Nathan's menu
The Ultimate Thanksgiving
Nathan's favorite Thanksgiving plan: a brined turkey, Grandma's stuffing, a real gravy and a pile of mashed potatoes.
From the archive
The Old Kitchen
Before TechKitchen covered kitchen tech, it was a family recipe site. These are the recipes that started it: our own in full, and notes on the classics we loved, with links to the originals.
Family recipes
Recipe courtesy of Nathan
Bruschetta
Ripe tomatoes, basil and paper-thin garlic on grilled peasant bread.
Recipe courtesy of Nathan
Grilled Zucchini
Quick-grilled zucchini with paprika, basil, onion powder and garlic.
Recipe courtesy of Dolores Kauffman
Grandma's Stuffing
The slow-cooker dressing that converts everyone who tries it: two kinds of bread, sausage, celery and plenty of sage.
Family recipe
Grandma's Salad
Broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, red onion and olives in a ranch vinaigrette.
Nathan's method, rub adapted from Alton Brown
Spicy Chicken, Baked
Boneless chicken breasts with a paprika-cayenne rub, baked then finished under the broiler. Serve with blue cheese dressing.
Nathan's method, rub adapted from Alton Brown
Spicy Chicken, Grilled
The same famous rub with that great grilled flavor. Serve with blue cheese dressing and Cajun hot sauce.
Recipe courtesy of Nathan, modified from an Emeril recipe
Giblet and Wine Gravy
A from-scratch turkey broth and white-wine pan gravy, finished with the chopped giblets.
Recipe courtesy of Nathan
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Only for people who like really rich, creamy mashed potatoes. More of a method than a recipe.
Classics we love
Alton Brown
Good Eats Roast Turkey
A sweet-and-savory brine overnight, aromatics in the cavity and a blast of high heat before a gentle finish. The turkey that taught us brining rules.
Alton Brown
Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
A honey-and-salt brine in a cooler, then hickory smoke on the grill. Nathan's preferred Thanksgiving bird.
Alton Brown, Food Network
Best Gravy Ever
Pan drippings, broth and red wine thickened with flour: a quick gravy that pairs with the Good Eats turkey.
Method from Alton Brown's chicken stock
Turkey Stock
We make Thanksgiving stock with Alton Brown's chicken-stock method, swapping in two turkey carcasses: a low, slow simmer with a steamer basket holding everything under, skimmed often, then chilled and defatted.
America's Test Kitchen (Cook's Illustrated)
Mashed Potatoes with Blue Cheese and Port-Caramelized Onions
Deeply browned onions glazed with port on top of blue-cheese mashed potatoes. Our pick for the Christmas feast, too.
Alton Brown
Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Steamed sweet potatoes smashed with butter and a smoky chipotle in adobo. No marshmallows required.
Alton Brown, Food Network
Best Ever Green Bean Casserole
Fresh beans, a homemade mushroom sauce and oven-crisped onions. You could swap in frozen beans or canned fried onions to save time, but try it as written at least once.
Alton Brown
Dry-Aged Standing Rib Roast with Sage Jus
Some say turkey for Christmas; we say that's for Thanksgiving. A home-dry-aged prime rib roasted low under a terra cotta lid is our idea of a Christmas feast.
Alton Brown
City Ham
For Easter: a store-bought brined ham, slow-roasted and finished with a mustard, brown sugar, bourbon and gingersnap crust.
Alton Brown
Country Ham
The other Easter ham: a dry-cured country ham soaked for two days, then baked in Dr Pepper and sliced paper-thin for biscuits.
Alton Brown, Food Network
Spicy Chicken, Pan Fried
The original home of our spicy rub: buttermilk-soaked chicken, seasoned and pan-fried in a cast-iron skillet.
Alton Brown
Stove Top Mac-n-Cheese
The best you will ever have. It sticks to your ribs like crazy glue. Use a sharp cheddar and always shred your own cheese.
Alton Brown
Chocolate Mousse
A rich, egg-free mousse of chocolate, espresso, a little rum and whipped cream.
America's Test Kitchen (Cook's Illustrated)
Lemon Bars
A tender shortbread crust under a creamy, zesty lemon curd. The trick: pour the warm filling onto a warm crust, and cool completely before cutting.