Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
Updated Nov 20, 2025
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You don't need to be a chef to make a 5-star holiday meal. These Easy Thanksgiving Recipes always impress, yet are incredibly simple to make.
Whether you are a seasoned cook or this is your first time preparing a holiday dish, I have you covered with easy recipes that will make your Thanksgiving meal both delicious and stress-free. From juicy turkey to creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes to stunning salads and desserts that will make you wish you had left more room, this is the ultimate collection of easy Thanksgiving recipes!
Kristen's Keys to an Easy Thanksgiving Meal
I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinner for over 20 years and have learned quite a few tips for hosting a stress-free Thanksgiving. But when it comes to the food, I have a handful of crucial tips to help you keep it simple!
- Limit the Menu. Stick to one appetizer, one main, a few sides, and one dessert. Doing it all will only leave you too tired to enjoy the meal.
- Enlist Help. Encourage your guests to bring a dish to share, or let your out-of-town guests cook and/or clean up after the meal. It should be a family event, not a one-person show.
- Make a Plan. Make a detailed menu, shopping list, and a plan for when each dish needs to be prepared. It will make your day go a lot smoother.
- Don't Experiment. Now is not the time to experiment with an unfamiliar recipe. Even if it is a new recipe you are following, pick dishes you know and love.
- Prep-Ahead. If time and space permits, I have many tried-and-true make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes that will help you to pull off a feast without last minute chaos!
- Free Up Space! If you find you don't have room in the oven or on the stove to make everything planned, use your slow cooker to make mashed potatoes or check out my Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes and let your Instant Pot do some heavy lifting.
The Ultimate Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
While I have an EXTENSIVE collection of recipes that are suitable for your holiday meal, today is all about EASY! I have gathered my easiest tried-and-true, Thanksgiving recipes so that you can enjoy an EASY and delicious meal.
1. Roast Turkey
Turkey can feel like the most overwhelming part of Thanksgiving dinner. But this is the easiest method for making a juicy turkey that will be the star of your holiday meal. No basting required!
2. Instant Pot Turkey Breast
If you are only preparing a turkey breast, using the Instant Pot is hands down the easiest, most flavorful way to prepare it. Even the gravy can made right in the Instant Pot.
3. Turkey Gravy without Drippings
Skip the jar of gravy and make this incredibly easy recipe instead. Not only does it take minutes to prepare, it is made without drippings so it can be made days in advance.
4. Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
Not only does this recipe allow you to get a jump start on making the mashed potatoes, but you can keep them for hours once prepared. Talk about easy!
5. Mashed Potato Casserole
Creamy, cheesy, and can be made several days in advance--and so flavorful, no gravy is needed!
6. Old-Fashioned Bread Stuffing
With simple ingredients, this buttery stuffing is not only incredibly easy to make but the flavor is perfection. And don't worry, you don't have to mess with actually stuffing the bird. Have an Instant Pot? Try my Instant Pot Stuffing recipe for similar results.
7. Corn Casserole
If it's your first time contributing to the holiday meal, this is the easy Thanksgiving recipe to bring. It is always a favorite and super easy to make--even without using a box of Jiffy!
8. Sweet Potato Casserole
If you are looking for a vegan-friendly, gluten-free side dish that EVERYONE will love, this is it! The components can be prepped in advance to keep things easy on Thanksgiving Day.
9. Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
This easy recipe delivers the same flavors as sweet potato casserole but comes together with just minutes of prep.
10. Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
Full of rice, crisp-tender broccoli, and a from-scratch, creamy, cheesy sauce, this is one side dish that makes everyone chow down on their veggies. And don't worry, that from-scratch sauce is super simple to make.
11. Instant Pot Creamed Corn
Instant Pot Creamed Corn is one of the easiest Thanksgiving recipes. It is a dump-and-cook recipe that delivers creamy, buttery, rich corn that is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.
12. Green Beans Almondine
Instead of making green bean casserole, try this easy recipe dish instead. It comes together in minutes, is incredibly fresh, and perfectly delicious.
13. Cranberry Orange Sauce
Almost as easy as opening a jar and far superior to the flavor of anything canned! This is truly one of the easiest Thanksgiving recipes ever and can be made several days in advance.You may also like my recipe for Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce.
14. Homemade Applesauce
Homemade applesauce is a must on my family's Thanksgiving menu, and my no-peel stovetop applesauce or Instant Pot applesauce is truly the easiest recipe.
15. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Glazed with honey, garlic, and a bit of hot sauce, these Roasted Brussels Sprouts are sweet and savory, and deserve a spot on your Thanksgiving table! No room in your oven? Try my recipe for Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts.
16. Roasted Acorn Squash
Glazed with maple and roasted until caramelized, this easy Thanksgiving side is deceptively delicious and incredibly easy to make.
17. Roasted Fall Vegetables
Mix and match seasonal fall vegetables to make an easy, yet delicious side dish perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. It will be an unexpected favorite.
18. Butternut Squash Salad
Roast the squash and prep the dressing up to 3 days in advance. Than assemble with tender greens, creamy feta, sweet pears, and tart cranberries for a salad everyone will rave about.
19. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
With sweet apples, nutty pecans, chewy cranberries, salty parmesan, and a honey lemon dressing that ties it all together, this easy Thanksgiving salad always impresses.
20. Holiday Salad
This seasonal mixed greens salad can be prepped up to 48 hours in advance and assembled right before serving, making it yet another easy recipe for Thanksgiving.
21. Pumpkin Pie
Skip the homemade crust and buy a quality frozen pie crust. Then whipping up this pumpkin pie couldn't be easier to make!
22. Pumpkin Roll
This show-stopper is so much easier to make than you may think. It is hands-down my favorite easy Thanksgiving dessert!
23. Pumpkin Cake
Perfect for first-time bakers, this easy pumpkin cake delivers incredible flavors and couldn't be easier to make.
24. Fruit Turkey
While this adorable fruit turkey platter looks impressive, it takes just minutes to prepare. In fact, it is a great dish for the kids to prepare to share with family and friends.
I hope these easy Thanksgiving recipes inspire your own holiday menu and make entertaining so much less stressful. xo-Kristen
More Family-Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
While I just shared with you my EASIEST Thanksgiving Recipes, I do have a few more favorites if you are feeling a bit more adventurous in the kitchen.
- Turkey Brine: This is an EASY recipe, but can intimidate people. I challenge you to try it. It is truly a game-changer when it comes to making a juicy turkey.
- Homemade Buttery Mashed Potatoes: Made with Yukon gold potatoes that are steamed and then riced, these are the creamiest mashed potatoes ever!
- Green Bean Casserole From Scratch: A from scratch Green Bean Casserole made with fresh green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and a homemade "fried" onion topping.
- Stuffed Acorn Squash: This impressive recipe is worthy of being the main event! Stuffed with a rich filling made from sausage, wild rice, apples, dried cranberries, and fresh herbs, this is an impressive, hearty dish made with seasonal fall flavors.
- Twice Baked Butternut Squash: Creamy, buttery, and cheesy, this twice baked squash is an inventive way to serve up this fall vegetable.
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake: A creamy pumpkin spice cheesecake with gingersnap crust is made in the pressure cooker, for a perfectly creamy dessert.
- Dutch Apple Pie: Made with a flaky pie crust, a perfectly sweet apple pie filling, and a buttery streusel, this Dutch Apple Pie is everything you crave in apple pie.
PS. Have leftovers? Put them to use with one of these delicious leftover Thanksgiving recipes.
I am bookmarking several of your recipes as I will be hosting Thanksgiving this year and need shortcuts! The instant pot turkey and crockpot mashed potatoes are calling to me! I want to try something new with dinner rolls and thought you might have a recipe or create one. We won't have stuffing this year, so I thought why not make a stuffing flavored dinner roll! The traditional herbs, maybe sautéed with finely chopped onion and celery. Leftover turkey would be awesome on a stuffing flavored roll. I love so many of your recipes--thank you!
Hi Kellie! I am so happy to hear you are bookmarking my recipes 🙂 I think you will find the Instant Pot Turkey breast and crockpot mashed potatoes to be so helpful. As for your idea for rolls--that sounds incredible! I don't have a recipe like that--I bet it would take quite a bit of tweaking with the added moisture from celery and onions but wow would it be good.