8 Easy Thanksgiving Dishes That Will Impress Your Guests
September 22, 2025
Thanksgiving cooking is never easy, whether you’re hosting or just bringing a side to share. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. This menu is full of dishes with minimum stress and maximum flavor (including two delicious, no-bake desserts). Keep reading for easy Thanksgiving dishes, sides, appetizers, and treats that will wow every guest at your next gathering.
Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers
Don’t wait to start your Thanksgiving feast at dinner time. Choose a few fun and easy Thanksgiving appetizers to snack on throughout the day.
Charcuterie Board
This easy Thanksgiving dish is great because it’s completely customizable! You can include the classics like cured meats, cheeses, nuts, and fruits. Or take a festive route with additions like pumpkin seeds, pumpkin butter, and cranberries. Mix and match from our list of ingredients below to create a unique board that your family will love.
PRO TIP: Arrange your ingredients in the shape of a pumpkin or turkey to celebrate the holiday in style.
Prep Time: 20 min | Serves: 8
Ingredients — Pick Your Favorites:
- • Hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan, gouda)
- • Soft cheeses (brie, burrata, mozzarella, goat cheese)
- • Prosciutto
- • Salami
- • Pepperoni
- • Crackers
- • Pita chips
- • Pumpernickel bread
- • Cranberries
- • Grapes
- • Raspberries
- • Strawberries
- • Almonds
- • Pecans
- • Pistachios
- • Candied nuts
- • Pumpkin seeds
- • Pumpkin butter
- • Blackberry jam
- • Fig jam
Mini Brie Pumpkins
These cute, cheesy pumpkins are our favorite easy Thanksgiving appetizer because they only require a few ingredients. From our experience, the hardest part is removing the twine after it bakes to get that clear pumpkin shape. They are a great addition to a charcuterie board, or can be served alone! We love adding a dollop of pumpkin butter, but jam or another sweet spread works just as well.
PRO TIP: Simplify the recipe and make brie and pumpkin butter balls. They are just as delicious and easier to assemble.
Prep Time: 30 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 9
Ingredients:
- • Puff pastry
- • Pumpkin butter (or another sweet spread)
- • Brie cheese
- • Egg wash
- • Cooking twine (optional for pumpkin shape)
- • Cinnamon sticks (optional for pumpkin shape)
Steps:
- • Cut puff pastry into 9 equal squares.
- • Add a spoonful of pumpkin butter and a small piece of brie to the center of each.
- • Fold the edges of the pastry around the cheese.
- • Optional: Wrap each ball with twine to create a pumpkin shape.
- • Set on a cookie sheet and brush with egg wash.
- • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- • Cut off the twine.
- • Optional: Add a cinnamon stick to the center to complete the pumpkin look. You may need to break them in half to get the right size.
- • Serve warm and enjoy!
Easy Thanksgiving Sides
For some, the sides are the main event. But you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to make something that leaves people asking for seconds… and the recipe. Here are some easy Thanksgiving sides that you can whip up in no time.
Roasted Potatoes
Don’t have the time to boil and mash your potatoes? Here’s an easy Thanksgiving dish, sans the mashing. Just wash, chop, and season. Then pop them in the oven and let them roast! For a spicy flair, add a pinch of paprika to the mix.
PRO TIP: Shorten the prep time by not peeling your potatoes. This adds a bit of nutrients, an earthy flavor, and a crispy texture to the final dish.
Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 35 min | Serves: 6
Ingredients:
- • 2 lbs potatoes of your choice
- • ¼ cup olive oil
- • 1 tsp garlic powder
- • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary (chopped)
- • 1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
- • 1 tbsp fresh basil leaves (chopped)
- • Optional: 1 tsp paprika
- • Salt and pepper (to taste)
- • Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Steps:
- • Wash and (optional) peel your potatoes.
- • Chop into bite sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
- • Toss with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and seasonings.
- • Place on a baking tray in a single layer.
- • Bake at 425°F for 35 minutes, or until golden and tender.
Sweet Potato Casserole
This is an easy take on a classic dish. You just need four main ingredients (plus some optional seasonings and toppings to enhance the flavor). We love this easy Thanksgiving sweet potato recipe because you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just assemble your ingredients in the baking dish, keeping your toppings separate, and cook half an hour before dinner.
PRO TIP: Replace raw sweet potatoes with a can of cooked sweet potatoes to cut down on prep time. For a softer texture, mash your potatoes before you add them to the baking dish.
Prep Time: 25 | Cook Time: 25 | Serves: 6
Ingredients:
- • 4 medium sweet potatoes (can sub for a 29-oz can of sweet potatoes)
- • ¼ cup butter
- • ½ cup brown sugar
- • 1 ½ cup mini marshmallows
- • Optional: walnuts, pecans, nutmeg, cinnamon, or vanilla
Steps:
- • Peel and cube your sweet potatoes.
- • Boil until tender but not mushy (about 15 minutes).
- • Optional: Mash your potatoes.
- • Place potatoes in a baking dish. (If using canned, drain and place in a dish now).
- • Distribute butter evenly over the dish.
- • Sprinkle with brown sugar and any additional toppings like nutmeg, cinnamon, or nuts of choice.
- • Add a layer of marshmallows on top.
- • Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes, until marshmallows have melted.
You can never have too many sides! Here are a few of our other favorite easy Thanksgiving sides to make this year:
- Roasted veggies
- Cranberry salad
- Corn muffins
- Mac n cheese
- Stuffing
Easy Thanksgiving Dishes
For many people, the hardest part of Thanksgiving is the turkey. It takes hours to prep, season, and cook it to everyone’s liking. If you’re looking for a simple recipe for a Thanksgiving entrée, here are two we highly recommend.
Herb-Roasted Turkey
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a turkey. If you’re a first-time host or just volunteered to bring the protein, here’s an easy Thanksgiving turkey recipe that you can follow. Don’t forget to pair it with your favorite gravy!
PRO TIP: Need help cooking your first turkey? Talk to a team member at our butcher shop and they can give you some tips.
Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 3 hours | Serves: 12
Ingredients:
- • 1 whole turkey (12–14 lbs)
- • 1 tbsp olive oil
- • 1 carton of chicken stock (regular or unsalted)
- • 3 tbsp lemon juice
- • 1 tsp dried basil leaves (crushed)
- • 1 tsp dried thyme leaves (crushed)
- • ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
Steps:
- • Prep the turkey by removing the giblets and neck. Rinse with water and pat dry. Tie the ends of the drumsticks together.
- • Place the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with olive oil. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part, not touching bone.
- • Prepare the stock mixture by combining the chicken stock, lemon juice, basil, thyme, and pepper in a large bowl. Pour over the turkey.
- • Roast at 325°F for about 3 hours or until the thermometer says 165°F. Baste occasionally with pan drippings.
- • When it’s done, remove your turkey from the pan. Spoon off any fat. Keep warm until you’re ready to eat.
- • Serve with gravy and enjoy!
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Not a turkey fan? No problem! Here’s an easy ham recipe for Thanksgiving that your family will adore. A little savory and a little sweet, it pairs perfectly with all the holiday classics.
PRO TIP: Find the best ham for this easy Thanksgiving dish at your local Stauffers of Kissel Hill.
Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 3 hours | Serves: 8
Ingredients:
- • 8 lb bone-in spiral cut ham
- • 1 cup brown sugar
- • ½ cup butter
- • ¼ cup apple cider
- • ¼ cup honey
- • ½ tsp cinnamon
- • ½ tsp nutmeg
- • Optional: Fresh herbs, cranberries, or cherries for garnish
Steps:
- • Combine apple cider, honey, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a pot over medium heat.
- • Bring to a simmer and cook until the glaze turns thick and syrupy (5–7 minutes).
- • Spray a baking pan with cooking spray of your choice.
- • Place ham inside and pour half of the glaze over it. Save the second half for later.
- • Cover the ham with aluminum foil and bake for 2 ½ hours at 325°F.
- • Remove from the oven and uncover ham. Pour the rest of the glaze over it. You may need to microwave the glaze if it has hardened.
- • Bump up the temperature to 400°F and place the ham, uncovered, back in the oven.
- • Bake for 15–20 minutes until the glaze turns brown and caramelizes.
- • Remove from the oven and set on a serving plate. Drizzle pan drippings over the top.
- • Garnish with fresh herbs, cranberries, or cherries.
- • Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
Arguably the best part of Thanksgiving is the desserts. Everyone needs something sweet to end the day, so here are two desserts that are simple to make and taste amazing.
Oreo Truffle Balls
This treat will be a big hit at all your potlucks. You just need three ingredients, plus a little time to let them chill. Not an Oreo fan? Try it with another favorite cookie and let us know what you think!
PRO TIP: Get fancy with it and drizzle your Oreo balls with white chocolate, cover in chopped nuts, sprinkle with peppermint pieces, or add a fruity twist.
Prep Time: 10 min | Chill Time: 1 hour | Serves: ~30
Ingredients:
- • One pack of Oreos
- • 8 oz cream cheese
- • 2 cups of chocolate melting wafers
Steps:
- • Crush Oreos into crumbs. Use a food processor or do it by hand.
- • Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese and crumbs.
- • Shape into balls.
- • Melt your chocolate, being careful not to burn it.
- • Dip the Oreo balls into the chocolate.
- • Place on a tray lined with wax paper.
- • Decorate as desired with toppings like sprinkles, nuts, peppermint pieces, etc.
- • Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- • Enjoy!
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
What’s easier than a no-bake dessert? This pumpkin cheesecake recipe is sure to be a fan favorite. Don’t let the time scare you—most of that is chill time for the dish to set in the fridge. It only takes about 20 minutes of work from you, making it a super easy Thanksgiving dish.
PRO TIP: Add a salted caramel drizzle on top to complete the dish. And for easier serving, consider making cheesecake bars rather than a cake.
Prep Time: 20 min | Chill Time: 6 hours | Serves: 12
Ingredients — Graham Cracker Crust:
- • 2 cups Graham cracker crumbs
- • 3 tbsp brown sugar
- • ½ tsp cinnamon
- • ½ cup unsalted butter
Ingredients — Cheesecake
- • 15 oz can pumpkin puree
- • ⅔ cup heavy cream
- • 24 oz brick of cream cheese (full fat)
- • 1 cup powdered sugar
- • ½ cup brown sugar
- • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- • 2 tsp vanilla extract
- • Optional: whipped cream or caramel drizzle
Crust Steps:
- • Create Graham cracker crumbs.
- • Melt butter.
- • Combine crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a medium bowl.
- • Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
- • Place in the freezer.
Cheesecake Steps:
- • Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy.
- • Squeeze out excess liquid from the pumpkin. Beat it into the cream cheese mixture.
- • In a new bowl, beat the heavy cream until you have stiff peaks.
- • Gently fold this into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula. Do so until it’s fully combined with no streaks.
- • Remove crust from freezer and spoon your mixture onto it, smoothing out the top.
- • Cover and place in the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours.
- • Loosen from the pan. Top with whipped cream or caramel drizzle. Enjoy!
Other easy Thanksgiving desserts include:
- Pumpkin mousse
- Pecan pie brownies (using a boxed brownie mix)
- Pumpkin pie trifle
- Lemon bars
Get all the ingredients you need to bring these easy Thanksgiving dishes to your next office potluck or family gathering. Start shopping today.