Recipes Holidays and Events Recipes Thanksgiving 17 of Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes That Use No More Than 5 Ingredients Turkey Day has never been easier. By Moriah Ayana Mason Moriah Ayana Mason Moriah Mason is part of the fellowship program at Dotdash Meredith, currently with Allrecipes. Moriah writes trending news articles, updates existing articles, and analyzes site traffic. She is an experienced writer who has contributed to several publications, including Samford Crimson and Alabama Political Reporter. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on November 21, 2024 Close Photo: Meredith Food Studio There's no better time of year than Thanksgiving! From reuniting with relatives to participating in your favorite fall activities, this annual holiday has a special way of bringing you closer to your family and friends. And nothing creates a sense of togetherness like sitting around the Thanksgiving table and enjoying some delectable dishes. Whether you're on a budget or just looking to simplify things, each of these dishes has five ingredients (or fewer!) and deserves a spot on your Thanksgiving menu this year. Starting with a juicy, moist turkey and ending with the most classic Thanksgiving dessert of all time, these recipes will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time. 01 of 17 A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA This Thanksgiving showstopper is one that your family won't soon forget. "Simple roast turkey just like grandma used to make," says recipe submitter Syd. "Seasoned with salt and pepper and basted with turkey stock, the flavors of the turkey really stand out." View Recipe 02 of 17 Best Green Bean Casserole Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Swap out plain ol' green beans for this creamy casserole and watch everyone at the Thanksgiving table go, "WOW!" Made using a can of cream of mushroom soup, shredded Cheddar cheese, French onions, and the nutritious add-in of green beans, this classic casserole is perfect for your family's Thanksgiving feast. View Recipe 03 of 17 Basic Mashed Potatoes Meredith Food Studio Your Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be complete without a bowl full of rich, buttery mashed potatoes, and look no further than this top-rated recipe. "Oh my word," raves reviewer Cheryl Gillam. "This is SO easy! Potatoes were the perfect consistency! Thank you for posting this recipe. I will be heating the milk and butter separately from now on. Who knew a simple thing like that would make all the difference?" View Recipe 04 of 17 Simple Macaroni and Cheese Dotdash Meredith Food Studios This cheesy, buttery, classic Thanksgiving side recipe is one that will have your guests reaching for seconds...and thirds. You simply can't beat tender macaroni pasta folded in with a decadent melted Cheddar cheese sauce. With each bite, you'll be enjoying some warm, cheesy goodness. View Recipe 05 of 17 Really Easy Bread Stuffing Photo by geneviever. Create a simple bread stuffing that will leave your guests absolutely speechless. Packed with tender onions, pieces of white bread, and savory seasonings, this stuffing dish is overflowing with flavor. Reviewer Sandra Hale writes, "This is the best way to make stuffing ever! I just added 1 tsp of sage to this recipe and my family absolutely LOVES it! This is the recipe we use for every occasion that requires stuffing!" View Recipe 06 of 17 Maple Glazed Carrots Whether your family is a fan of these nutritious veggies or you're searching for an easy side dish to make for Thanksgiving this year, these maple glazed carrots will certainly be the talk of the table. The best part? It uses just three ingredients. View Recipe 07 of 17 Easy Creamed Onions Add some extra creaminess and richness to humble onions and cook up an appetizing side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. One tip that recipe creator Erin Noel adds is to make sure that you use fresh onions instead of frozen. View Recipe 08 of 17 Simple Mashed Sweet Potato Casserole Grab some sweet potatoes, sugary maple syrup, milk, and butter, and make an appetizing casserole for your guests that will have them saying "mmm" with each bite. And, since this casserole only takes about 30 minutes to prepare, your guests won't have to wait too long to savor this sweet casserole. View Recipe 09 of 17 Brown Sugar n' Bacon Green Beans Spice up your green beans by adding bacon and brown sugar. Sweet and savory, and oh so satisfying, this Thanksgiving side dish is made with only five ingredients. If you really want to take this recipe up a notch, consider using maple bacon instead of regular bacon as reviewer Emma Montague suggested. View Recipe 10 of 17 Whipped Butternut Squash Nothing screams fall and Thanksgiving like nutty, sweet vegetables like butternut squash. But this luscious Thanksgiving dish doesn't only have squash to offer; it also utilizes apple pie spice and brown sugar to amp up the fall flavor. As you dig into this light, spice-infused squash, you'll be reminded of beautiful fall scenery. View Recipe 11 of 17 Sandwich Rolls Chef John These sandwich rolls are the perfect companion for any Thanksgiving dinner. Not only are these chewy rolls better than the ones at the supermarket, as Chef John says, but they are also made using only four ingredients. View Recipe 12 of 17 Candied Yams Meredith Food Studio Sweeten the deal with these candied yams! Made with miniature marshmallows, brown sugar, and sweet potatoes, this is one sweet dish that should be on your Thanksgiving table. View Recipe 13 of 17 Cranberry Sauce Meredith Food Studio You simply can't beat the nice, tart flavor that this juicy cranberry sauce has to offer. With over 2,000 5-star reviews, this 3-ingredient recipe makes it easy to earn a spot on your Thanksgiving menu. Hot tip: if you have leftover cranberry sauce, try adding it to muffins for a unique, fruity fall bake. View Recipe 14 of 17 Homemade Turkey Gravy One absolute must-have on any Turkey Day table is homemade gravy, and this simple recipe goes back to gravy basics. Gravy has the ability to make your mashed potatoes even more appetizing and your turkey even more flavorful. This recipe uses just three ingredients, but recipe creator Travis Strean suggests you can amp up the flavor by adding other spices such as rosemary and thyme or cooking wines like Marsala. View Recipe 15 of 17 Watergate Salad Allrecipes/Qi Ai "Watergate salad is an American classic. This delightful side dish salad or dessert is made with pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, canned pineapple, mini marshmallows, nuts, and whipped topping," says recipe creator Jennifer. "It comes together in minutes and after one to two hours in the refrigerator, this chilly treat will impress your dinner guests with it's light and fluffy texture and colorful appeal. Garnish with crushed pistachios and maraschino cherries." View Recipe 16 of 17 Simple Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Dotdash Meredith Food Studios If you need an easy side that everyone will love, what's better than pulling out the air fryer to make some Brussels sprouts? This recipe is simple to start but can be changed to fit your preferences. View Recipe 17 of 17 Simple Pumpkin Pie Victoria Jempty/Allrecipes Because no Thanksgiving meal would be complete without pie! Savor the classic fall flavor of pumpkin in this delectable pumpkin pie that's ready in just an hour. To really complete this picture-perfect pie, top each slice with some velvety whipped cream. View Recipe More Inspiration Preethi Venkatram/Allrecipes The Best Thanksgiving Stuffing and Dressing Recipes 9 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides That Hold Up In The Freezer Our Entire Thanksgiving Recipe Collection Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit