Thanksgiving is probably one of the most food-centric days of the year for Americans. In fact, the average American will consume about 4,500 calories during Thanksgiving dinner alone.
Now, if your family is anything like mine, you won’t restrict your eating just to dinner. You’ll be eating all day long, and those 4,500 calories will become a much higher number which we won’t print here—you’re welcome.
It’s OK though, because Thanksgiving only comes once a year. Enjoy yourself to the fullest. Eat as much food as you damn well please. Just promise us that you’re going to eat the most epic snacks and kickass foods around.
To help you get the wheels turning, we rounded up some of our favorite epic snacks below. No matter where your travels take you this year, to home or to boutique hotels, these options will take your feasting to all new levels.
Recipes are included below where relevant—check it out.
Savory
1. Charcuterie
Anyone can assemble cold cuts and deli cheese onto a cutting board with French’s yellow mustard. Go to your local Italian grocery or boutique market for high-end meats, luxurious cheeses, and spicy whole grain mustard. And, please, use a handsome cutting board to display it on.
2. Nachos
Success starts with a well made tortilla chip here, preferably from a local Mexican restaurant. Next is the cheese, so get a quality option that melts well, like pepper jack or Monterey jack. Grate the cheese yourself, load the chips with your favorite toppings, and bake them to perfection (never microwave). Substitute tater tots for chips if you feel so inclined.
3. Cheeseburger Dip
If you love burgers, but don’t want to overshadow your forthcoming Thanksgiving feast, make a dip out of them. Throw everything into your slow cooker and let it ride for a few hours. While it’s cooking, cut hamburger buns into strips and crisp them in the oven for dipping. A spoon is also acceptable.
4. Shrimp
Shrimp is always fun, and always easy. Especially if you’re just throwing together a quick shrimp cocktail. For a nice twist though, fry your shrimp up for an added crunch—be sure to season your batter before you do. Either way, finish with a homemade cocktail sauce versus store bought. Take chili sauce and add horseradish (the real stuff, not a cream sauce) until it’s spicy enough for you.
5. Party Mix
The base is simple here: crispy cereal, pretzels, and nuts. Where you can really have some fun is the seasoning you bake into everything. If you’re a Gardetto’s fan, whip up some Italian seasoning to mix in. Do you love cheddar cheese flavor? Take the cheese packets from boxed macaroni and cheese. Go ahead and get wild, we won’t tell.
6. Mac and Cheese Balls
We know macaroni and cheese might be on your Thanksgiving menu already, but deep fried mac and cheese balls probably aren’t. Whip up your favorite brand, cool in the fridge, coat in bread crumbs, and fry it up. There’s nothing like biting into a deep fried ball of melted mac and cheese.
7. Pigs in a Blanket
A classic snack loved by all, and maybe one of the easiest things you can make. If you want to be really bold and adventurous, eat them like Kevin from The Office.
Sweet
8. Ice Cream
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a dessert spread that only includes vanilla ice cream. It’s so, vanilla. There are so many epic flavors of ice cream out there, it’s a disservice to not try as many as you can. I’ll be crushing some Phish Food this year, what about you?
9. Toffee
My grandmother used to make toffee for us during the holidays that was crunchy, chocolate covered, and stuck to your teeth in the best ways. It’s not as labor intensive as you might think to make your own toffee. In fact, the hardest part is waiting for it to chill in the fridge.
10. Caramels
Caramels were another confectionary delight that my grandmother used to make, and another that might appear more difficult that it actually is. Just keep an eye on the stove and do your best not to burn the sauce. Make sure you reserve some of the caramel in a jar to heat up later and douse your ice cream in.
11. Galette
Think of a galette like an open-faced pie, but it’s flat like a strudel and made with a flaky dough. You can fill the inside with whatever fruit you like best: apples, berries, peaches, plums, pears…the list goes on and on. Make sure to brush something sweet, like maple syrup or powdered sugar, on the crust after it comes out of the oven.
12. Cinnamon Rolls
It doesn’t matter if you’re making rolls that are big and puffy, or small and tight. The only real important thing to consider here is that what you make is loaded with cinnamon, sugar, and drenched head to toe in frosting.
13. Snickerdoodles With Rolos
Snickerdoodles are already one of the best cookies around, but we’ve got a way to make them even better. Take a Rolo candy, and place it inside the cookie dough before you bake it. Let it all melt together for an insanely delicious combo that’s sure to wow.
14. Brownie Batter Dip
Don’t just make a bunch of brownie batter and dump it in a bowl. That amount of raw egg isn’t likely to end well. Instead, use cream cheese, butter, and sugar to create this one that tastes just like the real things. Dips don’t always have to be savory—all hail the dessert dip.
The Best of Both Worlds
15. Baked Brie
Sure, you can put your wheel of brie directly in the oven and call it a day, but where’s the fun in that? Get a fancy preserve to put on top, a nice fruit chutney, or a mixture of buttered dried fruits and nuts tossed in cinnamon.
16. Candied Bacon
Let’s be real, bacon was always going to be on our list at some point. We’re just sorry you had to wait so long to get to it. Spring for the good stuff, whether you like thick cut or normal, and I recommend baking it in the oven over frying it in a pan. All you need from there is a mixture of sugar, syrup, and a few other touches to candy the hell out of it.
17. Popcorn
Where are all the Chicago people? We’re giving it up for the Windy City with one of the most uncanny, yet unbelievably decadent, popcorn combos ever: caramel and cheddar cheese. Some people might turn their noses up here at first, but once they take one bit they won’t be able to stop. Make sure you get a lot of it.
18. Pretzels With Rolos
Grab a few bags of the square pretzel snaps, a huge bag of Rolo candies (they’re so damn good we had to include them twice), and a roll of parchment paper. Lay the pretzels out on the paper, place one Rolo on each pretzel, and bake them just long enough for the candy to get soft and stick. Then, gently push a pecan into the top and enjoy.
19. Nuts
There are so many things you can do with nuts (that’s what she said). If you’re starting with a savory base like peanuts or cashews, coat them with a sweet topping like chocolate-mocha or cinnamon sugar. For the sweeter bases, like pecans or almonds, try tossing them in something a bit more savory, like honey mustard or pepper-infused syrup.
20. Cream Cheese Balls
Whip some cream cheese in a bowl with small bits of cranberry and jalapeno before scooping out balls and rolling them in candied pecans. You’ll love how the tart berry plays off the heat of the peppers. More adventurous eaters can crank the spice levels by folding in extra jalapeno seeds.
21. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
Stay away from flavored chips here and just get the classic sea salted, preferably kettle cooked (for the crunch), potato chips here. Then, smother those bad boys with as much melted chocolate as you want.
Let these epic snacks cement you as a feasting legend this year, whether you’re making them from scratch or buying from the store. One last piece of advice before we sign off: people eat with their eyes first, so make sure your presentation is on point.
From all of us here at Luxpitality, happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Image Sources: Allrecipes / BonApetit / Taste of Home / Glorious Treats / Garrett Popcorn