Thanksgiving Spices Checklist

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner preparation can leave us a little overwhelmed in the kitchen, but do not worry! We are here to help make your feast as flavorful as it has ever been. As you write prep lists for shopping and cooking, be sure to consider the spices most commonly used for Thanksgiving, that make each of your recipes shine. We put together this quick list of essential Thanksgiving flavors to help ease your holiday planning. For more holiday inspiration, visit our Thanksgiving Headquarters.

If you have any questions about spices, or want to tell us about your favorite Thanksgiving herbs and spices, leave us a comment below!

Thanksgiving Turkey

Consider brining your bird before rubbing it with any of our signature spices for Thanksgiving turkey below. For more spice options, explore our full list of Poultry Rubs or our entire collection of Rubs & Blends and see our favorite turkey brining recipe.

• Poultry Brining Blend - Brine your bird to maximize flavor!
• House Blend Turkey  - Our go-to Thanksgiving turkey rub.
• Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butcher’s Rub - Keep it classic with garlic & pepper. 

Turkey Gravy

You cannot have turkey (or mashed potatoes) without a delicious Thanksgiving gravy. Build depth with premium spices, peppercorns, and herbs. Don't be afraid to try new flavors! For example, Mushroom Powder can add a bold umami punch. If your prefer to keep it classic, simmer your gravy with bay leaves for that delicious hint of aromatics.

• Turkish Bay Leaves
• Tellicherry Peppercorns
• Rubbed Sage
• Porcini Mushroom Powder

Thanksgiving Stuffing

Any good stuffing recipe needs its fair share of herbal accents. Be sure to try our Poultry Stuffing Seasoning for that classic blend of holiday flavors. In addition to our house blend, there are a few other traditional herbs we recommend for a delicious stuffing.

• Rubbed Sage
• Broken Leaf Thyme
• Cracked Rosemary Needles
• Parsley Flakes

Thanksgiving Potatoes

Whether you’re making roasted potato wedges, creamy mashed potatoes, or candied yams, those spuds need spices. Here are a few of our favorites for Thanksgiving potatoes. Check our collection of Vegetable Favorites for more flavorful ideas.

• White Peppercorns - Perfectly blend into mashed potatoes
• Brisket of Love - This beloved BBQ blend pairs perfectly with roasted sweet potatoes
• Mediterranean Garlic & Herb Salt-Free Blend - We love Greek roasted potatoes to add a herby, citrusy element to our Thanksgiving table. 
• Korintje Ground Cassia Cinnamon - This robust Cinnamon variety stands up nicely to candied yams or baked sweet potatoes. 

Cranberry Sauce

It’s hard to beat the sweet-tart-savory combo of roasted turkey meat and cranberry sauce, especially when you make the sauce from scratch. These are the fresh spices we highly recommend for making your homemade cranberry sauce incredibly flavorful.

• Ground Ginger Root
• Ceylon Cinnamon Quills
• Cayenne Pepper
• Sumac

Thanksgiving Pies

From pumpkin, to apple, to sweet potato, spices make Thanksgiving pies special. Bake from scratch with our premium cinnamons and extracts, or use our spiced sugars to jazz up a store-bought pie or frosting. Be sure to browse our entire collection of Baking Spices for more sweet flavors of the holidays.

• Pumpkin Spice
• Apple Pie Spice
• Madagascar Vanilla Extract
• Saigon Ground Cassia Cinnamon
• Pumpkin Spice Sugar
• Spiced Vanilla Sugar