,” Brown admits in his Leeked Whipped Potatoes recipe. This big-batch mashed potatoes recipe makes 12 servings, so there’s bound to be enough for the whole family.
The starchy classic is given a mildly sweet twist with the addition of leeks in this recipe. We love the flavor combination of leeks and potatoes, and we even feature it in our own Sautéed Leek Mashed Potatoes, as well as recipes like our Leek & Potato Soup.