One of the hardest parts about cooking a huge meal like Thanksgiving is planning for the oven. Unless you’re lucky enough to have two ovens, you’ll probably struggle with fitting everything in the oven at the right time.
That’s where these recipes come in! They are all based on classic Thanksgiving recipes, but have been adapted so you don’t need the oven at all.
Okay. Onto the recipes!
No Oven Side Dish #1: Green Beans
Fresh Green Beans with Crispy Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, steamed
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water to a medium pot over high heat. Cover. Clean green beans by trimming ends off. Once water is at a rolling boil, add green beans, cover, and cook for about 90 seconds until green beans are bright green but still have a snap to them.
- Drain green beans and toss with 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- In a small skillet over low heat, melt butter and add bread crumbs and almonds. Cook, stirring regularly until bread crumbs are browned. Remove from heat.
- Liberally sprinkle bread crumbs over green beans. Serve while warm.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
This is a lighter version of the classic green bean casserole. I start this version with fresh green beans and steam them until they are just cooked, but still have a little bite to them.
Then I toss them with some butter-browned bread crumbs and almonds. Its’ a super-fast recipe to make and easy to multiply. I can seriously eat a whole plate of these by myself. If you want another green bean option, check out this Green Bean Casserole From Scratch!
No Oven Side Dish #2: Caramelized Pear Salad
Caramelized Pear Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pears, quartered
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- 1 fennel bulb, sliced thin
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Quarter pears. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Melt butter and add pears. Sear for 3-4 minutes per side until they are slightly caramelized. Remove pears and let cool.
- In a large bowl, add arugula and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Slice fennel bulb very thinly and sprinkle over arugula. Top with chopped pears and crumbled goat cheese.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
I always struggle with a starter for Thanksgiving. You want something light, but also something classy.
This salad is the answer! Caramelize the pears in a little butter in a small skillet and then add them to a salad with arugula, thinly sliced fennel, and goat cheese. YUM.
No Oven Side Dish #3: Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ cup cream
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, optional
- Marshmallows, broiled (optional)
Instructions
- Peel sweet potatoes and chop into 1-inch chunks. Cook in lightly salted until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Drain sweet potatoes and return to the pan. Add butter, milk (or cream) and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mash until smooth. If potatoes are dry, you might need to add more milk.You can serve these as-is while warm.
- (optional) Transfer sweet potatoes to a casserole dish and top with brown sugar and marshmallows. Use a kitchen torch to lightly toast marshmallows!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
BOOOM. I wasn’t sure this was possible but I wanted to make the classic sweet potato casserole but leave out the oven.
The key to this is after you mash the sweet potatoes you use a little kitchen torch to blister the marshmallows on top! It turns out to be pretty much perfect. And it takes a fraction of the time as the classic version!
If you find yourself with a packed oven during Thanksgiving, substitute one of these recipes and take some stress off of your oven (and your brain)!
Arlene
It wouldn’t show me the directions when I tapped on the word, so why don’t you just put them in and save us the frustration?
Nick
Hey Arlene, this should be fixed now. Sorry for the glitch!
Lavues
I would love to have this so much! Love that mash sweet potatoes recipe!