It’s the holidays, and with all that’s going on in the world, many of us will be celebrating things a bit differently this year. No matter how big or intimate your crowd will be, the one thing we all have in common is that we want our holiday meals to be traditional, easy-to-make and stress-free. So, let us share with you some simple supermarket shortcuts that we’ve discovered that can assure that your holiday feast tastes homemade, without you having to break a sweat.

By now, you probably have your main dish decided on, whether that be a roasted turkey, a glazed ham, or a juicy-as-can-be roast. As for the rest of the meal, thanks to all the products that we can find in the freezer and dairy aisles, everything from new ones to good-old stand-by favorites, your holiday meal prep is going to be easy and stress free!

First Course: Appetizers!

Looking for an easy way to start things out? This appetizer tray is sure to help curve appetites while everyone arrives and while the chef of the family finishes up all the last-minute touches. It may look extra fancy, but it’s simply frozen appetizers that we heated, added a decorative touch to, and voila, it was on the table in minutes.

Our Come-‘n’-Get it Sampler has everything! Loaded with cocktail meatballs, pot stickers, and more, this tray is fully customizable and is made perfect by adding your favorite dipping sauces. You could even add in these tasty potato skins or, for a little spice, some festive taquitos.

All of these delicious options come from your local freezer and dairy aisle. That means your appetizer course is going to be totally delicious and completely painless.

The Main Course: Turkey and What?

Don’t push the sides to the side, make them the center of attention! We already know your turkey is going to be a thing of beauty. You put so much time and effort into making it perfect, and we think your holiday side dish recipes should really rise to the occasion.

The freezer and dairy aisles are here to help your sides do just that! For our mashed potatoes, simply dress them up by adding some butter, sour cream, or some shredded cheese to your store-bought refrigerated ones to take them from acceptable to exceptional. With all that extra goodness folded inside, no one will know you saved yourself the trouble of peeling and mashing.

Every holiday table needs an amazing vegetable dish or two. Some traditional seasonal veggies include Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cauliflower, and green beans. But who wants to spend time peeling and chopping on Thanksgiving Day, when you could be making memories with family?

Luckily, the freezer and dairy aisles have your answer. You can save time with their frozen veggie options! They’ve got all the freshness and crunch you could want and, with a little cheese topping and your favorite seasonings, your veggie dish is really going to pop.

If you want a way to turn all those veggies into one super delicious dish, we suggest our Maple Glazed Harvest Vegetables. This dish packs in tons of seasonal flavor and nutrition, with hardly any prep time! And no one would ever know you started with frozen veggies.

No holiday feast is complete without a bread basket brimming with hot-from-the-oven goodness. Whether you prefer rolls, biscuits, breadsticks, or garlic bread, you can find your delicious bread side in the freezer aisle. Starting with a refrigerated biscuit means no mixing or kneading is required. Put out some butter to slather on any one of your favorites, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly the basket is ready to be refilled.

Dessert Course: Everyone’s Favorite!

When someone says “Holiday Desserts,” one word comes to mind: pie. Tasty, warm, sweet, and flakey pie! That’s what everyone around your table is really looking forward to, no matter how full they say they are. But, making the perfect pie isn’t always easy. So, rather than starting from scratch, head to your local market and pick up your favorite frozen pie. Then, all you have to do is simply thaw or bake it, and in minutes, the whole house will be filled with the aroma of the holidays, and dessert is ready to serve.  Or for those of us who want to make a homemade pie but don’t have luck with a homemade crust, no problem! Our dairy and freezer aisle has all the solutions ready and waiting for us.  And Grandma won’t believe it when you tell her that the crust on her Classic Deep-Dish Apple Pie was refrigerated just an hour ago.

And if you’re one of those people who think no pie is complete without ice cream, then don’t forget to pick up an assortment of flavors to go with your pie. And with all the new seasonal favorites, we can’t miss. Pumpkin, eggnog, and candy cane crunch are just a few of the additions that will certainly ensure that everyone leaves the table smiling.

This year, take the stress out of holiday cooking; let the dairy and freezer aisles be your Holiday Helpers! If you do, then you could have a holiday table that tastes as good as it looks. For lots of easy recipes and holiday ideas, visit EasyHomeMeals.com. You’ll be glad you did, and so will everyone else around the dinner table.

From the Mr. Food Test Kitchen and Easy Home Meals, happy holidays and bon appétit!

For more great family recipes visit 

EasyHomeMeals.com

This conversation is sponsored by National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. The opinions and text are all my own.

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