15 Thanksgiving dishes that don't require an oven

"If your oven is full on Thanksgiving or simply out of commission, oven-free recipes can help. Salads, slow-cooker recipes, and pasta are all beloved dishes that don't require an oven. We've found 15 Thanksgiving dishes that are completely oven-free. Whether your oven is crammed full of turkey or it's woefully small, sometimes baking and roasting isn't an option on Thanksgiving."

"This week, people all over the country will be making multiple dishes for Thanksgiving dinner, using every available cooking surface they can, and spending an average of 9.6 hours in preparation for their guests, per 2025 WalletHub data. Thankfully, there are plenty of Thanksgiving staples or updated versions of the classics that don't require any oven space at all. Even the precious turkey can stay out of that fateful appliance on November 27."

Oven space can be limited or unavailable on Thanksgiving, forcing cooks to rely on alternative appliances and surfaces. Many households use every available cooking surface and spend an average of 9.6 hours preparing for guests, per 2025 WalletHub data. Popular oven-free options include salads, slow-cooker recipes, and pasta, along with adapted staples and updated classics. Alternative preparation methods can accommodate limited oven capacity while keeping traditional flavors. Even turkey can be prepared without an oven. Fifteen easy oven-free Thanksgiving dishes provide practical solutions for managing timing and kitchen logistics on the holiday.

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