There are very few days in the year that are dedicated to piling as much food on a plate as humanly possible—that’s why we need our Thanksgiving offerings to be perfect. But delicious food doesn’t mean it has to be difficult to make. In fact, most Thanksgiving sides are fairly simple to prepare in just three steps or less. From the classic mashed potatoes and stuffing to the cranberry sauce and green bean casserole, these Thanksgiving recipes are ridiculously simple to throw together in just a few easy steps. Your guests will be wowed, and you’ll be relieved you didn’t have to complete any tedious tasks.
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Basic Mashed Potatoes
Meredith Food Studio
What’s Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes? Not only does this recipe only take three steps, but it only requires three ingredients, too. Your favorite starchy side has never been easier to make!
Awesome and Easy Creamy Corn Casserole
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This corn casserole is truly the most delicious stuff! A bit like a cross between corn soufflé and a slightly sweet corn pudding,” says recipe creator Ruth Phillips. “You will love how easy it is to prepare, but you will especially love the taste!”
Glazed Carrots
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Even the pickiest eaters will gobble up their vegetables when you put these glazed carrots in front of them. The five-ingredient carrots only take 25 minutes to make and will be eaten even quicker than that.
Slow Cooker Stuffing
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Free up some oven space this year, and opt for a slow cooker stuffing recipe. Simply melt your butter and cook down your veggies, then add it to your bread cubes and let your slow cooker do the rest of the work. It’s easy to keep warm this way, too.
Candied Yams
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
Candied yams are the best excuse to eat dessert as a side dish. This recipe only needs four ingredients to create the buttery, caramelized goodness that is sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows.
Cranberry Salad
Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck
This Jell-O, walnut, pineapple, orange, and cranberry “salad” may not be your traditional greens, but it’s sure to please your guests. Add this salad to your favorite festive mold to really wow your family and friends.
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
Allrecipes / Renee Pajestka
Let your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting for this recipe. Simply dump your ingredients in the pot, set the temperature, and let it do its thing for a few hours. Top the casserole with French-fried onions after it’s done cooking.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Morgan Glaze / Food Styling: Sally McKay / Prop styling: Abby Armstrong
Even if you’re not Brussels sprouts’ biggest fan, you’ll still love this roasting method that produces a smoky, crispy, and somewhat sweet side of this veg. Some reviewers like to top the Brussels sprouts with cheese for extra flavor.
Bread and Celery Stuffing
This simple stuffing recipe can be used to stuff the bird or baked separately in a casserole dish. Whichever method you choose, your family will be pleased by how moist and flavorful this six-ingredient stuffing is.
Amazing Oven-Roasted Potatoes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Keep your potatoes extra simple with this oven-roasted version. Simply coat the diced potatoes with olive oil, seasoned salt, and pepper, then bake them until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Perfect Turkey Gravy
McCormick Spice
“If getting the perfect gravy is an issue – look no further! This recipe is fool proof! It was EXACTLY what I needed to make excellent gravy for my holiday meal! Tast was excellent and thickness was perfect.” —AJBAKER
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
Allrecipes / Julia Hartbeck
“I was trying to bring back a positive childhood memory as my mom made this on the holidays and it did not disappoint, even though it was my first time making it.” —Sara Rose
Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes
Holiday Baker
“I have made it several times for pot luck dinners. It is always a big hit.” —Mary Laflamme
Cranberry Sauce
Meredith Food Studio
“I’ve been making this recipe for about a decade now, and it never fails. It freezes beautifully so I usually make it for Thanksgiving and pop half in the freezer so we have it for Christmas,” says reviewer Ashton. “I’ve added cinnamon and lemon or orange zest, but truthfully, it’s always fine as is.”
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If you prefer sweet potatoes to traditional potatoes, you need to try this mashed sweet potato recipe made with sweet potatoes, milk, and maple syrup. Or, if you like both, maybe you should add this to your table too — we always say you can never have too many mashed potatoes.
Roasted Vegetable Medley
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This colorful vegetable medley dish has the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It is simple to prepare and can be served as a side dish, salad, or light meal. Feel free to substitute whatever veggies and herbs you have on hand,” says recipe contributor Lorelei.
Parmesan Risotto
fabeveryday
This cheesy risotto is truly so easy to make, but it will taste gourmet at your Thanksgiving dinner. Risotto does require a little bit of attention, but the good news is it only needs 20 minutes of cook time.
Sautéed Green Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studio
It doesn’t get much easier than this 10-minute green bean side dish. Just add oil and green beans to a pan, coat them in seasoning, and cook until tender. No, seriously, that’s it.
Basic Corn Muffins
dotdash meredith food studios
“A simple but delicious muffin recipe that can easily be dressed up by adding cheese, jalapeños, honey, or anything else,” says recipe creator Doug Matthews. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll never go back to the boxed mix again.
Thanksgiving Spinach Salad
Nothing says quick and easy like a simple salad. This Thanksgiving salad has all the flavors of fall — including apples, cinnamon, and cranberries — plus a tangy, spicy lemon juice, chili powder, and honey dressing.
Dining and Cooking