Thanksgiving preparation can be both exciting and exhausting. This lovely holiday is a chance for us to share a meal with those we love and take a moment to give thanks for everything we have. To prevent draining dinner preparations we have found some incredibly easy recipes that will make things easier for you this year. We’ll cover recipes that range from sauces, appetizers, side dishes, and even desserts.

What makes these recipes so easy is that they all require 5-ingredients or less! You may even have some of these ingredients already laying around the house, but if not, you’ll love the shorter shopping list and the easier preparation too. It doesn’t take a long list of ingredients and intricate instructions to make a delicious Thankgiving meal. Sometimes the most simple desserts are the most delicious and the biggest crowd pleasers.

Now, let’s get cooking!

1. Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a must-have item at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Even if you don’t love it personally, someone at your table definitely will. Ditch the store-bought cans and make a homemade version this year!

It’s sweet, and delicious and is easy to put together. You’ll need only 3 ingredients for this recipe. These include oranges, fresh cranberries, and sugar. If you like to save yourself time, you could even create the cranberry sauce the night before and let it sit in the fridge until the big feast! Your guests will be so impressed with how fresh this cranberry sauce tastes.

Shutterstock/nadianb

2. Easy 4-Ingredient Turkey Gravy

Right next to cranberry sauce, you’re definitely going to need a savory gravy to pair with the Thanksgiving meal. This turkey gravy is so easy and only requires 4 ingredients, one of which is the turkey drippings. However, if you don’t have enough drippings, don’t fret because you can easily use chicken stock too!

The turkey drippings will hold enough flavor that the only other seasoning you’ll need is a bit of salt and pepper. It’s thick, creamy and everyone will drown their plates in it. You can serve this gravy immediately or keep on very low heat until ready to serve.

Shutterstock/Elena Veselova

3. 5-Ingredient Dinner Rolls

I mean, it would be easy to go to the store and buy store-bought dinner rolls for Thanksgiving dinner, but there’s something about homemade that is a lot more satisfying to make and to eat. On the chance that you’re feeling adventurous and want to create your own dinner rolls for Thanksgiving make sure you try this recipe.

This no yeast recipe is incredibly easy and only requires 5 ingredients that you likely have around the house: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, milk and full-fat plain yogurt. They’re tender, crumbly and the perfect side dish to pair with your Thanksgiving meal.

vm2002 / Shutterstock

4. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

Creating epic side dishes is key to making a memorable Thanksgiving feast. There are typical side dishes that most guests will expect such as stuffing and mashed potatoes, but why not mix it up by making these easy garlic parmesan roasted broccoli florets?

You’ll need just 4 ingredients: broccoli, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and garlic. They’ll roast on a sheet pan and will be perfectly cooked in just 15 minutes. It’s a family favorite recipe that pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner, but can also be made year round. This one will definitely have your kids second guessing their distaste towards vegetables.

Shutterstock/Nataliya Arzamasova

5. 5 Ingredient Corn Casserole

If you’re looking for a foolproof recipe to serve this Thanksgiving, this 5-ingredient corn casserole is next to impossible to mess up! Essentially how it works is you take the 5 simple ingredients, mix them together, and transfer to a greased baking pan. Easy enough, right?

All you’ll need is 1 can of corn (drained), 1 can of creamed corn, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 stick of melted butter and 1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix. This dish is like corn muffins and creamed corn meet each other and morph into one exciting bite. Once you try it, it’ll surely become a new traditional Thanksgiving dish.

Shutterstock/Liudmyla Chuhunov

6. Oven Roasted Butternut Squash

Roasted butternut squash might seem basic but trust us, it needs to be on your Thanksgiving table. It’s so easy and the oven does all the work for you! Butternut squash screams fall and this basic recipe is nearly foolproof.

I love how simple this recipe is. There are no fancy seasonings or instructions and all you need is a dash of salt and pepper, a bit of EVO, and a baking sheet. Caramelization is key with this recipe and brings tons of depth and flavor to the dish. Once cooked, serve the fluffy baked squash with a dollop of butter.

Shutterstock/Silvia Ruiz Camara

7. Honey Roasted Carrots

Including a variety of vegetables with your Thanksgiving spread is important to pleasing multiple palates. For another enticing veggie side dish make sure to include these honey roasted carrots. They’re a lot more exciting than ordinary roasted carrots and are effortless to make.

The only ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are sliced carrots, olive oil, honey, fresh parsley, and salt and pepper. If you have any picky eaters at your table, this recipe will surely be a hit since the honey glaze makes an already sweet vegetable even sweeter. On the other hand, if you’re looking to tone down the sweetness, simply squeeze a little lemon juice over top!

Shutterstock/Foodio

8. 3-Ingredient Cheesy Potato Casserole

This cheesy potato casserole is unlike any mashed potato dish you’ve had before. It’s so easy to make and best of all? You’ll only need 3 ingredients! This recipe also has a convenient make-ahead option that will make your Thanksgiving prep that much easier.

First, you’ll boil the potatoes until their tender and then you’ll peel off the skins. Once cooled you’ll use a cheese grater to shred the potatoes. Mix with the other two ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Bake in a 350° F oven uncovered for about 25 minutes and you’ll have yourself a creamy cheesy casserole quickly.

Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker

9. 5 Ingredient Butternut Squash Fritters

Roasted butternut squash isn’t for everyone. With that being said, it’s still possible to get creative and enjoy a fall harvest vegetable such as squash in a new and unique way. These butternut squash fritters are so delicious that everyone at your dinner table will gobble them up.

This recipe is aromatic and full of flavor, but best of all, it’s super simple and straightforward to make. To make the fritters you’ll combine shredded butternut squash with egg, flour, and a few seasonings. They cook on the stove which means they won’t take up precious space in the oven. Enjoy!

Shutterstock/from my point of view

10. Green Bean Casserole

If green bean casserole isn’t a staple dish at your Thanksgiving dinner then you need to make it one. It’s creamy from the sauce and crunchy from the beans and fried onions, making the perfect contrast of flavors.

Unfortunately, many green bean casseroles have a long ingredient list but thankfully we have found a simple recipe that requires just 4 ingredients: 2 cans of French-style green beans (drained), 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, and crispy fried onions. It’s so easy it only takes 5 minutes to prep and you’ll have this dish made quickly, which is a huge bonus!

Shutterstock/Irina Rostokina

11. Lemon And Rosemary Roast Potatoes

Hasselback potatoes are awesome because this cutting technique allows all the delicious flavors to seep into each layer of the potato. These mini roasted potatoes with thyme and rosemary are thriving in flavor and texture. They’re a must try this autumn season and a definite win if you decide to bring them along to Thanksgiving dinner.

While they may look intricate, these hasselback potatoes are actually quite easy to make and only require a few ingredients. They are seasoned with a melted butter, bold lemon, and fragrant rosemary. They’re also crunchy and tender on the outside and soft on the inside, what is not to like?

Shutterstock/Pronina Marina

12. Maple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Searching for a healthier side dish this holiday season? Then this maple cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes recipe has your name on it! This simple recipe combines flavors of cinnamon and pure maple syrup and turns it into a drool-worthy glaze that will have your guests swooning.

To roast the sweet potatoes you’ll first want to cut them into cubes and cook in the oven on a sheet pan. Toss them with butter (or coconut oil), cinnamon, sea salt and maple syrup and roast until they are perfectly crispy. That’s the kind of simple we need more of in our lives.

Shutterstock/from my point of view

13. 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken And Stuffing

If you’re looking to try a fun spin on traditional stuffing this year, then this is the recipe for you! It is conveniently made in the slow cooker and only calls for 5-ingredients. Can’t get much easier than that!

To build the layers in the crockpot you’ll begin with boneless chicken breasts. Then you’ll add shredded cheese, cream of chicken soup, and then finish by sprinkling stove top stuffing mix. This would be a great option if you’re opting out of a turkey this year or it also works as a delicious side dish in addition to the big bird!

Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker

14. No-Bake Triple Layer Pumpkin Spice Pudding Pie

Dessert is an important part of the big Thanksgiving meal. For many, it’s the part of the meal they look forward to most! Luckily we have found a couple desserts that are not only easy but are also only 5-ingredients. To start we’re sharing a no-bake triple layer pumpkin spice pudding pie recipe.

This recipe has exciting layers and a creamy pudding filling that everyone will love. It’s so simple and makes the perfect light and creamy dessert that won’t be too filling after your meal. The pumpkin spice flavors would be a lovely way to end your Thanksgiving dinner.

Shutterstock/nelea33

15. Easy 5-Ingredient Pumpkin Pie

Secondly, we’re sharing a classic pumpkin pie recipe. Unlike some other pumpkin pie recipes, this one is extremely simple and you’ll only need 5 ingredients: canned pumpkin, a can of sweetened condensed milk, two eggs, pumpkin pie spice and salt. This dessert will come together effortlessly and will be a crowd favorite.

To save time, effort and ingredients you’ll use a store-bought pie crust. Then, for the filling, all you’ll need is canned pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Combine in a bowl until well blended and pour into pie crust. Bake and allow 2 hours to cool before serving with whipped cream.

Shutterstock/Brent Hofacker

Clarissa Vanner

Clarissa loves experimenting with food of all cultures to make unique healthy dishes. When she’s not browsing Pinterest for new recipe inspiration she likes to pick up a DIY project and use her creative hands to make art or crafts. In her down time you can find her watching the latest documentaries on Netflix or going for nature walks.

While the Thanksgiving turkey is the star of the meal, the stuffing is always the tastiest dish.
Deep frying a turkey can be the most dangerous method of cooking people try.
Here is your detailed checklist for preparing for Thanksgiving. We will go through week by week to help you get ready.
Turkey is really the star of the Thanksgiving meal. All the side dishes and desserts are there to complement the bird.
After stuffing yourself with the great Thanksgiving feast, it can be hard to think about eating dessert.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but it can be a difficult time for those with Celiac disease or who eat gluten free.
Whether you roast, fry, or barbecue your turkey, it will surely be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table.
Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and friends.
I love holidays because it gives everyone a chance to unwind and spend quality time with those you love.
Holidays are the hardest times of the year to stay on track with your diet.
When I made the decision to adopt a plant-based diet I had many comments from friends saying things such as "I wish I could but...
Not everyone hosts or attends a big Thanksgiving feast and that is okay!
Advertisement
Food
Tofurky Recipes: Best 5 Faux-Turkey Recipes