Thanksgiving is all fun and games until you’re staring down a mountain of dirty dishes that looks like it could qualify as a national monument. That’s where these one-pan recipes come to the rescue. They’re big on flavor, low on cleanup, and perfect for keeping you sane during the holiday chaos. Who needs ten different pots when you can make a show-stopping meal with just one pan? From turkey and stuffing to sides that taste way fancier than the effort required, these recipes let you impress your guests without sacrificing your sanity.
Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon & Goat Cheese
Green beans get dressed up with cranberries, bacon, and goat cheese for a festive side that comes together on one sheet pan. Cleanup is minimal, and the flavors make it a hit at any holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon & Goat Cheese
Roasted Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk
Roasting Brussels sprouts on the stalk with a maple balsamic glaze is both practical and impressive. Use the whole stalk as a centerpiece or serve the sprouts on a platter—either way, the one-pan prep makes cleanup a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk
Roasted Buttercup Squash
Roasted buttercup squash caramelizes into sweet, tender perfection with just a little butter and maple syrup. One pan is all you need, making cleanup almost too easy for this seasonal side.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Buttercup Squash
Roasted Sweet Dumpling Squash
Sweet dumpling squash roasts up golden and crisp on the edges, then gets drizzled with a tahini maple Dijon sauce. Everything happens on one pan, so you can enjoy the flavor without the pile of dirty dishes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Dumpling Squash
Maple Baked White Acorn Squash
White acorn squash, baked with maple syrup and butter, is a sweet and savory crowd-pleaser. Since it all happens in one dish, cleanup will be the easiest part of your Thanksgiving day.
Get the Recipe: Maple Baked White Acorn Squash
Parmesan Roasted Carnival Squash
Carnival squash wedges roasted with garlic and Parmesan are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. With just one pan involved, this dish is as easy to clean up as it is to make.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Carnival Squash
Roasted Honey Patch Squash
Honeypatch squash roasts up tender and sweet with a touch of miso butter and cinnamon. This one-pan side dish keeps the flavors big and the cleanup small.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Patch Squash
Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Bourbon cranberry sauce brings tart berries together with caramel and vanilla notes in one pot. The cleanup is as smooth as the sauce itself, making it a no-brainer addition to your Thanksgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Roast Chicken with Apples
Roast chicken with apples is a go-to for Thanksgiving when you want maximum flavor and minimal effort. With only 15 minutes of prep and one pan, you’re left with a perfectly tender chicken and juicy apples—and fewer dishes to wash.
Get the Recipe: Roast Chicken with Apples
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is a holiday classic that keeps it simple. Prep it in one dish and pop it in the oven while you focus on other parts of your meal. No extra pots, no extra hassle, just a Thanksgiving favorite made easy.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Sage
Creamy pumpkin gnocchi with sausage is the ultimate one-pan comfort dish. Tender gnocchi, savory sausage, and a rich pumpkin sauce cook together, leaving you with a flavorful meal and only one pan to clean.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Sage
Gnocchi with Chicken
One-pan gnocchi with chicken is creamy, hearty, and ready to impress. It’s a full meal cooked in a single dish, saving you time on prep and clean-up while delivering big flavors everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Gnocchi with Chicken
Butternut Squash Penne
Butternut squash penne captures fall in one pan. Simple to prepare and even easier to clean up, this dish brings the fresh flavor of squash to your table without extra work.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Penne
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
These scalloped sweet potatoes bring cheesy, savory goodness to the table. Made in one dish, they’re quick to prepare, easy to serve, and keep your kitchen from turning into a disaster zone.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Curried Hasselback Butternut Squash
Curried hasselback butternut squash is a show-stopper that cooks in one pan. The festive look and bold flavors make it perfect for Thanksgiving, and cleanup is as simple as tossing the pan in the sink.
Get the Recipe: Curried Hasselback Butternut Squash
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot mashed sweet potatoes pack intense flavors like bourbon, brown sugar, and cinnamon into a foolproof side dish. They’re fast, easy, and leave fewer pots for you to deal with after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce with whole berries, orange zest, and cinnamon comes together quickly in one pot. It’s flavorful, festive, and cuts down on post-dinner cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Turkey Breast with Stuffing and Vegetables
This one-pan roasted turkey breast cooks alongside stuffing and veggies, so your main dish and sides come together with minimal effort. It’s perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving and leaves you with fewer dishes to scrub.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Turkey Breast with Stuffing and Vegetables
Roasted Delicata Squash
Roasted delicata squash caramelizes beautifully with a touch of maple syrup, butter, and cinnamon. Everything happens on one sheet pan, making cleanup as easy as enjoying this seasonal side dish.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Delicata Squash
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Herb-roasted turkey breast is simple, flavorful, and only needs one pan. With just a handful of ingredients, it’s a perfect option for a stress-free Thanksgiving or any cozy family meal.
Get the Recipe: Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Chicken with Pears and Butternut Squash
This roasted chicken with pears and butternut squash balances sweet and savory in one pan. A quick, easy way to create a festive dish without filling the sink with dirty cookware.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Pears and Butternut Squash
Roasted Mushrooms and Green Beans
Roasted mushrooms and green beans are a fresh, flavorful side that cooks up on one pan. Perfect for Thanksgiving or weeknight dinners, this dish keeps cleanup simple without skimping on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Mushrooms and Green Beans
Fondant Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Thyme Glaze
Fondant sweet potatoes are crispy on the outside, buttery on the inside, and finished with a maple-thyme glaze. Everything comes together in one pan, making this side dish both impressive and cleanup-friendly.
Get the Recipe: Fondant Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Thyme Glaze
Skillet Butternut Squash with Apple Cider Glaze
Butternut squash glazed in apple cider comes together quickly in a skillet. One pan means you get all the seasonal flavors without the mess of multiple dishes.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Butternut Squash with Apple Cider Glaze
Skillet Sausage Stuffing
Skillet sausage stuffing takes the stress out of Thanksgiving prep. In just 30 minutes and one skillet, you’ll have a rich, flavorful dish without the usual pile of dirty pots and pans.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Sausage Stuffing
Spatchcock Chicken
Spatchcock chicken roasts to perfection alongside carrots and potatoes in one pan. This no-fuss dish is a great way to serve something hearty and impressive with minimal cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Spatchcock Chicken
Chicken and Asparagus
Chicken and asparagus keep things simple with a single pan for cooking. Juicy chicken and tender asparagus make this a great meal with virtually no cleanup, so you can spend less time at the sink and more at the table.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Asparagus
Roasted Vegetable Risotto
Roasted vegetable risotto delivers creamy, rich flavor with no need for extra pots or constant stirring. This one-pan wonder is perfect for Thanksgiving when you need a side that’s easy to prep and serve.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Risotto
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
