The Laidback Guide to a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Last updated on November 16, 2023

Oh, Thanksgiving. While it should feel like a warm celebration with family and friends, its mention is usually followed by a flood of anxiety and stress. You’re tasked with everything from planning meals to cleaning the house to making sure your cable bill is paid for the big game. How will you pull it all together? We have some tips for a truly stress-free Thanksgiving gathering. 

Plan a simple but savory menu

Thanksgiving is all about comfort foods! And luckily, those are pretty easy to make. But you don’t want to skimp on the flavor, either. This year, make your menu a little easier to handle! You can always recruit some help from your guests and make it a potluck, too. Don’t be afraid to ask for something specific!

The recipes below are simple (and shareable) for your stress-free Thanksgiving meal. Of course, the easiest way is to hire a caterer, but if you’re more of a do-it-yourselfer, you’ll love these ideas.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecans

The key to a stress-free Thanksgiving menu is to make things before the big day! This sweet potato casserole with maple pecans only has three ingredients and can be made up to two days ahead of time. Knock out this Thanksgiving staple first, and check one more thing off your list.

Ingredients

• Olive oil (for pan)
• 5 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2″ pieces
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more
• 1 1/4 cups pure maple syrup, divided
• 2 cups pecan halves (about 7 ounces)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a 3-qt. baking dish. Cook potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until very tender, about 12 minutes. Drain; let sit in colander 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1/2 cup syrup in a large skillet over medium-high. Add pecans, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until the syrup has evaporated and pecans are glazed (about 5 minutes). Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
3. Purée potatoes, 1 1/2 cups water, and remaining 3/4 cup syrup, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a food processor until smooth. Transfer potato mixture to prepared baking dish.
4. Coarsely chop pecans and sprinkle evenly over potato mixture.
5. Bake casserole until top is lightly browned (about 40 minutes). Let sit 15 minutes before serving.

Do Ahead

1. Casserole can be assembled, without topping, 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Candied pecans can be made 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Yield: Serves 8–10. Active Time: 30 minutes. Total Time: 2 hours.

Traditional Homemade Stuffing

Stuffing is a staple of any Thanksgiving table. But let’s face it, those stuffings from a box are basically flavored mush. This year, make this traditional homemade stuffing from Le Creme de la Crumb! Like the casserole, this dish can also be made in advance or the morning of and reheated in the oven for the big meal.

Instructions

• 1 loaf day-old sourdough or white bread – cut into 1/2-inch cubes, dried, bread cubes should sit out in the open air for at least 1 hour beforehand
• 4 stalks fo celery – chopped
• 1 white or yellow onion – diced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 teaspoons Italian blend seasoning (or 1 teaspoon each of dried thyme, dried rosemary, and dried parsley)
• 2-3 cupes chicken broth – if you like more dry stuffing, use 2 cups broth
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt – or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper – or to taste

Instructions

1. Arrange bread cubes in a single layer (or as close to it as possible) on a large rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Once oven has fully preheated, remove bread from the oven, transfer bread to the largest bowl you have, and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add celery and onions and stir for 2-3 minutes until celery is tender and onions are translucent. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute longer until fragrant.
3. Add celery mixture to bread bowl. Whisk together eggs, Italian seasoning, broth, and salt and pepper. Pour half over the bread, toss to coat. Pour remaining half over the bread, and toss to coat once more.
4. Transfer bread back to the skillet OR if your skillet is not oven-safe or not large enough, you can transfer it to a greased 9×13 baking pan.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20-30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve fresh (for best results!) or allow to cool completely, then cover tightly and refrigerate up to 5 days.

Note: This recipe can be doubled, just bake it in a 9×13 inch pan or an extra large baking sheet.

Yield: 8 servings. Prep Time: 10 minutes. Total Time: 1 hour 10minutes. 

Simple Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is often overlooked and prepared last-minute from a can. And while still delicious, let’s put in a little more effort this year. Though not too much effort, as this super simple cranberry sauce recipe only calls for three ingredients. No excuse not to add this to your stress-free Thanksgiving menu!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces cranberries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup orange juice

Instructions

1. Dissolve sugar in the orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir in the cranberries and cook until they start to pop (about 10 minutes).
3. Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. It will think as it cools.

Yield: 10 servings. Prep Time: 5 minutes. Cook Time: 20 minutes.

Easy Turkey

Ah, the headliner! Something about cooking a turkey is terrifying for first-timers. It can be a bit intimidating to imagine cooking such a big piece of meat. But this recipe from The Cookie Rookie is easy enough to keep your anxiety level low and your nap levels high. So, don’t be scared and get to roastin’!

Ingredients

• 1 turkey (15-16 pounds, or adjust cook time to size)
• 1 cup Turkey Seasoning
• 1/2 cup butter (softened)
• 3 white or yellow onions (sliced into quarters)
• 2 lemons (sliced into wedges)
• 8 garlic cloves
• 5 rosemary sprigs
• 1/2 cup fresh thyme
• 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves

Instructions

1. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
3. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
4. Remove the neck and giblets.
5. Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper.
6. Fill the cavity with half of the following: quartered onions, lemons, cloves of garlic, and fresh herbs.
7. Rub the butter and spice rub all over the turkey, including under the skin of the breasts.
8. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan and tuck the wings under the turkey, and tie the ends of the turkey legs together with kitchen twine.
9. Arrange the remaining onions, garlic, and herbs around the turkey.
10. Place the turkey in the oven and roast for 15 minutes per pound.
11. Check the turkey a couple of times throughout cooking. If the skin is becoming too brown, loosely cover the turkey with tin foil.
12. Check the temperature at the meatiest part of the thigh and breast to ensure it has reached 165°F.
13. Loosely cover the turkey with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Pumpkin Pie with a Twist

They say you can’t have Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. But not everyone is a fan. Do you know what everyone does like? Cheesecake! With this easy pumpkin pie cheesecake, you can satisfy both sides of the pumpkin pie debate. This dessert will be the talk of your stress-free Thanksgiving gathering.

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
• 1 9-inch graham cracker crust (store bought or homemade)
• Whip cream, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined. Blend in eggs one at a time, until smooth.
3. Remove 1 1/3 cups of the cheesecake batter and spread it into the bottom of the graham cracker crust; set aside.
4. Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to the remaining cheesecake batter and whisk gently until well combined. Carefully spread the pumpkin layer over the plain cheesecake layer with a spatula.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool (about 1 hour), then refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.
6. Serve with whipped cream, if desired!

Yield: 1 9-inch pie. Prep time: 10 minutes. Total time: 4 hours 45 minutes.

Use simple but festive DIY decor

Hold off on those Christmas decorations just a little bit longer and create a beautiful autumnal atmosphere for your stress-free Thanksgiving. These DIY centerpieces can be put together in a snap, and they look like they belong in a dining room on an HGTV show.

Pumpkins and Candles

Made with, you guessed it, mini pumpkins and candles! Grab white pillar candles from the dollar store and line them up on anything from a serving board to scrap pallet planks. Weave some vine throughout for an added touch.

Glittery Pumpkin Place Cards

Add a little glam to your Thanksgiving decor! These glittery gourds are super easy to make and can even serve as party favors for your guests. All you need is a little glue and glitter, then do some printing and cutting, and you’re all done!

Fall Centerpiece Box

This is a tad more ambitious than the crafts above, but can still be done in under an hour! You can probably just draw inspiration from it if you don’t feel like building a box. Fill a basket, or hey, just arrange the jars and gourds in the middle of your table. You really can’t go wrong with these simple and rustic items.

Thankfulness Centerpiece

White pumpkins are so chic and pretty. And this idea adds a bit of heartfelt sentiment to your Thanksgiving table! Let your guests add to it as they arrive for a unique and creative centerpiece. Talk about the perfect addition to your stress-free Thanksgiving decor. Literally, plop a pumpkin and marker on your table!

🦃 You might also like: Host a Grateful Get-Together with These Friendsgiving Ideas

Keep the kiddos occupied

While you’re focused on playing hostess this Thanksgiving, make sure the little ones have something fun to do! Here are some quick and easy crafts to keep the kids busy (and ensure your stress-free Thanksgiving).

Fall Coloring Pages

Everyone loves to color, so it’s the perfect relaxing activity for a stress-free gathering. Even the adults will want to get in on the action! Just print a stack of Thanksgiving-themed coloring pages with varying levels of difficulty so all ages can participate.

Craft Paper Tablecloth

Keeping on the coloring theme, this effortless idea only requires a big roll of craft paper and some markers and crayons. Though, you could add some extra flair by decorating it first if you’d like. The kids’ table might be the place to be this year!

Hand Print Turkey Hats

Turn your little Pilgrims into turkeys with just a few simple art supplies. This kid-friendly Thanksgiving craft is easy to do and a great way to keep those little hands busy while you put the finishing touches on the dinner. Not to mention the adorable photo opportunities they create!

Gratefulness Rocks

Being grateful is an obvious theme around Thanksgiving. So, help teach some thankfulness to your kiddos with this creative craft! All you need is some smooth rocks and paint markers. Nothing makes a stress-free Thanksgiving like seeing your little ones show gratitude for all you do!

Turkey Bowling

Everyone loves a little healthy competition at a holiday gathering! With some simple supplies, you can set up a bowling game that will have the children squealing with delight as they knock down turkey cups with mini pumpkins. We bet some of the older kids and grown-ups will want to play as well!

🎶 Add some music to your celebration! If you’re planning a corporate dinner or a huge family gathering, consider hiring a live pianist or guitarist to provide instrumental music as everyone dines and mingles.

As you begin planning your Thanksgiving gathering this year, remember the point of the holiday is to spend time with your loved ones and give thanks for all you have. So, don’t sweat the small stuff, and just focus on the things that truly matter. That’s the key to a stress-free Thanksgiving! 🦃

Want to hire some help for your stress-free Thanksgiving? Find local caterers, waitstaff, bartenders, and more on GigSalad.