20 Thanksgiving Dishes So Simple, You’ll Wonder Why You Didn’t Make Them Sooner
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Thanksgiving prep stressing you out? These recipes are here to change that. Easy to make, packed with flavor, and guaranteed to impress, they’ll have you wondering why you didn’t try them sooner. Say goodbye to complicated cooking and hello to a holiday that’s as simple as it is delicious.
Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
This cheesy garlic pull-apart bread is practically made for Thanksgiving snacking. With its crispy crust, fluffy inside, and loads of garlic butter and melted cheese, it’s guaranteed to disappear before the turkey is even ready. Six ingredients, 15 minutes of effort, and you’ll have a dish that tastes like you worked way harder than you did.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
Cranberry Brie Bites
These cranberry brie bites are the MVP of Thanksgiving appetizers. They’re quick to whip up, look like something straight out of a fancy dinner party, and perfectly balance sweet, tart, and creamy flavors. When you only need five ingredients and ten minutes to prep, these will become your go-to holiday starter.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Brie Bites
Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Thanksgiving hosting is easier when your drinks make themselves, and this slow cooker mulled wine does just that. Toss in red wine, citrus, and warm spices, and let it simmer into a cozy, fragrant holiday treat. It’s festive, simple, and guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
Roasted Turkey
Thanksgiving is all about the turkey, and this roasted recipe delivers perfection without the stress. Juicy, tender meat, crispy golden skin, and simple, flavorful seasoning mean you’ll look like a pro. Whether it’s your first time hosting or you’ve done this a dozen times, this foolproof method has you covered.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These garlic mashed potatoes will make you question why you’ve been doing mashed potatoes any other way. They’re creamy, buttery, and have just the right touch of garlic to make them irresistible alongside turkey and gravy. Simple enough for any night, but special enough to shine on Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Chicken Salad
Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into something magical with this cranberry chicken salad. Sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy dressing make this fresh, easy, and perfect for the day-after lunch. If you’ve got leftover turkey, even better—it’s a new holiday tradition waiting to happen.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad
3-Ingredient Fudge
This 3-ingredient fudge is the holiday hack you didn’t know you needed. Rich, creamy, and full of chocolatey goodness, it’s the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dessert spread—or a last-minute edible gift. No complicated steps, just pure, melt-in-your-mouth happiness.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Fudge
Honey Mustard Salmon
If you’re hosting a smaller Thanksgiving or just not into turkey, this honey mustard salmon is a game-changer. The sweet and tangy glaze pairs perfectly with classic sides like mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. It’s an elegant, no-fuss option that will leave everyone impressed.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Salmon
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Pumpkin dump cake is the dessert that feels like fall on a plate. It has creamy pumpkin pie filling topped with a buttery, crumbly layer that tastes like you spent hours on it—but it’s ready in under an hour. Bring this to Thanksgiving and watch everyone go back for seconds (or thirds).
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake
Vodka Cranberry
Thanksgiving cocktails don’t get easier than this vodka cranberry. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect balance of sweet and tart to sip on while the turkey’s roasting. Toss in a few fresh cranberries, and you’ve got a festive drink that looks as good as it tastes.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Cranberry
Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Cheese and bacon cob loaf is the appetizer your Thanksgiving table has been missing. It’s creamy, cheesy, and loaded with crispy bacon, all baked into a crusty bread bowl. Easy to make, impossible to resist, and just what you need to keep everyone happy before dinner is served.
Get the Recipe: Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets
Skip the stress of traditional pie this Thanksgiving with these puff pastry apple pie pockets. Juicy, spiced apples wrapped in flaky pastry give you all the flavor of a classic pie with half the effort. They’re portable, delicious, and guaranteed to be a hit.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets
Pineapple Cheese Ball
This pineapple cheese ball brings a fun twist to your Thanksgiving appetizers. Sweet pineapple, creamy cheese, and crunchy pecans come together in a dish that’s simple to make and even easier to enjoy. Put it on the table with crackers, and watch it disappear.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball
Pumpkin Brownies
Pumpkin brownies are the perfect dessert mash-up for Thanksgiving. Fudgy chocolate meets cozy pumpkin spice in a treat that’s as festive as it is delicious. They’re so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been bringing these to every holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Brownies
Parmesan Potatoes
These parmesan potatoes are the unsung heroes of Thanksgiving sides. Crispy on the outside, buttery on the inside, and coated in cheesy perfection, they’re ridiculously simple to make. Bonus: they pair perfectly with everything on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut butter fudge is the easiest sweet treat you can add to your Thanksgiving dessert table. Creamy, rich, and perfectly sweet, it’s like a bite-sized indulgence that guests will rave about. It’s so quick to make, you’ll have extra time for everything else on your holiday to-do list.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Fudge
Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon
Hosting a small Thanksgiving? Bacon-wrapped filet mignon is the perfect centerpiece for an intimate holiday meal. Tender beef wrapped in crispy bacon feels fancy without the stress, and it’s ready in no time—so you can focus on enjoying the day.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon
Maple Bacon
Thanksgiving mornings deserve a little something special, and maple bacon delivers. The sweet, smoky glaze takes crispy bacon to a whole new level that’s perfect for brunch or as a pre-dinner snack. Warning: once you try it, plain bacon just won’t cut it anymore.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon
Stuffed Dates
These goat cheese stuffed dates are the ultimate Thanksgiving finger food. Sweet, creamy, and topped with a satisfying crunch, they’re the perfect mix of fancy and effortless. No cooking required—just assemble, serve, and enjoy the compliments.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Dates
Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots are the easiest way to make your Thanksgiving sides unforgettable. Sweet, tender, and covered in a buttery honey-garlic glaze, they’re as simple to make as they are beautiful on the table. Even the veggie skeptics will ask for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
