This One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner Is Nothing Short of Genius
When it comes to food on Thanksgiving, it’s all about abundance. Beyond the traditional turkey, dinner really isn’t complete without a table full of sides. But with a bountiful spread comes an equally bountiful pile of dirty dishes to wash after the holiday meal is served.
This year, we want you to step away from the sink and cook your entire Thanksgiving dinner in just one 5.25-quart Le Creuset Dutch oven. Yes, you read that correctly: a full Thanksgiving dinner in just one pot. We’re talking turkey, gravy, potatoes, green beans, and stuffing in one Dutch oven — and in just three hours from start to finish. Kitchn Food Editor Meghan Splawn and QVC’s David Venable joined forces during Kitchn’s Thanksgiving Food Fest to show you how to make it happen.
It’s All About the Layering
Cooking all of your favorite sides in one pot with the turkey might seem like a difficult task, but Meghan and David prove just how easy it is. The secret is in the layering: Since the potatoes take the longest to cook, they’re placed in the bottom of the pot and pre-roasted before the rest of the ingredients are added. This also makes it easy to smash them right in the pot before adding a layer of garlicky green beans and stuffing, which insulates the beans so they steam-cook.
Just as the turkey is the crowning jewel of the Thanksgiving table, a seared turkey breast is the top layer of this one-pot feast. This allows for the layers to soak up all the tasty juices from the bird while it cooks to be perfectly moist on the inside and golden-brown on the outside.
Get the recipe: How to Make a Full Thanksgiving Dinner in Just One Pot
Make This One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner Your Own
As Meghan and David explain, this dinner is as easy as it is versatile. You can use regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, or a colorful combination of both. Feel free to reach for your favorite loaf of bread for the stuffing, and if you’d like, add cooked and crumbled sausage. The turkey is so juicy it hardly needs gravy, but they’ve included a simple recipe if you can’t imagine your plate without it. Bon appétit!