10 PASTA RECIPES that'LL definitely steal the show this thanksgiving
Ready to ruffle some feathers? When it comes to special celebratory feasts, there’s no ingredient we’re more grateful for than pasta - and Thanksgiving is no exception.
Although bird is the word on Turkey Day, your houseful of hungry guests will be all smiles when you dish up these craveable pasta treats in your holiday spread. *Hands up who else is just here for the sides?
Whether it’s Thanksgiving with your immediate or extended family - or a Friendsgiving feast with the family you choose… You’re going to need some hearty, crowd-pleasing meals to keep bellies full and the energy high all weekend long.
This definitive guide for Thanksgiving feasting includes 10 delicious dishes to suit every palate, with pasta as the centerpiece.
THERE'S JUST ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE FEAST...
On this weekend of giving thanks, we’d like to express our enormous gratitude for all your support, feedback & love this year!
Thank you for taking a seat at our table, and being such a special part of our growing Three Farm Daughters family - We couldn’t do any of this without you! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at the farm.
We hope your family will love these recipes as much as ours do. xoxo,
IN THIS GUIDE:
We've gathered up all the meals you'll need to host Thanksgiving without a hitch! Here's what's on the menu -
- An easy make-ahead midnight snack for guests arriving late on Thanksgiving Eve
- A healthy Wednesday night dinner with minimal fuss (or dishes to wash up!)
- Delicious no-cook appetizers that free up precious oven space on Turkey Day
- Our favorite Thanksgiving sidekicks that give turkey a run for its money
- Some luxuriously hearty vegetarian main dishes that’ll make any meat-eater jealous
- Three lazy & light day-after meals for when you've gobbled too much turkey!
- Exciting lunch & dinner dishes that breathe new life into leftovers with a twist
PLAN YOUR FEAST +
T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE TURKEY DAY...
And all through the house; every creature was stirring & it was far too hectic to hear a mouse. Whip up one of these easy meals to feed a crowd without adding to the chaos!
10. CREAMY SQUASH PENNE WITH PROSCIUTTO
On Thanksgiving Eve when your benchtops are bursting with fresh-baked pies cooling off and trays of cubed cornbread air-drying for the stuffing; You’re going to need an easy dinner that’s low on dishes.
Not only does this quick, comforting pasta supper respect the fact that today, bench & oven space are prime real estate… But it’s a delicious way to use up that extra pumpkin puree you didn’t use in your pie crust! Bonus points for being super easy, low-mess and crowd-pleasing. Consider. Dinner. Done.
>> GET THE RECIPE
9. DEEP-DISH PASTA "PIZZA"
With a weekend of traditional Thanksgiving flavors ahead, it’s nice to liven up the menu with a taste that’s completely off the wall... And this unexpected deep-dish pizza made with pasta as the crust can be piled high with everyone's favorite pizza toppings to please any crowd. You can even make it ahead of time for an easy reheat on the day!
If guests are rolling in all hours of the night on Thanksgiving Eve, this easy make-ahead pasta pizza is ready to pop into the oven as soon as they make it through the holiday traffic and onto your doorstep!
Start the feast with this exciting twist on America’s favorite midnight snack below:
>> GET THE RECIPEPssst! Did we mention that in the unlikely chance of leftovers, this makes a delicious breakfast bribe for whoever volunteers to wake up before dawn to pop the turkey in the oven?
THE PASTA SAMPLER
BY THREE FARM DAUGHTERS
Try all 4 of our Signature Pasta shapes!
Each sampler pack comes with 1 box each of Penne, Cavatappi, Rotini & Elbows
8. GATHER-ROUND GRAZING BOARD
There’s no warmer welcome this Thanksgiving than greeting your guests with a crowd-pleasing Charcuterie spread! Perfect to keep everyone happily grazing and chatting away while you prepare the main dishes, these snack boards always look magnificent and feel like you're rolling out the red carpet.
Need some inspiration for this low-fuss Thanksgiving appetizer, snack or anytime treat?
Check out our Grazing Board Guide & discover how to create a generous cornucopia of flavor-filled delights that’ll bring all the family around the table.
the main event
Step aside, turkey! These Thanksgiving Dinner pasta dishes are so much more than measly sidekicks. Just don't be surprised if they steal the show...
7. INSANELY GOOD MAC & CHEESE
Meet our infamous dish that really requires no introduction... In fact, every year when we try not to make this Mac & Cheese as a Thanksgiving side, we’re met with a chorus of grumblings that err on the side of outrage.
If there’s one of those recipes that’s a Thanksgiving non-negotiable, this has gotta be it. Cheesy, creamy, unctuous and oh-so-indulgent… This baked mac and cheese is the ultimate accomplice for roast turkey, green bean casserole, and everything in between.
Our advice? Don’t even try not to feature it on your Thanksgiving menu this year: This all-time family favorite remains a classic for a reason. Wouldn’t want anyone to cause a scene now, would we?
>> GET THE RECIPE
6. THANKSGIVING HARVEST PASTA SALAD
Ready for your regular old pasta salads to do a double-take? This toothsome, multi-faceted fall meal is more than just some flimsy side dish.
Roasted broccoli and sweet potato mingle with smoky bacon and cranberries, striking a satisfying bliss-factor balance of salty, sweet and savory. Each bite reveals a new delight thanks to its maple-glazed pecans, buttery pine nuts and zesty feta cheese - all wrapped up in the creamiest, dreamiest homemade poppyseed dressing ever to hit your tastebuds. You are so welcome.
→ Make it vegetarian by switching out the bacon for a plant-based dupe, and throw in some smoked almonds to give that craveable umami smokiness!
5. BAKED SPINACH-ARTICHOKE DIP PASTA
Who ever said a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast had to include a bird? Tell those turkey-eaters to keep their forks to themselves… This gorgeous vegetarian main is a Thanksgiving feast every plant-based pilgrim and fall harvest herbivore will love.
All your guests will be scrambling to dig into this make-at-home version of everyone's favorite bubbly baked skillet dip with pasta in place of tortilla chips!
Turns out, this oozy spinach artichoke combo is the perfect match for pasta recipes too, and this one couldn’t be easier. No need to even boil the pasta first, just stir everything together and pop it in the oven where the pasta softens and cooks right in the sauce. Better yet - this keeps beautifully in the fridge or freezer if you want to make it ahead of time!
4. CAVATAPPI SAUSAGE BAKE
Did somebody say stuffing? No, we didn’t think so… Just kidding - We know the rich, herby, savory elements of stuffing are synonymous with Thanksgiving and the feast just wouldn’t be the same without them.
But if you’re struggling to settle the old “stuffing baked inside or outside of the bird?” debate that has sparked many a family feud over the years, this dish may just be the solution.
Deeply flavorsome, this Cavatappi Sausage Bake is loaded up with herbaceous, earthy stuffing taste - including all the chewy, crispy edges you’ve been fighting your siblings over since you were kids.
Skip the stuffing this year and serve up this chewy, savory pasta version instead (Or make both... it is a Thanksgiving feast, after all!)
>> GET THE RECIPELAZY DAYS & LUXE LEFTOVERS
Put your feet up and power through that turkey coma with lovely, lightened-up post-Thanksgiving meals. With reinvented leftovers this good, you may even forget you're all turkey'd out!
3. MINESTRONE SOUP
After a few days of turkey dinner re-runs with all the trimmings under our belts, a little something lighter always goes down a treat. And while this traditional Italian Minestrone doesn’t exactly scream Thanksgiving - we always find that a few days into the rich food feast, we’re ready to brighten up the menu.
This lively soup is packed with punchy tomato flavor, perfect to wake up the palate and get the digestion cranking again after our turkey comas.
With vitamin-rich veggies front and center, it’s still hearty and comforting enough to warm a crowd after a brisk evening stroll. Tender elbow macaroni makes it a meal, but feel free to throw in that ham bone for extra holiday flair and savory goodness. Just add a hunk of crusty bread slathered with butter, and you’ll still have room for a slice of pie after!
2. TURKEY TETRAZZINI PASTA
Before taking your first bite of that glorious, bronzed bird on Thanksgiving, it’s almost impossible to imagine a scenario where you wouldn’t want to feast on roast turkey with all the trimmings everyday - for the rest of forever…
But fast-forward three days and you may be feeling a little turkey’d out! After turkey omelets for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and slices with gravy and stuffing for dinner, it doesn’t take long to feel like you’ve gobbled up too much of a good thing.
By Monday, if that mountain of leftover turkey in the fridge doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller no matter how much you eat, it’s time to play your wildcard with this comforting pasta dish!
Give everyone’s taste buds a break from Thanksgiving flavors with this savory pasta casserole with tender chunks of turkey, mushrooms, bright baby peas and oozy cheese. Here’s leftovers like you’ve never seen ‘em before...
1. ROTINI WITH ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Grabbed the whole branch of brussels sprouts at the store? While we can’t get past the adorable nature of these bite-sized brassicas, it’s always tough to guess the exact number you’ll need for your Thanksgiving feast. (Best to buy extra, because three cheers for leftovers!)
If you have a bundle of brussels leftover from Thanksgiving dinner but don’t quite know how to use them up, this easy pasta recipe is it!
All it takes is a quick bake in the oven, a sprinkle of leftover hazelnuts and cranberries, and a robust vinaigrette to make everyone remember just how delicious these tiny sprouts really are! When leftovers are this good, we guarantee you’ll hear zero complaints from anyone about eating their veggies.
>> GET THE RECIPE
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Fancy some more inspiration for your Thanksgiving dinner party menu and beyond? We've got you!
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours - We'd love to see how you celebrate at your place, so don't forget to tag us on Instagram!
