30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

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Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia Pursell

The time put into the cooking process of this turkey is what garners such a stellar flavor. The smokey char that the exterior gets from the grill gives it a golden color and an even better rustic flavor. This turkey truly shines as an alternative method for Thanksgiving fare.

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Credit: Jennifer Causey

A simple side of roasted carrots is the breather a crowded table needs--a bit of palate relief (and ease for the cook) that still looks elegant. Use leftover cilantro in turkey chili or tacos.

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Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

Nothing on your Thanksgiving menu is easier than cranberry sauce, whether you keep it classic or spice it up.

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Credit: Greg DuPree

Olive oil– and citrus-toasted crumbs make this Thanksgiving staple special.

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Credit: Victor Protasio

Just whole buttermilk, butter, and crème fraîche make this dish wow-worthy.

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Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

The best part of this show-stopping dish is the caramelized edges.

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Credit: Jennifer Causey

This jam is an excellent, refined sugar-free alternative to the traditional, often too-sweet sauce, and tastes even better a day or two after it's made. Because fresh cranberries are so tart on their own, be sure to use a sweet onion such as Vidalia in the jam. Pair this condiment with your Thanksgiving plate, then use as a sandwich spread for holiday leftovers.

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Credit: Jennifer Causey

Smoked paprika plays off the natural sweetness of the roasted sweet potatoes and gives the butter mixture a rich garnet color. Because of the sheer number of dishes available at Thanksgiving, we keep the serving size to a more modest one-half of a potato per person. You could also use small (4-oz.) sweet potatoes or cut the roasted potatoes crosswise into large pieces before drizzling with the butter mixture.

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Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Toasty brown-butter croutons make simple roasted Brussels sprouts holiday worthy.

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Credit: Luca Trovato

Add sweet, tangy flavor to your holiday bird by brushing it with a mixture of molasses and Dijon mustard.

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Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

Transform mashed potatoes from plain to perfect with the addition of tangy buttermilk and sharp Parmesan cheese.

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Credit: Oxmoor House

This decadent ice cream dessert starts with a frozen pumpkin pie or a pie from your supermarket bakery. All you have to do is freeze it, break it into chunks, then combine with ice cream, caramel topping, and toasted pecans. You may never go back to plain pumpkin pie.

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Serve your holiday guests a festive fall drink made with pomegranate juice, pineapple juice and ginger ale.

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Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Instead of green bean casserole, go with a simpler dish featuring beans flavored with bacon, onion, sugar, and cider vinegar.

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Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Sissy Lamberton

Add yeast to all-purpose baking mix and let the dough rise just once for these shortcut dinner rolls. You can make these up to two months ahead and store in the freezer.

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Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

This simple twist on the traditional kir royale blends tart-sweet pomegranate juice with subtle herbal notes from a rosemary-infused syrup.

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Use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make a hearty salad. Cut cornbread dressing into cubes and toast for croutons, and top mixed greens with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce.

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Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

Add amazing flavor to Brussels sprouts by combining them with sweet-tart apples and roasting them for about 25 minutes or until they are tender and mellow.

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Credit: James Baigrie; Styling: Randy Mon

Make the most of the natural sweetness of carrots by cooking them in a skillet with brown sugar and minced fresh ginger, and add just the right crunch with toasted pecan halves.

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For a quick and easy alternative to sweet potato casserole, stir maple syrup and butter into mashed sweet potatoes and top with toasted pecans.

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Credit: Ray Kachatorian

Layer sliced sweet potato in a baking dish and bake in a mixture of whipping cream and Parmesan cheese for a luxurious variation of a sweet potato casserole.

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Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

No Thanksgiving meal is complete without the cranberry relish, and this easy one will help streamline your holiday meal preparation because you can make it up to 3 days ahead.

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Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Cindy Barr

For a small holiday gathering, hens offer a smart-sized option in lieu of a large turkey. Mustard, jelly, and black pepper combine for a simple glaze.

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Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Once you've cooked the turkey, just add broth or stock, flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper to the drippings and make a rich and creamy gravy to serve with the big meal.

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Credit: Randy Mayor

If you want to break outside of the turkey routine this year, consider a simple ham that's flavored with cloves, apple juice, brown sugar and mustard. And, like turkey, there are a number of ways you can use up leftover ham.

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These superlative rolls derive their texture and beautiful shape from employing a simple folding technique twice and allowing them to rise just once.

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Credit: Karry Hosford

Deconstruct a sweet potato pie and turn it into a frozen dessert by simply folding mashed sweet potatoes and baked pastry crust dough into vanilla ice cream. Simply amazing.

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Credit: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER; MELANIE J. CLARKE

Wrap seasoned pork tenderloin in phyllo dough, bake, and top with mango chutney for an impressive 5-ingredient meal.

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Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Stuff figs with soft goat cheese and pecan halves, and then wrap in bacon for a savory-sweet appetizer.

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These "not-too-sweet" wafers pair nicely with fruits, cheeses and wines for a cocktail buffet party.

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