A Foolproof Plan for A Simple + Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Dinner
Simple and Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Dinner
last updated October 24th, 2023
When I first put together this last minute Thanksgiving dinner plan, we had just moved (Why is this always a theme for us around the holidays and how do we make it stop?! Ha!), and before that we were on a trip, and in the midst of it all I had a crazy amount of deadlines (as one in my industry typically does this time of year). Oh, right, and it’s also the holiday season, better known as the busiest time of year. In other words, I needed wine, not to cook some elaborate dinner.
But, as someone who will never miss an opportunity to indulge in mashed potatoes and stuffing, I knew I still had to find some time to put together a turkey dinner. And since I know I’m far from the only one with a million things going on, I wanted to share my foolproof plan for a simple and easy last minute thanksgiving dinner. It took me about 3 hours, from start to finish, to make everything {yup, even gravy and dessert}. It’s not all homemade and it’s not all traditional, but, let’s be honest, those things are really never what the dinner should be about.
Just remember, do your best with what you have and don’t be ashamed to get a little help with the rest (whether that’s getting something pre-made or letting someone else lend a hand).
I hope wherever you are, whoever you’re with and whatever you have going on, you remember to take some time to slow down, savor a good meal, count your blessings and realize all (yes, even that insane schedule and those mountains of deadlines) that you have to be grateful for.
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL // a Maple Orange Sidecar or a spiked cider is always a lovely option (just skip the smoked step to make this super easy and simple)
APPETIZERS // Two-ingredient appetizers that are delicious and, well, only two ingredients each (Yes really!) and so easy to make that you can have one or all of them ready in no time! A seasonal cheeseboard also never disappoints {get some inspo from this one, this one and this one}.
MAIN // Mulled Wine Turkey OR try this turkey and side dish in one recipe (great for smaller gatherings of 2-4 people)
SIDE DISHES // Stuffing {jazzed up Stovetop works in a pinch}, a simple gravy, quick and easy cranberry sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, roasted kabocha wedges and arugula salad with candied hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds or delicata kale salad
DESSERT // No-bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes topped with Candied Hazelnuts but Italian Stewed Prunes are warm, cozy and so simple and easy to make and you can never go wrong with a seasonal twist on affoagto
Prep the turkey and start cooking it. The easiest way I’ve found to make turkey is to baste in lots of melted butter, sprinkle generously with sea salt and add lots of fresh herbs {thyme sage, rosemary}. The continue basting with butter every 20-30 minutes or so. I also cover the turkey with foil to help keep moisture in, then remove the foil for the last 30 minutes to allow the skin to get golden brown and crispy. I also bake mine without the stuffing in the cavity as it significantly, reduces cooking time.
Set the table. Here’s an idea for a simple tablescape setting.
Make the cranberry sauce and transfer it to a serving dish. Keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat. For my cranberry sauce recipe, I just do 1 bag of cranberries, 1 whole orange and 2 tablespoons of sugar and pulse in a food processor until the cranberries and orange are finely chopped.
Assemble the cheesecakes.
Prep the kabocha squash for roasting.
Start serving cocktails.
Put out a cheeseboard to start nibbling on.
Prep the potatoes for roasting. I just throw mine on a baking sheet with plenty of olive oil, sea salt and a bunch of fresh rosemary.
Prepare the candied nuts.
Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest.
Place the kabocha squash in the oven. Once you flip it over {after 15 minutes}, add the nuts to the oven as well as the tray of fingerling potatoes. Everything should be done after another 15-20 minutes.
While the veggies and nuts roast, assemble the salad and make the maple tahini drizzle/dressing. For the salad I used arugula, pomegranate seeds and toasted pumpkin seeds. Then added some tahini, a drizzle of toasted sunflower seed oil and a splash of apple cider vinegar. You could also add golden raisins, goat cheese, herbs, pear or apple.
Make the stuffing. I used Stovetop then jazzed it up {see this post for ways to jazz up boxed stuffing}.
Remove the veggies and nuts from the oven. Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and the squash to a serving platter. Allow the nuts to cool then chop them and add a few to the salad. Drizzle the squash with the tahini maple mixture, then sprinkle with some of the candied nuts as well as sage. Save the remaining nuts for dessert.
Shake up another round of cocktails.
Make the gravy. I just make mine by whisking together turkey drippings, flour and a splash of white wine.
Slice the turkey.
Eat and be merry.
Top your cheesecakes with some candied nuts and pass them out to guests.
Be thankful for easy recipes, and lots of leftovers!
Take stock of what you have on hand and see what you can utilize for Thanksgiving-appropriate dishes; i.e. maybe you already have lettuce for a salad, or sweet potatoes to make mashed potatoes for the side. Once you know what you have…
Make a menu and number things in the order they need to be prepared, paying attention to anything that can be made ahead of time.
Quick and easy doesn't always translate well for traditional dishes. Don’t be afraid to combine recipes, add your own spin to things, or try a one-pan meal {this one-pan roasted turkey, cranberry sauce and acorn squash is basically an entire Thanksgiving dinner in a single pan}.
Prepare dishes with simple ingredients. The less ingredients involved, the less you have to buy and the easier they are to prepare. And don’t be fooled, less ingredients, definitely does’t mean less flavor.
Look for opportunities to use one ingredient multiple ways. For example, these candied hazelnuts can be added to a cheeseboard, used to top a side dish or a salad, and be used to jazz up dessert. A tahini maple dressing can be used on a side dish as well as a salad dressing.
Skip the stuffing in the cavity of your turkey. It will significantly cut down on cooking time.
Rely on local bakeries, grocery stores and restaurants to pick up pre-made items, like side dishes or pies, to help cut back cooking time in your own kitchen.
Don’t be afraid to use store bought items. A few simple touches can jazz them up in no time and make them feel like they’re anything but from the store. Check out this post for all my easy thanksgiving recipe hacks.
Keep beverages simple and sweet. Have one signature cocktail, and have beer and wine on hand, as well.
Know that the majority of your table is going to be filled with food, so keep the setting simple. Pick up some seasonal blooms from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, or just use a pumpkin, layer plates for an elevated look, add some neutral linens, throw in a few candles and you’re good to go.