Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably multitasking between decorating, hosting, and cooking the ultimate holiday meal. But who says Thanksgiving cooking has to be stressful? What if you could have a delicious, memorable meal without spending hours in the kitchen? That’s where real simple Thanksgiving recipes come in. These recipes are formulated to save you time, alleviate stress, and still provide the beloved classic Thanksgiving flavors that everyone enjoys.
In the guide, we will present quick and easy recipes that are ideal for Thanksgiving. You will discover a range of dishes, from appetizers to desserts, along with useful cooking tips and Amazon product suggestions that will make holiday preparation easier. So let’s dive into the world of flavor with minimal effort!
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Real Simple Thanksgiving Recipes.
1. Appetizer: 10-minute Mini Cranberry Brie Bites
Want an appetizer that is quick and both striking and delicious? These cranberry brie bites are perfect for the holiday time. In only 10 minutes, you can create these and the wonderful merging of melted gooey brie and sour cranberry sauce will have your guests desiring more.
Ingredients:
- Buy store-bought puff pastry sheets•
- Brie cheese (made into small cubes)
- Home-made cranberry sauce or store-bought
- Optional, Fresh rosemary to garnish if you like
Instructions:
- Before you start, be sure that the temperature in your oven is 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into little squares.
- Place each square into a mini muffin tin.
- Add a cube of brie and a dollop of cranberry sauce on top.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese has fully melted.
- Garnish with rosemary if you prefer.
These bites can be made in advance and reheated just before serving. Perfect for when you need a quick and easy Thanksgiving appetizer.
Helpful Product: Nonstick Mini Muffin Pan from amazon
2. Main Dish: 1-Hour Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast
If you are hosting a smaller gathering or feel like you need to hurry through dinner, roasting a herb-infused turkey breast might be the smarter option than cooking a whole turkey. This recipe takes close to an hour, and it’s a flavorful moist alternative to the traditional whole bird.
Ingredients:
- 1 turkey breast (boneless or bone-in)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Rub the turkey breast with olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper
- Place the turkey breast on a roasting pan and surround it with lemon slices.
- Roast for 45-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serve with your favorite sides, and you’ll have a real simple Thanksgiving main dish without spending hours in the kitchen.
Helpful Product: A meat thermometer for accomplishing a perfectly done turkey breast amazon.
3. Side Dish: 20 minutes to make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
No Thanksgiving is complete without mashed potatoes. These garlic mashed potatoes are creamy, rich, and full of flavor. Plus they take only 20 minutes to make!
Ingredients:
- 4 large russet potatoes (peeled and diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (warm)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil the potatoes in salted water for 10-12 minutes until tender.
- In a small pan, sauté minced garlic in butter until fragrant.
- Drain the extra liquid from the potatoes and mash them together with the garlic butter blend.
- Combine the smooth cream and stir until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
These garlic mashed potatoes are effortless to create, and you have the option to prepare them ahead of time and then rewarm them when you’re ready to eat.
Helpful Product: A Potato Masher for velvety and fluffy mashed potatoes amazon.
4. Side Dish: 15-Minute Maple-Glazed Carrot Recipe.
For a quick side dish this Thanksgiving, you can’t go wrong with these maple-glazed carrots. They are a sweet savory joy.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil the baby carrots in salty liquid for 8 to 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them until tender.
- Drain and set aside.
- In a small pan, melt the butter and stir in the maple syrup and brown sugar.
- Toss the carrots in the glaze and season with salt and pepper.
In just 15 minutes(from start to finish), these glazed carrots give a lovely, sweet touch to your Thanksgiving feast.
Helpful product: This Nonstick Saucepan is best for making the glaze amazon.
5. Dessert: 30-Minute Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving classic, but creating an entire pie can seem overwhelming if you are short on time. An alternative is Pumpkin pie bars. These bars deliver all the rich and spiced flavors of traditional pumpkin pie in a substantially shorter timeframe. All you need is;
Ingredients:
- 1 package of graham crackers (crushed)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Instructions:
- When you are going to start cooking, set your oven thermostat at 350°F (175°C).
- Using a greased 9×13 baking pan, press down the mixture of graham cracker crumbs mixed with melted butter into the bottom of the pan.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, sugar, spices, eggs, and evaporated milk.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture across the crust and bake for 25-30 minutes, until it has set.
- Once it’s cool, cut it into squares.
These pumpkin pie bars are a quick, uncomplicated choice compared to standard pie, and they’re simple to cut and serve.
Helpful Product: 9×13 Baking Pan for the perfect pumpkin bars amazon.
6. Make-Ahead Tip: Freezer-Friendly Rolls
Making things in advance is one of the best strategies for saving time on Thanksgiving. These freezer-friendly dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and can be prepped in advance. Just freeze the dough and bake on Thanksgiving Day!
Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet of active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast into warm milk.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Add the milk mixture and melted butter to the flour mixture and knead until the dough is smooth
- Let rise for 1 hour, then shape into rolls and freeze
- On Thanksgiving Day, bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
You can make these rolls weeks ahead of time, which will save you important time on Thanksgiving.
Helpful Product: This Silicone Baking Mat makes cleanup a breeze amazon.
Final Thoughts
Preparing a memorable Thanksgiving feast can be easy. With These straightforward real simple Thanksgiving recipes you can serve up delicious dishes that will impress your guests, all while giving you more time to enjoy the holiday. Whether you’re having a grand family meal or an intimate dinner for two, these speedy and easy recipes will allow you to concentrate on what is important—quality time with those you love.
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Happy Thanksgiving, and may your holiday be lively with good food and great companionship!
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
With Love
-Dolorese
