The best part of Thanksgiving is gathering with family and friends over a banquet of glorious food. If you’re stressing out about cooking your first Thanksgiving feast, looking for a lively way to freshen up your tried-and-true favorites, or wondering what to do with the inevitable fridge full of leftovers, Food Network has a roster of Thanksgiving-centric shows to put your mind at ease and reignite your kitchen creativity.
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(All times are ET only; please adjust accordingly for your particular time zone).
Sunday, Nov. 10
Iron Chef America: “Thanksgiving: Past and Present”
10pm (also 11/16 at 10pm, 11/17 at 6pm)
Iron Chefs — and Chopped favorites — Geoffrey Zakarian and Alex Guarnaschelli team up to try to take down reigning Thanksgiving battle victors Bobby Flay and Michael Symon. Actor Laurence Fishburne guest-judges.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Chopped: “A Chopped Thanksgiving”
10pm (also 11/16 at 9pm, 11/19 at 8pm, 11/13 at 3pm)
In this all-new Chopped special, the chefs try to create a winning, Thanksgiving-minded meal by making a more inviting take on green bean casserole in the appetizer round. Then the remaining competitors find a big bird and a frozen orange treat in the entree basket.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Guys Big Bite Thanksgiving
7am (also 11/20 at 5pm)
When Guy and the Fieri Family gather for Thanksgiving, anything goes. In this all new one hour special Guy’s servin’ up tasty traditions with a twist, some rockin’ cocktails, and that classic Fieri flare for a delicious Big Bite Thanksgiving that’s…on-point!
Pioneer Woman: “Turkey Day Leftovers”
10am (also, 11/17 at 8am, 11/18 at 5pm)
Ree creates divine dishes from the Thanksgiving leftovers, including the leftover Thanksgiving Panini, turkey spring rolls and a comforting turkey tetrazzini casserole. And for the ultimate incentive for the kids to finish their clean-up chores, pumpkin pie filling is transformed into pumpkin smoothies.
Trisha’s Southern Kitchen: “No Fuss Thanksgiving”
10:30am (also 11/20 at 5pm)
Trisha is switching up her traditional Thanksgiving this year and invites over her close friends along with her sister, Beth to help out in the kitchen to create this quick and easy feast. On the menu, Turkey and Dressing Casserole, Homemade Turkey Gravy, buttery Roasted Carrots and a Yearwood classic, Sweet Potato Pie. Instead of just saying grace, this year Trisha will lead her friends in singing it.
Giada at Home: “Thanksgiving Leftovers”
11:30am
What do you do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers? Giada takes some of the traditional favorites and makes fun new twists to enjoy after the holiday. The menu includes Thankful Shepherd’s Pie, Cranberry Barbecue Sliders With Celery Apple Slaw, Eggs Benedict on Stuffing Cakes and Apple Pie Martinis.
Unwrapped: “Turkey and Trimmings”
7pm (also 11/18 at 1pm)
Get the lowdown on favored Thanksgiving treats like Pepperidge Farm stuffing, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce and Marie Callender pies, and visit Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts to see what really was — and wasn’t — on the first Thanksgiving table.
Monday, Nov. 18
5 Ingredient Fix Thanksgiving
10am (also 11/20 at 10am)
In this one-hour special, Claire Robinson provides viewers with a super easy 2-day timeline that breaks down her Thanksgiving menu step by step, including: her Thanksgiving shopping list, tips on how to buy a turkey, and of course her 5 ingredient Thanksgiving menu.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: “All Kinds of Gobble Gobble”
10pm (also 11/22 at 9pm, 11/23 at 10:30pm, 11/24 at 5pm)
In this new Thanksgiving-inspired episode, Guy samples traditional and totally unique takes on turkey. In Albuquerque, N.M., a father/son bakery crafts a totally unique take on the Thanksgiving bird. In Santa Fe, N.M., an off-the-beaten-path deli turns out traditional turkey wild rice soup and pumpkin pie. And in Kansas City, Mo., a longtime barbecue master cranks out smoked turkey and beans to please locals and barbecue competitors alike.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Thanksgiving Live
12pm (also 11/24 at noon, 6pm)
Food Network’s annual Thanksgiving tradition features an all-star cast, including Ina Garten, Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, answering viewers’ most pressing turkey day questions.
Iron Chef America: “Iron Chef America vs. Chopped Thanksgiving”
11pm (also 11/23 at 11pm)
Team “Iron Chef America” takes on Team “Chopped” in this “Thanksgiving Showdown.” Iron Chefs Michael Symon, Marc Forgione and Geoffrey Zakarian make up the home team, while Challengers Aaron Sanchez, Scott Conant and Marc Murphy represent Team “Chopped.”
Saturday, Nov. 30
Iron Chef America: “Ghosts of Holiday Ingredients Past”
10pm (also 12/7 at 1pm, 12/8 at 3pm)
In a first for Kitchen Stadium, three teams featuring one Iron Chef and one Cooking Channel star must make holiday masterpieces with the most feared ingredients from previous holiday battles. Competing for the win are Iron Chef Michael Symon and Ching-He Huang, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and G. Garvin, and Iron Chef Jose Garces and Bobby Deen.
Food Network’s web site is also a wealth of Thanksgiving recipe and entertaining ideas. Just choose you topic, click and enjoy!
- Thanksgiving
Get ready for an all-time favorite feast with classic Thanksgiving recipes as well as new ideas from your favorite Food Network chefs. From Alton Brown’s five-star rated (4,000 times over) turkey recipe to Ina Garten’s herb and apple stuffing and Trisha Yearwood’s famous pecan pie, Food Network has delicious ideas for every dish.
- Thanksgiving Live!
Food Network will be sharing behind-the-scenes photos and videos from rehearsal and the set via social media before the broadcast at fanfeed.foodnetwork.com, and during the broadcast, Food Network Kitchens will be answering fan questions via social media! Don’t miss out!
- On the Road
Make sure the busiest travel time of the year is also the most delicious with restaurant recommendations and recipes inspired by the best of what the country has to offer. Guy Fieri advises on the restaurants with the best turkey dinners and gives coast-to-coast pie picks. Plus, get favorite regional Thanksgiving recipes and tips on feeding a crowd from Aarón Sánchez, Alex Guarnaschelli and more.
- Appetizers
Food Network chef’s delicious appetizers are a fun and easy way to get started planning for Thanksgiving. Hungry guests will feast on classics like Giada De Laurentiis’ foolproof stuffed mushrooms and Alton’s hot artichoke dip.
- Turkey
Whether you’re planning on roasting, brining or finally tackling a deep-fried turkey this year, Food Network has the recipes and tips you’ll need to pull it off. From Ree Drummond’s tried-and-true roasted turkey to Bobby Flay’s black-pepper molasses-glazed bird, you’re sure to find a no-fail plan for the star of Thanksgiving.
- Sides
From green bean casserole to macaroni and cheese and Brussels sprouts, find standout Thanksgiving sides from your favorite chefs. Bobby Flay shows you three ways to make cranberry sauce, and Alton Brown unlocks the secrets to perfect mashed potatoes.
- Stuffing and Dressing
Thanksgiving without stuffing is like a birthday without cake. Try the Neelys’ cornbread stuffing, Giada De Laurentiis’ ciabatta stuffing or countless others that will be a hit on any Thanksgiving table.
- Desserts
Focus on the most fun part of any celebration: dessert!You’ll find recipes for cakes, cookies, cupcakes and of course, lots and lots of pie. Bake Ina Garten’s deep-dish apple pie, Alton Brown’s sweet potato pie and more can’t-miss sweets.
- Entertaining
Discover great tips and ideas for hosting the perfect Thanksgiving from Food Network chefs. You’ll get inspiring tablescapes and party planning ideas from Sandra Lee, plus wine pairing tips and centerpiece how-tos.
- Leftovers
While you could make just enough food to feed family and friends on the big day, you’d be missing out on one of the best parts of Thanksgiving: leftovers. We’ll have great ideas and recipes from Rachael Ray and Melissa d’Arabian for sandwiches, soups, stews and more.
Images/video: Food Network