Thanksgiving can feel like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be. These recipes are delicious, simple, and designed to make your life easier while still wowing your family. Forget the stress—these hassle-free dishes let you focus on what really matters: enjoying the holiday together.
Potato Skins
These loaded potato skins are the Thanksgiving MVP when it comes to flavor and ease. Crispy, golden potato halves topped with melted cheese, crumbled bacon, and fresh green onions hit all the right notes. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for your holiday table without any of the fuss.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins
Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Set the mood for Thanksgiving with a warm batch of slow cooker mulled wine. Bursting with the cozy flavors of red wine, citrus, and spices, this festive drink is as easy as tossing ingredients in your slow cooker. Let the inviting aroma fill your home while you relax and soak in the holiday vibes.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Who needs pie when pumpkin dump cake delivers all the fall flavors with half the effort? This creamy pumpkin filling topped with a buttery crumble is perfect for Thanksgiving dessert. It’s easy enough to whip up last minute but tastes like you planned it days ahead.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake
Cranberry Brie Bites
These cranberry brie bites will enhance your Thanksgiving appetizer game in just 10 minutes. Sweet-tart cranberry sauce, creamy brie, and flaky puff pastry combine to make a bite-sized treat your guests won’t stop raving about. They’re proof that fancy doesn’t have to mean complicated.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Brie Bites
Honey Mustard Salmon
Add a fresh twist to your Thanksgiving spread with honey mustard salmon. This dish pairs tender, flaky salmon with a sweet and tangy glaze that’ll steal the spotlight. It’s simple to make yet feels fancy enough for the holiday—perfect for impressing guests with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Salmon
Roasted Turkey
No Thanksgiving is complete without a perfectly roasted turkey. Golden brown on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, this recipe is foolproof and full of flavor. It’s the centerpiece that’ll have everyone saying, “You nailed it this year!”
Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes are the side dish that everyone will want seconds of at Thanksgiving. They’re creamy, buttery, and just garlicky enough to complement all your holiday favorites. Simple to make yet packed with flavor, they’re a must-have on your table.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Frozen Cranberry Margarita
Toast Thanksgiving with a refreshing frozen cranberry margarita that’s as festive as it is delicious. The bright red color and tangy-sweet flavor make it a crowd-pleasing addition to your holiday drinks. It’s so quick to mix up, you’ll still have plenty of time to focus on dinner.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Cranberry Margarita
Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Kick off Thanksgiving with this pull-apart bread that’s oozing with garlicky, cheesy goodness. It’s golden, soft, and absolutely irresistible—and it comes together in just minutes. This shareable dish will have everyone gathered around the table, diving in for more.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets
Skip the pie stress and go for these puff pastry apple pie pockets instead. Juicy, spiced apple filling tucked into flaky, golden pastry is a Thanksgiving dessert game-changer. They’re quick to make, easy to serve, and guaranteed to have everyone coming back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets
Copycat Alice Springs Chicken
Bring a restaurant-worthy dish to your Thanksgiving dinner with this Alice Springs chicken recipe. Juicy chicken topped with a honey mustard sauce, sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, and melty cheese is comfort food perfection. It’s a flavorful, easy-to-make option that will make everyone feel spoiled.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Alice Springs Chicken
Vodka Cranberry
Add some sparkle to your Thanksgiving table with a crisp vodka cranberry cocktail. The sweet-tart flavor is refreshing, and the festive red hue couldn’t be more perfect for the holiday. In just five minutes, you’ll have a drink that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Cranberry
Pineapple Cheese Ball
Put a sweet-and-savory spin on Thanksgiving with this pineapple cheese ball. Creamy cheese, juicy pineapple, and crunchy pecans make it a unique and flavorful appetizer. It’s ready in minutes, giving you one less thing to stress about on the big day.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball
Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Cheese and bacon cob loaf is the ultimate Thanksgiving comfort food. A crusty bread bowl filled with creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions, it’s perfect for sharing around the table. It’s easy, indulgent, and guaranteed to disappear in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
3 Ingredient Fudge
Finish Thanksgiving on a sweet note with this ridiculously easy 3-ingredient fudge. It’s rich, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth good, made with just chocolate, condensed milk, and butter. A perfect dessert or edible gift, it’s a no-fail way to impress your guests.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Fudge
Cranberry Chicken Salad
Bring a fresh and tangy twist to your Thanksgiving menu with cranberry chicken salad. Tender chicken, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy dressing make this dish an easy hit. It’s a light option that balances out the heavier holiday classics.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad
Pumpkin Brownies
Give your Thanksgiving dessert a chocolatey twist with these pumpkin brownies. They’re fudgy, spiced, and swirled with pumpkin goodness, making them the perfect seasonal treat. Quick to bake and impossible to resist, they’re a guaranteed crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Brownies
Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Serve up a lighter alternative to mashed potatoes with this creamy cauliflower version. It’s fluffy, garlicky, and so flavorful, your guests might not even realize it’s packed with veggies. A guilt-free side dish that complements every part of the Thanksgiving feast.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Easy Herb Cheese Ball
Add a touch of elegance to Thanksgiving with this herb-coated cheese ball. It’s rich, creamy, and full of fresh herb flavor, making it a standout appetizer. Best of all, it’s ready in 15 minutes, so you can focus on enjoying the holiday.
Get the Recipe: Easy Herb Cheese Ball
Peanut Butter Fudge
Sweeten up Thanksgiving with this rich and creamy peanut butter fudge. It’s incredibly simple to make but tastes like a professional confectioner whipped it up. Bring it to the table, and watch everyone go back for seconds (and thirds).
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Fudge
Bruschetta Al Pomodoro
Brighten up your Thanksgiving spread with bruschetta al pomodoro. Juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and crunchy bread bring a refreshing burst of flavor to the table. This easy, vibrant dish is perfect for balancing out all the hearty holiday dishes.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta Al Pomodoro
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving sides don’t get easier than these slow cooker mashed potatoes. Creamy, fluffy, and perfectly garlicky, they cook themselves while you handle other tasks. No stovetop juggling, just a foolproof way to serve a classic.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Cheese Curds
Add a cheesy, golden appetizer to your Thanksgiving lineup with these easy cheese curds. Whether pan-fried or baked, they’re crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and totally irresistible. A quick treat that’s sure to win over every guest.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Curds
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Make your Thanksgiving main course effortlessly hearty and delicious with this slow cooker pot roast. Tender beef, rich gravy, and perfectly cooked vegetables come together with minimal effort for a dish that feels like a warm hug. It’s a family classic that lets your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Bacon Cheddar Dip
Kick off Thanksgiving with this rich and creamy bacon cheddar dip. Packed with cheesy, smoky flavor, it’s perfect for serving with crackers, chips, or veggies. Ready in minutes, it’s an appetizer that’s as effortless as it is delicious.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheddar Dip