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Home » Recipes » A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Menu

Last updated on November 25, 2024. Originally posted on November 6, 2019 By Maryea / 2 Comments

A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Menu

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Hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year?  I’d love to help you with your stress-free Thanksgiving menu.

Thanksgiving Menu Photo Collage

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Wait, hold up.

Can hosting Thanksgiving be stress-free? Stree free might be a stretch, but you can absolutely make it more simple and less stressful. It all starts with having a plan.

What is Served at Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner?

It’s time to think about what to put on your menu. What is traditionally served at Thanksgiving dinner varies by region in the United States, but here are the most popular items you’ll find on the table on Thanksgiving throughout America:

  • Roasted Turkey
  • Turkey Stuffing
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Cranberries
  • Green Beans
  • Corn
  • Dinner Rolls
  • Pumpkin Pie

You can keep your Thanksgiving menu traditional, or add twists on the classic recipes. I tend to do a mix of traditional and classic recipes, and in true Happy Healthy Mama fashion, some recipes I “healthify” a little. 🤪(No one is ever the wiser!)

How to Plan Your Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

You start with the star of the show. The turkey, of course. Use this recipe for Foolproof Thanksgiving Turkey and you can’t go wrong. (Hosting a small Thanksgiving dinner? Consider this Butter and Herb Roasted Turkey Breast)

From there, you’ll want to choose your appetizers, salads, sides, and desserts. Having a special drink choice is a nice touch. Choose 1-4 recipes per category, depending on the size of your crowd and how big of a feast you want, and you’ll be golden.

Thanksgiving Appetizers

While everyone is waiting for the main event, it’s great to have some finger food available for munching. This is a great category to stray from the traditional recipes and bring some unique options to the table. Here are my favorite picks.

Sweet Potato “Toasts”

Sweet Potato Toast Appetizer

These are really easy to make and pair perfectly with all the Thanksgiving flavors.

Cranberry Salsa

Cranberry Salsa Recipe

Such a beautiful appetizer and it’s a delicious way to use fresh cranberries!

Easy Pumpkin Hummus

Easy Pumpkin Hummus Recipe

Your guests will love this sweet, seasonal hummus.

Sweet & Salty Chex Mix

Sweet and Salty Chex Mix Recipe-large serving bowl with smaller bowls

This is a perfect make-ahead appetizer that everyone loves grazing on when watching the football game.

Hot Corn Dip

Hot Corn Dip Recipe the whole dish taking a scoop with a chip

If you’d like a hot appetizer on your Thanksgiving menu, this Hot Corn dip is just what you need!

Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip

Lighten up your game day and party appetizers with this SKINNY Spinach Artichoke Dip. Tastes AMAZING but with less calorie! #recipe #partyfood

This is another great option for a hot appetizer. This one will lighten your calorie load a bit, since we know the dinner is going to be A LOT.

Thanksgiving Salads

There are a number of different salads that go well on a Thanksgiving menu. These are my favorites.

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese. Think you don't like brussels sprouts? Get ready to fall in love!

I’ve served this at Thanksgiving dinner several times and there’s never any leftover. It’s a pretty, festive salad that has a wonderful combination of flavors.

Autumn Kale Salad

Autumn Kale Salad Recipe. This easy kale salad recipe will make your family beg them to serve them kale! The oil-free dressing is AMAZING. Gluten-free and vegan recipe.

This Autumn Kale Salad is full of contrasting textures and is always a hit.

Chopped Kale Salad with Cranberries, Feta, and Walnuts

Chopped Kale Salad with Cranberries, Feta, and Walnuts. Yum! Kale never tasted so good. This is the BEST kale salad I've ever made. Quick, easy, and healthy. This would make a perfect holiday side dish!The relatives you thought would never eat kale will surprise you by loving this one!

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

This is my favorite category and I could totally make an entire meal of the Thanksgiving side dishes! Here are some classic recipes to add to your Thanksgiving menu.

Easy Sourdough Stuffing Recipe

Easy Sourdough Stuffing Recipe

What I love about this stuffing recipe is its simplicity and FLAVOR. It’s so good. That is all.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe for Thanksgiving or christmas

Free up your stovetop and put your Instant Pot to work this Thanksgiving. These are the easiest mashed potatoes ever and they are scrumptious.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

very close photo showing the texture of Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Not all sweet potato side dishes have to be super sweet! These Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are super easy to make, take no oven space, and are a crowd-pleaser!

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe. This is a low-sugar, gluten-free, and vegan recipe that is incredible! You won't miss all the sugar and butter in this flavorful casserole that is a perfect Thanksgiving dinner recipe.

My version of Sweet Potato Casserole is vegan, gluten free, and has MUCH less sugar than traditional sweet potato casseroles. Plus, I love that crunchy pecan topping so much more than marshmallows!

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Traditional Green Bean Casserole just got a makeover! This healthier version is vegan and gluten-free. Put some REAL FOOD on your Thanksgiving table!!

Once again…this is a vegan and gluten-free version of the classic green bean casserole! WOO HOO!

Autumn Roasted Vegetables with Roasted Garlic Yogurt Sauce

This dish not only tastes delicious, it’s an absolute show stopper! Add some much-need color to your Thanksgiving table with these tasty vegetables.

Garlic Butter Green Beans with Toasted Almonds

Not into Green Bean Casserole? This easy side dish doesn’t take up any of that precious oven space!

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Feta, and Blue Cheese

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with dried canberries

I don’t need Thanksgiving dinner for this one because I love it so much AND it’s healthy! But this one on your Thanksgiving menu and you won’t be sorry!

Sweet Potato Tian

Sweet Potato Tian Recipe

This is a beautiful alternative to Sweet Potato Casserole.

Maple Brussels Sprouts

Maple Brussels Sprouts up closeThese Maple Brussels Sprouts are made on the stovetop, so if you have a full oven these are perfect to add to the menu!

Roasted Butternut Squash 

Roasted Butternut Squash recipe

So easy. So good. Why not?

Butternut Squash Puree

Butternut Squash Purée Recipe quick and easy

Lightly sweet and spiked with cinnamon, this is another great side dish to add to your menu!

Perfect Dinner Rolls

the inside of a perfect bread machine dinner roll

If you ask both my kids what their favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is, I’m 99% sure they’ll say the dinner rolls. It’s worth the effort to make these from scratch–everyone will be begging you for the recipe!

Thanksgiving Desserts

What would Thanksgiving be without desserts? Here’s a variety to choose from!

Crustless Cranberry Pie

close up shot of crustless cranberry pie on a green plate

Pumpkin Pie Bars

These Pumpkin Pie Bars will be the hit of your Thanksgiving dessert table! The gluten-free nut-based crust is delicious and they are dairy-free, too!

If you need gluten-free and dairy-free pumpkin pie, these bars are perfection.

Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

These vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie bars the the most amazing apple dessert! So much easier than apple pie and they are incredible!! Such a great fall baking recipe.

Can you tell I think bars > pie? These are incredibly tasty!

Vegan and Gluten-Free Carmelitas

Yes, Vegan and Gluten-free Carmelitas are possible! These are rich, decadent, ooey, and gooey! A dessert everyone can agree on.

All I can say is that these treats are EPIC. If you want some chocolate in your Thanksgiving dessert spread, this is the recipe to use, whether you need your desserts to be vegan and gluten free or not!

Thanksgiving Drinks

Here are a few ideas for adding drinks to your Thanksgiving menu!

Crockpot Mulled Apple Cider

You can’t go wrong having a big pot of mulled apple cider staying warm in your Crockpot. The whole family will enjoy it!

Apple Cider Old Fashioned Cocktail

Apple Cider Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

 

Skinny Vodka and Cranberry Punch

Skinny Cranberry Vodka Christmas punchI originally created this one for Christmas, but cranberries fit right in for a Thanksgiving punch, too! Bonus that it’s super light, not adding a ton of extra calories to your day.

Cranberry Margarita

cranberry margarita with a sugar rim, lime wheel, and fresh cranberries

If you’re a margarita lover, this recipe is perfect for making it festive and perfect for Thanksgiving OR Christmas!

Final Thoughts on Your Thanksgiving Menu

I hope this helps you as you plan your big day! Remember, food is bringing us together, but this holiday is about remember what we’re grateful for and enjoying time with people we love. Don’t stress and have a memorable day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Holiday Recipes

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Comments

  1. Jenny says

    November 12, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    This roundup looks amazing! I was only planning on making 1-2 things for an upcoming friendsgiving, but it all looks so good I was having trouble picking. I think I settled on making the sweet potato toasts, pumpkin hummus, cranberry salsa, and green bean casserole. Thanks so much for the awesome recipes!

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      November 12, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Glad I could help!

      Reply

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