With all the joys and happy surprises that come with Thanksgiving, so do the worried glances at the clock and the last-minute trips to the grocery store. I get it, whether you’re trying to cook a multi-course meal all by yourself, or even just making a dish or two for a potluck, sometimes it starts to feel like there is too much to do and not enough space to do it in. Especially when it comes to the oven. So many classic Thanksgiving dishes rely on having time and space in the oven—consider a roast turkey, stuffing, casseroles, and desserts like pumpkin and pecan pie—and that balancing act can get hectic. Well fear no more! These 13 recipes are perfect ways to free up some space in the oven and fill up some space on the table.
While your dry brine turkey, or melting sweet potatoes, or croissant stuffing, or any number of things are filling up the oven, start the party off with some our of favorite oven-not-needed Thanksgiving appetizers like our air fryer deviled eggs or cranberry whipped feta dip.
Ready for the big show? Our grilled turkey is sure to get you plenty of oohs and ahhs. Don’t let it sit alone though; surround the turkey with our Crockpot mac & cheese, best mashed potatoes, or Brussels sprout salad. And afterward, try our no-bake pumpkin cheesecake or turkey Oreo balls out for dessert.
However you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, a Delish Thanksgiving is sure to be one to remember—whether you love or loathe the oven come Thanksgiving day.
Air Fryer Deviled Eggs
Don’t look now, but I put deviled eggs in the air fryer. And guess what? They’re real good. Like, never-make-a-deviled-egg-the-same-way-again good. I know, it’s bold to try a new take on a traditional recipe of which most people have very strong opinions, but it was worth it.
Get the Air Fryer Deviled Eggs recipe.
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip perfect for wowing this Thanksgiving.
Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
Turkey Oreo Balls
If you find yourself wanting something different, these turkey-themed mini desserts are the answer. Behind the cute, edible faces is a decadent mix of crushed Oreos and cream cheese dipped in a semisweet chocolate shell. The filling has a gentle hint of cinnamon, which you can leave out, but the subtle warmth helps break through the hefty chocolate-on-chocolate flavor.
Get the Turkey Oreo Balls recipe.
Grilled Turkey
Grilled turkey is going to be your next best idea for Thanksgiving. It frees up oven space and lends itself to some delicious char marks that you don’t get from oven roasting. This turkey will complement just about any side. In case you need them, our green bean casserole, classic stuffing, and homemade biscuits are a win-win-win.
Get the Grilled Turkey recipe.
Brussels Sprout Salad
There are so many delicious ways to prepare Brussels sprouts—roasting, grilling, deep frying...need we go on? That being said, we understand: This popular vegetable can be divisive. When we want to incorporate this veggie into our Thanksgiving or holiday dinner, we turn to this fresh, seasonal salad.
Get the Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is a key player on my Thanksgiving plate, right alongside green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. Its sweet-tart flavor goes perfectly with everything from turkey to holiday breads and adds some much needed color to the classic holiday spread. While I understand the nostalgic appeal of the canned stuff, homemade cranberry sauce is 1,000x better. It's fresh, versatile, and so easy to make.
Get the Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe.
Turkuterie
Try a bird of a different feather this year, and serve this festive and impressive fruit and cheese display as the centerpiece of your holiday table. We’ve packed this cheese board with fall fruits like apples, pears, and grapes, and cheeses appropriate for an autumnal charcuterie that everyone will want to gobble up!
Get the Turkuterie recipe.
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
When you don’t have the time or oven space to whip up a classic pumpkin pie, this no-bake version will spice up your holiday table. It’s got everything I love about our classic pumpkin cheesecake—the festive fall spices, the smooth creamy texture—but it’s also so much easier to make ahead of time.
Get the No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.
Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs
This herby, savory-sweet dish is basically Thanksgiving in meatball form. With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, all you need is a scoop of fluffy mashed potatoes for cozy, autumnal bliss.
Mashed Potatoes
Here at Delish, we believe that no Thanksgiving (or any holiday spread for that matter) is complete without creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. This is a comfort food that deserves to be celebrated all year long, but should be absolutely perfect on your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Get the Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Thanksgiving Cobb Salad
This Cobb salad takes Thanksgiving superstars in turkey, sweet potatoes, pecans, and cranberries and combines them with Cobb salad stalwarts like bacon, blue cheese, and hard-boiled eggs for a fresh take on holiday greens. With any homemade salad, this Thanksgiving Cobb is easily customizable to meet any vegetarian Thanksgiving or dietary needs.
Get the Thanksgiving Cobb Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Garlic Herb Turkey Breast
Quit stressing over a perfectly roasted turkey for Thanksgiving. It's hard and it takes up all of your oven space. This year, make your turkey in the air fryer! It takes way less effort with far better results and you are guaranteed to have crispy skin and juicy turkey! Also, it's a phenomenal way to make a smaller Thanksgiving.
Crockpot Mac & Cheese
If you’re not into creamy, melty macaroni and cheese with an insanely satisfying cheese-pull, then you might want to find another mac recipe. Sorry, but this slow-cooker macaroni and cheese is just too darn dreamy. And did you catch that it’s made in the Crockpot?! Less dishes, no stovetop cheese sauce, and no turning on your oven. Just cheesy, easy-peasy, unapologetically indulgent macaroni and cheese.
Get the Crockpot Mac & Cheese recipe.
