My first year creating recipes for Thanksgiving season, I was practically giddy at the thought of coming up with dishes that would be shared at countless tables. (And yes, it’s a season, especially if, like me, you’ve spent years at food magazines and test kitchens, where holiday planning starts while it’s still beach weather.)
“You’ll get over it,” said my then-supervisor, a Thanksgiving veteran.
In the years since, I’ve roasted whole turkeys in forests of herbs, spatchcocked turkeys blasted with high heat until their skin crackles, and broken down birds to sear and baste with butter until every part is the ideal temperature. And my supervisor was right. I got over it.
In that era of endless turkey testing, when the holiday finally rolled around, I began branching out for my own meal, making Peking duck with pancakes or prime rib with Yorkshire pudding. But the dish I returned to most was fried chicken. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, letting the dinner feel like a real celebration. But it’s also great alongside a ton of sides, so you can still get in the Thanksgiving spirit loading up the table. And, best of all, when made properly, fried chicken is something turkey can never be — undeniably juicy.
So if the thought of turkey isn’t inspiring, feel free to gather around something new. Below, you’ll find a menu for an unforgettable feast, as well as tips to make this Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) your most successful yet.
Watch Sohla Make This Meal From Start to Finish
The Main
Crispy Sage Fried Chicken
This juicy, crispy, tastes-vaguely-like-Thanksgiving fried chicken is an exciting stand-in for the usual turkey. This recipe takes every step to maximize moisture and flavor, so no dry poultry arrives at your table, holiday or otherwise.
How to Fry Fearlessly
The Sides
Salted Butterflake Rolls
Level up your dinner-roll game with these retro pull-apart rolls. The key is in their unique shape, so feel free to use your favorite enriched bread dough recipe, then customize them with grated garlic, finely chopped herbs or spices.
Shop early to save money and time. Gather your list, then divide your cooking prep over two to three days.
Quick Dill Pickles
Relative to salt brine pickles, these quick pickles are ready almost instantly thanks to the fast work of a hot vinegar brine. For the crispiest pickle, seek out squat Kirby cucumbers, whose thick skins allow the spears to stay snappy for weeks.
Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potatoes
Double the potatoes, double the fun: Creamy Yukon Golds are studded with tender bites of skin-on red blisses in this texture-lovers’ mash. The tanginess of sour cream and the grassy bite of scallions keep things light and fresh, making this an ideal side to richer dishes.
Hot-Mustard Gravy
This perky gravy gets its kick from a generous dollop of hot mustard swirled in at the end. Deeply browned, almost blackened bits of shallots add a savory, aromatic backbone, while seasoning with plenty of salt lets the mustard pop.
A week before hosting, check in on guests’ allergies and dietary restrictions, so there’s plenty of time for changes.
Crushed Green Beans With Cranberry
No Thanksgiving meal is complete without a green bean moment, and with this make-ahead, no-cook dish, you can certify that it’s a fresh and bright one. Smashed and salted green beans become crisp-tender after a chill in the fridge, ready to soak up all the tangy cranberry dressing.
Cheddar-Smothered Sweet Potatoes
Even before getting cozy under a Cheddar blanket, these sweet potatoes are packed with flavor. They’re tossed with butter, coated in spices and roasted until creamy, sweet and spiked with heat. The tender sweet potato halves are then smothered in a thick, garlicky Cheddar sauce before they’re broiled until bubbly and barely blackened.
Pumpkin Pecan Sheet Cake
Can’t decide which pie to bake? Skip it for spiced pumpkin cake slathered in brown sugar caramel and showered with toasted pecans. This cake owes its pillowy texture to a lush, mayonnaise-like base made by slowly streaming oil into long-whipped, room-temperature eggs.
The Game Plan
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The post You Know What You Need? A Fried Chicken Thanksgiving. appeared first on New York Times.
