The turkey takes over the oven on Thanksgiving, so these 10 easy Thanksgiving pie recipes skip it entirely. Every pie here bakes in the air fryer, cooks in the Instant Pot, or needs no baking at all, which leaves your oven free for the bird, the stuffing and the rolls.
All 10 recipes come from Fork To Spoon, and each one links straight to the full recipe card. You’ll find the classics (pumpkin, pecan, apple) plus a few no-fuss crowd-pleasers for guests who want something different.
1. Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie
The classic Thanksgiving pie, made in the pressure cooker. The steamy, sealed pot keeps the custard silky and smooth, with far less chance of a cracked top than in the oven. It cooks in a 7-inch springform pan and serves 8.
Make ahead: chill at least 4 hours, or overnight, so it slices cleanly.
Get the Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie recipe →
2. Air Fryer Pumpkin Pie
A from-scratch pumpkin pie with a homemade butter crust, scaled to two mini pies. The crust blind-bakes first so it stays crisp, then the spiced filling of pumpkin, brown sugar, ginger and allspice sets in about 10 minutes.
Tip: cover the edges with foil if the crust browns too fast.
Get the Air Fryer Pumpkin Pie recipe →
3. Pumpkin Pie Bites
The easiest dessert on the table needs just two ingredients: a store-bought pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Freeze the pie briefly, cut it into rounds, and top each bite. No oven, no mixer.
Make ahead: cut the bites up to 2 days early, then top them right before serving.
Get the Pumpkin Pie Bites recipe →
4. Air Fryer Pecan Pie
Gooey brown sugar and corn syrup filling over a bed of pecans, baked in mini tins. The crust blind-bakes for 5 minutes first, then the filled pies bake at 325°F until set.
Tip: add a spoonful of bourbon or dark rum to the filling for a grown-up twist.
Get the Air Fryer Pecan Pie recipe →
5. Air Fryer Pecan Pie Hand Pies
All the pecan pie flavor with no slicing. Pecan pie filling is folded into rounds of pie dough, sealed with a fork, brushed with egg wash and finished with sparkling sugar. They bake in 5 to 7 minutes.
Best for: the kids’ table and guests who want their own treat.
Get the Air Fryer Pecan Pie Hand Pies recipe →
6. Air Fryer Apple Pie
A full double-crust apple pie with cinnamon and nutmeg, plus a buttery brown sugar layer under the bottom crust. It bakes at 320°F in 15 to 25 minutes and serves 8.
Tip: let it cool at least 15 minutes so the filling sets before you slice.
Get the Air Fryer Apple Pie recipe →
7. Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
Fresh diced apples tossed with cinnamon and sugar, sealed in flaky pie dough and topped with sparkling sugar. They bake in just 4 to 6 minutes, so you can make a second batch while the first is eaten.
Tip: use any apples you have; the recipe was tested with Gala.
Get the Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies recipe →
8. Air Fryer Cookie Butter Pie
For guests who skip pumpkin. A creamy Biscoff and cream cheese filling sits in a toasted graham crust, topped with whipped cream, crushed cookies and caramel. Only the crust uses the air fryer; the rest is no-bake.
Make ahead: chill at least 2 hours, or overnight. The recipe makes two pies.
Get the Air Fryer Cookie Butter Pie recipe →
9. Air Fryer Lemon Pie
A bright, tangy break from all the spice. Sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and fresh lemon set over a graham cracker and almond crust, then get a cloud of whipped cream.
Make ahead: bake a day early and add the whipped cream just before serving.
Get the Air Fryer Lemon Pie recipe →
10. Air Fryer Cherry Tarts
Just two ingredients: refrigerated pie crust and cherry pie filling, pressed into a muffin tin. They bake in 5 to 7 minutes and add a pop of red to the dessert table.
Tip: swap in apple or blueberry filling to match your menu.
Get the Air Fryer Cherry Tarts recipe →
Make-ahead plan
Most of these pies are better made early, so Thanksgiving Day is just about the turkey.
- Tuesday: cut the Pumpkin Pie Bites (keep them un-topped in the fridge).
- Wednesday: make the Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie, Cookie Butter Pie and Lemon Pie so they chill overnight.
- Thanksgiving morning: bake the Pecan Pie and Apple Pie in the air fryer.
- While the turkey rests: bake hand pies or cherry tarts in 4 to 7 minutes, then top chilled pies with whipped cream.
A few tips that apply to every pie:
- Use a pie dish or tin that fits your air fryer basket with room for air to circulate.
- Cover crust edges with foil if they brown before the filling sets.
- Air fryers vary, so check a few minutes before the shortest time.
- Plan on about one full pie for every 8 guests.
Thanksgiving pie FAQ
Can you bake a pie in an air fryer?
Yes. Use an oven-safe pie tin or dish that fits your basket. Air fryer pies bake faster than oven pies, often in 5 to 25 minutes, and they free up your oven on Thanksgiving.
How far ahead can I make Thanksgiving pies?
Pumpkin, cookie butter and lemon pies can be made the day before and chilled overnight. Pumpkin pie bites can be cut up to 2 days ahead. Hand pies and tarts are best baked the same day.
How long does pumpkin pie need to chill?
The Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie needs at least 4 hours in the fridge, and the air fryer version needs about 2 hours. Overnight is even better.
What’s the easiest Thanksgiving pie?
Pumpkin Pie Bites and Cherry Tarts each need just two ingredients. The bites need no baking at all.
How many pies do I need for Thanksgiving?
Plan on about one full pie for every 8 guests. Adding a handheld option like hand pies or tarts gives everyone a little of everything.
Your Thanksgiving pie table, sorted
With these 10 easy Thanksgiving pie recipes, you can cover pumpkin, pecan and apple, plus a few surprises, without ever fighting the turkey for oven space. Pick one classic, one handheld and one no-bake pie, and your dessert table is done.
Which pie is going on your table this year? Tell us in the comments, and pin this post so it’s ready when the planning starts.
