Six Unique Recipes to Try This Thanksgiving

If you’ve been hosting Thanksgiving for years, your guests have probably become familiar with your traditional menu. The roasted turkey, the classic stuffing, the sweet cranberry sauce, and the mashed potatoes with gravy — all home-cooked to perfection. While these dishes are all-time favorites, why not surprise your guests with a twist this year?

No, we’re not suggesting you ditch the classic dishes, but rather add some delicious, finger-licking good recipes to your Thanksgiving menu. And who knows, you might even start a new tradition! So, if you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a list of six unique recipes to try this Thanksgiving.

1.    Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese 

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food, but have you ever tried it with pulled pork? This creamy and cheesy dish with tangy and smoky flavors will kick off your Thanksgiving dinner with a bang.

You need:

• Elbow pasta
• Pulled pork
• All-purpose flour
• Whole milk and heavy cream
• Cheese
• Butter
• Cayenne powder
• Mustard powder
• BBQ sauce
• Salt and black pepper

Set the oven to 350 degrees and preheat. Next, boil water in a large saucepan and cook pasta al dente.

Melt butter on medium-high heat in a separate skillet and whisk in flour for 30 seconds. Slowly pour milk, cream, mustard powder, and cayenne powder, and whisk until combined.

Turn off the heat and add in the cheese. Keep whisking until the cheese is melted and smooth. Next, add the cooked pasta. Spread it evenly into the skillet and top it off with pulled pork. Bake for 15-20 minutes, let it sit for 15 minutes, and drizzle BBQ sauce before serving.

This savory pulled pork mac n cheese recipe is sure to leave your guests wanting more.

2.    Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a classic fall vegetable, perfect for this time of year. Stuffing it with savory sausage, apples, and herbs makes it a delicious and hearty side dish for your Thanksgiving feast.

You need:

• Acorn squash
• Sausage
• Apples
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Sage and thyme
• Bread crumbs
• Chicken broth or stock

Start by cutting the acorn squash in half and scooping out the seeds. Roast them in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until brown. Add diced apples, chopped onion, minced garlic cloves, and herbs like sage and thyme. Cook for a few more minutes until everything is softened. Stir in bread crumbs and chicken broth or stock to bind the mixture together.

Take the squash from the oven and fill the cavities with the sausage and apple stuffing. Put it in the oven for another 20 minutes until the squash is tender and the stuffing is golden brown.

3.    Slow-Cooker Beef Burritos 

If you’re looking for an easy and satisfying Thanksgiving meal, these slow-cooker beef burritos are the way to go.

You need:

• Beef chuck roast
• Green chile peppers
• Taco seasoning
• Tomatoes
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Flour tortillas
• Shredded cheese

Place the beef chuck roast in a slow cooker and add chopped green chiles, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, onion, minced garlic cloves, and a little water. Cook on low flame for 6-8 hours until the beef is tender and shreds easily with a fork.

Heat flour tortillas in a skillet or microwave, then fill them with the shredded beef and cheese. Roll them tightly and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crisp.

4.    Butternut Squash Soup with Sage Croutons

What’s better than a warm and comforting bowl of soup on a Thanksgiving evening? This butternut squash soup with sage croutons is a perfect starter for your feast.

You need:

• Butternut squash
• Onion
• Carrots
• Vegetable or chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Sage leaves
• Bread cubes

Peel and chop your butternut squash, onion, and carrots. In a large pot, cook the vegetables in broth until tender. Use an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender to puree until smooth. Add heavy cream for richness. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Toss bread cubes with olive oil and chopped sage leaves to prepare the sage croutons. Bake in the oven until crispy.

Serve the butternut squash soup hot, topped with sage croutons for a flavorful crunch.

5.    Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Broccoli

The combination of honey, garlic, and butter may not scream Thanksgiving, but it’s the perfect dish to balance all the heavier and richer dishes on the menu.

You need:

• Shrimp
• Broccoli florets
• Butter
• Garlic cloves
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Red pepper flakes (optional for some heat)

Cook the shrimp in a skillet with butter and minced garlic until pink. Or look out for a safe internal temperature to ensure optimal doneness. Transfer the shrimp to a plate, and in the same skillet, add honey, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Let it cook until it thickens before adding the shrimp and broccoli florets.

Cook until the broccoli is tender and coated with honey garlic butter sauce. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete and satisfying meal.

6.    Chocolate Fudge Crinkle Cookies

Pumpkin and apple desserts are too common during fall, so if you want a change, try these decadent chocolate fudge crinkle cookies.

You need:

• Chocolate chips
• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar (for coating)

Melt chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Next, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract in another bowl until fluffy. Slowly add the melted chocolate and then gradually fold the dry ingredients.

Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least an hour. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into balls and coat with powdered sugar before baking for 10-12 minutes.

The result? Soft, chewy cookies that have a crinkled top and rich chocolate flavor. Perfect for satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth.

Conclusion:

Whether it’s a Thanksgiving dinner for family and close friends or an all-out feast for a large group, these recipes will impress everyone at the table. So, whip up the delicious yet savory pulled pork mac n cheese for a hearty main course, enjoy the creamy and flavorful butternut squash soup with sage croutons as an appetizer, and indulge in the decadent chocolate fudge crinkle cookies for dessert. You can also prepare slow-cooker beef burritos or sausage and apple-stuffed acorn squash to add variety to your Thanksgiving spread. Eat, drink, and be thankful!