How big a turkey do I need?

Plan on about 1 1/2 pounds of whole turkey per person, which leaves some for leftovers. A 14-pound bird serves about 10.

How long does it take to thaw a frozen turkey?

In the refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 14-pound turkey needs about 3 days.

What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

An Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition of serving several seafood dishes, often seven, such as salt cod, fried smelts, calamari, clams and shrimp.

Holiday Recipes

Golden herb-roasted Thanksgiving turkey on a platter with roasted onions and herbs

Everything for the big holiday meals in one place. For Thanksgiving there is a herb-roasted turkey with a simple brine, a gravy you can make days ahead, classic bread stuffing and the make-ahead sides that free up the oven on the day.

For Christmas and New Year there are showpiece roasts, beef Wellington, prime rib and a brown sugar glazed ham, and the Italian-American Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, with salt cod salad, fried smelts and more of our seafood favorites.

28 holiday recipes

Thanksgiving

Herb-Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey4 hr 30 min total | 10 to 12 servings
A whole turkey rubbed under the skin with garlic herb butter, roasted on a bed of onions until golden and juicy, and rested before carving. Serves 10 to 12.
Turkey Brine16 hr 25 min total | Enough for one 12 to 16 pound turkey
A simple wet brine of salt, brown sugar, orange, peppercorns, bay and rosemary that seasons the turkey all the way through and keeps the breast juicy. For a 12 to 16 pound turkey.
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy2 hr 15 min total | About 4 cups
Rich, smooth turkey gravy made days ahead from roasted turkey wings and a butter-flour roux, finished on the day with pan drippings. Makes about 4 cups.
Classic Herb Bread Stuffing1 hr 25 min total | 10 to 12 servings
Toasted bread cubes tossed with butter-softened onion and celery, fresh sage, thyme and parsley, moistened with broth and egg and baked with a crisp golden top. Serves 10 to 12.
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes1 hr 20 min total | 10 to 12 servings
Creamy mashed Yukon Gold potatoes enriched with cream cheese, sour cream and butter, made up to two days ahead and baked until hot with a golden top. Serves 10 to 12.
Green Bean Casserole from Scratch1 hr 5 min total | 8 servings
Fresh green beans in a creamy homemade mushroom sauce, topped with crisp fried onions and baked until bubbly. The Thanksgiving classic without the can. Serves 8.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon45 min total | 6 to 8 servings
Halved Brussels sprouts roasted at high heat with crisp bacon until deeply caramelized, then finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serves 6 to 8.
Herb Butter Roast Turkey Breast2 hr 35 min total | 6 to 8 servings
A bone-in turkey breast rubbed with sage, thyme and garlic butter and roasted at 325°F until juicy. A holiday-worthy main for a smaller crowd; serves 6 to 8.
Cranberry Orange Relish25 min total
A cooked cranberry relish of fresh cranberries simmered in sugar syrup until most of the berries burst, finished with cinnamon and orange marmalade.
Candied Sweet Potatoes40 min total
Sweet potatoes baked in a glaze of orange juice, dark brown sugar, maple syrup and butter, topped with orange slices, at 350°F for 20 minutes.
South American Sweet Potato-Cranberry Casserole1 hr 15 min total
Layers of sweet potatoes, apricots, bananas and cranberry sauce baked with a buttery apricot syrup and topped with toasted coconut.
Sweet Potato Cups in Orange Shells40 min total | 4 orange cups
Mashed sweet potatoes blended with fresh orange and optional crushed pineapple, piled into hollowed orange halves, topped with a marshmallow and baked at 350°F.
Apple Crumb Pie1 hr 5 min total | 1 (9-inch) pie
Thinly sliced McIntosh apples in cinnamon sugar under a buttery crumb topping, baked at 400°F for 40 minutes.
Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini1 hr 5 min total | 8 servings
Spaghetti and leftover turkey baked in a creamy mushroom and Parmesan sauce with peas under a golden crumb topping. The best use for the day-after turkey. Serves 8.

Christmas and New Year

Beef Wellington2 hr 55 min total | 6 to 8 servings
Seared beef tenderloin brushed with mustard, wrapped in mushroom duxelles and prosciutto, encased in puff pastry and baked golden with a rosy center. Serves 6 to 8.
Prime Rib Roast (Standing Rib Roast)2 hr 50 min total | 6 to 8 servings
A bone-in standing rib roast rubbed with garlic, herbs and salt, started at 450°F for a browned crust and finished at 325°F to a rosy medium-rare. Serves 6 to 8.
Basic Beef Tenderloin50 min total | Serves 10 to 12
A whole trimmed and tied beef tenderloin, seared in hot oil and roasted at 450°F for 17 to 19 minutes, from very rare to medium-rare. Serves 10 to 12.
Brown Sugar Glazed Holiday Ham2 hr 40 min total | 12 to 16 servings
A spiral-cut ham warmed slowly and brushed with a glossy brown sugar, Dijon, orange and clove glaze until caramelized. Serves 12 to 16.
Surf and Turf (Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail)40 min total | 2 servings
A pan-seared filet mignon topped with garlic herb butter and a broiled butterflied lobster tail, served with drawn butter, lemon and asparagus. A steakhouse dinner for two.
Holiday Eggnog (Basic and Quick)4 hr 20 min total | Serves 24 (basic) or 12 (quick)
Two holiday eggnogs: a from-scratch party batch of egg yolks, sugar, milk, rum and whipped cream that serves 24, and a quick version with store-bought eggnog that serves 12.
Champagne Punch6 hr 15 min total | About 1 1/2 gallons
A party punch of ginger ale, champagne, apricot brandy and rainbow sherbet, served with a frozen fruit ice mold that won't dilute it.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

Baccala Salad (Salt Cod Salad)2 days 35 min total | 8 servings
Soaked and gently poached salt cod flaked and tossed with celery, black olives, roasted red peppers, parsley, garlic, lemon and olive oil. A Christmas Eve classic. Serves 8.
Fried Smelts35 min total | 6 servings
Whole small smelts dredged in seasoned flour and fried until golden and crisp, eaten bones and all with lemon. A Feast of the Seven Fishes favorite. Serves 6.
Fried Calamari55 min total | 4 servings
Tender squid rings and tentacles soaked in buttermilk, tossed in seasoned flour and fried crisp and golden in under two minutes. Served with marinara and lemon. Serves 4.
Linguine with Clams (Linguine alle Vongole)1 hr 5 min total | 4 servings
Fresh littleneck clams steamed open in garlic, white wine and olive oil, tossed with linguine, parsley and a pinch of red pepper. A classic Italian seafood pasta; serves 4.
Shrimp Scampi and Pasta30 min total
A light shrimp scampi: shrimp poached in a garlic, shallot and parsley chicken broth and served over angel-hair pasta with the broth spooned on top.
Baked Stuffed Fillet of Sole50 min total | 20 rolled fillets
Fillets of sole rolled around a stuffing of Ritz cracker crumbs, sharp Cheddar, parsley and sauteed garlic and onion, dotted with butter and baked at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Cioppino (San Francisco Seafood Stew)1 hr 10 min total | 6 servings
The Italian-American fisherman's stew of San Francisco: clams, mussels, shrimp and firm white fish simmered in a garlicky tomato and white wine broth. Serve with sourdough. Serves 6.

Common questions

How big a turkey do I need?: Plan on about 1 1/2 pounds of whole turkey per person, which leaves some for leftovers. A 14-pound bird serves about 10.
How long does it take to thaw a frozen turkey?: In the refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 14-pound turkey needs about 3 days.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?: An Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition of serving several seafood dishes, often seven, such as salt cod, fried smelts, calamari, clams and shrimp.