Food Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas 17 Thanksgiving Recipes That Are Ready in an Hour or Less You've planned, prepped, and made some of your spread in advance — these are the dishes to cook on Thanksgiving day to complete the meal. By Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 19, 2024 Close Photo: Diana Chistruga 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. 01 of 17 Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli with Cranberry Agrodolce Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee 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. Get the Recipe 02 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 03 of 17 Roasted Hot Honey Sweet Potato Salad Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood 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. Get the Recipe 04 of 17 Fennel and Apple Salad with Hazelnuts Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee 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. Get the Recipe 05 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 06 of 17 Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer 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. Get the Recipe 07 of 17 Braised Greens with Crispy Garlic and Miso David Malosh 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. Get the Recipe 08 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 09 of 17 Chicory Salad with Cranberry Sauce Vinaigrette Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen 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. Get the Recipe 10 of 17 Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon with Oranges, Olives, and Herbs Antonis Achilleos 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. Get the Recipe 11 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 12 of 17 Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley 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. Get the Recipe 13 of 17 Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee 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. Get the Recipe 14 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 15 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 16 of 17 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. Get the Recipe 17 of 17 Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple © Frances Janisch You'll only need fresh cranberries, a Fuji apple, and sugar to pull this recipe off in 20 minutes. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit