33 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes and Dinner Ideas

These easy Thanksgiving recipes cover the whole menu, from appetizers and soups to sides, mains and desserts.

I've rounded up 33 of my favourite simple recipes from reliable food bloggers, including a few from my own kitchen, so you can put together an easy Thanksgiving dinner menu without the stress.

Four different Thanksgiving dishes in a collage. The text overlay says "33 Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving".

Jump to:

Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers
Easy Thanksgiving Soups
Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Easy Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Check Your Temperatures
Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
Bonus: Use Up Your Leftover Turkey

I've been slowly building up this collection of easy Thanksgiving recipes with contributions from established food bloggers who put in the work to create delicious, reliable recipes.

There are no AI-created recipes here, because who wants to waste their time and money on recipes that don't work?

This year I've added a few new recipes of my own that I'm really excited to share with you.

I developed my chestnut stuffing recipe from the classic stuffing recipe I've been making every Thanksgiving for several years. I roast chestnuts at home every Fall, and thought it would be nice to include them in the stuffing. I'll be making this new version every year from now on.

My pumpkin pie in a graham crust has been my go-to since I started making it, but this year my new pumpkin cheesecake bars stole the show.

I made them a few days before Thanksgiving, so I didn't even have to think about dessert on the day. The chocolate-and-pumpkin combination was a big hit with my friends and family, so that recipe will stay in regular rotation at my house, too.

All of these recipes use ingredients you can find at most grocery stores, so these simple Thanksgiving dishes are both easy to shop for and cook. You can also make many of them ahead of time.

I've organized the list by course, so you can plan your menu one section at a time.

Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

These appetizers look impressive and pack a punch of flavour, but you won't have to spend hours making them.

My stuffed mushrooms are always a big hit with mushroom lovers, and I've included both a sweet and savoury baked brie recipe because it's such an easy appetizer to make for a crowd.

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

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

How cute is this pumpkin-shaped cheese ball from Aleka's Get-Together? It may look like a lot of work, but it's much easier to make than it appears. With a few basic ingredients, you can have it ready in under 5 minutes.

Pumpkin-Shaped Cheese Ball

Photo credit: alekasgettogether.com

A hand holding a potato chip canapé topped with a slice of smoked salmon, a dollop of creamy sauce, and a small piece of chive on top.

Potato Chip Canapés with Smoked Salmon

These canapés top crunchy kettle chips with lemon-horseradish crème fraîche, smoked salmon, and fresh chives. They take about 12 minutes to put together and make 24 crunchy bites. You can make the crème fraîche mixture a day ahead and assemble them just before serving.

Smoked Salmon Potato Chip Canapés

A wheel of brie topped with caramelized pears, walnuts and honey on a wooden serving board.

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pears and Walnuts

This baked brie topped with caramelized pears and walnuts looks like it came from a fancy restaurant. It takes just 20 minutes and uses a short list of ingredients.

Caramelized Pear and Walnut Topped Brie

Photo credit: brittanystager.com

A wheel of baked Brie with melty cheese oozing out, topped with red pepper jelly nestled in between crackers, slices of toasted baguette, grapes, apple slices, pear slices and dried figs.

Baked Brie with Pepper Jelly

This warm, baked brie is an easy crowd-pleasing starter. You only need a wheel of brie and a jar of red pepper jelly, then serve with crackers, sliced bread, and fruit. I've included instructions for making this with and without a brie baker.

Baked Brie with Red Pepper Jelly

A plate with several puff pastry appetizers made with brie and cranberry preserves.

Cranberry Brie Bites

These cranberry brie bites look fancy, but they're one of the easiest appetizers you can make. You only need 4 ingredients and 20 minutes to serve something your guests will happily nibble on.

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.

Brie Stuffed Mushrooms

These stuffed mushrooms disappear faster than any other appetizer I make. Creamy melted brie cheese and crispy panko breadcrumbs are a great match, and you can prep these ahead of time.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Brie

Easy Thanksgiving Soups

A warm bowl of soup is a cozy way to start the meal. These cozy soups use hearty fall vegetables and are easy to make.

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

Autumn Harvest Soup

Enjoy the flavour of fall with this veggie-loaded soup, topped with crunchy roasted squash seeds. It's dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a good option for friends or family with dietary restrictions.

Autumn Harvest Soup with Roasted Squash Seeds

Photo credit: justinecelina.com

An overhead view of a vibrant yellow bowl of butternut squash soup garnished with pumpkin seeds and a swirl of coconut milk.

Curried Squash Soup

This velvety soup is made with roasted butternut squash, warm spices and creamy coconut milk, with a spoonful of mango chutney stirred in at the end. Most of the cooking time is hands-off, plus it's vegetarian and dairy-free. It keeps in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, so it's a nice make-ahead option.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

These flavourful side dishes prove that you can make great food from simple ingredients.

Mashed parsnips make a nice alternative to mashed potatoes, and chestnut stuffing is my new go-to stuffing recipe for holiday dinners.

Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls

These soft, fluffy pumpkin dinner rolls look adorable when tucked into a bread basket on your Thanksgiving table. They're buttery and bursting with pumpkin flavour.

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Photo credit: El Mundo Eats

A green baking dish full of freshly baked chestnut stuffing, next to a pair of fancy silver serving tongs, a stack of green plates, and other holiday side dishes.

Bread Stuffing with Chestnuts

This buttery chestnut stuffing is so good, it might just become your new favourite. It has classic sage and celery flavours, plus a touch of sweetness from the chestnuts and a crisp, golden top.

Chestnut Stuffing

A white baking dish with classic bread stuffing topped with bits of sage, next to a white plate with a serving of stuffing.

Savoury Bread Stuffing

If you want an easy old-fashioned bread stuffing recipe, this one is a no-fuss version with dried bread, celery, onions, garlic and sage.

Classic Bread Stuffing

Photo credit: pookspantry.com

A platter with sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Toasted Marshmallow

This loaded version of the classic sweet potato casserole adds a few fun extras, including a toasted marshmallow topping, a pecan streusel and cream cheese in the filling.

Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole

Photo credit: quichemygrits.com

A scalloped wooden bowl full of homemade cranberry sauce topped with an orange rind twist.

Cranberry Sauce with a Twist

Homemade cranberry sauce with fresh orange and a special ingredient for the grown-ups. It's nothing like cranberry sauce from a can.

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Photo credit: bigflavorstinykitchen.com

A scalloped bowl filled with creamy brown butter mashed potatoes topped with finely chopped chives.

Mashed Potatoes with Brown Butter

Brown butter gives mashed potatoes a rich, nutty flavour that works well with roasted garlic. These might even 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.

Creamy Mashed Parsnips

This sweet, silky side dish is lighter than mashed potatoes but just as comforting. The natural sweetness of parsnips goes well with sage and nutmeg, making it a great match with roasted turkey.

Mashed Parsnips

A vintage floral plate with green beans almondine; a dish made with buttery sautéed green beans topped with toasted almonds.

Green Beans Amandine

These green beans with garlic butter and toasted almonds are so easy to make; I often make them for dinner on busy weeknights. They're ready in under 20 minutes, and because you cook them on the stovetop, your oven stays free for roasting your chicken, turkey or pot roast.

Green Beans Almondine

Sweet Glazed Acorn Squash

This pretty acorn squash dish looks impressive, but is easy to make. The vanilla-and-cardamom glaze adds a warm, aromatic flavour.

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.

Spinach and Pear Salad

Sweet pears, tangy goat cheese, and toasted pecans come together with a simple balsamic dressing. This spinach salad adds a fresh, light touch to any Thanksgiving spread and takes just 15 minutes to make.

Spinach Pear Salad

Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts

Brown butter and toasted pecans make these roasted Brussels sprouts nutty and delicious.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter

Easy Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Not everyone wants to wrestle with a whole turkey, so why not try one of these easier recipes instead? These simple main dishes keep Thanksgiving dinner manageable while still feeling special.

The turkey meatballs from What's Gaby Cooking are particularly delicious, with a rich lemony turkey gravy built right into the recipe.

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

Vanilla and Brown Butter Roast Chicken

This roast chicken with vanilla bean and brown butter looks beautiful on the table. It's easier than roasting a whole turkey and has beautiful, warm, cozy flavours.

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.

Roasted Turkey Breast with Apple Cider

If roasting a whole turkey feels intimidating, this cider-roasted turkey breast gives you all the turkey flavour you want with 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.

Turkey Roulade with Bacon

This bacon-wrapped turkey roulade with cider gravy looks like restaurant fare, but it's more manageable than you might expect.

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.

Turkey Meatballs with Gravy

Turkey meatballs are a clever way to serve turkey with much less fuss. They're easier to cook than a whole bird and work well for small casual gatherings. Add these to your Friendsgiving menu!

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, check the internal temperature with a food thermometer. For food safety, cook whole birds to 180°F (82°C) and pieces to 165°F (74°C).

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 crust. Once I started making my homemade pumpkin pie with a graham cracker crust, I never turned back.

If you like pumpkin but don't feel like having pie, try the pumpkin crepes, pumpkin cheesecake bars or mini pumpkin cheesecakes instead!

These dessert recipes will please a crowd but don't take much effort to make.

A baked spiced pear in golden brown puff pastry sprinkled with coarse sugar on a green plate, with a purple napkin and gold fork.

Spiced Pears in Puff Pastry

These lightly spiced pears are an elegant dessert that comes together quickly with store-bought puff pastry and canned pears. They bake in about 20 minutes, with a spoonful of apricot jam tucked inside and a vanilla-and-brown-sugar butter brushed on top.

Pears in Puff Pastry

A pumpkin cheesecake bar studded with chocolate chips, with a dark brown chocolate graham crust, on a shallow white plate, on a dark brown table.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Chips

These cheesecake bars have a chocolate graham cracker crust and a creamy pumpkin filling studded with chocolate chips. They bake without a water bath, so they're easier to make than a classic cheesecake. Make them a few days in advance, then refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

A mini pumpkin cheesecake with a bite taken out of it on a plate.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes (No Bake)

These cute mini cheesecakes are ready in 30 minutes or less, and you don't even need to turn on your oven. Your guests will love having their own mini cheesecake for dessert.

No Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Photo credit: brokenovenbaking.com

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

Pumpkin Cookie Bars with Chocolate Chips

These pumpkin cookie bars are an autumnal twist on classic magic bars. They're soft, chewy, super sweet, and much easier to make than individual cookies.

Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Three pumpkin crepes topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and chopped pecans, sitting on a blue plate.

Pumpkin Crepes with Chocolate Drizzle

These pumpkin crepes taste like pumpkin pie but feel more special. They're easier to make than they look, and you can prepare the batter the night before. These cook entirely on the stovetop, too.

Pumpkin Crepes

A slice of pumpkin pie made with a graham cracker crust topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on a matte white plate.

Pumpkin Pie with a Graham Cracker Crust

Get all the classic pumpkin pie flavour without the stress of making and rolling out pastry dough. I love that I can throw this together with pantry ingredients without having to go out and buy a store-bought pie crust either.

Pumpkin Pie in Graham Cracker Crust

Two slices of pumpkin loaf cake on small plates next to a cup of tea and a napkin.

Pumpkin Loaf Cake with Warm Spices

This pumpkin loaf cake is nicely spiced with a great crust. It comes together without a mixer or any other special equipment.

Pumpkin Loaf Cake

Photo credit: bakeschool.com

Slices of cranberry blondies with hazelnuts on a white table next to a cold glass of milk.

White Chocolate Blondies with Cranberries

These white chocolate cranberry blondies are a nice change from traditional fall desserts. They're chewy and sweet, with a pop of vibrant red colour from the cranberries that are baked right in.

White Chocolate & Cranberry Blondies

Photo credit: foodnouveau.com

Bonus: Use Up Your Leftover Turkey

I love turkey casserole and turkey soup, but it's nice to have other options! Either of these recipes can be made with leftover chicken or turkey.

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

White Chili with Turkey (or Chicken)

This mild chili combines tender turkey, white beans, and warm spices in a savoury broth. It's a tasty way to use up leftover turkey or chicken, and it tastes even better the next day. Ready in 40 minutes!

White Turkey Chili

Someone wearing a purple sweater using a spoon to lift a spoonful of warm chicken pot pie soup out of a grey bowl. The soup has shredded chicken, diced carrots, diced celery, peas and corn kernels in it. There is also half of a biscuit sitting on top of the soup.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup (or Turkey)

This cozy pot pie soup is loaded with shredded chicken, carrots, celery, peas and corn. Swap in leftover turkey to turn it into a simple yet warm and comforting meal.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

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

If you 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 planning a drink to sip alongside dinner, you'll find plenty of ideas in this collection of cozy fall drink recipes.

About Shareba

Shareba Abdul is a recipe developer and food photographer with a Culinary Arts certificate from George Brown College and 15+ years of experience creating and testing recipes for home cooks. She is also a member of the International Association for Culinary Professionals and tests every recipe on this website in her own kitchen. Learn more →