29 Mouthwatering Holiday Dishes
Raise your hand if you’ve ever served Thanksgiving on disposable plates. I won’t judge, but let’s be honest, the food is only half the battle on this holiday. I mean, how many people have a dining table that seats 20? Or matching china, flatware and crystal for a crowd? I don’t. But I know someone who does… and this year, I’ll rent the essentials. In this post, along with 29 Mouthwatering Holiday Dishes curated from my archives and some of my favorite bloggers, I’ll share some stunning decorating options for your holiday table.
I just found out that our local party rental company has much more than tables and linens. In fact, at a recent Holiday Glam event, hosted by my friend Heather McMechan of Local Mom Scoop and Kelly McCleod of Bloomingdales, I was introduced to the ladies at Atlas Party Rental and came away with 4 solid reasons to rent your tablescape finery this Thanksgiving!
- Make a statement with a beautiful, elegant tablescape. Choose your look whether contemporary or traditional, sophisticated or relaxed. I don’t know about you, but my table always looks the same from one year to the next — I’ve only got one set of china! It’s fun to switch it up!
- Have enough seating and tablespace for everyone — instead of having your Aunt sit on an office chair with wheels or setting up a rickety card table for extra guests – wouldn’t it be nice to have ample seating for the entire guest list?
- Let someone else wash the dishes. This one is BIG, friends. Most rental companies will only ask you to box up their dishes, flatware and crystal — you don’t have to clean it first, just scrape the food off the plates and load it into a crate. That alone makes renting a no-brainer!
- It doesn’t have to cost a fortune! In many cases renting dishes, flatware and crystal is about the same price as buying premium disposable plates at Costco – SERIOUSLY??? And it’s so much more elegant.
With these compelling reasons in mind, I’ve interspersed this roundup of festive fare with snapshots of some gorgeous tablescape options that will take your holiday table from drab to fab! Just be sure to invite me over!
Table of Contents
THE SALADS:
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad by Green Healthy Cooking.
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Anjou Pear & Blackberry Salad & Warm Bacon Vinaigrette by Home and Plate.
Blue Cheese Wedge Salad with Bacon by Veggie Balance.
THE SOUPS:
Creamy Lobster Bisque by Garlic & Zest.
Miso Squash Soup with Brussels Sprouts and Apple by Food Nouveau.
THE MAIN COURSE:
Chinese Style Roasted Turkey Breast by Omnivores Cookbook.
Parmesan Apple Stuffed Turkey Tenderloins by Garlic & Zest
Maple Mustard Ham by Green Healthy Cooking.
THE VEGETABLES:
Roasted Butternut Squash with Maple Pecans by Culinary Ginger.
Orange Dijon Haricot Verts with Crispy Shallots by Garlic & Zest.
Roasted Parmesan Potatoes by Girl Gone Gourmet.
Holiday Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries by Savory Tooth.
THE SIDES:
Sweet Potato Casserole with Molasses Candied Nut Crunch by The Organic Dietician.
Vegetarian Slow Cooker Stuffing by Killing Thyme.
Sausage and Currants Stuffing by My Kitchen Love.
Cranberry Jello Salad by Dinner At The Zoo.
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Gratin by Garlic & Zest.
Hard Cider Cranberry Sauce by A Nerd Cooks.
Italian Sausage Stuffing by Savory Tooth
THE ROLLS:
Anadama Rolls by Garlic & Zest.
Rosemary Rock Salt Dinner Rolls by My Kitchen Love.
THE DESSERTS:
Fall Apple Cream Cheese Rustic Pie by A Side of Sweet.
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with Bourbon Maple Whipped Cream by What A Girl Eats.
Apple Fig Crostata by Lavender and Macarons.
Lemon Chess Pie by Meg Is Well.
Bourbon Pumpkin Pie with Black Sesame Crust by The Road To Honey.
Pumpkin Tiramisu with Molasses Cookie Crumb by The Seaside Baker.
Pumpkin Creme Brûlée from Foodtastic Mom.
Persimmon Pie by Forest and Fauna.
Bon Appetit!
Tablescapes by Atlas Party Rental. I was not compensated for this post.
Want More Holiday Roundups? Check out these 16 Last Minute Valentine’s Recipes.
This is amazing! I love that you can rent dishes AND you don’t even have to wash it before you send it? How did I not know about this? 😀
The spread is amazing too! I would LOVE to be able enjoy all these dishes for Thanksgiving – I mean every single one of them!!
LOL, I know — when I found out about not washing the dishes, I was floored!
I had no idea that renting dishes, flatware, and crystal could be so affordable. Plus, I love the idea of not having to wash the dishes! I am a big believer in making food holiday’s events, but my table can hardly handle the load or the number of guests. I know that I’ll be looking into renting from now on!
Also – all those recipes look amazing! Where to start?!?!
I know, I was so surprised when I found this out! Hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
You know, I’d never considered renting for Thanksgiving, and it sounds like a fabulous idea! Washing the dishes is always such a chore with a large dinner, and it really sounds like renting will give you that much needed extra time to enjoy your friends and family. Great collection of recipes, too! I think that pumpkin creme brulee is going to have to happen in this house!
Thanks, Amanda! I had never considered renting either — but it certainly would elevate my game to have matching dishes, glasses and flatware — not to mention tablecloths napkins — and better than having someone balance a towering plate of food on their lap!
What a great line up of Thanksgiving must-haves! How do you pick which ones to make for Thanksgiving?!? And those tablescape pictures are so pretty. I never thought to rent for Thanksgiving but the idea of not having to clean the dishes sounds phenomenal!
I know, it’s like my best fantasy ever!
I’ll take one of everything please! 🙂
Great post….sign me up for tableware rental. It’d to imagine returning dirty dishes…. do ya think they’d notice a few pots and pans!
I really like the way you think, Betty!
Great round up of dishes, Lisa!
I really rather love the higgedly piggedly nature of holiday meals with all your loved ones squeezed in around a too small table with mismatched plates – don’t get me wrong, I love the stylish spreads you see in magazines but they aren’t realistic if you don’t have tons of money! I’m totally spoiled for choice with your round up of recipes – the Chinese turkey looks amazing in particular. Thanks for putting so many good recipes in one place 😀
Thanks, JoJo — Yes – as long as you’re surrounded by the people you love, that’s all that matters.
Great collection of dishes, it makes me excited for Thanksgiving
There is so much yum here I can’t even decide which one I would make!!! I never thought to rent dishes. It’s a great idea really since I love to do something different every year!
I’d never thought about it before either, but it makes total sense, don’t you think?
Thank you so much for including me in the roundup with so many talented bloggers! Sharing it everywhere 🙂
Thank you, Maggie! You’re turkey breast looks outstanding!
absolutely love this collection!
I think I may have to do Thanksgiving, twice — so much to try!
So true – I can never seem to find a matching set of anything for Thanksgiving to set the table with! Love all these suggestions thank you for sharing!
Absolutely! Enjoy Fiona!
OMG Lisa, what a GLORIOUS roundup!!! I did not know that you could rent tableware! And you also included decor and place setting ideas into your list! This is just sooo perfect! Thank you!
When I got the facts — I was astounded at how much sense it made!
What a glorious collection of food, this is making me hungry for Turkey Day :)))
Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite!
A fantastic post this! Loads of great tips and recipes too! I wish I knew 20 people who would come over for a Thanksgiving meal, lol!
I’d come!
What a great idea to rent a tablescape! We don’t have that service here in Croatia and I think it’s much needed. Well at least I’ll be a one loyal customer 🙂 I love big family gatherings. Lisa, thank you for this amazing roundup. Everything looks just delicious. Saving and sharing this. Have a great Holidays!
Thank you so much Natalie! I’m glad you liked it — It surprises me that you don’t have party rental places in Croatia. That’s a big business here.
What a great post. So much inspiration!!! I love Atlas. Their studio is one of my happy places!!! Your tablescape can change even with one set of dishes with different napkins, place cards and centerpieces.
I know! There are so many options!