Make this Menu & Beautiful Tablescape for Thanksgiving Dinner

Set a black & white tablescape for Thanksgiving entertaining and serve this delicious menu. Our family recipes will make your mouth water while fresh flowers and organic elements bring pops of color to the Thanksgiving table setting. You’ll love this modern take on tradition that can also be used for a Friendsgiving party. 

Ideas for Thanksgiving Entertaining

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving entertaining, and this year I decided to create something less conventional for the holiday tabletop. I created a black & white table setting for Thanksgiving dinner, adding pops of color with flowers, foliage, and pomegranates.

The look is clean, modern, and gives you an alternative look to the traditional earth tones and pumpkins usually seen. I hope you love it as much as I do!

In addition to the table decor I’m sharing some of our family’s favorite menu traditions. These are the recipes that make it to the table year after year.

I’ve included appetizers, cocktails, side dishes and dessert. Plus, my personal favorite – slow cooker turkey breast recipe. It’s perfect for small gatherings or for extra white meat when you have a full turkey already.

Check out all the details for Thanksgiving entertaining, below. And if you enjoy non-traditional colors for the holiday you may also like this aqua and brown eclectic table setting or this colorful Thanksgiving table ideas.

Thanksgiving Menu & Recipes

Follow this menu plan for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner or Friendsgiving dinner party. You can make it all your self, make a few items and let guests bring their favorite dishes, or assign these recipes for guests to bring.

• Make this easy and delicious herbed turkey breast right in your slow cooker!
• Sausage-cornbread dressing is the best of all worlds if you ask me!
• You can never go wrong serving this delicious broccoli casserole. It’s a classic and it’s one of the first things to disappear.
• I’ve been making this creamy macaroni-n-cheese for all our big holiday gatherings, for years!
• We always make this Southern favorite – streusel topped sweet potato casserole…and add marshmallows of course.

Dessert for Thanksgiving 

I love to serve at least three pies. Because, options! 

• One of our families favorites is this chess pie recipe. It’s great for Easter too.
• No Thanksgiving dessert table is complete without my super easy pumpkin pie recipe. Garnished with both ice cream AND whipped cream!
• And for a twist on the traditional, serve this Kahlua pecan pie, OR pecan pie trifle.
• And just so you know it’s not only about the pie, this 4-layer pumpkin cake is to-die-for!

Ideas for a Black & White Thanksgiving Table

When I was brainstorming my Thanksgiving tablescape ideas I thought I wanted it ALL black and white, but I found it to be a bit one dimensional and in need of more color. With that in mind I incorporated pomegranates for a bright alternative to orange or white pumpkins, and small floral bouquets to complement them.

PARTY TIP: Invest in basic white dishes that can be mixed and matched for a completely new look.

The nice thing about this table setting is that I’ve re-used many items, but the table looks completely different. This is why I love investing in classic party-ware that can be used over and over again. It’s easy to mix and match, and get a very different look with a new centerpiece. I talk more in depth about that in my simple elegant Thanksgiving table post.

• I’ve got plenty of items to work with when it comes to black and white so I just started pulling together different pieces to play around with. A plain white tablecloth lays the foundation and keeps the overall look very clean. I layer my classic white dishes with black napkins, and I use my favorite black flatware again! (remember them from my Halloween themed dinner party?)
• Use small touches of gold throughout the table, like gold-rimmed wine glasses, gold butter bowls, and gold-painted lucky wishbones. The wishbones are great for each guest to make a wish on and pull after dinner. The wishbones are attached to card stock with each person’s name written in using water color brush calligraphy.
• Create a centerpiece with a combination of taper candles, pillar candles, fresh pomegranates, and greenery tucked in. I love the unexpected red color of the fruit, which is mimicked in two small flower arrangements at each end of the table.
• People love to notice special touches. Here, the hand made place cards with spray-painted wishbones add a DIY element, while small wood boards make it convenient for guests to have their bread and butter without having to reach for it. I’ve placed each of the boards so they can be shared by two guests.

Thanksgiving Starters

You’re going to want to have some light appetizers and hors d’oeuvres for guests to snack on while watching football, waiting for other guests to arrive, and dinner to finish cooking. Set these up on the buffet table or a console table. These things can all be easily cleared away to make room for the food buffet when it’s time.

• Prepare a tray to hold a welcoming pitcher of apple pie cocktails. These are a fabulous way to get the party started.
• You can peruse our other Autumn cocktails to find additional options for celebrating Thanksgiving.
• A simple fall cheese board is nice to snack on while dinner finishes cooking. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Just incorporate seasonal colors and produce.
• Add any or all of these easy elegant hors d’oeuvres to nibble on.

Easy Edible Party Favors

At the end of the day give your guests something to take home besides leftovers. A simple gift of nuts in the shell makes a fun and seasonal take-home party favor.

I hope you’re inspired to host Thanksgiving dinner. Please PIN, Share, or sign up for our Newsletter at the top for more ideas for a party at home.