Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Introduction

A Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu is the stress-free path to a delicious holiday celebration—no culinary degree required! Carefully chosen crowd-pleasers deliver comforting, classic flavors without overwhelming your to-do list. This streamlined menu brings together succulent roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and the essential sides everyone craves. Perfect for busy cooks and intimate gatherings alike, it allows you to savor more time with loved ones and less time in the kitchen.

Why Choose a Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu?

Simplicity doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor! This menu distills Thanksgiving to its most satisfying essentials—think juicy turkey, pillowy mashed potatoes, green beans with a hint of crunch, and a golden brown stuffing. These approachable recipes guarantee traditional holiday flavors and make it easy to bring everyone to the table, happy and hungry.

Key Components of a Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

With just a few core dishes, you can capture the spirit of the holiday meal. Here’s what makes up our simple spread:

• Perfectly roasted turkey breast–moist and full of traditional herb flavor
• Creamy mashed potatoes whipped smooth and buttery
• Classic bread stuffing that’s golden and aromatic
• Tender green beans with a touch of garlic
• Rich turkey gravy made from pan drippings
• Store-bought or simple homemade cranberry sauce
• A fuss-free pumpkin pie to finish (store-bought crust is welcome!)

Together, these dishes provide a beautiful blend of colors, textures, and tried-and-true holiday flavors.

Preparing a No-Fuss Thanksgiving Meal

The secret to a stress-free Thanksgiving is prepping what you can in advance and opting for straightforward cooking techniques. Roasting a turkey breast instead of a whole bird cuts cooking time and simplifies carving. Sides come together quickly with common ingredients you may already have on hand. This menu is designed for real-life kitchens—no special equipment or complicated steps required.

Serving Suggestions for a Memorable Feast

Serve your dishes on rustic platters, with a basket of warm dinner rolls or biscuits for a comforting touch. Add a simple garnish—like fresh herbs or orange zest on the cranberry sauce—to elevate the presentation. This menu makes it easy for guests (and you!) to go back for seconds and savor every bite.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This menu comfortably serves 6 adults with generous portions, including leftovers for turkey sandwiches the next day! Average calorie counts per serving are:

• Roast turkey breast: 225 calories
• Mashed potatoes: 220 calories
• Stuffing: 180 calories
• Green beans: 60 calories
• Gravy: 50 calories
• Cranberry sauce: 40 calories
• Pumpkin pie: 275 calories

Total: Approx. 1,050 calories for a classic, festive plate.

💡 Meal Planning Tip: Save this menu to CookifyAI to automatically generate an organized ingredient shopping list, grouped by grocery section. This makes prepping for your holiday grocery trip seamless and guarantees you don’t forget a thing for the big meal.

Instructions

1. Roast the Turkey: Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat the turkey breast dry, rub with oil/butter, and sprinkle with herbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast in a shallow pan for 60–80 minutes, or until the internal temp reads 165°F. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.
2. Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15 minutes). Drain, then mash together with butter and milk/cream. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
3. Make the Stuffing: In a skillet, sauté onion and celery in butter until soft (about 5 minutes). Add bread cubes, herbs, and broth; toss gently. Spread in a buttered baking dish and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes (covered) + 10 minutes uncovered for golden tops.
4. Cook the Green Beans: Sauté beans in olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes, until bright and just tender. Season with salt.
5. Whisk the Gravy: In a saucepan, melt pan drippings or butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually blend in broth, whisking until smooth and thickened, about 2–3 minutes. Season as needed.
6. Prepare Cranberry Sauce: Serve chilled from the can or make simple homemade by simmering fresh cranberries with sugar and orange juice until thickened (about 10 minutes).
7. Assemble the Pumpkin Pie: In a bowl, whisk pumpkin, sugar, eggs, spice, and milk until smooth. Pour into pie crust. Bake at 375°F for 45–50 minutes, or until set and just a slight jiggle in the center. Cool before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu adapts perfectly for weekly meal planning, especially if you want delicious leftovers to enjoy in the days after the holiday. Save and schedule your holiday menu with CookifyAI to automatically organize recipes, consolidate shared ingredients, and create smart shopping lists.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates ingredient totals for your whole week—including Thanksgiving dinner and leftover meals
• Organizes your shopping list by store section for a stress-free grocery run
• Helps prevent overbuying or forgetting key ingredients
• Makes it simple to reuse specials like turkey and mashed potatoes later in the week

Pro tip: Schedule multiple menus in CookifyAI to see how ingredients overlap—making shopping and prep more efficient and reducing waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes

This Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu allows you to enjoy a classic holiday meal with all the flavor and none of the overwhelm—so you can focus on what really matters: time together.