If you are looking to spend less time in the kitchen this Thanksgiving holiday and more time with family, check out these easy make ahead Thanksgiving recipes. You’ll find some great side dishes to prep in advance plus make-ahead appetizers and delicious dessert ideas that can be prepped and frozen before the big day! Thanksgiving is made for spending quality time with family, and it can be overwhelming when the big day falls on your shoulders. But when you make appetizers, sides, and desserts ahead of time, you can focus on creating memories instead cooking all day!
Why You Should Make Your Thanksgiving Recipes Ahead of Time
Free your time. Cherish every moment of Thanksgiving when you plan ahead and block out your time the week of to bust out as many dishes before the holiday dinner. Open up the oven for more recipes. When you make various recipes ahead of time, it will allow you all the space you need to focus on roasting your turkey and baking up dishes that need to be made fresh. Have appetizers early. Do most of the prep for finger foods a day or two before so you can have them on display for your guest to snack on throughout the day. Cut and chop veggies, make dips, slice cheeses, and prepare recipes to be baked first before serving. Have a stress-free dinner. When you make recipes ahead of time for Thanksgiving dinner, you allow yourself to relax, focus on dishes that are best made fresh, and eliminate the need to spend every moment in the kitchen. You’ll be rewarded with quality time with loved ones and delicious recipes for all to enjoy.
Tips to Make Thanksgiving Dinner
Plan ahead. The key to stress-free time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving is all in the planning. Choose from a mix of make-ahead and cook-on-the-day dishes and work out your timings for the day, so that you know what you are putting in the oven and when. Choose a good mix of dishes. Aside from your main Thanksgiving turkey or turkey breast, choose a good selection of vegetable dishes, potato dishes, and sauces like gravy and cranberry sauce to keep everyone happy! Ask people about their dietary requirements. If you are hosting friends and family you may not see all the time, be sure to check in with them if they have any dietary needs so that they aren’t left without! Ask people to bring food! If you are hosting a large Thanksgiving, take some of the pressure off by asking your guests to make some dishes for you that you can quickly heat up to serve! Make the most out of your kitchen appliances. It can be tough to juggle lots of dishes in the oven, so make the most of your air fryer, slow cooker, and Instant Pot to cook and reheat dishes so that you can free up the oven.
What Should Not be Made Ahead of Time?
There are plenty of recipes to make ahead of time, but it’s a good idea to leave some for the day of Thanksgiving dinner. Some recipes are better made fresh because of the dish’s consistency and ability to retain the tastiest texture, and flavors can diminish when made early. Some recipes, from the turkey to the stuffing and other side dishes, will taste better cooked before serving, but you can still prep for them!
The turkey. You really want the awe-factor of serving a freshly cooked turkey on the big day! It is also one of those recipes that taste better fresh and will likely be dry and tough if made beforehand. This works for both the whole turkey bird or a certain cut like dry brined turkey breast. Recipes that should be crispy. If you are frying sides or appetizers, you’ll want to make them the day of dinner to get those crispy, toasty textures. Cut and chop ahead to allow yourself a quick assembly of recipes for cooking that day. Anything that wilts. Most salads should be made right before serving to ensure they are fresh and crisp. Some fall salads have heartier greens like kale and Brussel sprouts that work well as make ahead Thanksgiving sides. Stuffing or dressing. This is one of those recipes that just taste better fresh. Especially stuffing, as it is meant to be baked with the turkey. For the best texture, you should prepare this one the day of but definitely cut any veggies beforehand! Check out mushroom stuffing or go with a classic Thanksgiving stuffing. Gravy made from drippings. Because we’re cooking the turkey on the day of Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll have to wait to make the gravy from drippings. Luckily it’s one of the easier recipes to make and comes together quickly. Looking for a vegan gravy this year? You will love my mushroom gravy!
Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
Planning for Thanksgiving can be overwhelming, so let these easy, make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes help you get ready in no time. And if you’re really pressed for time, don’t forget to check out my make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes to freeze.
Simple Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
You know I’m all about simple yet delicious and healthy food so it’s only fitting that we include a few of the most simple (but tasty!) make ahead Thanksgiving dishes in our menu. After all, simple doesn’t have to compromise on flavor.
Make Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers
Making any recipe ahead of time for a holiday feast such as Thanksgiving is ideal. My number one course to prepare would have to be the appetizers. It frees up so much time on the big day to focus on the main course and sides.
Make Ahead Thanksgiving Sides with Potatoes
There are so many potato and sweet potato recipe ideas to make ahead of time for Thanksgiving dinner. Mashed, roasted, sweet & savory galore! Choose some of these potato recipes to prep or make beforehand to have a quick and easy day of cooking when the time comes. Most of these can be placed in a warm oven to reheat, and others prepped for roasting the day of.
Make Ahead Vegetable Side Dishes
One of the most time-consuming aspects of preparing for Thanksgiving dinner is prepping. Vegetables can be trimmed, peeled, sliced, and diced all days ahead of time. Just make sure to store them correctly, and on the day of Thanksgiving dinner, assemble your recipes with ease. These make ahead Thanksgiving sides will perfectly balance out the rest of your menu.
Make Ahead Freezer-Friendly Options
One way to ready yourself for Thanksgiving Day is to use the weeks ahead of time to make some freezer-friendly dishes. There are numerous make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes to freeze ahead of time that promise to relieve some of the stress from your holiday. Check out my Freezer Guide to find more freezer-friendly recipes.
Make ahead special instructions: Wash and dry the kale very well and store it in an airtight container lined with paper towel. You can make the candied walnuts up to a week ahead of time. Whisk the salad dressing and store in the fridge for up to 1 month. Day of instructions: Assemble the salad according to recipe instructions and top with the toppings.
Make ahead special instructions: Make according to recipe instructions. Once completely cooled, wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container. They can be made up to 3 months ahead of time if stored in the freezer. Day of instructions: When you are ready to serve them, just thaw them at room temperature or pop them in the microwave for quick thawing.
Make Ahead Pies and Cakes
You can prepare almost all Thanksgiving dessert dishes a day or two in advance, choosing a day to focus on just them. In my opinion, classic pies like pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies taste better after they’ve had time to set, allowing the flavors to meld together. Check out these easy make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes to round off your holiday!
Other Make Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts
If you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth that goes beyond traditional pies, cheesecakes, and cakes, you will love these simple make ahead Thanksgiving recipes. Whether you are looking for individual serving size desserts or something unique but fitting for turkey day, you’ll find it here.
How to Keep Food Warm on Thanksgiving Day
Oven: As long as you’re not cooking anything in the oven, you can set it to 200°F and store dishes in there to keep them warm. Aluminum Foil: If your oven is not free, you can simply use aluminum foil, which has reflective properties that protect the food from light and oxygen. The foil reflects the thermal energy back to the food, which maintains moisture, flavor, and texture. Crock Pots and Instant Pots: Think of recipes that can be made in your Crock Pot or Instant Pot that will keep food warm during the party. You can even use them to keep food warm even if you don’t cook in them. Insulated coolers: You can use a cooler to keep food hot as well as cold. The insulation technology that keeps out the heat to maintain cold foods also works to trap heat in and keep food hot for hours at a time. You can even line the cooler with aluminum foil for even better results. Chafing buffet set: You can use disposable chafing dishes to keep everything warm. Set up a table to display all the hot dishes for easy access and maintain temperature throughout your meal.
I hope these easy make ahead Thanksgiving recipes will help you plan your menu a little easier. It’s such a busy day in the kitchen; we can all use a little help to make the day less stressful and more enjoyable. By preparing some of these dishes ahead of time, we can enjoy a smooth and delicious Thanksgiving day. I’d love to hear from you if you’ve made any of these simple make ahead Thanksgiving recipes – leave me a comment below and tell us how it worked out for you! I would love to hear about your experience making it or what you are planning for your Thanksgiving menu. Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes. For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes, Easy Christmas Morning Breakfasts, Healthy Appetizers for the Holidays, Best Christmas Cookies, and Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.
