Easy and delicious recipes for every home cook

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2024) — As the holiday season approaches, families and friends everywhere are preparing to share their delicious meals for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. Both are cherished traditions in which people gather around the table and enjoy time with their loved ones. 

However, planning and knowing what to cook for the holiday can be overwhelming for many. Whether it’s selecting easy-to-make recipes, managing costs or trying unfamiliar cooking techniques, preparing a festive meal is often daunting. Misconceptions about the preparation time, expense or complexity of creating a memorable Thanksgiving meal can add unnecessary stress to the season. 

Lauran Batey is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and the program coordinator of the Food as Health Alliance in the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. UKNow sought Batey’s advice on easy Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving recipes for people new to cooking. She shared her expertise and some budget-friendly recipes that are easy to make. (Recipes included down below.)

UKNow: What easy recipes do you recommend for students new to cooking to make for Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving?

Batey: Precooked products such as rotisserie chicken, precooked ham or turkey can be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal and an easy and affordable way for students to celebrate the holiday. Students can buy ham and make an easy homemade glaze for the ham in the microwave. Students should understand what they can precook ahead, such as cranberry sauce, and find the cooking materials they can access. A microwave, oven, air fryer, slow cooker or other materials can cook vegetables, ham, turkey and other dishes on different sides for a Thanksgiving dish. Students should not get hung up when cooking on what their dish has to be, but instead enjoy themselves while cooking. The main reason for Thanksgiving is to enjoy time with your loved ones and not stress about what to make for the meal. 

UKNow: Are there ways to make traditional Thanksgiving dishes healthier or more affordable without losing the flavor?

Batey: For more affordability, try using dry herbs and spices because many Thanksgiving recipes call for fresh herbs that are more expensive. I always recommend using dry herbs in my recipes because I target people who use affordable food products. Do not purchase any ingredients you will only use for one recipe. If it is a very specialized ingredient, find a substitute that you could use in other recipes. Try to find ways not to waste ingredients. For example, if you use half an onion for one recipe, try to figure out where you will use the other half of the onion.

Only buy what you think you will eat. Do not buy a 27-pound turkey for four people unless you have a solid plan for storing and using the leftovers. In terms of being healthier, a person’s cooking method is an excellent way to stay healthy. For example, roasting vegetables is a very healthy method. It can be done all in one pan using olive oil. This is a better option than deep frying or pan frying the vegetables.

Remember to enjoy your Thanksgiving. Eat healthier or get back on a healthy diet the day after the holiday because Thanksgiving should be about enjoying the holiday and spending time with family and friends.

UKNow: Do you have any cooking tips for students learning how to cook?

Batey: Safety first. If your knife skills are not excellent, put a damp paper towel under your cutting board so it will not slide around while cutting. Make use of YouTube and TikTok. There are tutorials on both apps on anything you want to make. I make videos as part of my job, and one of my most successful videos was how to cut a cauliflower. People were eager to learn that simple information.

Do not wing a recipe if you are brand new to cooking. Try to find information for a recipe you want because it is out there. Try to find the simplest version of the recipe you are hoping to make. If you are not an experienced chef, do not try to make fancy dinners where timing is critical and everything has to be done at the same time. That is hard for experienced cooks, so try to keep it simple. 

UKNow: For students who live in the campus residence halls, what type of recipes do you recommend that they make with the kitchens?

Batey: First, ensure the residence hall kitchens have the cooking supplies you need for a particular recipe. If a recipe wants you to use a blender, but the residence hall doesn’t have one, you can’t make that recipe. Check to see what cooking materials the kitchens have and use what you already have. Find premade foods and jazz them up. For example, find a precooked ham, chicken or premade mashed potatoes, add a little sour cream, fresh chives and whatever else you want. Bob Evans has a premade mac and cheese that you could top with some shredded cheese and bread crumbs. Some recipes do not always have to be made from scratch. 

UKNow: What are some of the most popular Thanksgiving recipes that are easy to make?

Batey: Stuffing is a popular recipe that is easy to make. Stuffing is one of those recipes people think is intimidating when it is not. You can find beginner-friendly stuffing recipes again on YouTube or TikTok. My secret for vegetables is to roast everything because it is so easy and healthy. A tip for roasting vegetables: if you do a bunch in one pan, combine the ones that tend to cook at the same rate. For example, you want to avoid putting green beans and sweet potatoes simultaneously because your green beans will be charcoal when the potatoes are done. Think about cooking time and stagger things together that can cook simultaneously. Or you can make individual sweet potatoes for the number of people coming to your Thanksgiving party. Put the sweet potatoes in the microwave, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and cook them for eight to ten minutes. Then, put butter, honey or whatever else you want to add so that everyone gets their sweet potato versus making a giant casserole. 

Sheet pan turkey breast with sweet potatoes and green beans

This easy sheet pan recipe is perfect for a cozy Friendsgiving or a simple dinner. Seasoned turkey breast, roasted sweet potatoes and green beans come together for a no-fuss meal with Thanksgiving vibes. Serve everything with a cranberry sauce and pre-cooked rolls for a simple holiday dinner!

Ingredients:

• 1 small turkey breast (about 2-3 pounds)

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes

• 12 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed or 16 ounces frozen whole green beans

• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the turkey:

• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

For the sweet potatoes (choose one option):

• Savory option: 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.

• Sweet option: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional).

For the green beans:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.

2. Prepare the turkey breast:

   1. Rub the turkey breast with 2 tablespoons olive oil, then sprinkle evenly with rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.

   2. Place the turkey breast on one end of the sheet pan.

3. Season the sweet potatoes:

   1. In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potato cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and your chosen seasoning option (savory to sweet).

   2. Spread the sweet potatoes out in the middle of the sheet pan, leaving room for the green beans.

4. Start roasting:

   1. Roast the turkey breast and sweet potatoes for 20 minutes. 

5. Prepare and add the green beans:

   1. While the turkey and sweet potatoes cook, toss the green beans in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

   2. After the first 20 minutes, add the green beans to the empty section of the sheet pan.

6. Finish cooking:

   1. Roast everything for another 20-25 minutes, or until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, the sweet potatoes are tender, and the green beans are crisp-tender.

7. Rest and Serve:

   1. Let the turkey breast rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve with the roasted sweet potatoes and green beans. 

This simple and flavorful meal captures the essence of Thanksgiving without all the hassle. Pair it with a simple cranberry sauce for the ultimate holiday combo!

You can find more recipes from the Food as Health Alliance online here.