21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (2024)

Table of Contents
1. Coat your turkey with butter before you cook it instead of brining or marinating. 2. Use crescent roll dough to make tiny apple pies. 3. Cook mashed potatoes in a slow cooker... 4. ...then use an electric mixer to mash them! 5. If you make a root vegetable mash instead of mashed potatoes, you can puree it in a blender. 6. Or, if you're willing to break from tradition, roasted potatoes are way easier than mashed. 7. Cook baby carrots instead of whole carrots so that you don't have to peel or cut them. 8. Bake a soft cheese in its wooden box for an easy appetizer that looks fancy. 9. Make a no-bake pie. 10. Use frozen hash browns to make your potato casserole. 11. Cook sweet potatoes in the microwave, then peel and mash them. 12. Swap the green bean casserole for easy stovetop green beans. 13. Bake a semi-homemade pie with premade pie dough and homemade filling. 14. Add cheese and nuts to a simple green salad for lots of added flavor and minimal added prep. 15. Make a quick, sweet appetizer with cream cheese, caramel sauce, and toffee pieces. 16. Cook squash with the skin on so that you don't have to waste time peeling it. 17. If you're cooking for fewer than 5 people, don't bother with a whole bird. 18. Dress up frozen dinner rolls with garlic and cheese to make them more special. 19. Use prepackaged bread cubes for stuffing instead of slicing your own. 20. Make a 3-ingredient green bean casserole with canned soup, canned green beans, and boxed fried onions. 21. Ditch pie and make a pumpkin icebox cake instead. Still worried about cooking for Thanksgiving? Click here for step-by-step instructions on exactly how to cook a simple Thanksgiving dinner. Trending Recipes Trending Recipes More Tasty Guides FAQs

Be thankful for slow cookers and crescent roll dough.

Christine ByrnePublished on November 20, 2014
21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (2)

1. Coat your turkey with butter before you cook it instead of brining or marinating.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (3)

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

No brining means no need to clear out your entire fridge for two days before Thanksgiving in order to fit a five-gallon cooler in there. The butter will keep your meat moist and add flavor. Just remember to thaw your turkey a few days in advance.

Recipe: Easiest Thanksgiving Turkey and Gravy

2. Use crescent roll dough to make tiny apple pies.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (4)

3. Cook mashed potatoes in a slow cooker...

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (5)

lecremedelacrumb.com

Just throw everything in, let it do its thing, then mash. You don't even have to peel the potatoes!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

4. ...then use an electric mixer to mash them!

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (6)

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

Because mashing takes a lot of time and a lot of forearm strength.

Recipe: Easy Whipped Potatoes

5. If you make a root vegetable mash instead of mashed potatoes, you can puree it in a blender.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (7)

marthastewart.com

Easy doesn't have to be simple or boring.

Recipe: Apple and Parsnip Mash

7. Cook baby carrots instead of whole carrots so that you don't have to peel or cut them.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (9)

damndelicious.net

These carrots take 15 minutes to make and don't require an oven.

Recipe: Honey-Glazed Baby Carrots

8. Bake a soft cheese in its wooden box for an easy appetizer that looks fancy.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (10)

frenchflakes.com

Serve with bread or crackers.

Recipe: Gooey Baked Camembert

9. Make a no-bake pie.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (11)

iheartnaptime.net

Because of the no-bake nature of this pie, the apples are crunchy, not soft. Still delicious, though.

Recipe: Caramel Apple Pie

10. Use frozen hash browns to make your potato casserole.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (12)

carpeseason.com

No peeling. Enough said.

Recipe: 5-Minute Potato Casserole

11. Cook sweet potatoes in the microwave, then peel and mash them.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (13)

food52.com

SO much faster than using the oven.

Recipe: Mashed Maple Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

12. Swap the green bean casserole for easy stovetop green beans.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (14)

foodiecrush.com

Green bean casserole has many parts (bechamel, fried shallots, etc.) and it isn't even very good. This one-skillet green bean dish is easier, faster, fresher, and more delicious.

Recipe: Pancetta and Hazelnut Green Beans

13. Bake a semi-homemade pie with premade pie dough and homemade filling.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (15)

Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed

Using store-bought crust means all you have to do is unroll it into a pie dish, then mix your filling ingredients together and pour them in. No waiting for the dough to "come together," no flour-coated countertops!

Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Pie

14. Add cheese and nuts to a simple green salad for lots of added flavor and minimal added prep.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (16)

julieblanner.com

"Easy salad" doesn't have to by synonymous with "lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers in a bowl with bottles of store-bought dressing on the side." Easy salad can actually taste like something (preferably nuts and cheese).

Recipe: Irresistably Easy Salad

15. Make a quick, sweet appetizer with cream cheese, caramel sauce, and toffee pieces.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (17)

shewearsmanyhats.com

A sweet appetizer might be the best way to gear up for a mountain of savory food. Plus, having something for guests to snack on will keep them from asking when dinner is going to be ready.

Recipe: Easy Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Spread

16. Cook squash with the skin on so that you don't have to waste time peeling it.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (18)

jellytoastblog.com

The skin will add color, and lots of people like to eat it. Leave the squash in big pieces too. This will save you time, but it'll also make it easier for skin-averse guests to peel it off.

Recipe: Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

17. If you're cooking for fewer than 5 people, don't bother with a whole bird.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (19)

butterwithasideofbread.com

Just the breast will be enough. Cooking it in a slow cooker will keep it moist and save you valuable oven space. Recipe here.

18. Dress up frozen dinner rolls with garlic and cheese to make them more special.

19. Use prepackaged bread cubes for stuffing instead of slicing your own.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (22)

savorysweetlife.com

It'll still be more delicious than boxed stuffing mix, since all of the seasoning and vegetables will be from scratch.

Recipe: Mom's Thanksgiving Stuffing

20. Make a 3-ingredient green bean casserole with canned soup, canned green beans, and boxed fried onions.

If you ~insist~ on a green bean casserole, this one is about as easy as food gets.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Green Bean Casserole

21. Ditch pie and make a pumpkin icebox cake instead.

21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (25)

diethood.com

Give yourself a break and let your freezer do the work.

Recipe: Pumpkin Icebox Cake

Still worried about cooking for Thanksgiving? Click here for step-by-step instructions on exactly how to cook a simple Thanksgiving dinner.

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    21 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes For Lazy Cooks (2024)

    FAQs

    What to bring to Thanksgiving that isn't food? ›

    Here are a couple of suggestions:
    • Flowers (arranged in a vase or container)
    • Cornucopia.
    • Box of chocolates.
    • Box of teas.
    • Gourmet treats like specialty cheeses, jam containers, crackers or a beautifully packaged gourmet gift basket.
    • Wine.
    • Holiday drink mix.
    • Book.
    Nov 16, 2023

    How do you simplify Thanksgiving dinner? ›

    Tips To Simplify Thanksgiving Entertaining
    1. Pick the menu early. Don't leave menu planning and shopping to the last minute. ...
    2. Brine your bird. Turkey is the centerpiece of the feast, so give it every opportunity to shine. ...
    3. Start prep work a few days before Thanksgiving. ...
    4. Serve batched co*cktails. ...
    5. Create simple centerpieces.
    Nov 1, 2023

    What can I make for Thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey? ›

    Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
    • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
    • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
    • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
    • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
    • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
    • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
    • Lasagna. Image. ...
    • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
    Nov 10, 2022

    What is your least favorite Thanksgiving dish? ›

    Among the many side dishes enjoyed by Americans during Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole made the list of least-liked side dishes.

    Is it rude to not bring something to Thanksgiving? ›

    Bring Something — Even If Your Host Insists It's Not Necessary. If you're asked to bring something specific, bring that and only that. Thanksgiving is simply not the time to improvise with off-beat flavor combinations or out-of-place dishes.

    What can you do for Thanksgiving if you don't have family? ›

    You can continue the day by hosting a Friendsgiving dinner or movie night with your pals who are still in town. When it comes to food, you can cook a mini turkey for one or ditch Thanksgiving dinner altogether and order take-out at a local restaurant.

    What is the most popular side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

    Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November.

    What do you say instead of "Happy Thanksgiving"? ›

    "May all the good things of life be yours, not only on this day but throughout the coming year." "Wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health and good times." "May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday season and healthful, Happy New Year."

    What other meat goes with turkey? ›

    If you're hosting a crowd this year, you'll most certainly want another Thanksgiving main dish, like ham or beef, to serve alongside your favorite turkey recipe.

    What are the three least liked Thanksgiving foods? ›

    Cranberry sauce took first place with 31 percent, followed by sweet potatoes or yams with 29 percent and green beans casserole a close third place with 28 percent. Although the main course on Thanksgiving is turkey - that doesn't mean everyone might be happy about it.

    What food was present at the first Thanksgiving but is rarely eaten now? ›

    Culinary historians believe that much of the Thanksgiving meal consisted of seafood, which is often absent from today's menus.

    What can I bring to a dinner party that's not food? ›

    Flowers are always a good gift. So is a good box of chocolates; if the host doesn't eat chocolate, it's still a handy thing to have around to serve guests. And, of course, if you know the host isn't averse to wine, a good bottle of wine (not necessarily to serve that evening, but to keep for later) is also a nice idea.

    What can I bring to a dinner party besides food? ›

    what to bring to a dinner party
    • Something to drink. This is probably the most obvious. ...
    • fresh flowers. This is another safe one and something I personally love receiving. ...
    • a good book. ...
    • an appetizer. ...
    • dessert. ...
    • top shelf olive oil. ...
    • a homemade consumable gift. ...
    • Sea Salt and a salt cellar.
    Jan 17, 2024

    What do you buy for Thanksgiving as a guest? ›

    While it's not a tradition to give or exchange gifts on Thanksgiving day, some people bring a gift for the person or family that is hosting the Thanksgiving meal. These gifts are usually small, such as a bottle of wine, flowers, or a platter of desserts the group can share.

    How do you celebrate Thanksgiving without cooking? ›

    8 Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving and Not Cook a Thing!
    1. Turkey (gobble gobble)
    2. Beef Tenderloin.
    3. Cream of Blue Hubbard Squash Soup.
    4. Kale Salad.
    5. “Perfect Mashed Potatoes”
    6. Crispy Stuffing.
    7. Bacon Balsamic Brussels Sprouts.
    8. Glazed Honey Carrots.
    Nov 4, 2018

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