Thanksgiving dinner is one meal we look forward to all year. Planning the menu can be a weeks-long affair, and choreographing the spread can take the better part of Thanksgiving week. Pulling off such an elaborate meal means relying heavily on make-ahead options, but let’s face it: Some dishes really do need to be prepared fresh for optimal deliciousness (mashed potatoes, we’re looking at you!). Here, we’ve gathered a selection of recipes that can be made entirely on the actual big day — but since we know you’ll be busy, we’re focusing on dishes that require an hour or less of your time. From garlicky greens to crisp salads, feast-favorite mashed potatoes, and a seafood main, here are the quickest dishes to make on Thanksgiving day.
Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli with Cranberry Agrodolce
Smoky, crisped brussels sprouts and broccoli meet a sweet-tart sauce filled with cranberries, Fresno chiles, and shallots for an elegant side that’s table-ready in 30 minutes.
Garlicky Roasted Green Beans with Ginger and Mint
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis
Earthy charred green beans are paired with the aromatic punches of fresh ginger, garlic, chiles, and mint for a simple yet sophisticated side. Equally delicious served hot from the oven or at room temperature, these will become a regular at your Thanksgiving table.
Roasted Hot Honey Sweet Potato Salad
If you don’t want to go the candied route, this sweet potato salad makes a colorful, satisfying side dish for your Thanksgiving table. Smoked paprika creates a sweet and savory balance, while the hot honey dressing adds a touch of tangy heat. Homemade pickled red onions, crunchy toasted pecans, and fresh parsley round everything out with texture and pop.
Fennel and Apple Salad with Hazelnuts
Tender leaves of Boston lettuce, shaved fennel, and tart Granny Smith apples form the foundation of this salad recipe. A zesty Champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey-drizzled vinaigrette flavors this simple yet impressive dish, ideal for your Thanksgiving gathering.
Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style
Diana Chistruga
Chef Joël Robuchon is famous worldwide for his super-silky, super-rich, super-light and buttery mashed potatoes. This is Anthony Bourdain’s version of those potatoes.
Southern-Style Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Nothing beats gooey, golden, hot-from-the-oven macaroni and cheese. Three kinds of cheese — extra-sharp cheddar, Colby-Jack, and cream cheese — go into this creamy, savory recipe, which also gets hints of flavor from fresh bay leaves and dry mustard.
Braised Greens with Crispy Garlic and Miso
Umami-salty miso brings loads of flavor to simmered kale and collard greens. Softened, browned chunks of garlic and ginger studded throughout the greens add texture and savory interest.
Harissa Mashed Potatoes
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
For these spicy mashed potatoes, F&W recipe developer Ali Ramee doubles down on smoky harissa flavor by adding it to both the mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and the compound butter that crowns them. Rich and creamy labneh adds a cooling component to the fiery harissa.
Chicory Salad with Cranberry Sauce Vinaigrette
Cranberry sauce makes for a gorgeous salad dressing, with tart and tangy flavors contrasting the bitterness of chicory. You can also use endives, frisee, or any other bitter greens you prefer.
Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon with Oranges, Olives, and Herbs
This salmon centerpiece is on the table in 40 minutes with a tart pomegranate molasses and gorgeous, shimmering glaze, plus bright blood oranges and mandarins.
Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever’s Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon
James Ransom / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless
Baked earthy sweet potatoes in a rich, syrupy sauce of melted butter, brown sugar, fresh apple cider, and smoky bourbon until tender, no marshmallows necessary.
Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates
You can achieve big colors and even bigger flavors by choosing the perfect blend of simple ingredients. This vibrant salad does just that. Chopped pistachios, dates, preserved lemons, and fresh herbs add an assortment of tastes and textures to the beautifully roasted orange carrots.
Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes
Garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese replaces the usual cream cheese in these mashed potatoes for a wonderfully smooth texture with dots of savory flavor throughout.
Dried Cranberry and Chocolate Cookies
Food & Wine / Photo by Carson Downing / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell
Enhance the crowd-pleasing chocolate chip-oatmeal cookie hybrid with seasonal, tangy dried cranberries in a half hour.
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser
Warmly spiced pumpkin cupcakes are adorned with tangy cream cheese frosting and dotted with crunchy toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds to make the ultimate fall treat. Small cakes dry out faster than larger ones, so cupcakes are best made the day they’re served.
Creamed Brussels Sprouts
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver
William Cox’s reimagining of classic creamed spinach brings us shaved brussels sprouts with a smooth spinach-cream sauce that’s topped with delicate brussels sprout leaves. A finishing splash of fresh lemon juice lifts the flavors and adds a hint of citrus brightness.
Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple
You’ll only need fresh cranberries, a Fuji apple, and sugar to pull this recipe off in 20 minutes.