15 Thanksgiving Recipes Perfect For Lazy Cooks

Nothing brings out the lazy in people like Thanksgiving. I happen to be one of those weird people who loves to cook Thanksgiving dinner, but I know not everyone shares this love. I hear the groans when I ask people to bring an appetizer or dessert to Thanksgiving; the chorus of “ugh, all I want to do is EAT” resonates in my ears all month long. If you happen to be one of these lazy cooks, it’s time to bust out the easy Thanksgiving recipes using three ingredients or less.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but simplicity is totally in right now when it comes to food. That’s why these three-ingredient recipes are so genius! If anyone asks you what’s in it and gives you a disapproving look after you rattle off the three ingredients, you just tell them you were going for simple, fresh, and flavorful. Lemons into lemonade people, I’m just saying.

Whether you are entrusted with an appetizer, side dish, cocktail, or dessert, my roundup below has you covered, and then some. You really can’t go wrong with any of these recipes on Thanksgiving. So grab those three ingredients, and get ready to make an amazing dish guaranteed to impress even the most seasoned cook. This Thanksgiving’s gonna rock.

1. Three-Ingredient Baked Ham And Cheese Rollups

These rollups from The Comfort of Cooking scream comfort food, which is a perfect way to start one of the most comforting meals of the year. Even the picky little ones won’t be able to turn these gems down.

2. Beer Cheese Dip

You have to drink to be able to get through an entire day with your family, so A Spicy Perspective is just making it easy with this cheesy dip. Who can say no to beer and cheese? No one, that’s who.

3. Three-Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers

People are going to think you are so fancy when you walk through the door with a plate full of these stuffed peppers from A Spicy Perspective. They are stupid simple to make, and already have my mouth watering…

4. Three-Ingredient Blue Cheese Appetizer

Blue cheese — you either love the stinky stuff, or you hate it. If you’re a blue cheese lover like I am, then Half Baked Harvest has your appetizer covered with this idiot-proof recipe.

5. Three-Ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Buffalo Shrimp

Bacon makes everything better, doesn’t it? Cooking for Keeps gives you the excuse to amp up buffalo shrimp with this cinch of a recipe. My guess is they’ll be gone within about two seconds of you walking into the kitchen.

6. Easy Three-Ingredient Cauliflower Soup

I think soup is a super easy solution if you are required to bring a dish to Thanksgiving. This recipe from Tori Avery is great because it’s straightforward, and can be kept warm on the stove or in a Crock-Pot.

7. Cranberry Orange Sauce

Did you get stuck with cranberry sauce? It’s time to blow everyone away by showing up with this cranberry orange sauce from Damn Delicious. They’re not gonna know what hit them!

8. Roasted Cauliflower

Deciding on a vegetable dish to go with Thanksgiving is one of the hardest things to do. If it's not mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, it’s impossible to figure out something that’ll be just as big a hit. That’s where this roasted cauliflower from Steamy Kitchen comes in. Vegetable problem solved.

9. The Black Lily Cocktail

If you’re lucky enough to be in charge of the booze for Thanksgiving, why not shake things up with a featured cocktail for the occasion? This three-ingredient masterpiece from The Kitchn is a great way to wow the in-laws, and keep the cost of ingredients down.

10. Three-Ingredient Blueberry Shortcakes

Dessert tables are tricky, with all those made-from-scratch pies sitting there to mock you. If you roll in with these shortcakes from Something Swanky, I personally guarantee they’ll be gone long before those pie dishes are empty.

11. Three-Ingredient Strawberry Tart With Lemon Whipped Cream

I’ve actually made this recipe before, and it turned out absolutely perfectly. Such a simple and light dessert like this one from The Comfort of Cooking is a great way to end Thanksgiving on a high note (i.e. without busting out of your pants).

12. Three-Ingredient Banana Nutella Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, who doesn’t scream for ice cream on Thanksgiving? Shake up the traditional pies by adding a scoop of this delicious ice cream from Cooking for Keeps to the plates!

13. Three-Ingredient Nutella Brownies

Nutella is the star of just about every dessert in my house, so I had to include these decadent brownies from The Comfort of Cooking. Scoop on some vanilla ice cream, and you have the brownie sundae to beat all brownie sundaes.

14. Three-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cake

This pumpkin cake from Willow Bird Baking is simplicity to the max. Not only is it just three ingredients, it’s also made in a freaking slow cooker. Boom.

15. Three-Ingredient Cinnamon Sugar Pie Crust Cookies

Know someone making a pie with leftover pie crust? Here’s your time to shine. Gather up those scraps, and turn them into these addictive cookies from The Comfort of Cooking!

For more fall food ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: The Comfort of Cooking; A Spicy Perspective; A Spicy Perspective; Half Baked Harvest; Cooking for Keeps; Tori Avery; Damn Delicious; Steamy Kitchen; The Kitchn; Something Swanky; The Comfort of Cooking; Cooking for Keeps; The Comfort of Cooking; Willow Bird Baking; The Comfort of Cooking