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Thanksgiving is, arguably, the most stressful day of the year for home cooks. Working on several recipes at once can be a little daunting, no matter how experienced you are. If you have a large crowd to feed or if you’re just cooking for a few, simple recipes with simple ingredients are your best friend. That’s why we rounded up our laziest Thanksgiving dishes ever. Whether you need a low-effort side, a simple dessert, or an easy way to cook turkey, these recipes will save your holiday.
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Squash Casserole
Allrecipes/Karen Hibbard
“This creamy squash casserole has a crunchy cracker and Cheddar cheese topping. Perfect for a tasty side or vegetarian main dish.” —ROSECART
Apple Cinnamon Spoon Cake
Photographer: Brie Goldman / Food Styling: Annie Probst / Prop Styling: Kristin Schooley
“This apple cinnamon spoon cake is really easy to make and is full of fall flavors. Everything is cooked in one pan. Serve apple-cinnamon cake while still warm with vanilla ice cream.” —Jaelyn Luong
Purple Mashed Potatoes
“I still have leftovers and I’m drooling just thinking about them.” —SavvyOil4173
Cream Corn Like No Other
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Creamed corn made from scratch is so much better than anything you’ll find in a can. This quick and easy creamed corn recipe pairs frozen corn kernels with a decadently creamy sauce. It’s especially delicious side with chicken or pork, at barbecues, or served at your Thanksgiving table.” —DIANA YOCKEY
Pearl’s Green Bean Casserole
“Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French-fried onions make for a classic green bean casserole. An absolute must at American holiday meals!” —Pearl
Easy Pumpkin Dip
“Quick and delicious dip! Made as written but next time would probably soften the cream cheese before mixing to avoid little lumps. I served it with apples and graham crackers. Will definitely make again!” —domestic_novice
Baked Sweet Potato Sticks
“I love sweet potatoes, but not the sugary syrupy marshmallow-y kind, so I was looking for a more savory recipe. This was awesome. I played around with the seasonings too. I think my favorite (so far) was paprika, cayenne pepper, tarragon, and cinnamon. I look forward to more experiments from the spice rack.” —Yakuza
Slow Cooker Cocktail Smokies
“This little smokies recipe is so easy to make in the slow cooker for a party appetizer. They’re great for potlucks as well. The amounts can easily be adapted to suit your needs.” —Malina Bleeding Heart Morris
Grandma’s Stuffed Celery
“My grandma always made stuffed celery at Thanksgiving and Christmas. As kids, we were always so hungry before the holiday meal we would sneak and get a piece of celery to curb our appetite. It was nearly all gone by meal time and we always got fussed at with hint of a grin from Grandma. Now I never have holiday meals without it!” —Sherilyn
Holiday-Only Mashed Potatoes
“I only make these on holidays, and everyone wonders what’s in them that’s makes them so rich.” —Saltair4
Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“These roasted sweet potatoes with chunky onion wedges and garlic are finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a naturally sweet and savory holiday side dish. My Granny always made this for holiday dinners, and everyone always asked for the recipe!” —CATICALIC
Acorn Squash
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“Super easy and super flavorful! This recipe is an excellent blend of sweet and savory!” —1010lisalynn
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
“This baked Brie recipe is simple to make with a wheel of brie cheese wrapped in golden puff pastry. It’s so good served hot out of the oven and won’t last long on your holiday table! Serve this gooey cheesy appetizer with your favorite crackers or sliced crusty bread on the side.” —Nancy Vejvoda
Ham Salad
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I’ve made this recipe 3 times now. I think it’s perfect with sweet pickle relish. Add more or less of the various ingredients to meet your tastes.” —Demo.
Cranberry Sauce
“I was so thrilled with the end product. I will never buy canned cranberry sauce again. Added a pinch of cinnamon, which did not disappoint!!” —Jody Shoy
Hasselback Air Fryer Potatoes
“Air-fried hasselback potatoes are so easy yet they make such a pretty presentation, I serve these with a simple garlic aioli, but feel free to add a dollop of sour cream or topping of your choice.” —Bren
Blue Cheese and Pear Tartlets
“These tasty pear and blue cheese tartlets take little time to prepare, but will impress your guests!” —BOLLIVEB.
Cranberry Apple Casserole
“Super simple side dish, perfect for holiday or everyday meals. Goes great with chicken, turkey, ham, or pork. Can also double as a not-too-sweet dessert when served with ice cream or whipped cream.” —Christine Hanson
Bourbon Glazed Carrots
“A yummy, buttery glazed carrots recipe. You only need 3 ingredients for the glaze: brown sugar, butter, and bourbon.” —Flipper
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Sweet potatoes mashed with brown sugar, allspice, and cinnamon are covered with a marshmallow topping in this copycat ‘better than Boston market’ side dish. It’s easy to make and tastes great. If you’re looking for the best recipe for this holiday favorite, look no further!” —Samantha
Best Green Bean Casserole
“A green bean casserole makes the Thanksgiving holiday complete, and this version can be on the table in no time at all thanks to just four ingredients from your pantry or fridge: canned green beans, condensed mushroom soup, French-fried onions, and shredded Cheddar cheese.” —Jan
Simple Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Absolutely delicious! My new favorite side dish.” —Tisha Eames
Easy Herb-Roasted Turkey
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“Sometimes the best seasoning for turkey is a simple mixture of savory herbs and spices. This easy recipe for herb-roasted turkey requires very little prep time so you can work on the other parts of your holiday meal while your bird is roasting in the oven to tender, juicy perfection.” —LISAKHAMM
Easy Cranberry Orange Relish
“This fresh cranberry orange relish made with just four ingredients is a delightful change from traditional cranberry sauce. It can be made ahead of Thanksgiving and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before serving. It’s the only relish most of my family will eat!” —TXGIRLSX3
Autumn Apple Salad
“I love this recipe…it is simple, simple, simple, and for that reason, good for Thanksgiving. For a little something extra, add honey and fresh lemon juice to taste.” —CHAKAMUFFIN
Easy Smoked Turkey
“Smoked turkey is an easy and delightful way to cook a turkey while relaxing. I know lots of people are a bit apprehensive about preparing their first smoked turkey. I have smoked over 100 and never had a bad one. The skin is beautifully tanned, and the meat is so juicy.” —TOM TROTTIER
Make-Ahead Garlic Toast
“I had serious doubts, but it was an incredible lifesaver for two reasons: I was able to salvage day old bread and make garlic bread ahead of time so that I could just throw it in the oven right as I needed it.” —Sarah Jo
Turkey in a Bag
Allrecipes/Oana Ennis
“Cooking turkey in a bag is easy with this recipe. Your Thanksgiving turkey will be perfectly moist when done, and you can make gravy out of the juice that forms in the bottom of the bag.” —dyclark
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I love pumpkin dump cake. There are lots of different variations of this popular recipe out there, but I think this is the easiest one to remember and make!” —Carolyn Busch
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Cook turkey legs in the slow cooker for thighs and drumsticks that are juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned. Try this for Thanksgiving when you don’t want to cook an entire turkey. My daughters and husband love this with jellied cranberry sauce, quick stuffing, and gravy.” —kmdennis
Simple Pumpkin Pie
“We had our little one make this on her own while teaching her to read and understand recipes. Came out perfect, and she’s very pleased with herself! Great simple recipe for a quick pumpkin pie for the holidays.” —mmrtnz
Slow Cooker Ham
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“It’s easy to make with this no-fuss recipe that’s perfect for holiday meals. The only ingredients you need are brown sugar and a bone-in picnic ham.” —Patricia Anderson
2-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
“This super easy pumpkin spice cake recipe is moist and delicious. Great when frosted with your favorite cream cheese frosting.” —Chickentarian.
Turkey Tenderloins
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“These marinated turkey tenderloins are simple yet festive. If you’re not up to the task of roasting a whole turkey, this dish is for you!” —Christine L.
Easy Rum Cake
“This cake is amazing! It hasn’t let me down yet. I’m going to try with different flavored rums next time to see how they will taste. Delicious!” —Chrystyne
