No-Fuss Foods for Thanksgiving

Recipes for a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving menu
Published on November 24, 2021 by Madisson Haynes

For some, Thanksgiving menus are planned out weeks in advance. Ingredient lists and grocery runs are written and done well before Thanksgiving Day. And for those of you who don't have your dishes decided yet, we've got a few ideas to help you fill the table (and your bellies).

Enjoy this lineup of delicious dishes that range from traditional to unexpected, all from PBS Food.


Classic Cranberry

Some say turkey is the staple of Thanksgiving, but the sides are the main event in our book. Plus, you can't go wrong with cranberry sauce. This sweet-yet-sour side is the perfect filler food for your Thanksgiving menu. The recipe calls for a handful of ingredients simmered and then refrigerated, simple enough for a last-minute holiday lunch or dinner.

Non-Traditional Turkey

Taking it back to turkey, it isn't always necessary to cook a whole bird for one day. That's where these turkey meatballs come in. No, it's not your traditional Thanksgiving turkey, but there's turkey involved and they are spicy.

These spicy braised turkey meatballs are a fun way to add your own twist to Thanksgiving. Plus this recipe makes plenty for leftovers so you won't miss out on that part of the experience!

Bring on the Baby Back Ribs

Not a fan of turkey? Try your hand at baby back ribs with a side of cheesy corn and slaw. This dish featured in Season 2 of The Great American Recipe isn't your traditional Thanksgiving dish, but it's definitely a crowd pleaser. 

Baby Back Ribs with Cheesy Corn & Slaw


Deviled Eggs Sent from Heaven

Make your Thanksgiving meal more heavenly with these herb deviled eggs. All it takes is eight ingredients and you've got yourself a delicious side that didn't take all day to make.

Not a fan of deviled eggs? Don't worry, we've got a side that'll satisfy nearly anyone. Think you can guess what it is?


More Than a Salad

If you guessed side salad, congratulations! You've unlocked the recipe to this delicious wild rice arugula salad with maple glazed acorn squash! This salad is sweet, savory, fresh and the perfect complement to any Thanksgiving menu.

Scratch that, this salad is the perfect side throughout the Fall season. And did we mention it was topped with goat cheese?

Thankful for Tenders

This recipe is for picker eaters and low-maintenance meals alike. Fried chicken tenders with coleslaw have a special place in our hearts and on our table. This meal from Season 2 of The Great American Recipe is crispy, savory and worth the likely comments about chicken tenders on Thanksgiving.

Chicken Tenders with Slaw

Let's Elevate with Lamb

Elevate Thanksgiving lunch or dinner with lamb. This baharat-spiced rack of lamb is paired with a cherry-tamarind sauce that will ignite your tastebuds in a way turkey can't. 

Baharat-Spice Lamb


Less is more when it comes to seasoning, and this recipe lets the lamb flavor shine.

Thyme for Mashed Potatoes

There are many, many ways to make mashed potatoes, but these might just be our favorite version of the savory dish. This recipe calls for steaming rather than boiling the potatoes as to not water log them, and also gives the dish more of that pure-potato flavor. 

Cheesey Thyme Mashed Potatoes


As well as herbs, add cheese to your potatoes for more flavor, creaminess and of course cheesiness. Whether you keep it simple with cheddar or add in smoked gouda or fontina, the opportunities are endless. Pro tip: Use a ricer vs. a masher ... it gives you the most ethereal potatoes.

Let's Get Ready to Crumble

If you're not in the pumpkin mood this Thanksgiving, try out another tasty dessert that still feels like fall. Almonds and oats complement each other nicely, so this almond oat pear crumble is a match perfectly made. 

Almond Oat Pear Crumble

This recipe is relatively easy — make a pie-like filling, add it to your favorite casserole dish and then add a crumble topping. No rolling out dough, no crimping, no trying to make it pretty. The flavors are pie are very present, but there's no fuss involved.

Banana Bread Plus Persimmons 

Spice up your banana bread with persimmons. Any sort of spiced bread has cozy Fall vibes written all over it and this recipe is a perfect example. This recipe makes a delicious, moist and superbly-spiced bread with the perfect amount of cinnamon and ginger.

Persimon Banana Bread

 

Fuyus taste a lot like cinnamon. It’s not an intense flavor but it’s subtle and delicious. They taste like a refreshing autumnal fruit that complements the flavors in this banana bread.

ABC: A Bourbon Cider

This cider isn't your typical fall beverage. Not only does it include bourbon, but this recipe also calls for cardamom, a fragrant bay leaf and slices of oranges and lemon. All of this creates a fragrant aroma and an even more delicious drink. 

Bourbon Mulled Cider

More Cranberry, but Cocktails

If your Thanksgiving menu doesn't have a signature cocktail, it's not too late to whip one up! There are so many different options when it comes to beverages, but this year we're focusing on cranberry for our Fall flavor. Up first? A Cranberry Old-Fashioned.

This cranberry old-fashioned recipe puts a festive spin on a classic drink. The cranberry adds a delicious combination of sweet and bitter, making it the perfect choice when it comes to cocktails.

Spiced and Seasonal

Last on our Thanksgiving recipe roundup is another dose of cranberry, but this time there's other fruit involved. This spiced cranberry sangria will soon become a holiday staple once you've given it a try.

One sip and you'll be feeling festive for the rest of the season. Don't believe us? Try it yourself!