Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and hoards of Texans are hitting up H-E-B to stock up on the essentials. However, at a Texan Thanksgiving, you're bound to encounter some dishes that are unconventional in the most delicious way possible. Here in the Lone Star State we enjoy spicy comfort food, and ordinary, boring turkey and mashed potatoes just ain't gonna cut it. So if you want to get out of your Thanksgiving rut (and ensure there are almost zero Thanksgiving leftovers), try some of these delicious Texanized Thanksgiving recipes at your holiday meal.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Smoked Turkey
Usually, folks spend hours oven baking a turkey and basting it to perfection. A lot can go wrong with traditional turkey recipes, and even if it doesn't, it will still be a pretty conventional roast turkey. Nothing says "Texas" however, like meat smoked for hours until it's tender and flavorful. You can use hickory or mesquite if you've got a smoker, or you can just order one from a place like the legendary Kreuz Market in Lockhart. That will make a Thanksgiving dinner to remember for sure.
Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing
What better way to spice up traditional stuffing than with the unique flavor of chorizo? Texans are particularly fond of chorizo. You can add it to queso, eggs or pretty much anything. So when you're making that Thanksgiving turkey, why not use this recipe for chorizo stuffing?
Elotes
Via Wide Open Eats
Sure, you could just dump a can of Del Monte corn into a pan and eat sadness as a Thanksgiving side, but why would you? Here in Texas, we love the Mexican street corn known as elotes. You can make it on the cob, or scrape the kernels off and mix it up casserole style but either way, you won't be sorry.
Chipotle Bacon Mac & Cheese
Chipotle Bacon Mac & Cheese
This Texan twist on a treasured favorite is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. The bacon adds just the right amount of salt and fat to the recipe to make it more decadent than your average mac and cheese, while the chipotle peppers and cotija cheese spice it up just right.
Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Wide Open Eats
Sweet potatoes are unnecessarily controversial among Thanksgiving recipes. People tend to either love them or hate them. If you're anti-sweet potato, I'd still advise you to try this recipe for brown sugar pecan sweet potato casserole. If you're anti-marshmallow, then just double up on the pecans to cut the sweetness.
Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
Wide Open Eats
Listen, y'all, if anyone tells you there's too much cheese and jalapeños on your Thanksgiving table, just make a mental note not to invite that Negative Nancy again next year. Then send them home with a big slice of this jalapeño cheddar cornbread and remember they live a sad existence.
Honey Buttermilk Biscuits
You've gotta have some biscuits at Thanksgiving, it's practically a Texas law. This honey buttermilk biscuit recipe is the closest you're going to get to Whataburger's honey butter biscuit recipe.
Bacon Jalapeño Cheeseball
The Thanksgiving meal takes forever to cook, so it's important to have a few Thanksgiving appetizers on hand. This Bacon jalapeño cheese ball recipe is just what you need to keep hungry Texan fingers out of the pumpkin pie.
Cinnamon Whiskey Pecan Pie
Via Wide Open Eats
In Texas we like to think outside the apple pie and cranberry sauce box. Just in case you thought it wasn't possible to improve pecan pie, hold on to your hat, because this recipe for cinnamon whiskey pecan pie will blow you away. Of course, the best way to top off any pecan pie is with a scoop of Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. Any Texan will tell you that this is one of the best Thanksgiving desserts.
Calabacitas Con Queso and Green Chiles
This is a squash casserole, except, unlike standard Thanksgiving recipes for squash casserole, this recipe includes cheese and green chiles. Y'all just get out of my way when this hits the table or you might lose a finger. It beats the hell out of your standard green bean casserole or brussels sprouts.
