How to Set a Grazing Table for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a marathon of cooking, setting the table, and panicking about getting everything served when it’s due. This year, shake things up. We are casual and creative, but still keep it festive. Enter: the Thanksgiving grazing table. This is one big beautiful place where your guests can cook their own food, try everything and just have fun. The best part? With a few simple recipes using Ocean Spray®you’ll get all those classic Thanksgiving flavors but with a fresh, modern twist.

A grazing table is the simplest, but very aesthetic solution. Picture it: a rustic (or modern or maximalist—whatever your style, it’ll work) charcuterie that will keep the food flowing all day long. Start with appetizers, add them to the sides, and make room for the main event on one photo-worthy table. Guests can grab a bite to eat, drink and socialize at their own pace.

How to Set Up the Perfect Grazing Table

The secret to a killer grazing board is balance. You want a little bit of everything—textures, flavors, colors—and you want it all to be easy to grab. First of all, you want to achieve more. Grab a few large wood or ceramic boards (or a few smaller ones) to serve as the base for your grazing table. Rustic or elegant, it’s up to you, but make sure there’s room for all your holiday snacks.

Then add the classics (cranberry flavor is a no-brainer). It’s Thanksgiving, so we’re not missing out on the essentials – we’re just making it more grazing-friendly. Slice turkey, add spoons cranberry cream cheese sauce directly onto the boards, bake the filling in muffin tins and spoon the mashed potatoes into small tins. It’s all about making the food easy to eat, but also completely indulgent.

Key grazing table recipes

Mixture “Cranberry trail”: Start with a track mix featuring Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries. Toss them with toasted nuts, pumpkin seeds and a pinch of cinnamon. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory that guests will be snacking on all day long.

Cranberry Paste and Dipping Sauce: Take Ocean Spray® Cranberry Sauce and turn it into a spread that’s begging to be paired with turkey or roasted vegetables. Stay true to the classics by leaving the sauce as is, straight from the jar: Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce ideal for dipping or spreading, and Jellied cranberry sauce it’s better when you want something thinly sliced. Or you can change it up by whipping any sauce into a spicy aioli, or blending it with cream cheese for something smooth and zesty.

Sparkling sips: Support the holiday with Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktailcocktail mixers and some champagne. Set up a drinks station with glasses, ice, garnishes, liqueurs or NA spirits of your choice, and a variety of sparkling flavors. Guests can grab a glass whenever they want, and you won’t have to worry about playing bartender.

Don’t forget the finishing touches

Last but not least, don’t forget to decorate. You can make it as simple or as extravagant as you want. Add a few mini pumpkins, fresh herbs such as rosemary, red slices and Ocean Spray® fresh cranberriesor colorful fall leaves to make your board sing—there’s really no wrong way to do it. Don’t be afraid to play with heights—place a few treats on cake stands or layered bowls to keep things interesting and, let’s be honest, more photogenic.

A grazing board or table will transform Thanksgiving into something even more casual. You still provide your guests with all the best flavors. But with them you can really enjoy the day. With this setup, your Thanksgiving will be a holiday for the books (and your Instagram feed).