9 No-Oven Thanksgiving Recipes To Cook While Turkey Is Roasting

Working with a small oven this Thanksgiving? If you’re in charge of cooking this year and don’t find yourself with a ton of space to make all of those classic turkey-day classics, don’t fret, we have an easy guide for no-oven Thanksgiving recipes for you to use. By using your stovetop or other nifty appliances — such as a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or air fryer — you’ll have side dishes ready to go without having to disturb that beautifully roasted bird. From stuffing to no-bake casseroles and even dessert, here are the no-oven Thanksgiving recipes that will make cooking a feast even easier.

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1. Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing

Courtesy of Well Plated

Stuffing doesn’t have to be all bread, you know! In fact, this popular side dish is an easy way to pack in all kinds of nutrition onto your plate. This crockpot stuffing is made with either wild rice or brown rice (your choice!), and generous handfuls of dried cranberries and slivered almonds. Yum!

Try the recipe from Well Plated.

2. Slow Cooker Pear and Sausage Stuffing

Courtesy of Pinch of Yum

Or if you’re up for more of a traditional bread stuffing, this one will work perfectly — and it’s also made in the slow cooker! Once you cook up the veggies and sausage, you’ll dump all the ingredients into your slow cooker, mix them together, and let the machine work its magic while you focus on other important things — like the turkey!

Try the recipe from Pinch of Yum.

3. Low Sugar Cranberry Sauce

Courtesy of The Healthy Epicurian

Sure, getting cranberry sauce in the can is easy. But why not elevate this traditional side dish and make your own version on the stovetop? Don’t worry, it’s easy to throw together and only requires just four ingredients (including oranges, which gives this cranberry sauce the perfect zing). Plus, this recipe offers up ideas for add-ins, in case you’re up for experimenting with different variations before the big day!

Try the recipe from The Healthy Epicurian.

4. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Courtesy of Detoxista

While mashed potatoes don’t necessarily need the oven to make, thanks to this recipe, the Instant Pot makes the process of making your mashed potatoes even easier. You simply pressure cook the chopped-up potatoes, then mash them and stir in your other ingredients to make the potatoes creamy. It’s that easy!

Try the recipe from Detoxnista.

5. Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole

Courtesy of A Couple Cooks

If you prefer to make a stovetop mashed potato and have an Instant Pot free to use, you can skip making this traditional Thanksgiving casserole in the oven and rely on your pressure cooker instead. In less than 30 minutes you’ll have the perfect green bean side dish ready to eat.

Try the recipe from A Couple Cooks.

6. 20-Minute Vegan Mac & Cheese

Courtesy of Minimalist Baker

While macaroni and cheese isn’t an essential dish for Thanksgiving day, many tables across the country love to serve it — especially for any picky eaters attending the festivities. This vegan mac and cheese recipe lightens things up with a blended plant-based sauce, all stirred together in a dutch oven. No oven needed!

Try the recipe from Minimalist Baker.

7. Vegan Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

Courtesy of Short Girl Tall Order

While a roasted butternut squash soup does sound divine on Thanksgiving, if you’re tight on space and need a different type of soup to serve as an appetizer, this vegan mushroom wild rice soup will come to your rescue. It’s all made on the stovetop and it’s perfectly creamy and pairs perfectly with your favorite crusty bread. Not a fan of mushroom soup? You could whip up one of these cozy Crockpot soups instead!

Try the recipe from Short Girl Tall Order.

8. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Courtesy of Well Plated

You don’t need to use your oven to serve the crispiest Brussels sprouts! While roasting is traditionally how people love to serve this side dish on Thanksgiving, the air fryer makes the Brussels sprouts especially crispy, making for the perfect crunchy alternative to the other creamy, silky sides on your plate.

Try the recipe from Well Plated.

9. Layered Vegan Pumpkin Dessert

Courtesy of Veggies Don’t Bite

Instead of baking a pie, why not surprise your guests with their very own jar of layered dessert? This recipe relies on delicious, vegan good-for-you ingredients for a tasty dessert that will leave you feeling satisfied instead of sluggish at the end of your meal.

Try the recipe from Veggies Don’t Bite.

Read next: 10 Healthy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes (That Aren’t Casseroles)