15 One-Pot Thanksgiving Dishes for the Easiest Turkey Day Ever

Not traveling for a family feast this Thanksgiving? Don’t plan on take-out just yet. Even if you’re only serving a few guests, you can enjoy the traditional holiday meal with this convenient, scaled down sheet pan adaptation of Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re only serving two, all the better—you’ll have enough for traditional Thanksgiving leftovers (a.k.a. the best part). 

This deliciously tart cranberry-apple sauce is an easy alternative to the canned stuff. Keep it traditional and serve with turkey, or think outside the box and use a dollop on this Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup. Although it's quick and easy to make, we'd suggest prepping it a few days in advance—this Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce only gets better with time. 

Turkey and dressing has never been so simple as it is when you use your slow cooker. You may never go back to roasting the bird after you try this easy slow cooker version featuring a turkey breast and a package of stuffing mix.

This take on green bean casserole removes the add-ins you’d encounter with canned soup and frees up the stove and oven for all the other Thanksgiving dishes. Browning the onions adds so much flavor to the gravy while maintaining a Thanksgiving side that’s still somewhat light—there’s just enough sauce, but plenty of flavor. This casserole is also great reheated, or even chopped up and mixed in to a stir-fry. 

Whether for a simple weeknight side or holiday dinner, this 4-ingredient dish is sure to become a family favorite. Roasting caramelizes the Brussels sprouts, enhancing their flavor while keeping them tender. For additional flavor, toss with cooked, crumbled bacon.

Whip up our simple homemade pumpkin pie filling and pour into a (baked) refrigerated or store-bought piecrust. In less than an hour, you'll have a delicious pumpkin pie fit for any Thanksgiving table--and very few dishes to clean.

What’s the secret to creamy, melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes? Your slow cooker. These super simple Crock Pot mashed are easy to prepare and even easier to eat. They get tons of richness, thanks to plenty of butter and milk. Adding a bay leaf takes things up a notch and unveils a layer of savory aromatics that doesn’t overpower the rest of the dish. 

Carrot and corn are welcome additions to this favorite Southern-style squash casserole that can be prepared in your slow cooker.

This delicious chocolate cake from our friend Joy the Baker comes together in one saucepan, so you can enjoy the rich flavor and whipped topping without the worry of cleaning too many dishes afterwards!

This roasted whole butternut squash is super easy with just enough saltiness. The sea salt adds a nice, briny bite to the butternut squash’s mellow sweetness. You could also scoop it out or slice it and serve it as a side—the possibilities here are endless. For especially tender results, bake the butternut squash face-down: It’ll give the squash a little more steam, plus the cut side gets a nice caramelized color from the pan.

Pecan pie’s classic custardy texture gets a boozy punch thanks to the addition of Baileys Irish Cream. The dark brown sugar and dark corn syrup make for a dark custard, but you could certainly use light brown sugar and light corn syrup if you prefer. For the ultimate boost in flavor, brush the finished warm pie with the remaining teaspoon of Baileys. Finish everything up with whipped cream or ice cream, or serve it for post-Thanksgiving breakfast with a cup of coffee. 

Seen the Internet-famous “melting potatoes”? Here’s how to do them in your Instant Pot—without cranking your oven up to 500°. Buttery, creamy, and perfectly salty Instant Pot Melting Potatoes make for a divinely decadent celebration of potatoes—no cream or cheese necessary. If you want to double the recipe, you’ll need to brown your potatoes in batches, but can steam them all together. Feel free to garnish with a sprinkling of whatever herbs you desire; parsley, sage, or rosemary are all great options. 

This sweet potato dish strikes a perfect balance between sweet, tart, and savory. Perfect for the autumn months and holidays alike, this dish combines different varieties of apples for a complex side dish that will make your house smell like an aromatic dream. If you're short on time, this can be made a day ahead, drizzled with olive oil, and reheated in the oven at 425°F in two baking pans until hot. Garnish with sprigs of thyme for a festive finishing touch.

If there’s two things we know about holiday entertaining, it’s that sweet potato casserole is a must, and that there’s just never enough room in the oven. Friends, this conundrum is exactly why you should break out your crockpot for a helping hand this year. With a buttery, crisp pecan and marshmallow topping, our Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole delivers all of the warming richness of the traditional oven-baked casserole, but without monopolizing prime oven real estate. Enhanced with maple syrup, orange juice, vanilla, and a touch of spice, this easy sweet potato casserole hits the perfect just-sweet-enough mark. 

A decadent dessert couldn't be easier than this ooey-gooey chocolate cake prepared in a slow cooker. A hint of instant coffee pairs perfectly with the unsweetened cocoa and intensely enriches the flavor.