A Southern Thanksgiving Menu

Fried turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin cake: You'll want to make every recipe on Nealey Dozier's Southern Thanksgiving menu.

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Maple and Pecan Baked Brie

This savory-sweet appetizer is a decadent way to start your feast. A creamy wheel of Brie is baked to perfection and then smothered with a spicy pecan praline sauce. Be generous with the coarsely ground black pepper, as it really sends the dish over the edge!

Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Baked Brie

"Saucy" Cranberry Punch

Punch is making a comeback, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give it a try: No need to individually mix cocktails when you've got a feast to get on the table! Nealey's version uses pure cranberry juice to add a tart fall flavor, while the frozen cranberries do double duty to keep the drink cold and make it look pretty.

Get the Recipe: "Saucy" Cranberry Punch

Fried Turkey

In addition to freeing up your oven and shortening your turkey cook time, frying your bird creates a ridiculously crisp exterior while allowing all of the juices to remain inside the turkey. This guarantees that every single bite is moist and tender. So why would you ever want to roast a turkey?

Get the Recipe: Fried Turkey

Bourbon Gravy

This classic gravy gets just a bit of kick from the bourbon, and the fresh sage perfectly complements the turkey and cornbread dressing.

Get the Recipe: Bourbon Gravy

Cornbread Dressing

The secret to this rich Southern side dish is the butter. But is that really a secret? This version yields an amazingly moist dressing just begging to be drenched in bourbon gravy.

Get the Recipe: Catherine's Cornbread Dressing

Sweet Potato Casserole

A rich, nicely spiced sweet potato filling is topped with a crunchy brown sugar streusel for an irresistible side dish that makes it on Nealey's family's table every year.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Braised Collard Greens

Braised greens are about as Southern as it gets. Feel free to use any mix of greens you can get your hands on. Bonus points if you use the leftover sweet potato greens from the sweet potato casserole. That's what Southern cooking is all about!

Get the Recipe: Spicy Braised Collard Greens

Honey-Glazed Carrots

This beautiful dish is simple yet delicious enough to counterbalance some of the more flashy sides often found at the Thanksgiving table. Roasted carrots are tossed with a light honey and vinegar glaze to add some depth, but the subtly sweet flavor of the root vegetables still really shines through.

Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

Black Bottom Pie

This showstopping holiday pie starts with a buttery graham cracker crust glazed with rich chocolate, which is then topped with a thick, boozy layer of spiced rum custard. Once the layers are set, the pie is piled high with freshly whipped cream and a mountain of dark chocolate shavings.

Get the Recipe: Black Bottom Pie

Spiced Pumpkin Cake

This rich layer cake from Nealey is based on a recipe from her aunt Cissy. It's very moist, which can make it tricky to frost. The end result is less high-end bakery, more Southern charm.

Get the Recipe: Cissy's Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Creamed Cheese Frosting