18 Last-Minute Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Daniela Apostol

Nov 26, 2024

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With Thanksgiving just round the corner, the prep for the big day is getting ever so hectic. These last-minute Thanksgiving dinner recipes have it all: delicious appetizers to get the party started, hearty main meals, quick and easy side dishes that scream perfection and decadent desserts that tickle your taste buds and make you smile. All these dishes are a lot quicker and easier to make than traditional recipes that would take days of preparation and quite a hassle, and they go down a treat with everyone. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Table of Contents

Quick Brie and Fig Jam Crostini

A slice of crusty bread topped with a thick piece of brie cheese, fig jam, a pecan, and a sprig of fresh thyme. The appetizer is served on a white plate, focusing on the rich textures and colors of the ingredients.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A last-minute Thanksgiving appetizer, these Brie and Fig Jam Crostini are a great party food that is posh enough to impress everyone at the table. It’s quick and easy to make, but utterly delicious!

GET THE RECIPE: Brie and Fig Jam Crostini

Easy Brie and Cranberry Bites

Six puff pastry appetizers filled with melted cheese and a dark filling, garnished with rosemary, are arranged in a baking tray. Flaky and golden, the pastries are surrounded by evergreen branches.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

These delicious Brie and Cranberry Bites are made with ready-rolled puff pastry and a touch of rosemary for a scrumptious Thanksgiving appetizer that can be prepared at the very last minute. Quick and so easy to make, a massive hit with the whole family.

GET THE RECIPE: Brie and Cranberry Bites

Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll

Sliced stuffed turkey breast on a white plate, filled with mushrooms and herbs, garnished with parsley.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

This Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll is a delicious Thanksgiving appetizer that is beautifully moist, and and easy to put together. It’s also healthy and incredibly filling too, and it looks rather impressive.

GET THE RECIPE: Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll

Butternut Squash Arancini

A close-up of a golden, crispy fried ball, possibly a croquette or arancini, on a white plate. In the background, there is a hint of an orange garnish, possibly a small pepper. The food appears appetizing and crunchy.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A wonderfully delicious appetizer for your Thanksgiving dinner, this Butternut Squash Arancini is stuffed with creamy butternut squash risotto and mozzarella, and deep fried to perfection. So easy to make, a great last-minute party party food idea.

GET THE RECIPE: Butternut Squash Arancini

range Bournon Roasted Turkey Breast

Sliced roasted turkey breast on a white platter, accompanied by sprigs of rosemary and thyme, and garnished with sliced oranges.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Orange Bourbon Turkey Breast is an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving dinner menu. Packed with wonderful ingredients like bourbon, fresh oranges and juice, and molasses, the turkey breast is moist and so delicious!

GET THE RECIPE: Orange Bourbon Turkey Breast

Roasted Turkey Drumsticks

2 roasted turkey drumsticks on a plate.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Roasted Turkey Drumsticks, so moist and delicious and a lot quicker to cook than a whole turkey. A great main course for your Thanksgiving dinner if you only have a small gathering attending, these drumsticks are a big hit with all ages.

GET THE RECIPE : Roasted Turkey Drumsticks

Roast Turkey Crown

A seasoned, roasted turkey breast on a white plate, garnished with greens.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

This Roast Turkey Crown is a life-saver if you want to enjoy some nice and moist turkey on Thanksgiving day, but don’t have time to roast a whole bird. It’s wonderfully tender and delicious, and it can be ready in 2 hours from scratch.

GET THE RECIPE: Roast Turkey Crown

Baked Mac and Cheese

Close-up of a spoonful of creamy macaroni and cheese topped with golden breadcrumbs. The cheese sauce is thick and gooey, blending with the crispy breadcrumb topping for a rich, comforting dish.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

This Baked Mac and Cheese is the easiest and the very best way of cooking macaroni for your Thanksgiving dinner. The breadcrumbs adds a nice crunch, while the cheesy sauce is extremely satisfying and heart-warming.

GET THE RECIPE: Baked Mac and Cheese

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

Three jalapeño cornbread muffins are on a white rectangular plate. One muffin is split in half, showing its texture and jalapeño pieces inside. The surface is golden brown with visible jalapeño slices.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

These Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins are a must-have at your Thanksgiving tables. They are some perfect last-minute bites for the most-awaited dinner of the year, and are so delicious and moist, the perfect finger food or side dish. So easy, and definitely a crowd pleaser.

GET THE RECIPE: Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Close-up of a spoon scooping a portion of baked dish with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, and diced green onions, creating a golden crust on top. The dish appears creamy and savory, set on a dark tray with a hint of a green-patterned cloth beside it.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A comforting and satisfying side dish for your Thanksgiving party, this Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole is made with bacon lardons, cheddar cheese and spring onions. It can be made ahead and refrigerated, then baked before serving, so easy and delicious!

GET THE RECIPE: Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Roast Pumpkin Quinoa Salad

A bowl of salad containing quinoa, roasted vegetables, leafy greens, feta cheese, seeds, and chunks of savory pumpkin. It’s placed on a dark wooden table with a spoon beside it.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A light and refreshing Roast Pumpkin Quinoa Salad that will go down a treat after all those indulgent Thanksgiving dishes. It’s made with feta, beetroot, mixed green leaves, and toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds drizzled with a delicious balsamic vinegar and honey dressing.

GET THE RECIPE: Roast Pumpkin Quinoa Salad

Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts

A bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts mixed with crispy bacon pieces, topped with grated cheese. The sprouts are browned and charred, adding a savory texture to the dish. The bowl is placed on a dark surface.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A delicious last-minute side dish for your Thanksgiving feast, this Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts with bacon and parmesan is a quick and easy way of cooking brussels sprouts in under 10 minutes.

GET THE RECIPE: Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Roast Potatoes

Roast potatoes with garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

The ultimate Thanksgiving side dish, these Crispy Roast Potatoes are pure perfection. Beautifully golden and crispy on the outside, but fluffy on the inside, these roasted potatoes are a guarantee a smashing success every single time.

GET THE RECIPE: Crispy Roast Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

A white serving jug with cranberry sauce.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

An excellent homemade Cranberry Sauce made with orange juice and brown sugar, the best sauce to serve with your Thanksgiving turkey. Ready in just 10 minutes from scratch so easy, and so flavourful, with only 3 ingredients.

GET THE RECIPE: Cranberry Sauce

Crustless Pumpkin Pie Bars

Three pumpkin pie bars topped with whipped cream are arranged on a rectangular white plate. Small pumpkins and an orange napkin are around the plate, set on a dark surface.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A quick dessert for your Thanksgiving dessert menu, my Crustless Pumpkin Pie Bars are an incredibly delicious Fall dessert. No crust means less hassle but maximum autumnal flavours that everybody will love.

GET THE RECIPE: Crustless Pumpkin Pie Bars

Pumpkin-Shaped Nutella Buns

The image features two pumpkin-shaped bread rolls. One is whole with a cinnamon stick stem, and the other is split in half, revealing a Nutella filling. An orange knitted fabric appears partially in the background.
Image Credit: Image credit goes to.

My Pumpkin-Shaped Nutella Buns are a fantastic Thanksgiving treat that tastes as indulgent as it looks. The buns have a light brioche texture and are stuffed with nutella for an decadent touch, then shaped into pumpkins before being baked to perfection.

GET THE RECIPE: Pumpkin-Shaped Nutella Buns

Pumpkin Tiramisu

A slice of layered cake topped with cocoa powder on a floral plate, with a fork taking a piece from the slice.
Image Credit Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

A quick and easy Thanksgiving dessert, my Pumpkin Tiramisu is a fantastic no-bake Fall dessert made with ladyfingers dipped in pumpkin spice syrup coffee and a silky pumpkin spice mascarpone filling. So decadent and easy to make!

GET THE RECIPE: Pumpkin Tiramisu

Cinnamon Roll Cake with Apples and Pecans

A baked apple and cinnamon dessert in a rectangular dish is topped with chopped pecans and drizzled with white icing.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Cinnamon Roll Cake with Apples and Pecans is packed with autumnal flavours that simply scream perfection. A fabulous recipe to enjoy on Thanksgiving day, the roll goes down a treat with everyone.

GET THE RECIPE: Cinnamon Roll Cake with Apples and Pecans

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