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The best Ina Garten make-ahead Thanksgiving side? According to the Barefoot Contessa herself, the answer is Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes. Originally featured in her 'Make It Ahead' cookbook, Ina Garten's potato recipe is simple to make.

Published on November 18, 2021

Ina Garten’s picking her favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving side. Which Barefoot Contessa Thanksgiving recipe from the celebrity chef gets the top spot? Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes.

Ina Garten picked Twice Baked Potatoes as her favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving side 

In the lead-up to Thanksgiving Day 2021, Garten’s taken to social media to share some of her favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes. On Nov. 18, 2021, she highlighted her sweet potato recipe on Instagram, suggesting it might be her top Thanksgiving side. 

“Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes may be my favorite Make-Ahead Thanksgiving side dish! The filling is made with lots of Taleggio and thyme,” she wrote in the caption. “And not a marshmallow in sight! They are absolutely delicious and can be prepped the day before for your perfect no-stress Thanksgiving!”

This is the latest post about Barefoot Contessa make-ahead Thanksgiving sides from Garten. Previous posts centered around green beans and turkey. 

Garten’s known for having simple recipes and her Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes are no exception. Originally featured in her 2014 Barefoot Contessa cookbook, Make It Ahead, the recipe calls for only a few ingredients. 

According to the recipe instructions listed on Garten’s official Barefoot Contessa website, she makes what might be her favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving side using only eight ingredients. And that includes salt and pepper. 

After scrubbing the potatoes Garten puts a few slits in each one (so steam can escape). Then she bakes them for about an hour. Once they’re cool enough to handle the Modern Comfort Food author sautés butter and fresh together in a pan with shallots. 

Next, she scoops out the insides of each potato and mixes it together with the butter as well as cheese. Finally, she puts the filling back in the potatoes and bakes them again. But not before she’s added a sprig of thyme — possibly from her East Hampton garden — on top.  

After approximately another 30 minutes of baking Garten pulls the potatoes out of the oven. At that point, they’re ready to go on any Thanksgiving table. As Garten often says on her Food Network show, how easy is that?

Garten’s Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes isn’t her only make-ahead side dish. Far from it. The 73-year-old has plenty of other make-ahead Thanksgiving sides that are just as simple and easy to make.

Want to go classic when it comes to Garten’s make-ahead Thanksgiving sides? Make her Barefoot Contessa mashed potatoes instead of the Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes. The directions — and ingredient list — are just as simple. 

Beyond potatoes, the Barefoot Contessa host has other Thanksgiving sides she loves serving family and friends. Some of her other favorite Thanksgiving sides include Mushroom and Leek Bread Pudding, Cranberry Fruit Conserve, Root Vegetable Gratin, and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon. Pick any number of the make-ahead sides and pair them with a Garten 5-star turkey recipe for a Barefoot Contessa Thanksgiving.

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