Planning a Thanksgiving feast doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a first-time host, cooking with limited time, or simply want a smoother, low-stress holiday, these 35 Lazy Thanksgiving Recipes deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort. From casseroles and sides to easy mains and fuss-free desserts, each recipe is designed to save your energy without sacrificing deliciousness.
Below is a complete, detailed guide to every recipe.
APPETIZERS & SNACKS
1. Apple Cinnamon Spoon Cake
A warm, soft, and comforting dessert-like appetizer you can scoop straight from the baking dish. Made with cake mix, canned apple pie filling, and cinnamon — this dish delivers cozy fall flavor without complicated prep.
2. Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
Just wrap a wheel of brie in puff pastry, bake, and serve with crackers. The pastry becomes golden and flaky, and the cheese melts into a creamy center. Perfect for quick entertaining.
3. Ham Salad
A great chilled appetizer made with chopped cooked ham, mayo, relish, and mustard. Serve with crackers or crostini. Takes only minutes to mix together.
4. Slow Cooker Cocktail Smokies
A 3-ingredient classic: little smokies simmered in barbecue sauce and grape jelly. Sweet, smoky, sticky, and crowd-pleasing.
5. Make-Ahead Garlic Toast
Spread butter, garlic, and herbs on bread slices, then freeze or refrigerate until needed. Bake right before serving. Perfect for freeing up time on the big day.
6. Grandma’s Stuffed Celery
Celery sticks filled with a creamy cheese spread. Fresh, crunchy, and nostalgic — no cooking required.
SIDES & CASSEROLES
7. Squash Casserole
A creamy, cheesy, Southern-style casserole with sliced squash, onions, cheese, and a crunchy cracker topping. Bakes into a comforting, golden dish everyone loves.
8. Pearl’s Green Bean Casserole
A traditional green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions. Requires almost no prep — just mix, top, and bake.
9. Best Green Bean Casserole
A short-ingredient version of the classic — made to be extra quick while keeping all the flavor and creamy texture people expect.
10. Cream Corn Like No Other
Sweet, buttery, and silky creamed corn made with minimal pantry ingredients. A perfect warm and comforting addition to any holiday table.
11. Simple Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Season, air fry for a few minutes, and serve crisp. No roasting pan, no oven space required — ideal for busy Thanksgiving kitchens.
12. Baked Sweet Potato Sticks
Cut sweet potatoes into sticks, toss with oil and seasoning, and bake. A healthier and simpler twist on sweet potato fries.
13. Hasselback Air Fryer Potatoes
Thin slices allow for crisp edges and soft centers. Air fryer makes the process fast with nearly no mess.
14. Holiday-Only Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes made using just a few ingredients and minimal steps. Designed to be simple, rich, and perfect for pairing with gravy.
15. Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
A sweet, fluffy sweet-potato mash topped with gooey marshmallows. Requires only a few steps and always brings holiday nostalgia.
16. Acorn Squash
Roasted halves or slices brushed with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Very little prep — the oven does the work.
17. Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Cube, season, bake — and enjoy perfectly golden, caramelized sweet potato bites.
18. Autumn Apple Salad
Crisp apples tossed with nuts, greens, and a simple dressing. Fresh and crunchy, and requires zero cooking.
19. Easy Pumpkin Dip
Esay Pumpkin Dip is a tasty dish. Elegant with minimal effort.
20. Cranberry Sauce
A classic, quick homemade sauce made by simmering fresh cranberries with sugar and orange. Ready in minutes.
21. Easy Cranberry Orange Relish
A fresh, no-cooking relish pulsed in a blender. Bright, zesty, and the easiest cranberry side dish possible.
22. Cornbread Casserole
A “dump-and-bake” casserole made with cream corn, whole corn, butter, and cornbread mix. Soft, sweet, and incredibly easy.
23. Slow Cooker Stuffing
A hands-off stuffing recipe made entirely in the slow cooker. No oven juggling. Moist, seasoned, and effortless.
24. Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes topped with either pecans or marshmallows. Whip, spread, top, and bake — very beginner-friendly.
MAINS
25. Easy Herb-Roasted Turkey
A simple herb rub and butter are all you need. The oven does the rest. Perfect for beginners or hosts who prefer minimal fuss.
26. Turkey in a Bag
The ultimate lazy turkey recipe — the oven bag keeps the meat juicy and reduces cleanup dramatically.
27. Easy Smoked Turkey
Using pre-smoked turkey cuts cooking time drastically. Just heat, season, and serve.
28. Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Tender, flavorful turkey legs cooked low and slow. Great when you need a smaller portion or want hands-off cooking.
29. Turkey Tenderloins
Lean, fast-cooking turkey tenderloins seasoned and roasted quickly. Ideal for small gatherings.
30. Slow Cooker Ham
Ham simmers with sweet glaze ingredients in the slow cooker, making it juicy, tender, and completely minimal-effort.
DESSERTS
31. Pumpkin Dump Cake
A cake mix + pumpkin filling + butter recipe that bakes into a soft, warm, richly spiced dessert. Zero decorating needed.
32. Simple Pumpkin Pie
A classic pumpkin pie made with fewer steps, simple filling, and an easy crust option. Perfect for holiday beginners.
33. 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin puree + spiced cake mix. That’s it. Add frosting or glaze if desired. One of the easiest holiday desserts ever.
34. Easy Rum Cake
Moist, buttery, sweet rum cake made using cake mix and simple rum glaze. Elegant but effortless.
35. Purple Mashed Potatoes
Purple Mashed Potatoes — made with pantry ingredients and perfect for quick holiday sweetness.
Final Thoughts: The Effortless Thanksgiving Menu
This list shows that Thanksgiving doesn’t need complicated steps or long ingredient lists. With the right recipes, you can create a full traditional holiday spread — mains, sides, and desserts — all without feeling overwhelmed.
These 35 recipes are:
✔ Perfect for beginners
✔ Great for busy cooks
✔ Ideal for small or large gatherings
✔ Time-saving
✔ Crowd-pleasing
