Thanksgiving dinner sounds wonderful until you realize how many dishes need to be ready at the same time. The turkey is taking up the oven, the potatoes still need mashing, and someone just reminded you that the stuffing hasn’t even been started. Meanwhile, your guests are arriving, and you’re wondering how one meal turned into an all-day cooking marathon.
Here’s something worth remembering: nobody says you have to make every Thanksgiving dish from scratch.
Grocery stores are packed with convenient holiday sides that can save you time, effort, and a kitchen full of dirty dishes. Some need only a few minutes in the microwave, while others go straight from the package to your serving table.
Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or a smaller celebration, these 11 store-bought Thanksgiving sides can make dinner prep a lot easier.
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Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are practically a Thanksgiving requirement, but preparing them from scratch can be surprisingly time-consuming. There’s peeling, chopping, boiling, draining, and mashing, all before you even think about adding butter.
That’s why refrigerated mashed potatoes are such a convenient shortcut.
Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes, for example, come in a 24-ounce refrigerated package that typically costs around $4.50 at Walmart. They’re already prepared, so you only need to heat them according to the package instructions.
For a homemade-style presentation, transfer the potatoes into a serving bowl and add a little butter or freshly chopped chives.
Your guests get a familiar Thanksgiving favorite, and you get to skip the potato-peeling marathon.
Boxed Turkey Stuffing
Stuffing is one of those Thanksgiving dishes that seems simple until you start gathering all the ingredients. Between preparing bread, chopping vegetables, measuring seasonings, and finding oven space, it can quickly become another project.
Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix offers an easier alternative.
The familiar 6-ounce box contains seasoned stuffing mix that can be prepared with water and butter or margarine, following the package directions. It generally costs a few dollars, depending on the store and holiday promotions.
You can serve it as prepared or add sautéed onions, celery, or your favorite seasonings.
It’s especially useful when your oven is already occupied by the turkey and other dishes.
Related:9 Thanksgiving Side Dishes Americans Secretly Love More Than Turkey
Canned Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce
Some Thanksgiving traditions don’t need complicated recipes. Cranberry sauce is a perfect example.
Making it from fresh cranberries can be enjoyable, but store-bought versions offer the convenience of opening a can and transferring the contents to a serving dish.
Ocean Spray Whole Cranberry Sauce comes in a 14-ounce can and is commonly available at major American supermarkets. One Walmart listing priced it at approximately $2.50.
The whole-berry texture makes it an appealing option for families who enjoy a more traditional-looking cranberry sauce.
For an extra touch, add a little fresh orange zest before serving.
Of course, if your family prefers the smooth, jellied cranberry sauce that slides out of the can, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping that tradition alive.
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Ready-to-Heat Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese has earned a special place on many American Thanksgiving tables, particularly in Southern households.
However, making it from scratch can involve boiling pasta, preparing a cheese sauce, assembling the dish, and baking everything until golden.
That’s a lot of work when you’re already managing several other recipes.
Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese provides a convenient alternative. A 20-ounce refrigerated package is listed at about $4.50 at Walmart, with larger family-size packages also available.
Heat it according to the instructions, then transfer it to a serving dish.
For a little extra presentation flair, sprinkle shredded cheese or freshly chopped parsley on top.
For bigger gatherings, remember that you’ll probably need more than one package.
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Canned Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving classic, whether your family prefers them mashed, baked, or prepared as a casserole.
Unfortunately, peeling and chopping enough sweet potatoes for a crowd can take a considerable amount of time.
Bruce’s Yams Cut Sweet Potatoes in Syrup offers a convenient shortcut. The 40-ounce can has been listed at Walmart for approximately $3.30.
Despite the label, the product contains sweet potatoes.
Because they’re already cooked, you can use them as a quick starting point for a holiday side.
Drain them according to your recipe, then warm them with butter and cinnamon. They can also shorten the prep time for a sweet potato casserole.
Just remember that canned sweet potatoes aren’t a finished casserole. If you’re making a casserole, you’ll still need to assemble and heat the dish.
Bakery-Style Sweet Dinner Rolls
There’s something comforting about having a basket of soft dinner rolls on the Thanksgiving table.
But making bread from scratch requires mixing dough, waiting for it to rise, shaping individual rolls, and finding room in the oven.
When you’re already preparing an elaborate holiday meal, store-bought rolls can be a welcome shortcut.
King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are a popular option. A 12-count package has been listed at Walmart for around $4.50.
They’re fully baked and can be served directly from the package or gently warmed according to the instructions.
Place them in a bread basket lined with a clean napkin and serve with butter.
It’s a simple way to bring that warm, inviting holiday feeling to your dinner table without becoming a full-time bread baker.
Jarred Turkey Gravy
Homemade turkey gravy can be delicious, but it doesn’t always cooperate when you’re juggling multiple Thanksgiving dishes.
Sometimes the pan drippings aren’t ready, the consistency isn’t quite right, or you don’t have another burner available.
Prepared gravy offers an easy backup.
Heinz HomeStyle Turkey Gravy comes in a 12-ounce jar and is listed at Walmart for about $2.90.
It’s already prepared, so you only need to heat it according to the manufacturer’s instructions before serving.
Pour it into a gravy boat, and it’s ready to serve.
Keeping an extra jar in the pantry can also be helpful if your homemade gravy runs out before everyone has finished eating.
Steam-in-the-Bag Sweet Corn
When the oven is crowded and every stovetop burner is occupied, microwaveable vegetables can be especially convenient.
Birds Eye Steamfresh Super Sweet Corn is a straightforward option that doesn’t require shucking fresh corn or cutting kernels from the cob.
The frozen corn comes in a 10-ounce bag, and Walmart lists it around $1 to $1.30, depending on promotions.
You can prepare it in the microwave or on the stovetop, following the package directions.
Once cooked, transfer it into a serving bowl and add butter, black pepper, or your preferred seasonings.
It may not be the fanciest dish on the Thanksgiving table, but sometimes a simple vegetable side is exactly what a rich holiday meal needs.
Boxed Cornbread Mix
Cornbread is a favorite addition to many Thanksgiving meals, particularly for families who enjoy Southern-style cooking.
Making it from scratch isn’t difficult, but a boxed mix makes it even simpler.
JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix comes in a recognizable 8.5-ounce blue-and-white box and is generally sold for less than a dollar at major grocery stores.
You’ll still need to add the required ingredients, mix the batter, and bake it according to the package instructions.
The advantage is that the dry ingredients are already measured and combined.
You can bake the mixture as muffins for easy individual portions or in a suitable baking pan for cornbread.
Serve it with butter or honey, and you’ve added another familiar Thanksgiving favorite with minimal prep.
Prepared Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is a holiday staple in many American households. Creamy green beans topped with crispy fried onions have been appearing on Thanksgiving tables for generations.
But between gathering ingredients, assembling the casserole, and baking it, the dish can compete for valuable oven space.
Some grocery stores, including Whole Foods Market, offer prepared green bean casserole as part of their seasonal holiday menus.
Availability, pricing, and portion sizes vary by location, so check your local store’s Thanksgiving ordering options.
If a fully prepared version isn’t available, there’s another convenient option.
Use canned or frozen green beans, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and French’s Original Crispy Fried Onions to make prep easier.
You’ll still need to assemble and cook the casserole, but you’ll avoid preparing everything from scratch.
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Prepared Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can add something a little different to a Thanksgiving spread filled with potatoes, stuffing, and other rich dishes.
However, preparing them from scratch means trimming, washing, halving, seasoning, and roasting them.
That’s not necessarily difficult, but it does require attention and oven space.
Whole Foods Market has offered prepared options such as Cider-Roasted Brussels Sprouts on its seasonal holiday menu.
These prepared vegetable sides can be especially helpful when you’re hosting a larger gathering.
Check your local store for current availability, portion sizes, prices, and reheating instructions before ordering.
Once warmed, transfer the vegetables to a serving platter for an easy addition to your Thanksgiving table.
A Delicious Thanksgiving Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Thanksgiving should be about enjoying good food and spending time with the people you love, not spending every waking minute washing dishes and checking the oven.
There’s nothing wrong with making your grandmother’s famous stuffing or preparing a treasured family casserole from scratch. Those traditions can make the holiday special.
But that doesn’t mean every side dish needs the same amount of attention.
Choosing a few store-bought favorites can free up time for the recipes you genuinely enjoy making.
You might prepare the turkey and your signature sweet potato casserole yourself, then pick up refrigerated mashed potatoes, ready-made rolls, and canned cranberry sauce to complete the meal.
The secret is finding a balance that works for your household.
After all, Thanksgiving guests are usually much more interested in sharing a delicious meal and making memories than finding out who peeled the potatoes.
