34 Lazy Thanksgiving Recipes That Make Hosting a Breeze

Lazy Thanksgiving recipes are a game-changer for anyone who wants to host without the stress of marathon kitchen sessions. These simple recipes get right to the point, helping you pull together a satisfying spread without spending hours prepping and cooking. Whether you’re new to hosting or just need to keep things low-key this year, these easy dishes are perfect for getting the job done with minimal effort. No complex techniques, no mile-long ingredient lists—just straightforward recipes.

Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe

A bowl of butternut squash apple soup with apple chunks on top. — Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Butternut squash, sweet apples, and a hint of cayenne come together in this flavorful soup topped with fresh apples and a touch of apple cider.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash And Apple Soup Recipe

Cornbread Corn Pudding

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Creamy, comforting and classic — this Southern-style baked cornbread
casserole features a custardy cornbread pudding base, mixed with toasted
cornbread and fresh or frozen corn.
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Corn Pudding

Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears

Balsamic vinegar being poured over roasted sweet potatoes. — Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Not as sweet as sweet potato casserole, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pears is a healthy addition to your Thanksgiving or Holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears

Sweet Potato Bites With Waffle Fries

A platter of sweet potato appetizers next to glasses of wine. — Sweet Potato Bites With Waffle Fries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

What happens when you top crispy sweet potato waffle fries with grape salsa and goat cheese, you get sweet potato crostini.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Bites With Waffle Fries

Fruit And Nut Stuffed Acorn Squash

Fruit and Nut Stuffed Acorn Squash is a perfect side dish for the fall. Bursting with apples and fall spices it’s a healthy addition to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Fruit And Nut Stuffed Acorn Squash

Sweet Potato Casserole With Homemade Marshmallow Topping

A spoon dipping out a portion of sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping. — Sweet Potato Casserole With Homemade Marshmallow Topping. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

No mini marshmallows! Recreate the classic sweet potato casserole by adding a homemade marshmallow meringue topping.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Homemade Marshmallow Topping

Roasted Butternut Squash With Cranberries And Feta

A close-up of roasted butternut squash, apples, and cranberries topped with crumbled goat cheese on a black plate, perfect as one of your Thanksgiving sides. A red plaid napkin is partially visible in the background. — Roasted Butternut Squash With Cranberries And Feta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Roasted butternut squash with fresh cranberries and feta is a healthy side dish recipe that’s so easy to make. Oven roasted squash and cranberries drizzled with honey combine for the perfect addition to a weeknight dinner or holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash With Cranberries And Feta

Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

A large spoon full of sweet potato casserole. — Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Buttery, rich potatoes topped with pecan-pretzel crumble are an irresistible creamy-crunchy combo. A sprinkle of cranberries makes it festive.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Squash Casserole Recipe

A spoon lifting out a serving of pasta with squash. — Squash Casserole Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This baked summer squash pasta casserole recipe is prepared in a creamy spicy sauce and is a great way to feature squash or zucchini.
Get the Recipe: Squash Casserole Recipe

No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon

A glass bowl of roasted potato salad — No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This warm Roasted Potato Salad is not only great for your next potluck or cook out, but it’s perfect for a simple dinner.
Get the Recipe: No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Pomegranate

A butternut squash salad with roasted squash and pomegranate seeds is a must-try fall salad. A make ahead Thanksgiving salad that comes together in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Pomegranate

Yellow Squash Casserole With Ritz Crackers

A scoop of a squash casserole. — Yellow Squash Casserole With Ritz Crackers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This cheesy squash casserole with Ritz crackers and sour cream has a cheesy, tangy sauce and buttery topping. Perfectly baked and never mushy.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Squash Casserole With Ritz Crackers

Easy Sweet Potato Soup With Coconut Milk

A bowl of sweet potato soup with a spoon in it. — Easy Sweet Potato Soup With Coconut Milk. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet potato soup with coconut milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin seeds. Creamy, flavorful, and comforting, ready in 40 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Soup With Coconut Milk

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Browned Butter

Roasted cauliflower with brown butter in a serving bowl. — Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Browned Butter. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Roasted Cauliflower is even better with some browned butter. Add a little spicy and some pumpkin seeds for a great side dish.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Browned Butter

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Our all time favorite homemade cranberry sauce recipe includes crunchy walnuts and a splash of Grand Marnier.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato Pudding

Baked Sweet Potato Pudding is a rich and flavorful Southern classic. Made with grated sweet potatoes for a delicious custard based side dish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pudding

Cranberry Sauce With Port And Figs, A Little Sweet & Tart

Cranberry sauce in a bowl with fresh cranberries — Cranberry Sauce With Port And Figs, A Little Sweet & Tart. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cranberry Sauce with port and figs will be the star of your holiday meal as it’s both sweet and tart and a little decadent!
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce With Port And Figs, A Little Sweet & Tart

Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing

A bowl of broccoli salad on a serving tray. — Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You’re going to love this healthy broccoli salad served with a yogurt dressing that’s sweetened with honey. An old fashioned salad you’ll love.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing

Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon

Sweet potato casserole with a serving spoon. — Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

An easy sweet potato casserole flavored with bourbon and then topped with spicy pecans, brown sugar and bacon streusel.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon

Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese

A casserole dish of butternut mac and cheese. — Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Take a classic comfort food to unexpected heights with this Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe and it’s creamy golden sauce.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Southern style Ranch potato salad in a glass bowl next to green onions. — Bacon Ranch Potato Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Ranch potato salad loaded with bacon, cheese and a sour cream ranch dressing is just what you need for your next potluck.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Layered Apple And Sweet Potato Casserole

A close-up of a freshly baked apple crumble pie in a white dish, with a golden-brown crumb topping—perfect for Thanksgiving Apple Desserts. Whole apples and a towel are in the background. — Layered Apple And Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Apples and sweet potato casserole is a simple, comforting side dish that’s easy to make, with the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors.
Get the Recipe: Layered Apple And Sweet Potato Casserole

Loaded Mashed Potatoes In The Microwave

A serving spoon in a bowl of microwaved mashed potatoes. — Loaded Mashed Potatoes In The Microwave. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Loaded mashed potatoes are a quick and easy weeknight side dish that’s made in the microwave for those nights when you’re too busy to cook.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Mashed Potatoes In The Microwave

Southern Candied Yams Recipe

Sweet potatoes cooking in a skillet. — Southern Candied Yams Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You can’t beat these super simple, 3-ingredient Candied Yams. Tender and sweet with a caramelized sauce, ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Southern Candied Yams Recipe

Crispy Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere

Potatoes au gratin in a baking dish with a serving spoon. — Crispy Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crispy Au Gratin Potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes stacked on their side for the creamiest potatoes with crispy edges in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere

Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread

Cornbread baked in an iron skillet. — Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This sweet potato cornbread is a scrumptious Southern side dish with a creamy texture and natural sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread

Butternut Squash Casserole With Wild Rice

A serving spoon in a baking dish of butternut squash casserole. — Butternut Squash Casserole With Wild Rice. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Butternut squash casserole is a comfort food dish that includes flavorful wild rice and a crunchy parmesan topping baked together in a creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Casserole With Wild Rice

Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes And Ham

A serving spoon removing some potato and ham casserole. — Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes And Ham. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Scalloped potatoes and ham is a comforting casserole of potatoes and tasty chunks of ham in a creamy white sauce under a layer of gooey gruyere.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes And Ham

Sweet and Savory Southern Cornbread Dressing – Never Dry

A serving spoon in a casserole dish of cornbread dressing. — Sweet and Savory Southern Cornbread Dressing – Never Dry. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Cornbread Dressing recipe is an old Southern classic made with store-bought cornbread, herbs, veggies, and a whole lot of butter. It’s a mix of sweet and savory, making it the perfect side dish for your next holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Savory Southern Cornbread Dressing – Never Dry

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere

A baking dish of homemade scalloped potatoes. — Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This side dish casserole for cheesy scalloped potatoes is made with thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes and fresh garlic, milk and cream, plus gruyere cheese.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere

Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes

A bowl of glazed sweet potatoes garnished with chopped pecans. The sweet potatoes are caramelized and served in a rustic, white ceramic bowl placed on a gray cloth. A spoon is partially visible in the bowl. — Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet potatoes are simmered in butter and brown sugar for a deliciously sweet side dish. Make them for the holidays or your weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes

Savory Butternut Squash Casserole With Bacon

A spoon full of butternut squash casserole. — Savory Butternut Squash Casserole With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Can’t decide between creamy or savory? Savory butternut squash casserole with bacon gives you the best of both worlds. This cozy, flavorful dish blends roasted butternut squash with crispy bacon and a hint of herbs, creating the ultimate comfort casserole.
Get the Recipe: Savory Butternut Squash Casserole With Bacon

Sweet Potato Casserole With Tart Peaches

A Spoon full of sweet potato casserole. — Sweet Potato Casserole With Tart Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Full of flavor and perfect for making ahead, this homemade sweet potato casserole gets a tart summer twist with the addition of ripe peaches.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Tart Peaches

15- Minute Sweet And Spicy Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Recipe

Try this irresistible Cranberry Jalapeño Dip for your next party. Fresh cranberries, jalapeños, and cream cheese make for a crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Get the Recipe: 15- Minute Sweet And Spicy Cranberry Jalapeño Dip Recipe

Hosting Thanksgiving can be a daunting task, but with these 34 lazy recipes, you can enjoy a stress-free celebration without sacrificing flavor. From easy appetizers to no-fuss main dishes, each recipe is designed to save you time and effort in the kitchen. Embrace the spirit of the holiday and impress your guests with delicious food that’s quick to prepare, allowing you to focus on what really matters: spending time with loved ones. If you need some desserts to go with these sides, try these 25 unique Thanksgiving Desserts.

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