The Gunny Sack

  • Home
  • Grilling
  • Dinner
  • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizer
      • Dip
    • Beverages
      • Coffee
      • Smoothie
    • Breakfast
    • Crock Pot
    • Dessert
      • Bars
      • Cake
      • Candy
      • Cheesecake
      • Chocolate
      • Cookies
      • Fruit Desserts
        • Apple
        • Banana
        • Pumpkin
        • Strawberry
      • Fudge
      • Ice Cream
      • No Bake
      • Peanut Butter
      • peppermint
      • Pie
      • Truffles
    • Dinner
      • Beef
      • Bread
      • Casserole
      • Chicken
      • Grilled
      • Pasta
      • Pizza
      • Pork
      • Salad
      • Sauces and Dressing
      • Side
        • Potatoes
        • Vegetables
      • Soup
    • Snack
    • Holiday
      • Easter
      • Christmas
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine’s Day
  • About
    • About The Team
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Desserts
  • Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Holiday » Thanksgiving » Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    Published: Nov 8, 2018 · Modified: Nov 13, 2020 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    This Easy Thanksgiving Menu that is TOTALLY DO-ABLE for everyone from beginners to busy moms. The holiday menu plan includes everything from turkey to pie!

    collage of easy Thanksgiving menu items

    This Easy Thanksgiving Menu is full of ideas and recipes for stress-free Thanksgiving! The blog post is broken down into the following Thanksgiving Menu categories: appetizers, main dishes, casseroles, salads, additional sides, beverages, and desserts. I’ve shared links to easy recipes in each category. Follow the links and print the recipes to add to your Thanksgiving countdown planner.

    thanksgiving planner

    Start by reading my Thanksgiving Countdown Planner and Checklist post and print the free Thanksgiving Planner. This will help you stay organized as you plan your menu.

    Appetizers for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    Holiday Veggie Tray

    With all of the food available on Thanksgiving Day, appetizers aren’t necessary when trying to keep things simple. But if there is going to be a long wait before dinner is ready or if you have little kids that need a snack while waiting, go with something easy!

    • Holiday Veggie Tray
    • Apple Pecan Brie Bites
    • Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Main Dishes for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    turkey on a platter

    The centerpiece of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is a turkey. So many people have told me that they’ve never made a turkey before but I’ve got you covered with my easy guide for How To Cook A Turkey!

    There is no brining, no shoving stuff under the skin, no injections, and no special equipment needed. Just step-by-step photos with an explanation showing how to make a delicious roasted turkey that you can be proud of!

    What can I make for Thanksgiving dinner besides turkey?

    ham and potatoes on plate

    For the Thanksgiving main dishes, we always have a ham in addition to the turkey. Some of my family doesn’t care for turkey and others like to eat both ham and turkey. This Slow Cooker Bone-In Ham recipe from my mom is SO easy to make, yet SO GOOD that everyone asks for the recipe.

    Instead of turkey, try roasting a chicken or even a small Cornish hen for each guest. Other main dishes include roast beef, salmon, and pork. My readers have told me that they make ethnic and regional dishes at Thanksgiving from lasagna to tamales and wild rice casserole to baked mac and cheese.

    Casseroles for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    slow cooker green bean casserole

    It’s super easy to make some of your casseroles in a slow cooker! This frees up time and oven space. Many casseroles can be made ahead of time and warmed up right before serving.

    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Casserole
    • Creamy Vegetable Casserole
    • Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

    Salads for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    Strawberry Pecan Pretzel Salad

    A salad is a great thing to ask guests to bring because they don’t need to be kept warm. We usually have some kind of lettuce salad as well as a sweet salad. Here are a few of our favorites:

    • Strawberry Pretzel Salad
    • Bacon Cranberry Salad
    • Cowboy Caviar aka Black Bean Salad

    Additional Sides for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    cranberry sauce in a white bowl

    Can I just say that I really look forward to Thanksgiving dinner for the casseroles and sides? I could make my whole meal be about those two things!

    To keep things simple, limit the number of sides you will be serving to your family’s absolute favorites. Also, it’s totally okay to use shortcuts like store-bought dinner rolls and instant mashed potatoes. Your family probably won’t even know the difference!

    • Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
    • Smooth and Creamy Mashed Potatoes
    • Mashed Potato Puff
    • Homemade Dressing or Stuffing
    • Gravy
    • Roasted Carrots
    • Oven Roasted Vegetables
    • Cranberry Sauce
    • Dinner Rolls

    Beverages for Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    sparkling apple cider pitcher

    In addition to the basics like milk and water, it is nice to have a special holiday beverage that everyone can enjoy. Here are some of the drinks we’ve served at Thanksgiving:

    • Sparkling Apple Cider
    • Cranberry Orange Holiday Punch
    • Slow Cooker Apple Cider With Caramel and Cinnamon
    • Frosty Mocha Punch
    • Pomegranate Lime Holiday Punch

    Desserts for the Easy Thanksgiving Menu

    easy pecan pie recipe without corn syrup

    Thanksgiving Pies

    Traditionally, Thanksgiving desserts are focused on pies! The more pies the better and any variety of pie is welcome. That being said, the menu doesn’t HAVE to include all the pies, and store-bought or bakery made pies can help with the workload.

    Also, everyone has their favorites so ask guests to bring a pie to share! I love taking a tiny slice of several different kinds.

    • Easy Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup
    • Pumpkin Pie
    • French Silk Pie
    • Key Lime Pie
    • Peanut Butter Pie
    • Strawberry Pie

    Thanksgiving Cheesecakes

    Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert Bite

    Not everyone likes pie so our Thanksgiving dinner usually includes other desserts as well.

    • Pecan Pie Cheesecake Dessert
    • Easy Cheesecake Recipe
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert
    • Triple Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
    • Blueberry Cheesecake Dessert

    Additional Thanksgiving Desserts

    Bloomin' Baked Apples

    Autumn is all about apples and pumpkin desserts so they are great choices when choosing a dessert other than pie.

    • Bloomin’ Baked Apples
    • Caramel Pecan Carrot Cake
    • Mini Apple Crisps
    • Pumpkin Bundt Cake
    • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding
    collage of easy Thanksgiving menu items

    Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful RELAXING day with your loved ones!

    More Thanksgiving

    • Strawberry pie.
      Strawberry Pie
    • a bowl of brocolli salad on a counter
      Broccoli Salad
    • a honey glazed ham in a roasting pan.
      Honey Glazed Ham
    • a pie with toasted coconut shavings on top
      Coconut Cream Pie

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

    « Cranberry Sauce Recipe
    Thanksgiving Candy Bar Pretzel Bites »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    sign up for emails button
    Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Nutrition Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in