November 4, 2025
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Have you offered to host your loved ones for Thanksgiving dinner this year? It’s a delicious tradition that brings the family together, but there is much more to be done before sitting down at the dinner table. Here at Wesson, we can’t come cook for you, but we can help you with our versatile cooking oil and outlining a flawless meal guide. Don’t even worry about your Thanksgiving dinner menu, we’ve got it covered.
Appetizers
A great appetizer is more than the first bite, it’s the first connection point for your guests that sets the tone for the evening. The best appetizers are grazeable finger foods – allowing your loved ones to chat while eating them, without the need to carry bulky plates or cutlery. Finger foods are often comforting, recognizable, and grounded in reliable flavors, allowing your guests to break the ice over a familiar dish.
WESSON’S POTATO FRITTERS WITH SMOKY PAPRIKA DIP
Potato fritters are excellent bites for Thanksgiving dinner. The crunchy take on the classic deep-fried potato will keep your guests coming back for more. Paired with a smoky paprika dip, the fritter’s irresistibly savory flavors are accented for ultimate satisfaction.
Sides
Once your guests are comfortable, it’s time for the main course. Side dishes are the perfect opportunity to showcase your culinary creativity; the turkey takes center stage, leaving room for sides with new and unexpected flavors. No one is relying on them to be the main event – but following Wesson’s recipes your sides might end up as the showstopping dishes of the night.
WESSON’S OVEN BAKED PRETZEL STUFFING
Thanksgiving dinner is incomplete without stuffing, but the dish can be more exciting with a twist. Made with salty pretzel rolls, this golden side is deliciously rich and tender. Wesson’s oven-baked pretzel stuffing offers a fresh alternative that maintains the delectable basics of the dish, while elevating it from the original.
WESSON’S ROOT VEGETABLE GRATINÉE
Celebrating the fall season is made easy with this root vegetable gratinée. The seasonal veggies are roasted in Wesson oil to a caramelized perfection, with a cheesy crunch baked over top. A rich, buttery bechamel is generously served in between layers of vegetables, giving it a craveably luxurious finish. Instead of a typical mashed potato dish, this root vegetable gratinée will be the star of the show.
Entrée
Your Thanksgiving entrée should be tried-and-true – especially if you’ve left the excitement to your side dishes. It’s hard to go wrong with the beloved turkey, everyone will be expecting (and loving) it. Each family has their own traditions for how they cook their birds, but at Wesson we raise you; the deep-fried turkey.
Made with Wesson oil, we’ve perfected the strategy to safely deep-fry a turkey for the ultimate crispy and flavorful finish – while cutting down on cooking time. Our step-by-step guide walks you through everything from handling the oil with care to maintaining the right frying temperature for a flawless cook. A testament to the art of deep frying, your Thanksgiving entrée is guaranteed to wow your guests while showcasing the incredible potential of a quality cooking oil.
Dessert
While the main course will be hard to follow, dessert is the dish that should end your meal with a bang. The ideal thanksgiving dessert is sweet and flavorful, but not so indulgent that your guests can’t finish it because they’re so full. Maintaining the balance between fresh and decadent is the key to flawlessly satisfying your guests.
CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE PIE WITH MAPLE STREUSEL
With bright cranberry and rich, creamy cheesecake, you can never go wrong. This fusion dessert is part pie, part cake, part crumble, and 100% goodness. Finished with a maple streusel crunch, this dessert is the perfect festive finale to your dinner – leaving your guests raving about your Thanksgiving spread for years to come, no matter how full they are on the night of.
With our foolproof Thanksgiving game plan, you’ll be known as the ideal host for the holidays. Armed with Wesson oil and our tips, you’ll be ready to tackle every task it takes to serve the ultimate Thanksgiving feast.
As the (self-proclaimed) heroes of the holidays, we have lots more tips on how to host the perfect dinners, check out our blogs on 5 Tips to Master the Art of Hosting this Holiday Season and 15 Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Hosting Friendsgiving Dinner!
Visit Wesson’s Instagram for more fun twists on classic recipes!
