Having to cook a massive meal with tons of side dishes where the central food commands the oven for hours on end sounds like a cooking challenge from a food competition show, but nope, it’s just Thanksgiving. It can seriously feel like a race to get everything on the table before everyone starts getting hangry.
You know what can help? Having a few recipes up your sleeve that don’t require sticking something in the oven. No-bake Thanksgiving foods are a true lifesaver because they allow you to keep getting the meal prepared while your bird is in the oven; no time-wasted. It includes foods you may not expect too, like sweet potato casserole or Brussels sprouts. You can even make pumpkin pie without the oven. Check out the below recipes for no-bake Thanksgiving foods as you plan your holiday meal. Talk about something to be thankful for.
10 no-bake Thanksgiving foods:
1. Cranberry dip
Dip is one food that typically doesn’t require any cooking whatsoever. This cranberry-walnut one is dairy-free and great to enjoy either as an app with crackers or right along with the turkey at mealtime. Blended cashews make it uber-rich and creamy.
Get the recipe: cranberry dip
2. Black-eyed pea hummus
Black-eyed pea hummus is another dip that will be right at home next to the sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, and green beans. It also takes all of five minutes to make. If it’s taking longer than you thought it would to get the holiday meal on the table, you can always serve this dip alongside some veggies for everyone to snack on while they wait.
Get the recipe: black-eyed pea hummus
3. Tahini green beans
Slathering your green beans with cream of mushroom soup and crunchy French onions isn’t the only way to serve them up. Instead of baking in the oven, this green beans dish is made on the stove. Tahini, shallot, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, and a touch of maple syrup are all thrown into the mix for maximum flavor. You can still add in the French onion crispies too, if you want.
Get the recipe: Tahini green beans
4. Deviled eggs
Deviled eggs are another Thanksgiving classic that cooks on the stove instead of the oven. In this recipe, mayonnaise is subbed out for Greek yogurt. You’ll still need your Dijon mustard though—there’s no getting devilish without it!
Get the recipe: deviled eggs
5. Instant Pot sweet potato casserole
Thanksgiving is an all-hands-on-deck situation. That means you’re going to be utilizing all your kitchen tools, including your Instant Pot. One dish that is often cooked in the oven but you can use your IP for instead is sweet potato casserole. This recipe shows you how to get it done in under an hour.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot sweet potato casserole
6. Cranberry sauce
Okay, so putting a can-shaped mold of cranberry sauce on a plate doesn’t technically require any cooking either, but you can step your cran sauce game up a little using just your blender or food processor. Besides the all-important cranberries, this recipe calls for apples, Medjool dates, vanilla bean powder, cinnamon, and clove. Doesn’t that sound more enticing than just what’s in the can? It only takes five minutes to make this “fancier” version too.
Get the recipe: cranberry sauce
7. Cauliflower mashed potatoes
If you’re looking for a cauliflower mashed potato recipe that will win over even your most traditional extended family members, this is it. Besides the cruciferous veg, all you need to make it are alt-milk, garlic, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast if you want to keep it vegan). With a 10 minute cook time, it’s faster to whip up than traditional mashed potatoes—a huge T-Day win.
Get the recipe: cauliflower mashed potatoes
8. Sauteed Brussels sprouts
Most people roast Brussels sprouts in the oven, but guess what, they taste absolutely delicious sauteed. This recipe takes all of 20 minutes to follow and the only other ingredients besides the veg are common cooking staples.
Get the recipe: Sauteed Brussels sprouts
9. Instant Pot vegan mac-and-cheese
Hopefully you didn’t stash your Instant Pot away yet because this is another perfect time to use it. The recipe calls for all vegan ingredients so a wider range of eaters can dig in. Paprika, onion powder, mustard powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and vegetable bouillon ensure it tastes anything but bland.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot vegan mac-and-cheese
10. No-bake pumpkin pie
You can even make pumpkin pie, the quintessential Thanksgiving Day dessert, without disrupting your turkey in the oven. Every part of the pie in this recipe is homemade, including the crust and the coconut whipped cream. (The coconut milk needs to chill overnight, so plan ahead.) Bookmark this recipe so you can end your holiday meal on a sweet note.
Get the recipe: No-bake pumpkin pie
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