recipes

31 Last-Minute Thanksgiving Recipes for the "Spontaneous" (Read: Unprepared) Among Us

They're easy enough to add on to your menu—no matter how carefully orchestrated (or beautifully improvised) it is. 
last minute thanksgiving recipes
Photo by Heidi's Bridge, styling by Molly Baz

The holiday season brings out the generous spirit in many of us—which, unfortunately for you, might mean that your Thanksgiving table ballooned from 6 people to 14 in the course of a week. Now you're worried that your carefully orchestrated menu (or the one you were planning to, um, "throw together" the day-of) is not going to feed all of your guests. Or maybe you're not hosting but instead received a last-minute invite to your girlfriend's cousin's Friendsgiving and you have all of zero clue for what to bring.

We've got you. These 31 recipes are streamlined enough to add to any menu that you're worried is a little scant. And since they require minimal prep, minimal ingredients, and little to no planning ahead, you can wake up on Thanksgiving morn' and decide "Cheesy crackers would really round out this meal as a pre-game appetizer" (yes, always) or "We could use another dessert" or "Will there be anything fresh and green?" and make it happen that very day. It's a stressful time of year—why not choose recipes that work for you, not against you?

  • This image may contain Human Person Confectionery Food and Sweets
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
    1/31

    Spinach and Feta Tarte Soleil

    The most impressive appetizer to “casually” pull out of the oven when your friends come over (and it also happens to make a nice Thanksgiving snack for while the turkey rests—just sayin').

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig
    2/31

    Jammy Eggs With Paprika Mayo

    Like deviled eggs—but faster, easier, more delicious, and fancier-sounding.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    7/31

    Cranberry Sauce

    The last thing you should stress out about on Thanksgiving is the cranberry sauce. Here's our straight-to-the-point approach to making a tart, tangy sauce that everyone will love. 

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro
    8/31

    Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad

    Here’s the answer to your question: “What can I make on Sunday night that will taste great for my desk lunch on Wednesday?”

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  • 11/31

    Smashed and Loaded Crispy Potatoes

    Cooking potatoes twice—once in water, and a second time in hot oil—is hands-down the best way to achieve extra-crispy potatoes at home.

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  • Photo by Heidi's Bridge, styling by Molly Baz
    12/31

    Winter Crunch Salad

    Shredded brussels and kale, salty cheese, sweet-tart apple, and crunchy seeds make for a borderline addictive salad.

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  • 13/31

    Every Night Salad with Yogurt Ranch

    This crunchy romaine number, drizzled with a creamy, craveable yogurt-based homemade ranch dressing, is the kind of salad that goes with just about anything, from delivery pizza to pan-seared pork chops.

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  • Photo by Heidi's Bridge
    14/31

    Slow-Roasted Onion Dip

    Like the one you make with the packet of soup mix, but with no weird chemicals and 1,000 percent tastier.

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  • 15/31

    Smoked Trout-Avocado Dip

    If you're not the kind of person who keeps canned fish in your pantry at all times, this is the recipe that will convert you. While smoked trout is great in this dip, any canned fish (think sardines, mackerel, or tuna) will work—just make sure it's packed in oil.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig
    16/31

    Curry-Cucumber Dip With Fried Shallots

    This addictive yogurt-based dip is like tzatziki dressed up for a party.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
    17/31

    Sweet Potatoes With Charred Lemons and Crunchies

    With custardy insides and charred exteriors, these sweet potatoes are everything you always wish roasted sweet potatoes could be. A crunchy mixture of toasted nuts and seeds provides pops of texture and spice, and a cooling lemony yogurt sauce cuts through the richness. 

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  • Alex Lau
    18/31

    Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

    Charred on the outside, custardy on the inside, and sure to pair perfectly with any dip you're already serving. 

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    31/31

    Easiest Chocolate Birthday Cake

    Pure homemade birthday love. If you've got a bowl, a cheap hand mixer, and a couple of measuring cups, you can make this rich, chocolatey cake.

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Ali is a writer and editor at Bon Appétit whose culture and lifestyle work includes reporting on the health claims behind fake meats, interviews with opinionated chefs about the evolution of restaurants, personal essays on the intersection of work and identity, and subtle attempts to propagate her favorite Australian foods.... Read more
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