Every year, the same pressure creeps in: make everything from scratch, wow your guests, and somehow keep the turkey golden, the gravy smooth, and yourself emotionally stable. But here’s the truth seasoned Thanksgiving cooks already know: not every dish needs to be homemade. While some holiday foods shine brightest when simmered, roasted, or baked by hand, others are so dependable in their store-bought form that making them from scratch is basically optional. Consider this your permission slip for a more relaxed Thanksgiving.
1. Cranberry Sauce (Especially the Jellied Kind)
Cranberry sauce is the ultimate store-bought success story. Whether you’re Team Whole Berry or Team Perfect Cylinder From the Can, most people find that the familiar tangy-sweet flavor hits exactly the right nostalgic note. Plus, it’s endlessly customizable: you can add orange zest, stir in cinnamon or fold in grated apple (Ina Garten’s trick). A five-second upgrade turns a $1 can into a holiday star. If this isn’t the definition of low-effort, high-reward, nothing is.
2. Dinner Rolls
Unless you truly love kneading dough at 5 a.m., store-bought rolls are your best friend. American grocery stores are full of solid options: King’s Hawaiian, Sister Schubert’s, or even your supermarket’s in-house bakery. With a quick warm-up in the oven and a brush of butter, they taste freshly baked and no one at the table will question it. Nor should they.
3. Pie Crust
Homemade pie crust can be transcendent… but also temperamental, time-consuming, and prone to mood swings. Store-bought crust, meanwhile, is consistent, easy, and structurally reliable. Whether you spring for a refrigerated rolled crust or a frozen deep-dish shell, your pumpkin, pecan, or chocolate silk pie will still taste like the holidays without the emotional roller coaster of cold butter and flaky layers.
4. Stuffing Mix
Yes, you can make stuffing from scratch. But boxed stuffing, especially the classic seasoned blends, has a flavor many families consider essential. It’s practical, predictable, and stands up beautifully to additions like: sautéed onions and celery, browned sausage, fresh herbs, apples, dried fruit. You do a little doctoring, it tastes homemade, and everyone wins.
5. Premade Pie (Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, or Pecan)
Let’s be honest: store-bought pies have gotten really good. Costco’s pumpkin pie has a cult following. Sam’s Club and Aldi offer solid options. Local bakeries crank out beautiful, deeply spiced pies that rival homemade. If dessert production stresses you out, outsource it. You’ll free up your oven and your sanity.
6. Gravy (If You Upgrade It)
Gravy is one of the most stressful parts of Thanksgiving: it’s the last-minute dish that can't break, split, or taste bland. While turkey drippings are wonderful, a store-bought or boxed gravy base is a perfectly fine backup. And with simple additions like pan drippings, a pat of butter, fresh thyme, or a splash of stock, it becomes rich and convincing. Some guests may even prefer the smoother texture.
7. Premade Mashed Potatoes (Yes, Really)
This one surprises people, but refrigerated mashed potatoes can be excellent. With a little extra butter, a splash of cream, and a good stir, they taste homemade — far better than you’d expect for something that comes in a tub. Are scratch-made potatoes wonderful? Absolutely. Are they mandatory? Not really.
8. Appetizers
Thanksgiving is not the time to craft elaborate appetizers. Store-bought cheese boards, dips, crudités, frozen puff-pastry bites, or bakery breads do the job perfectly. Guests want to nibble, not fill up. Save your energy for the turkey… or for navigating conversations with relatives.
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