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24 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday

Shareba Abdul, founder and editor of In Search Of Yummy-ness.
Updated: • Written by • This post may contain affiliate links • 2 Comments

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Looking for easy Thanksgiving recipes that actually taste amazing? You're in the right place!

I've rounded up 24 of my favourite Thanksgiving recipes that will help you create a delicious holiday meal without all the stress.

Various thanksgiving dishes in a collage. Text overlay says "24 Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving".

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Looking for easy Thanksgiving recipes that actually taste amazing? You're in the right place!

I've rounded up my favourite Thanksgiving recipes from my kitchen and other talented food bloggers that will help you create a delicious holiday meal without all the stress.

These easy Thanksgiving recipes use simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and many can be made ahead of time.

I've organized everything from appetizers through to desserts, so you can easily plan your entire menu.

Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

These appetizers look impressive and are packed with flavour, but you won't have to spend hours making them.

A cute pumpkin-shaped cheese ball with a pretzel stem and sage leaves, on a platter with crackers and dried fruit.

An Adorable Cheese Ball

How cute is this Pumpkin-shaped Cheese Ball from Aleka's Get-Together?! Surprisingly, it's a lot simpler to make than it looks. With a few basic ingredients, you can have this ready in under 5 minutes!
Pumpkin-Shaped Cheese Ball
Photo credit: alekasgettogether.com
A wheel of brie topped with caramelized pears, walnuts and honey on a wooden serving board.

Fancy Brie Made Simple

This gorgeous baked brie topped with caramelized pears and walnuts looks like it came from an expensive restaurant. The secret? It takes just 20 minutes and uses ingredients you probably already have!
Caramelized Pear and Walnut Topped Brie
Photo credit: brittanystager.com
A plate with several puff pastry appetizers made with brie and cranberry preserves.

Elegant Bites in Minutes

These cranberry brie bites look so fancy, but they're actually one of the easiest appetizers you can make. Just 4 ingredients and 20 minutes, and you've got something that will impress every guest.
Brie and Cranberry Bites
Photo credit: crumbblog.com
A large stuffed mushroom filled with a melted chunk of brie and topped with herby Panko breadcrumbs.

The Mushroom Appetizer Everyone Loves

These stuffed mushrooms disappear faster than any other appetizer I make. The combination of creamy brie and crispy panko makes them absolutely irresistible, and they're surprisingly easy to prep ahead.
Stuffed Mushrooms with Brie

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

These easy Thanksgiving side dishes prove that simple ingredients can create incredible flavours.

A bowl of autumn vegetable soup topped with roasted squash seeds and pomegranate seeds, on a beige napkin.

A Cozy Start to the Meal

Indulge in the flavours of fall with this hassle-free Autumn Harvest soup. This one is dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a delicious option for your friends or family members who have food sensitivities.
Autumn Harvest Soup with Roasted Squash Seeds
Photo credit: justinecelina.com
A scalloped bowl filled with creamy brown butter mashed potatoes topped with finely chopped chives.

The Best Mashed Potatoes Ever

Brown butter transforms regular mashed potatoes into something absolutely incredible. The nutty, rich flavor pairs beautifully with roasted garlic, and honestly, these might steal the show from your turkey!
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
Photo credit: barleyandsage.com
Mashed parsnips in a ceramic bowl, topped with crispy parsnip strips and chopped parsley, set on a dark wooden table.

A Lighter Alternative to Mashed Potatoes

This sweet, silky side dish is lighter than mashed potatoes but just as comforting. The natural sweetness of parsnips pairs beautifully with sage and nutmeg, making it perfect for turkey dinner.
Mashed Parsnips
A platter with sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows.

Sweet Potato Casserole with a Twist

This loaded version takes classic sweet potato casserole up a notch without making it complicated. It's got all the comfort food vibes you want, plus some fun extras that make it feel special.
Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Photo credit: quichemygrits.com

A Beautiful Fall Side Dish

This glazed acorn squash looks stunning on the table and tastes even better than it looks. The vanilla and cardamom add such elegant flavors, but the recipe itself is really straightforward.
Vanilla & Cardamom Glazed Acorn Squash
A wooden bowl filled with spinach pear salad topped with crumbled goat cheese, toasted pecans, and balsamic Dijon vinaigrette, with salad tongs resting on the side.

A Fresh, Bright Salad for Your Holiday Table

Sweet pears, tangy goat cheese, and toasted pecans come together with a simple balsamic dressing. This spinach salad adds a light, elegant touch to any Thanksgiving spread and takes just 15 minutes to make.
Spinach Pear Salad
A scalloped wooden bowl full of homemade cranberry sauce topped with an orange rind twist.

Cranberry Sauce with Grown-Up Flavors

The bourbon and orange in this cranberry sauce make it so much more interesting than the canned stuff. It's still super easy to make, but it tastes like you put real thought into it.
Bourbon Orange Cranberry Sauce
Photo credit: bigflavorstinykitchen.com

Brussels Sprouts That Convert Skeptics

I've seen people who swear they hate Brussels sprouts go back for seconds of these. The brown butter makes them nutty and delicious, and they're so simple to make.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter
A white baking dish with classic bread stuffing topped with bits of sage, next to a white plate with a serving of stuffing.

No-Fail Stuffing Recipe

Sometimes you just want classic, reliable stuffing that tastes like Thanksgiving should. This recipe delivers exactly that with foolproof instructions that work every time.
Classic Bread Stuffing
Photo credit: pookspantry.com

Easy Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Why wrestle with a whole turkey when you could make one of these simple main dishes instead? Each one delivers amazing results without complicated steps.

A perfectly roasted chicken in a copper bottom pan, being held by someone wearing a white apron.

A Show-Stopping Roast Chicken

This vanilla bean and brown butter roast chicken is absolutely gorgeous and tastes incredible. It's actually easier than roasting a turkey, but looks just as impressive on your table.
Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Roast Chicken
Photo credit: adventuresincooking.com
A herbed crusted roasted turkey breast sitting on a bed of apples and onions in a dutch oven.

Turkey Without the Stress

If you're intimidated by whole turkey, this cider-roasted turkey breast is your answer. All the turkey flavor you want with way less stress and much easier carving!
Cider Roasted Turkey Breast
Photo credit: budgetbytes.com
A fancy dinner plate with two slices of turkey roulade next to beans and other vegetables, on a table with a large platter with roasted squash.

A Different Take on Turkey

This bacon-wrapped turkey roulade looks like something from a fancy restaurant, but it's more manageable than you'd think. The cider gravy puts it completely over the top in the best way.
Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Roulade
Photo credit: simplebites.net
turkey meatballs in a baking dish with a large serving fork, on a table set for Thanksgiving dinner.

A Fun Twist on Turkey

These turkey meatballs are such a clever way to serve turkey! They're easier to cook than a whole bird, and kids especially love them. Plus, they're great for smaller gatherings.
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatballs
Photo credit: whatsgabycooking.com

Check Your Temperatures

An illustration of a green circle with a green checkmark. Text says "Food Safety".

If you're cooking turkey or chicken, be sure to check the internal temperature with a food thermometer. For food safety, whole birds should be cooked to 82°C (180°F) and pieces should be cooked to 74°F (165°F).

Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

As much as I love classic pumpkin pie, I don't always have the time or energy for dealing with homemade pie dough.

Here are some alternative dessert ideas that will please a crowd without requiring a ton of time or effort.

A tall stack of pumpkin cookie bars on a pretty orange plate.

Easy Seasonal Cookie Bars

These pumpkin cookie bars are like having pumpkin cookies and chocolate chip cookies at the same time. They're soft, chewy, and way easier than rolling individual cookies.
Pumpkin Cookie Bars with Chocolate Chips
A mini pumpkin cheesecake with a bite taken out of it on a plate.

30-Minute Pumpkin Cheesecakes

These adorable mini pumpkin cheesecakes are ready in 30 minutes or less, and you don't even need to turn on your oven! The graham cracker crusts make them easy to serve, and they're the perfect size for everyone to have their own.
No Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Photo credit: brokenovenbaking.com
Two slices of pumpkin loaf cake on small plates next to a cup of tea and a napkin.

Simple Cake with Big Flavour

This pumpkin loaf cake is moist, spiced just right, and so much easier than making a traditional pumpkin pie. It's the kind of dessert that disappears fast but doesn't stress you out to make.
Pumpkin Loaf Cake
Photo credit: bakeschool.com
Three pumpkin crepes topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and chopped pecans, sitting on a blue plate.

A Dessert That Doesn't Need the Stovetop

These pumpkin crepes taste like pumpkin pie but feel more special and elegant. They're surprisingly easy to make, and you can even prepare the batter ahead of time.
Pumpkin Crepes
Slices of cranberry blondies with hazelnuts on a white table next to a cold glass of milk.

Blondies with Fall Flavors

These white chocolate cranberry blondies are such a nice change from traditional fall desserts. They're chewy, sweet, and have that gorgeous pop of red from the cranberries.
White Chocolate & Cranberry Blondies
Photo credit: foodnouveau.com
A slice of pumpkin pie made with a graham cracker crust topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on a matte white plate.

Skip the Pie Dough

This pumpkin pie with graham cracker crust is a total game changer! You get all the classic pumpkin pie flavor without the stress of rolling out pastry dough.
Pumpkin Pie in Graham Cracker Crust

Bonus: Use Up Your Leftover Turkey

As much as I love turkey casserole or turkey soup, it's nice to have another option for those leftovers.

White turkey chili in a dark grey bowl, topped with sliced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, and shredded cheese. Served with tortilla chips and lime wedges.

A Fun Way to Enjoy Leftover Turkey

This mild chili combines tender turkey, white beans, and warm spices in a savory broth. It's the perfect way to use up leftover turkey, and it tastes even better the next day. Ready in 40 minutes!
White Turkey Chili

I hope you found some inspiration in this collection of easy Thanksgiving recipes!

If you decide to try any of these dishes, I'd love to hear how they turn out. Leave a comment and let me know which ones become your go-to recipes!

If you're looking for drink recipes, I have a collection of tasty Fall drink recipes that you can check out, too!

Shareba Abdul, founder and editor of In Search Of Yummy-ness.

Shareba is a recipe developer and food photographer with a Culinary Arts certificate from George Brown College and more than 15 years of experience in food media.

On In Search of Yummy-ness, she shares easy seasonal comfort food recipes inspired by global flavours. Learn more →

More Fall Recipes

Comments

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  1. Ashley @ Big Flavors says

    What a lovely roundup! Thank you so much for including my cranberry sauce recipe - it's in great company with these other recipes!

    Reply

    • Shareba says

      Thanks so much, Ashley!!!

      Reply