Wanna know my favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner? Keep on reading to learn what I use to have the best holiday meal!

I made my very first turkey in 2010 at the age of 40…

Yup – you read that right – 40.

I had been going to my mom’s house in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving ever since I got married in 1993 and had never cooked a turkey before then.

So when we decided to stay home in San Diego for Thanksgiving in 2010 – I am not even exaggerating when I say I was PANICKED!

I am pretty sure I lost sleep for the entire month of November that year thinking – how on earth do you make a juicy turkey?

And to be quite honest – no one in my family even likes turkey!! So add that to my anxiety ;0.

But not to toot my own horn – but I found a few secrets to making a delicious Thanksgiving meal – and easily I might add!

So now – many years later, I am sharing everything I have found to make the holiday season easier for you too!

I have also written a blog post with a Thanksgiving timeline to help you take the stress out of hosting this festive meal!

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Thanksgiving Turkey Essentials

Dry Brine

This right here is the key to the perfect turkey!

And with dry brine it is easier than you are thinking!

I found dry brine right off the bat back in 2010 and honestly cannot live without it for my Thanksgiving meal prep now…

I promise you this should be the #1 item on your Thanksgiving essentials list ;)!

Brining Bags

And this would be #2…

Seriously could not imagine brining my turkey – dry or wet – without these reliable bags!!

Been buying both of these products for over a decade and they have never steered me wrong ;).

After placing my turkey in the brining bag the day before Thanksgiving, I put it in a plastic container in my garage refrigerator to brine for 24 hours.

Turkey Herbs

Once I have cleaned all the brine off of my turkey on Thanksgiving morning – I rub an entire cube of butter onto my uncooked turkey with turkey herbs.

I am already tasting the deliciousness of the meal – how about you???

Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking Essentials

Quality Roasting Pan

I have had the same roasting pan since 2010.

And cannot live without it.

I use it for every holiday and every large family gathering for a meal.

Do yourself a favor – invest in a quality roasting pan that you will come to depend on for decades like I do ;).

Bulb Baster

You 100% cannot make a turkey without a bulb baster.

While dry brining makes basting a turkey not as crucial as without the brine – I still love a crispy flavorful crust.

And so I baste the crap out of my turkey with MELTED BUTTER!

Well – and turkey juices of course.

Turkey Forks

Reliable Oven Thermometer

Potato Masher

I mean really – how would you mash potatoes without a masher?? And also – is it even Thanksgiving dinner if you don’t have mashed potatoes on the table?

A Good Handheld Mixer

While I have been using an electric mashed potato mixer for the last ten years, this year I have decided to just use a handheld mixer after I have mashed up all my cooked potatoes with the above masher…

I think it is going to be much faster and easier!

Baking Pans

These are my all time favorite baking pans! I have them in every size and shape even ;).

I honestly think they are so pretty that last year when I had the largest group of guests yet for Thanksgiving dinner, I decided to just leave my Parker House Rolls in the pans to serve them ;).

Ceramic Baking Dishes

You just can’t go wrong when a dish is pretty and functional – can you??

Pots and Pans

Once again – don’t even think about hosting Thanksgiving if you don’t have the right pots and pans.

You are just making a frustrating experience for yourself!

What’s that Boy Scout motto? Be prepared?

Yea – be that…

The above saute pan is my go to pan for almost every meal I cook. A kitchen essential for sure!

A Veggie Chopper

My all time favorite kitchen item when it comes to cutting up onions! Don’t even know if I could go back to the “old fashioned” way of using a knife for that vegetable…

Thanksgiving Side Dish Essentials

Cranberry Relish

This cranberry sauce has also been a table favorite since 2010.

I make my mom’s incredible cranberry bread every year (find that recipe here) – and many people at my Thanksgiving table will put this cranberry sauce on that bread.

I am telling you – it is just as good as homemade cranberry sauce AND OBVIOUSLY EASIER!

I actually add a “little bit” of orange liqueur to this jar and heat it up a bit to mix the flavors and then VOILA – on the table it goes!

This new BOURBON flavored cranberry sauce was just released last year and was quite well received at our table last year ;).

Stuffing Mix

Another item that makes prep for the meal 100 times easier.

My mom used to make homemade croutons from old bread for her stuffing.

WHICH I LOVED.

But when I started having my own Thanksgiving dinner – there was no way I was up for any more time consuming tasks like homemade croutons.

And then I found this mix.

Can I just say – OMG yup…

I buy two boxes for Thanksgiving and two boxes for Christmas and then crave it the rest of the year 😂.

Apple Cider

My youngest daughter has a favorite homemade apple cider recipe that we have been making for as long as I can remember for all of our holiday gatherings (recipe coming soon!).

However, if I am in a pinch and stressed for time – this mixer has been a great substitute!

And the large cinnamon sticks are honestly practically impossible to find anyplace else!

I just love the extra long size of them ;).

Thanksgiving Serving Essentials

DO NOT FORGET THE SERVING DISHES!

In fact – I usually use my plain white serving bowls and platters on the Thanksgiving table but I just came across this super cute set of all things pumpkin shaped.

And now I might need to add these to my shopping cart while I order the above food essentials 🤪.

Pumpkin Platter

Simple White Serving Bowls and Platters

I hope you found this post with my favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner helpful!

It truly is a beautiful time of year – with the decorations, the food, and most importantly – the people at your table!!

Speaking of tables – be sure to take a peek at my Thanksgiving tablescape post for inspiration on how to make your table festive ;).

I also have my favorite pumpkin cookie recipe for you in case you are like me and love pumpkin cookies but not pumpkin pie!

I know – weird. Don’t ask me for a reason… I have none.

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Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.

~ Unknown

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