4 Ways to Have a Simple Thanksgiving Without Sacrificing Tradition Casey Morris Home.com Editor 11/19/2021 - 4 min. read The holiday season is all about tradition, and those traditions often begin on Thanksgiving. The turkey, the sweet potato casserole, the harvest-themed tables, (most importantly) the pumpkin pie — it wouldn’t feel like a proper Thanksgiving without the staples. But if you recently moved into a new home, planning an elaborate meal and getting the house guest-ready is a tall order. Even if you’re not the one hosting, you might feel a lot of pressure to bring that perfect side to the meal, even though you’re still living out of boxes. So why not make it easy on yourself this year? Here are four ways to have a simple Thanksgiving without sacrificing your favorite foods or traditions. WHAT'S IN THIS ARTICLE? Make a turkey-based dish instead of roasting a whole bird Jump ↓ Switch up the sweet potatoes Jump ↓ Try a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake instead of pumpkin pie Jump ↓ Make a minimalist centerpiece Jump ↓ Make a turkey-based dish instead of roasting a whole bird There’s an art to roasting an entire turkey, not to mention a lot of time required. Even if you opt for a quicker turkey-cooking method, such as spatchcocking, there’s a lot of prep that goes into it. If it’s the turkey flavor you’re after, but you have no qualms about not cooking an entire bird, try a modified dish such as The Washington Post’s one-pot turkey thighs braised in cider. The total prep and cook time is 90 minutes, which means much less time spent worrying whether the meat is cooked through or how it’s going to turn out and more time spent with family and friends. You also prepare the entire dish in a Dutch oven, and the turkey thighs cook with potatoes, carrots, and apples, so you get that nice, homey aroma from the oven while it cooks. If you’re not a fan of turkey or your local grocery store doesn’t sell turkey thighs, you can make the recipe with chicken thighs as well. See our TikTok video below for the chicken version of this dish. @home_com This@washingtonpost recipe is perfect for getting your turkey fix without cooking an entire turkey. #homemade#homemadefood#thanksgiving #foryou ♬ original sound – homedotcom Related: 5 Home Renovations That Increase the Value of Your Property Switch up the sweet potatoes We all love a good sweet potato casserole, but this New York Times recipe for sweet potatoes baked with lemon is just as tasty, and they require fewer ingredients. It’s also simple to make — boil, cool, and peel the potatoes; make a quick lemon syrup; then bake until you achieve a tangy and sugary goodness. We promise, this will go just as well with your turkey as the marshmallow-topped version of sweet potatoes. @home_com Switch up your sweet potato casserole this #thanksgiving #home #homemade #holidaytiktok #foryou ♬ original sound – homedotcom Related: Young Homeowners Are Keen on Green Remodeling. Here’s How to Get Started Try a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake instead of pumpkin pie Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving classic, no doubt. But sometimes you want something different — and to skip all the steps involved in making a pie from scratch. The Washington Post’s no-bake pumpkin pie cheesecake gives you that traditional pumpkin taste, but with a twist. It’s also easy to make, especially if you have a stand mixer and you’re not opposed to store-bought graham cracker crusts (as you’ll see in the video below, we are not). If you opt for this pumpkin dessert, remember that it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before serving, so this is one you’ll want to make ahead. @home_com This @washingtonpost recipe gives you that classic pumpkin taste with a twist #homemade #thanksgiving #thanksgivingvibes #foryou ♬ original sound – homedotcom Make a minimalist centerpiece Going all out on Thanksgiving decor is part of the fun, but it can be time-consuming — and pricey — to put together a complex centerpiece and place settings. But less can be more, especially when it comes to centerpieces. This simple centerpiece takes just minutes to put together, and it combines a little bit of minimalism and a little bit of that fall feeling to set the tone for your Thanksgiving meal. We made this with artificial pumpkins and wheat stalks purchased online, but you can just as easily make it with real mini pumpkins and gourds. @home_com Keep your centerpiece simple this year #thanksgiving #home #homedecor #foryou #foryoupage ♬ Autumn Adventure – Ed Hogston Give thanks, and go easy on yourself As a new homeowner, you’ve got a lot to celebrate. Buying a house is a major achievement, and even though it can feel like the unpacking, renovations, and settling in have taken over your life, there’s still a lot to be thankful for. Give yourself the option of a simple Thanksgiving so you can enjoy being in your new home and making new traditions with the people you love. Some references sourced within this article have not been prepared by Fairway and are distributed for educational purposes only. The information is not guaranteed to be accurate and may not entirely represent the opinions of Fairway. 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