Restaurant Picks & Seafood Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast in Florida!
Thanksgiving Dining on the Florida Coast
Thanksgiving in Florida brings the perfect combination of sunshine, coastal beauty, and a variety of dining options for celebrating the holiday.
Whether you’re staying in one of our Distinctive Beach Rentals in the St. Augustine, Cape Coral, Daytona, or the Fort Myers and St. Petersburg areas, you’ll find fantastic local restaurants offering delicious Thanksgiving meals.
For those who prefer to enjoy a home-cooked feast in the comfort of their vacation rental, we’ve included two local seafood-inspired recipes—Oyster Dressing and Hot Crab Dip—to bring a taste of Florida to your table.
Recipes Below
Thanksgiving Dining Options by Location :
St. Augustine
Cape Coral
Daytona
St. Petersburg
Fort Myers
Recipes for a Coastal Thanksgiving
If you prefer a more intimate, home-cooked meal, why not try these delicious seafood dishes with local flavors? Both recipes are perfect for adding a Floridian twist to your holiday dinner.
OYSTER DRESSING
Ingredients:
Fresh oysters- drained well and chopped small or in half depending on your preference.
Cornbread- crumbled- dry ( can use bag of cornbread stuffing mix)
Traditional Bread stuffing mix
1 Chopped yellow Onion, 3 stalks chopped celery, and 2 cloves chopped garlic ( or garlic salt to taste)
1 pkg Sweet Italian Sausage or Jimmy Dean Sage sausage- crumbled
Butter, sage, thyme, and parsley to taste
Lg container Chicken broth
Milk
2 eggs
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven and mix cornbread and bread stuffing
Cook and crumble and drain sausage
Sauté onions, celery, and garlic in butter until tender.
Sauté chopped oyster in butter until edges curl
Stir in chopped oysters, sausage and seasonings.
Combine with the cornbread and add container of chicken broth and milk by ½ cup until very moistened. ( not quite oatmeal consistency )
Mix eggs into stuffing
Dot with butter and Bake 1 hour until golden brown and cooked through.
HOT CRAB DIP
Ingredients:
1 container Fresh lump crab meat- add ½ lb chopped cooked shrimp if you like!
1 block Cream cheese
1 cup Sour cream and 1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. Lemon juice, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1/8 cup chopped Garlic or garlic salt to taste , ½ cup chives, and parsley to garnish
Can add 1/2 cup chopped artichoke hearts if you like
Instructions:
Mix cream cheeses, sour cream, mayo, and seasonings until smooth.
Fold in the crab meat and herbs
Spread into a baking dish, top with more cheese, and bake about 45 minutes until bubbly.
Serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, Florida Style!
Whether you dine out at one of the area's finest restaurants or cook a seafood-inspired feast in your vacation rental, Florida offers the perfect setting for a memorable holiday
. Be sure to check for reservations in advance, as many places fill up quickly for Thanksgiving!