Every fourth Thursday of November, in an attempt to mask the centuries of oppression and bloodshed between European settlers and Native Americans, we celebrate Thanksgiving with a huge feast of delicious, (sometimes) home-cooked, flavor-filled food. Despite the holiday’s disturbing history, Thanksgiving dinner presents an opportunity to put your chef skills to the test by trying out these five unique dishes. 

Twice-Baked Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are boring and au gratin is too repetitive. It’s time to up your potato game. With 10 ingredients, an oven and 30 minutes of mixing ingredients, Ree Drummond’s Twice-Baked Potatoes are an effortless hors d’oeuvre. Not only do Drumond’s potatoes require less preparation than the chopping and mixing of mashed potatoes, but they’re also decorated with delicious toppings. 

Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Nancie McDermott’s Buttermilk Spoon Bread is a simple, but delicious, cornbread alternative recipe that only requires eight ingredients and 25 minutes of active mixing. There’s no elbow grease necessary to make this savory bread disha! It’s important to note, though, that this bread is not like the others, and actually has a non-traditional pudding texture, so you’re in for a surprise. 

Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies
Taking the complexity a step further, Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies, a recipe coined by Southern Living Test Kitchen, involves 11 ingredients and 40 minutes of prep/mixing. However, your efforts are not in vain, and after a grand total of one hour and 50 minutes, you’re left with a festive, creamy, sweet tart packed with deliciously fruity flavor. 

Hashbrown Casserole
In a clash of tender hashbrowns and creamy, cheesy heaven, Amanda Davis’ Hashbrown Casserole, inspired by Cracker Barrel’s cheesy potato casserole, embodies a superb supper side. Straightforward in its production with eight ingredients, a quick mix and a pop inside the oven, this delectable dish is on a plate and in your mouth in no time flat.   

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
This final recipe by, once again, Ree Drummond is better put to use after Thanksgiving is over and done, because Leftover Turkey Pot Pie makes use of all that extra turkey and pie crust that would have otherwise gone to waste. This meal requires 80 accumulative minutes of prep and cook time to produce a savory pie for up to six.