This One-Pan Holiday Meal is the perfect solution for a stress-free holiday dinner. Featuring succulent turkey, savory stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes, crisp green beans, and homemade gravy, all cooked together in one sheet pan, it’s a hassle-free way to enjoy a festive meal without the mess. The turkey is tender and flavorful, the stuffing is perfectly seasoned, and the sweet potatoes are sweet and fluffy. This recipe is ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion, making it the ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients
For the Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 small sweet potatoes (approximately 3-4 ounces each)
- Salt (to taste, for serving)
- Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste, for serving)
- Butter slices (optional, for serving; see Notes)
For the Stuffing:
- 8 slices of high-quality bread (cut into ½-inch cubes, see Notes)
- 2 tablespoons butter (see Notes)
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced celery
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
For the Turkey:
- 3 pounds uncooked turkey loin (or turkey breast)
- Salt (to taste)
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened, see Notes)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
For the Green Beans:
- 1 pound fresh green beans (ends trimmed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
For the Gravy:
- 3 tablespoons butter (see Notes)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- 1 pinch dried thyme (or dried sage, optional)
Instructions
For the Sweet Potatoes:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Poke small holes in each sweet potato using a fork, then wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing and turkey.
For the Stuffing:
- Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add butter and allow it to melt, swirling the pan occasionally to coat.
- Add the diced onion and celery, cooking for 8-10 minutes until softened.
- Remove from heat, then stir in salt, pepper, dried thyme, and sage. Transfer the mixture to the bread cubes.
- Add chicken broth, the egg, and fresh parsley to the bread, stirring gently until fully coated. Set aside to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
For the Turkey:
- Pat the turkey dry on all sides with paper towels and season generously with salt.
- In a small bowl, mix softened butter, minced garlic, and chopped thyme. Rub this compound butter mixture all over the turkey.
- Remove the baking sheet with the sweet potatoes from the oven. Move the sweet potatoes to one end of the sheet.
- Place the stuffing on the opposite end, leaving space for the green beans later. Put the buttered turkey on top of the stuffing.
- Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
For the Green Beans:
- When the turkey and stuffing have baked for 20 minutes, toss the trimmed green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the green beans to the center of the baking sheet, spreading them out as evenly as possible. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.
For the Gravy:
- While the meal finishes baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour to form a paste, then gradually add chicken stock, whisking until smooth.
- Add salt and dried herbs (if using), then reduce heat to low and simmer until the gravy thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Once the gravy reaches your desired consistency, transfer it to a serving dish.
To Serve:
- Check the turkey’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It should read 160°F. If it’s lower, return the baking sheet to the oven, checking periodically.
- When the turkey is fully cooked, remove the baking sheet and let everything rest for 10 minutes.
- Unwrap the sweet potatoes, slice them open, fluff the insides with a fork, and season with salt and pepper. Optionally, top with butter slices.
- Carve the turkey into ¼-inch slices and return to the baking sheet.
- Serve the meal directly from the baking sheet or transfer to serving plates. Enjoy with gravy on the side!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This One-Pan Holiday Meal is the perfect all-in-one dish for your next festive dinner or weeknight celebration. It combines tender turkey, flavorful stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes, and perfectly cooked green beans, all baked together for ease and flavor. The rich homemade gravy ties everything together, making it a comforting, family-friendly meal that’s as delicious as it is convenient.
Tips
- Sweet Potato Tip: For extra sweetness, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup to the sweet potatoes before serving.
- Stuffing Texture: For a crisper stuffing, bake it uncovered for the final 10 minutes.
- Turkey Alternative: You can substitute turkey breast for the loin, just adjust the cooking time.
Variations and Substitutions
- Bread Choice: Use gluten-free bread or cornbread for a variation on the stuffing.
- Herb Swaps: Feel free to experiment with rosemary, sage, or basil to flavor the turkey or stuffing.
- Gravy Variations: For a richer gravy, substitute half of the chicken stock with turkey stock or use heavy cream for a creamy texture.
FAQs
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can prep the stuffing, turkey, and sweet potatoes a day in advance and refrigerate them until ready to bake.
- What if I don’t have a meat thermometer? Check the turkey by cutting into the thickest part of the meat to ensure the juices run clear, and the meat is no longer pink.
- Can I use frozen green beans? Fresh green beans will yield the best results, but frozen green beans can be substituted if necessary.
Serving Suggestions
- Side Dishes: Serve with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or cranberry sauce for a traditional holiday meal.
- Wine Pairing: A crisp white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with turkey and the rich stuffing.
- Leftovers: This meal makes excellent leftovers. Reheat the turkey and stuffing with a drizzle of gravy for a quick meal the next day.
One-Pan Holiday Meal
4
servings30
minutes1
hourIngredients
For the Sweet Potatoes:
4 small sweet potatoes (approximately 3-4 ounces each)
Salt (to taste, for serving)
Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste, for serving)
Butter slices (optional, for serving; see Notes)
For the Stuffing:
8 slices of high-quality bread (cut into ½-inch cubes, see Notes)
2 tablespoons butter (see Notes)
½ cup diced onion
½ cup diced celery
Salt (to taste)
Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon dried sage
½ cup chicken broth
1 large egg
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
For the Turkey:
3 pounds uncooked turkey loin (or turkey breast)
Salt (to taste)
3 tablespoons butter (softened, see Notes)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
For the Green Beans:
1 pound fresh green beans (ends trimmed)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt (to taste)
Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
For the Gravy:
3 tablespoons butter (see Notes)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken stock
½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
1 pinch dried thyme (or dried sage, optional)
Directions
- For the Sweet Potatoes:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Poke small holes in each sweet potato using a fork, then wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing and turkey.
- For the Stuffing:
- Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add butter and allow it to melt, swirling the pan occasionally to coat.
- Add the diced onion and celery, cooking for 8-10 minutes until softened.
- Remove from heat, then stir in salt, pepper, dried thyme, and sage. Transfer the mixture to the bread cubes.
- Add chicken broth, the egg, and fresh parsley to the bread, stirring gently until fully coated. Set aside to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
- For the Turkey:
- Pat the turkey dry on all sides with paper towels and season generously with salt.
- In a small bowl, mix softened butter, minced garlic, and chopped thyme. Rub this compound butter mixture all over the turkey.
- Remove the baking sheet with the sweet potatoes from the oven. Move the sweet potatoes to one end of the sheet.
- Place the stuffing on the opposite end, leaving space for the green beans later. Put the buttered turkey on top of the stuffing.
- Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- For the Green Beans:
- When the turkey and stuffing have baked for 20 minutes, toss the trimmed green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the green beans to the center of the baking sheet, spreading them out as evenly as possible. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.
- For the Gravy:
- While the meal finishes baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour to form a paste, then gradually add chicken stock, whisking until smooth.
- Add salt and dried herbs (if using), then reduce heat to low and simmer until the gravy thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Once the gravy reaches your desired consistency, transfer it to a serving dish.
- To Serve:
- Check the turkey’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It should read 160°F. If it’s lower, return the baking sheet to the oven, checking periodically.
- When the turkey is fully cooked, remove the baking sheet and let everything rest for 10 minutes.
- Unwrap the sweet potatoes, slice them open, fluff the insides with a fork, and season with salt and pepper. Optionally, top with butter slices.
- Carve the turkey into ¼-inch slices and return to the baking sheet.
- Serve the meal directly from the baking sheet or transfer to serving plates. Enjoy with gravy on the side!
Leave a Reply