These easy Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas will reduce the stress of hosting a holiday dinner without sacrificing flavor. I've included everything from appetizers to desserts! You can copy my menu or pick and choose your ideal Thanksgiving recipes!
For even more Thanksgiving recipes, check out my posts on what to serve with Thanksgiving turkey, Thanksgiving side dishes, and easy Thanksgiving desserts.
Jump to:
- 1. Antipasto Platter
- 2. Pickle Roll-Ups
- 3. Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- 4. Ham Steaks
- 5. Campbell's Green Bean Casserole
- 6. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- 7. Easy Stuffing
- 8. Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese
- 9. Microwave Acorn Squash
- 10. Sweet Potato Muffins
- 11. Slow Cooker Candied Yams
- 12. Microwave Carrots
- 13. Pumpkin Dump Cake
- 14. No Bake Pumpkin Pie
- 15. Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
- 💭 Tips For Making Thanksgiving Dinner Easy
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Ideas (15+ Super Easy Holiday Recipes!)
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
You don't have to be an experienced chef to pull off a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. It might seem daunting, but with a good game plan and a few of my easy Thanksgiving recipes, you can't fail!
Most of these recipes will serve anywhere between 4-6 people. If you're expecting a larger crowd, you can use the 2x or 3x button at the top of each individual recipe card to scale it up as needed.
Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!
1. Antipasto Platter
Nothing beats an appetizer you don't have to cook, plus, it doubles as a distraction to keep people out of the kitchen! Arrange cured meats like salami, roasted nuts, hard and soft cheeses, and olives on a platter for grazing.
2. Pickle Roll-Ups
With just 3 ingredients, these pickle roll-ups are still the first thing to disappear at my house on Thanksgiving every year. Deli ham or turkey, cream cheese, and pickles, it's simple but so delicious!
3. Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Utilizing alternative kitchen appliances like crockpots, air fryers, and Instant Pots is a great way to lessen the load on Thanksgiving. If you aren't confident cooking a whole bird, give these perfectly juicy turkey breasts with crispy skin a try!
4. Ham Steaks
Ham steaks are an easy way to satisfy any Thanksgiving ham fans without cooking a whole honey-baked ham. They cook super quickly and are coated in caramelized butter and brown sugar, which gives them the same effect!
5. Campbell's Green Bean Casserole
Campbell's classic green bean casserole recipe made with canned green beans and cream of mushroom soup couldn't be easier! Pick up a tub of French's fried onions for the crispy topping and bake until golden!
6. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
These super rich and creamy mashed potatoes are made with just 5 ingredients, and they're ready to eat in 30 minutes! This is the perfect recipe for anyone with an Instant Pot that hasn't made mashed potatoes before.
7. Easy Stuffing
Ready-to-use stuffing cubes make this stuffing a breeze, yet it still tastes homemade! Many grocery stores even sell a mix of pre-diced onions and celery that you can snag to cut down the prep time even further!
8. Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese
The convenience of crockpot mac and cheese is that you just dump the ingredients in your slow cooker and let it do the rest! This macaroni is rich, creamy, and delicious, with 3 kinds of cheese!
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
9. Microwave Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is one of my favorite fall ingredients, and it adds to the Thanksgiving ambiance. The squash is steamed until tender in the microwave, then coated with butter and brown sugar (or cinnamon)!
If you prefer, you can make acorn squash in the Instant Pot too!
10. Sweet Potato Muffins
Sweet potato muffins aren't overly sweet and are an easy bread option that can be served right alongside dinner. Not to mention, they freeze beautifully, so you can make them in advance!
11. Slow Cooker Candied Yams
These tender yams are sweet and warmly spiced with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You can even add mini marshmallows if you like your candied yams with marshmallows!
12. Microwave Carrots
You can quickly steam sliced carrots in the microwave as an easy vegetable side dish. They're tasty with just salt & pepper, or you can experiment with different seasonings!
13. Pumpkin Dump Cake
It's called a dump cake because you just 'dump' all the ingredients in a baking dish and pop it in the oven! There are practically no baking skills required!
14. No Bake Pumpkin Pie
Skip the classic pumpkin pie and try this cool and creamy no-bake pumpkin pie instead! I like to make this pie the night before and keep it refrigerated until it's time for dessert on Thanksgiving day!
15. Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
Some people are perfectly happy with canned cranberry sauce, and that's okay! If you want to try your hand at making your own, my apple cider cranberry sauce is super flavorful and surprisingly simple!
💭 Tips For Making Thanksgiving Dinner Easy
Going in with a game plan in mind is the most important part of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Follow these steps to keep yourself organized!
- Plan your menu in advance. You're already on track just by being here! You can't do much until you know the number of guests and the menu.
- Create a timeline. Make a detailed timeline of when you need to start each dish and when they need to be finished.
- Prepare as much as possible in advance. Chop vegetables and measure ingredients the day before. Some dishes can even be partially cooked or assembled in advance and finished on Thanksgiving day.
- Delegate tasks. Friends and family will likely offer help, and there's no shame in accepting! They can focus on setting the table and cleaning up if you don't need help in the kitchen.
I hope these recipes help ease the holiday stress so you can enjoy it! Be sure to come back and tell me how your Thanksgiving dinner turned out in the comments below!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Easy Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Ideas (15+ Super Easy Holiday Recipes!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (rinsed and scrubbed)
- ½ cup butter (melted, cooled slightly)
- 2 large eggs (beaten, at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream (or sour cream, or Greek yogurt)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (or allspice)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled)
- ½ cup pecans (optional, chopped)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Prep the Whipped Sweet Potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4). Lightly grease your muffin pan or use cupcake liners.
- Place 2 medium sweet potatoes on a baking dish, then bake until the sweet potatoes until tender (about 35-45 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool until you can easily handle the sweet potatoes.
- Scrape the meat of the potatoes into a bowl and then whip using a hand mixer on low speed until nice and creamy. Set aside to cool.
Mix The Muffin Batter
- In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine ½ cup butter, whipped sweet potatoes, 2 large eggs, 1 tablespoon heavy cream, and 2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Add ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly.
- Stir in 2 cups all-purpose flour until just combined (do not over-mix the batter). Fold in the optional chopped ½ cup pecans if desired. *The muffin batter will be thick!
Portion & Bake the Muffins
- Use a scoop or ¼-cup measuring cup to portion the batter into the muffin pan.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4), or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean from the center of your muffins. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely or serve warm.
Notes
- 2 large sweet potatoes are equivalent to about 1½ cups of mashed sweet potatoes.
- If you’re a cinnamon fan, up to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon works well in this recipe.
- Do not fill the muffin tin all the way full, or it will overflow. Instead, only fill it ⅔ of the way full, or use a ¼-cup measuring cup to portion the batter.
- If making mini muffins, start checking them for doneness after about 9-10 minutes.
- Store any leftover sweet potato muffins in an airtight container with paper towels on the bottom. They can be kept at room temperature for 3-4 days or up to a week in the fridge.
- These muffins can also be frozen. I recommend wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and then placing all of them in a large storage bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Originally published October 31, 2023
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