To ensure your holiday preparations are as seamless and enjoyable as possible, I’ve thoughtfully organized this easy Thanksgiving dinner menu into clear, manageable categories. This systematic approach empowers you to effortlessly navigate through the options, whether your goal is to prepare an extensive, bountiful spread for a large number of guests or to carefully select a few standout dishes from each section. The ultimate objective is to help you craft a well-rounded, incredibly flavorful, and deeply satisfying meal that will leave everyone at your table feeling cherished and delighted.

For those who appreciate a more traditional approach or desire an even more comprehensive planning resource, I highly recommend exploring my Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu. This detailed guide includes a full prep plan, offering step-by-step timing recommendations for each dish, making your entire Thanksgiving cooking experience remarkably easy and truly enjoyable from start to finish.

Why You Will Love These Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

• Effortless, Easy-to-Follow Recipes: Bid farewell to complicated techniques and lengthy ingredient lists. As a seasoned professional chef, I have specifically curated these recipes to be incredibly straightforward and accessible, guaranteeing a hassle-free cooking experience. Many of these delightful dishes feature fewer than five primary ingredients and can be prepped in under 30 minutes, allowing you ample time to relax, mingle, and truly savor the holiday spirit.
• Expert Professional Tips and Tutorials: Unlock the secrets of efficient holiday meal preparation by leveraging my extensive experience in bustling professional kitchens and orchestrating large-scale Thanksgiving dinners. I’m sharing all the invaluable lessons, clever shortcuts, and insider insights I’ve gathered over the years, ensuring your Thanksgiving feast is not only easy to execute but also perfectly delicious and wonderfully memorable.
• Stress-Free Menu Planning, Simplified: The often arduous task of sifting through countless recipes, enduring rounds of testing, and perfecting dishes has already been meticulously completed for you! This collection is meticulously designed for a completely stress-free experience. Simply select as many delectable recipes as you need from each thoughtfully organized section, and voilà – you’ll have a flawless, easy Thanksgiving menu that’s guaranteed to impress every guest at your table. (And rest assured, none of these genuinely “easy” recipes will ever begin with the word “sifting”!)

Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes Overview

I’ve meticulously organized each course of a Thanksgiving dinner menu into distinct sections, making it incredibly simple for you to either pick and choose your personal favorites or embrace them all for a truly plentiful, yet surprisingly easy, holiday dinner! This collection beautifully blends beloved classic side dishes with some exciting new favorites that are sure to become staples at your Thanksgiving table for years to come.

Easy Thanksgiving Cocktails

Set a joyful and relaxed tone for your Thanksgiving celebration with these festive, easy-to-make cocktails. This curated selection includes drinks that are perfect for preparing in large batches, ensuring you can keep the conversation flowing and fully engage with your guests, rather than being tethered to a cocktail shaker all evening!

Greet your arriving guests with a burst of festive color and flavor by serving this vibrant, bright red pomegranate Thanksgiving Sangria from A Paige of Positivity. This delightful cocktail offers a refreshing and sophisticated start to your holiday dinner, guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to prepare in advance and can be mixed together in just 5 minutes, freeing you up to mingle and enjoy your company.

Thanksgiving Sangria

Thanksgiving Sangria is the perfect cocktail for your holiday gathering. Ready in just 5 minutes and full of bright & festive flavors.

View Recipe

This Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail is an undeniable winner for the autumn and winter seasons. Its delightful blend of crisp apple and warming ginger creates a truly inviting and comforting beverage that’s perfect for any holiday happy hour, right up until Christmas. It’s an easy batch drink that delivers on sophisticated flavor without the fuss.

Harvest Apple Ginger Smash

Celebrate National Happy Hour Day with this refreshing Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail made with a homemade apple-spice simple syrup, vodka, ginger liqueur, and apple cider. Every sip is full of sweet apple flavor with a kick of ginger and warm spices. Serve it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and garnishes of thin-sliced apple and rosemary sprigs and cheers to fall flavors!

Cheers!

Get ready to elevate your holiday festivities with this exceptional drink recipe! This Holiday Negroni takes the classic Negroni as its inspiration, featuring the familiar depth of Campari and sweet vermouth. However, we’re giving it a brilliant holiday twist by swapping the traditional gin for a smooth amber rum and crowning it all with a generous splash of sparkling wine. Because, let’s be honest, you absolutely deserve a fancy, easy-to-make cocktail during the most wonderful time of the year!

Holiday Negroni

What is a holiday, really, without a fancy beverage in hand? This Thanksgiving, treat yourself to the Holiday Negroni, aka a sparkling Negroni-inspired cocktail made with amber rum and sparkling wine. It comes together in just five minutes and is so yummy, it might disappear just as fast. Cheers!

Make this Holiday Negroni!

When it comes to crafting delicious and imaginative non-alcoholic beverages, no one quite rivals Elizabeth from Entirely Elizabeth. Her Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail captures all the comforting and vibrant flavors of your favorite Fall cocktails, but completely alcohol-free! Your guests will genuinely appreciate the thoughtful option to sip on something truly special and festive, moving beyond the usual sparkling grape juice, making it an inclusive and delightful choice for everyone.

Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail

Fresh, fruity, and crisp Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail made using alcohol removed white wine. It is fun, easy, and perfect for fall entertaining.

View Recipe

Initially, I planned to share just one sangria recipe, but this Fall Harvest Sangria recipe from The Crumby Kitchen is simply too stunning and unexpectedly delicious not to include! It features a beautiful medley of fresh pears, crisp apples, sweet figs, and exotic starfruit, all perfectly balanced with just the right amount of warm spice. My recommendation? Mix up both a white and a red sangria – perhaps this one and the Pomegranate Cranberry Sangria – and let your guests delight in choosing their preferred festive concoction!

Spiced Fall Sangria

Made with seasonal fruits and spices steeped in your favorite white wine, this Spiced Fall Sangria delivers the warmth and comfort of autumn in every sip!

View Recipe

Simple Appetizers for Thanksgiving

When it comes to Thanksgiving appetizers, the key is to keep things simple and stress-free. Remember, everyone is primarily there for the wonderful company and, of course, the grand main event! You simply want to offer your guests a little something delightful to nibble on while the magnificent turkey finishes its perfect roast (or fry!). Choose one or two from the curated list below, or, for a truly minimalist approach, feel free to skip the appetizers altogether. Rest assured, no one will complain when they realize they have extra room to indulge in a generous slice (or two!) of pie later on!

I like to think of these easy Sweet Potato Bites from Food, Fun & Faraway Places as a tantalizing and flavorful teaser for the incredible meal that is yet to come! Each bite offers a delightful symphony of textures and tastes: a tender piece of roasted sweet potato, bright and tangy cranberry sauce, creamy goat cheese, and a satisfyingly crunchy walnut topping. They’re elegant, easy, and perfectly capture the essence of fall flavors.

Sweet Potato Bites

Roasted sweet potato rounds create the perfect cradle for a goat cheese, cranberry sauce and walnut topping that your guests are absolutely going to love!

View Recipe

No winter holiday gathering is truly complete without the comforting indulgence of a baked brie. This particular Brown Butter Fig Baked Brie from The Crumby Kitchen is as delightful and unexpected as it is bursting with flavor. The harmonious blend of sweet figs, caramelized pears, and crunchy pecans perfectly complements the creamy, melted brie, creating an easy-to-prepare appetizer that’s both elegant and incredibly satisfying. Serve it with crackers or crusty bread for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Brown Butter Fig & Pear Baked Brie

This creamy Brown Butter Fig & Pear Baked Brie is both elegant and comforting, and is sure to be the hit of any holiday or cold weather party!

View Recipe

Prepare to say hello to your new go-to appetizer that’s both simple and sophisticated! There’s something so delightfully unexpected and utterly addictive about the combination of salty, delicate prosciutto and perfectly cooked, slightly crisp-tender broccoli. These Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli from Luci’s Morsels offer a fun, creative, and arguably superior twist on the more common prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. It’s a truly ingenious appetizer that combines flavor and ease beautifully.

Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli Appetizer

Enjoy the delectable combination of salty prosciutto and steamed roasted broccoli in this elegant & simple broccoli appetizer.

View Recipe

These incredibly easy Bacon Cheese Crescent Tartlets are a delightful and effortless addition to your appetizer spread. Crafted with convenient Crescent dough, they feature a perfect combination of savory toppings. Imagine crispy, golden-brown tartlets generously filled with smoky cheese, savory bacon, and fresh green onions – each bite is a burst of irresistible flavor that will have your guests reaching for more. They’re quick to assemble and always a huge hit!

Bacon Cheese Crescent Tartlets

Bacon Cheese Crescent Tartlets uses crescent dough with savory ingredients like smoky cheese, bacon and green onions for the perfect bite of appetizer heaven.

View Recipe

Perfect Roasted Turkey: The Centerpiece of Your Feast

Achieving a perfectly cooked, flavorful turkey doesn’t have to be a daunting task. This roasted herb turkey recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor impact. It features a brilliant technique of layering finely chopped herbs between the turkey breast and the skin, ensuring that every bite of the bird is infused with aromatic herb butter. The recipe itself is incredibly straightforward and yields consistently delicious results. To make it even more foolproof for your easy Thanksgiving dinner, I’ve even filmed a comprehensive turkey tutorial, guiding you through each step with confidence.

If you’re hosting a smaller gathering this year or simply prefer an alternative to turkey, a beautifully roasted chicken makes an excellent and equally impressive main course. It offers similar comforting flavors with a shorter cooking time.

5 from 2 ratings

Roasted Herb Turkey

This easy Roasted Herb Turkey has chopped herbs under the skin, so you get a nice crisp turkey skin and herb-flavored turkey meat!

Roast Turkey!

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes: Crowd-Pleasers Made Simple

This list features only the absolute easiest and most delectable side dishes, carefully selected to minimize your holiday stress. These are the kinds of dishes you can effortlessly pull together without any last-minute scramble or, even better, prepare them entirely the day before Thanksgiving and simply bake or reheat on the big day! For even more inspiration and variety, feel free to peruse my comprehensive list of the 30 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes, where you’ll find plenty of options to complement your feast.

This incredibly easy vegetable casserole recipe is a true holiday lifesaver, made convenient with readily available thawed frozen vegetables. It creates the simplest Thanksgiving side dish, yet surprises with a wonderfully complex and rich flavor profile. Requiring only 5 core ingredients and a mere 5 minutes of active prep time, this creamy, cheesy casserole is a testament to how effortless deliciousness can be. It’s the perfect make-ahead option to free up your oven on Thanksgiving Day.

4.75 from 4 ratings

Easy Vegetable Casserole

Creamy, cheesy, flavorful. 5 ingredients and 5 minute prep time: This casserole couldn’t be easier yet it has a surprisingly complex flavor!

Make Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

This visually stunning and effortlessly simple hasselback sweet potato casserole elevates a classic side dish with minimal fuss. Its preparation is as easy as slicing and baking – the characteristic fanned cuts are simple to achieve. The delightful topping is mixed by hand in just one bowl, then artfully crumbled over the sweet potatoes during the final stage of baking. For an even quicker preparation, you could easily slice the sweet potatoes on a mandolin, arrange them in your baking dish, and let the oven do the rest!

This recipe offers a healthier, lighter version of traditional sweet potato casserole, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a lighter option. Marshmallows are entirely optional, ensuring you get all the beloved flavors with a fraction of the usual calories, allowing everyone to indulge guilt-free.

5 from 1 ratings

Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

This Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole is a fun twist on the traditional sweet potato casserole. It has all the flavors without all the work!

Make Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole!

For a wholesome and satisfying alternative to the more decadent sweet potato casserole with pecans, consider these delightful vegetarian stuffed sweet potatoes! They feature tender baked (or conveniently microwaved) sweet potatoes, generously topped with a savory sautéed mixture of aromatic shallots, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh broccoli. It’s a healthy, flavorful, and easy-to-prepare side that offers a lighter, yet equally delicious, option for your Thanksgiving spread.

5 from 2 ratings

Vegetarian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

These Vegetarian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes have a little natural sweetness, a little heat from the red pepper flakes and a salty tang from the feta. Easy, vegetarian, and healthy!

Make Stuffed Sweet Potatoes!

This year, opt for an effortlessly easy, one-bowl sweet cornbread instead of the more time-consuming yeasted options like potato dinner rolls or spiced pumpkin dinner rolls. Sometimes, you’re simply not in the mood for any type of yeasted bread, even something as straightforward as my easy dinner rolls. This sweet cornbread recipe is quick, comforting, and provides that essential bread element to your Thanksgiving table without any added stress, making it perfect for your easy Thanksgiving dinner plan.

5 from 11 ratings

Moist Sweet Cornbread

This Sweet Cornbread Recipe is buttery, lightly sweetened and has a velvety texture. This moist cornbread recipe can be made in under 45 minutes in any dish even a cast iron skillet!

Make Easy Cornbread!

I must confess, I’m an absolute sucker for the fragrant sage in this delightful herb cornbread! It elevates a simple cornbread into a sophisticated side dish, perfectly complementing the rich flavors of a Thanksgiving meal. Its moist texture and aromatic blend of herbs make it an ideal accompaniment, offering a comforting and flavorful bread option with minimal effort.

herb cornbread

Deliciously aromatic, moist flavorful and incredibly versatile herb cornbread to serve as a side to soup, chili, salad, etc.

Bake Herb Cornbread!

This easy cranberry chutney recipe is a testament to simplicity meeting extraordinary flavor, requiring only 5 main ingredients plus a selection of fragrant spices. This tart, vibrantly aromatic sauce serves as the perfect unifying element, expertly pulling together all the diverse flavors of your side dishes and adding a welcome burst of refreshing acidity to every bite. It’s an ideal make-ahead item, but it’s also wonderful to prepare as guests arrive, as its inviting aroma will beautifully fill the air, setting a truly festive mood.

4.97 from 53 ratings

Cranberry Chutney

My Grandmother’s recipe for Cranberry Chutney is the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Easy and aromatic, it completes your Holiday table!

Make Cranberry Chutney!

If you’re already committed to roasting a magnificent whole bird for this year’s Thanksgiving Menu Plan, then it’s an absolute must to transform those flavorful pan drippings into a rich and savory gravy! This incredibly easy gravy recipe can be made with any type of pan drippings, and I’ve included all my professional “cheat codes” to ensure it turns out perfectly delicious every single time, no matter what happens in the kitchen. Don’t let those precious drippings go to waste – make the ultimate easy gravy for your Thanksgiving dinner!

5 from 48 ratings

Easy Gravy from Pan Drippings

A professional chef shows you how to make gravy from drippings! This easy gravy recipe makes a thick, rich, robust gravy.

Get the Recipe!

Simple Vegetable Side Dishes: Fresh and Flavorful

If your preference leans towards lighter, simpler, and health-conscious side dishes, especially those centered around beautifully roasted vegetables, then this section is perfectly tailored for you. These easy vegetable dishes are not only incredibly healthy but also burst with natural flavors, making them just as satisfying and delightful as some of the more decadent options we’ve included above. They offer a refreshing contrast and ensure your Thanksgiving plate is well-rounded.

This roasted spiced butternut squash is a personal favorite in my kitchen, prepared at least once a week throughout the entire winter season. It’s an absolutely perfect dish for Thanksgiving, delivering all the quintessential comforting squash vibes without any of the usual guilt or laborious preparation. With minimal effort, you get tender, sweet squash infused with warm spices, making it a healthy and incredibly flavorful addition to your holiday table.

5 from 1 ratings

Roasted Spiced Butternut Squash

A delicious, healthy recipe for roasted spiced butternut squash! Cubed butternut squash tossed with herbs, a pinch of cinnamon and olive oil for a delicious, healthy side dish!

Make Roasted Butternut Squash!

These delightful Baked Acorn Squash Halves are roasted to perfection with just a touch of butter, a sprinkle of salt, and a hint of brown sugar, creating a side dish that’s subtly indulgent and deeply comforting. This baked acorn squash recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor. Furthermore, it reheats beautifully, making it an excellent option for enjoying delicious leftovers. It serves as a fantastic, elegant alternative to richer mashed sweet potatoes.

5 from 1 ratings

Baked Acorn Squash Halves

These Baked Acorn Squash Halves are baked with a little butter, salt and brown sugar for a slightly indulgent side dish! These baked acorn squash halves are incredibly easy to prepare and reheat nicely for leftovers.

Easy Baked Acorn Squash!

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes offer a wonderfully easier and distinctly healthier alternative to the classic, often heavy, creamy mashed potatoes. Preparing them couldn’t be simpler: just season your potatoes, toss them thoroughly to ensure an even coating of herbs and olive oil, and then roast until they achieve a gorgeous golden-brown crispness on the outside, yielding a soft and creamy interior. This method brings out their natural sweetness and earthiness, making them a perfectly satisfying side for any easy Thanksgiving dinner.

5 from 2 ratings

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

I make these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes at least once a week! They are easy, delicious and the perfect complement for roast chicken. The leftovers are phenomenal on salad!

Roast Rosemary Potatoes!

These elegant and flavorful pan-roasted Brussels sprouts and leeks are a show-stopping vegetable side dish that’s deceptively easy to create. What truly elevates this dish is the exquisite lime-ginger butter, which infuses every bite with a bright, zesty, and subtly spicy warmth. Guests will be so impressed by the unique flavor combination that you’ll hear delighted requests to “pass the Brussels sprouts, please!” making it a guaranteed hit at your easy Thanksgiving dinner.

5 from 2 ratings

Brussels Sprouts and Leeks with Lime-Ginger Butter

These Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Leeks with a lime-ginger butter have layers of flavor! Caramelized brussels sprouts and leeks are finished with a lime ginger browned butter sauce so good, you’ll never look at brussels sprouts the same again!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Leeks

While Thanksgiving fare can often be delightfully rich and hearty, incorporating a fresh salad offers a wonderful and welcome contrast. This Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese from The Honour System is not just any salad; it’s a festive, flavorful, and incredibly bright addition to your table. It’s healthy without sacrificing taste, bringing together peppery arugula, sweet roasted potatoes, and tangy goat cheese for a refreshing bite that balances the traditional heavier dishes of your easy Thanksgiving dinner perfectly.

Arugula Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

The fusion of peppery arugula leaves and the rich, tangy flavors of goat cheese all served on a bed of roasted sweet potatoes offers a delicious contrast in textures and tastes. 

View Recipe

Easy Thanksgiving Desserts: A Sweet and Simple Finale

If you’re new to my culinary corner, allow me to introduce myself as a professional pastry chef, which means this site is a veritable treasure trove of dessert recipes! While the easy options below are designed for ultimate simplicity, if none of these particular delights pique your interest, rest assured there’s a world of sweetness awaiting. You can delve into my collection of the 20 Best Thanksgiving Pie Recipes, explore the delightful 21 Best Apple Dessert Recipes, or even browse a whole collection of festive Thanksgiving Dessert Cupcake Recipes! There’s an easy and delicious ending to your meal for everyone.

This wonderfully flavorful and perfectly spiced easy pumpkin pie is a dream to make. The entire filling is whisked together in just one bowl and features the convenience of sweetened condensed milk, ensuring a creamy, consistent texture every time. For the simplest dessert you’ll make all year, bake it in a store-bought pie crust. Alternatively, if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try your hand at my foolproof vodka pie crust for an even more exquisite result. For additional seasonal dessert ideas, you might also want to explore these 10 Easy Pumpkin Desserts.

5 from 49 ratings

Easy Pumpkin Pie

An easy pumpkin pie with only 5 ingredients! Just whisk everything together, pour into the crust and bake! It’s creamy with the perfect amount of spice.

Bake The Best Pumpkin Pie

There is truly nothing quite as simple, satisfying, and utterly comforting as a homemade apple crisp. This easy apple crisp features a delightful brown sugar oat topping that bakes up sweet and wonderfully crunchy, perfectly complementing the tender, tart, and warmly spiced cinnamon apple filling. For the ultimate easy Thanksgiving dessert, serve it warm with a generous scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream, creating a harmonious blend of textures and temperatures that everyone will adore.

5 from 46 ratings

Easy Apple Crisp

This easy apple crisp recipe has a cinnamon apple filling with a crispy brown sugar oat topping. The tart filling balances the generous amount of brown sugar oat topping!

Bake Easy Apple Crisp!

This comforting pumpkin bread pudding captures all the beloved flavors of pumpkin pie but is, astonishingly, even easier to prepare! Yes, easier than pie! Simply whisk together all the ingredients for the rich, spiced custard, pour it generously over cubed bread, and bake until golden and bubbly. I absolutely love to serve this delightful pudding with a decadent spoonful of homemade crème anglaise. For the adult table, you could even add a splash of fine Bourbon to the sauce, elevating it to an extra special holiday treat for your easy Thanksgiving dinner.

4.98 from 41 ratings

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

An easy Pumpkin Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Sauce! The pudding is moist and flavorful, and the creamy, sweet maple Bourbon sauce pulls all the flavors together.

Bake Pumpkin Bread Pudding!

This delightful no-bake pumpkin cheesecake offers the luscious, creamy texture of a classic pumpkin cheesecake without any of the lengthy baking time or the added stress of a water bath in the oven. The rich, smooth filling is undeniably decadent and bursting with authentic pumpkin flavor and warming spices. Paired with a perfectly spiced gingersnap cookie crust, it creates an easy yet sophisticated dessert that is ideal for busy fall weekends or when your oven is already fully occupied with other Thanksgiving dishes.

no-bake pumpkin cheesecake

This No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake has a silky, smooth, mousse-like filling that is rich in pumpkin spice and flavor! This no bake dessert is perfect for busy Fall weekends or Thanksgiving when there’s no more room in the oven!

Make no-bake pumpkin cheesecake!

Prepare a large, impressive tray of these delightful pecan pie bars well in advance, and you’ll have the perfect slice-and-serve Thanksgiving dessert ready to go! The entire process is wonderfully simple, yielding results that are bursting with classic fall flavors. These bars feature a rich, gooey brown sugar pecan pie filling atop a buttery shortbread crust, offering all the joy of pecan pie in an easy-to-manage format. You might even consider passing a plate around the table for a quick, sweet bite after dinner while everyone eagerly anticipates the grand dessert presentation.

4.99 from 52 ratings

Pecan Pie Bars

These easy pecan pie bars have a gooey brown sugar pecan pie filling on a buttery pecan shortbread crust! All of the flavors of the best pecan pie with a little bit of maple syrup.

Bake Pecan Pie Bars!

Perfect for streamline your Thanksgiving preparations, these delightful pumpkin bars are remarkably easy to pull together in advance and can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days, making holiday meal planning a breeze! The bar base itself is incredibly moist, tender, and richly spiced with all the classic fall flavors. It’s generously topped with a silky smooth cream cheese frosting that strikes the perfect balance, being flavorful without being overly sweet. These bars are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and an ideal easy Thanksgiving dessert.