15 Lazy Thanksgiving Sides That Practically Cook Themselves

Easy, satisfying sides that require as little as 5 minutes of prep before the oven, stove or microwave finishes the rest.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published November 11, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
A dish of green beans topped with finely grated cheese served on a white oval plate with a spoon

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

Certain Thanksgiving dishes require a lot of time and attention, the turkey being an obvious. But what would Thanksgiving be without all the delicious sides? These 15 easy side dishes require minimal prep before the oven, stove or microwave take care of the rest. Take the Easy Green Bean Casserole—five minutes of prep is all it needs before bubbling away in the oven. Or try the Microwave Garlicky Creamed Spinach, which comes together in 10 minutes flat.

These lazy sides are simple, mostly hands-off and free you up to focus on the rest of your meal. Or better yet, to spend more time enjoying the day with friends and family.

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  • Garlic Roasted Potatoes

    Roasted halved potatoes on a baking sheet, sprinkled with flakey salt and parsley

    Simply Recipes / Jazzmin Kaita

    "There is no need to flip the potatoes during cooking; leaving the potatoes cut side down creates a brown, crispy texture. It also makes this recipe largely hands-off." —Haley Scarpino, Associate Editor

  • Cacio e Pepe Green Beans

    A dish of green beans topped with finely grated cheese served on a white oval plate with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    Truly tastes like cacio e pepe but green beans. So easy and delicious! —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Creamed Corn

    A close-up shot of creamd corn in a serving dish, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "This recipe is so simple to make yet super delicious...I’ve made it a couple of times now and everybody loved it". —Evelyn, Reader

  • Microwave Garlicky Creamed Spinach

    microwave creamed spinach in a white bowl

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "While it may typically feel daunting to make it on the stove top, this recipe couldn’t be simpler. With just six ingredients and a microwave, you can have a hearty side dish ready in about 10 minutes." —Julie and Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes

    3-Ingredient Garlic Mashed Potatoes in a bowl topped with a pat of butter

    Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

    "These three-ingredient garlic mashed potatoes are made simply, and you can use them as a base for customizing with other ingredients. Add more butter, mix in cream, or include black pepper and other seasonings. To dress them up, sprinkle cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, or green onions on top. You could even stir in a mixture of sautéed peppers and onions." —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer

  • Grandma’s Corn Pudding

    Spoonful of corn pudding lifted from a casserole dish with more

    Simply Recipes / Sarah Crowder

    "This recipe has been a staple in my family as far back as I can remember. (early 60's) It's a variation found in many church cookbooks in the Midwest. I highly recommend making it for your holiday feast, since it's foolproof, easy to make, and leftovers reheat well." —Ranger Rick, Reader

  • Easy Green Bean Casserole

    Angled view of a beige casserole dish with green bean casserole along with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "So good! Simple, delicious, and it came together so easily! It has a creamy and umami flavor from the cream of mushroom soup and the Worcestershire sauce, a tasteful amount of salt from the canned goods and the bacon (no additional salt needed), and I absolutely loved the sweet flavor the toasted onions brought to the overall dish! Perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving dinner with family." —Munni Pramanik, Editorial Projects Manager

  • Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar

    Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "If you have a microwave, zap the squash for a minute (each) before cutting into it. That will soften the peel and flesh just enough to make it easier to cut through." —Elise Bauer, Founder

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

    Roasted brussels sprout halves on a baking sheet

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "Simply the best way to cook brussels sprouts. You can gussy them up with cheese or sauce, but they're delicious as is!" —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Corn and Edamame Succotash

    large bowl of Corn and Edamame Succotash

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "This was great! I love the texture of the shelled edamame (called mukimame at my grocery store) in a succotash, they add such a nice pop...The amount of butter was generous without being overkill and the green onions added flavor and a little freshness, which is nice when everything else is jarred or frozen." —Afton Cyrus, Senior Recipe Editor

  • Southern “Fried” Cabbage

    overhead view of a bowl of Southern “Fried” Cabbage

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This recipe begins with frying chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp, then using that fat to cook the onions and cabbage, infusing the dish with delicious flavor. A touch of sugar helps balance the salty savoriness. The result is a flavorful side dish that’s ready in under 20 minutes." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Corn Soufflé

    Overhead view of a white bowl with a serving of corn soufflé and a spoon next to a blue baking dish if An image of a dark blue baking dish of soufflé

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "While frozen bags of corn are my go-to, you could also use canned corn or even fresh corn if you prefer it. Either way, the procedure is exactly the same." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Potato Confit

    Potato confit on a black plate with salt.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Potato confit cooks more gently and slowly than roasting, boiling, or braising. The potatoes absorb the flavors of the rosemary and garlic added to the oil." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

    This recipe takes just 5 minutes of prep, then simmers for an hour to turn into pure magic—potatoes that are creamier than creamy. If you don't have the stove space on Thanksgiving day, make them ahead and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

  • Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    Bowl of Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Topped with Butter on a Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Making mashed sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot solves multiple problems at once: it's easier (no hovering required, just set it and forget it), quicker, and doesn’t take up valuable stovetop or oven space." —Rachel Knecht, Recipe Developer

  • Cranberry Relish

    A bowl of cranberry relish, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "You can use either a grinder (an old-fashioned one or a KitchenAid attachment) or a food processor to grind up the relish. We prefer using a grinder to a food processor because a grinder does a better job smooshing the cranberries, orange, and apples together while it cuts them up. But either way will work." —Elise Bauer, Founder

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