Thanksgiving is so much easier when you’re not trying to cook everything at the same time. These make-ahead recipes let you get appetizers, sides, turkey, bread, and desserts ready before the big day. If you’re planning your menu, you might also want to save these easy make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes, Thanksgiving appetizers for a crowd, and Thanksgiving desserts everyone will love.
1. Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe by The Pioneer Woman
These extra-creamy mashed potatoes are exactly the kind of Thanksgiving side that makes planning ahead worthwhile. Made with butter, cream cheese, and half-and-half, they stay rich and fluffy and can be prepared ahead, refrigerated, and reheated in the oven before dinner.
2. Green Bean Casserole Recipe by Gimme Some Oven
This homemade green bean casserole skips canned soup and uses fresh green beans, mushrooms, a creamy Parmesan sauce, and a crispy onion-panko topping. It can be prepared ahead of time, making it a convenient way to keep this Thanksgiving classic on the menu without last-minute work.
3. Cranberry Sauce Recipe by Sally’s Baking Addiction
Homemade cranberry sauce is one of the easiest Thanksgiving dishes to finish before the holiday. This version combines fresh cranberries with orange juice, brown sugar, and vanilla for a sweet-tart sauce that can be refrigerated for several days before serving.
4. Sausage and Herb Stuffing Recipe by Once Upon a Chef
Savory sausage, herbs, onions, celery, and stuffing cubes come together in this comforting holiday stuffing. The use of store-bought stuffing cubes keeps preparation simple, and the dish can be assembled in advance so there is much less to handle on Thanksgiving Day.
5. Cornbread Stuffing Recipe by Love and Lemons
This golden cornbread stuffing is packed with fresh herbs and savory aromatics, giving Thanksgiving dinner a cozy Southern-inspired addition. It works especially well for planning ahead because the cornbread and other components can be prepared before the holiday and finished when needed.
6. Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe by Tastes Better From Scratch
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes are topped with a buttery brown sugar and pecan mixture in this classic Thanksgiving casserole. Better yet, the entire dish can be assembled one or two days ahead, refrigerated, and kept ready to bake when dinner gets closer.
7. Corn Casserole Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
Part cornbread, part creamy corn pudding, this casserole has a soft center and a beautifully golden top. It reheats especially well, which makes it an excellent Thanksgiving make-ahead option when you want a warm, comforting side without adding extra prep to the big day.
8. Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs Recipe by The Kitchn
These holiday deviled eggs get extra savory flavor from sage, shallots, and crispy bacon. You can boil and peel the eggs and prepare the filling and bacon a day ahead, then simply fill the egg whites shortly before guests arrive.
9. Make-Ahead Gravy Recipe by King Arthur Baking
This rich, savory gravy is perfect for getting ahead on Thanksgiving prep. It can be made up to five days before the holiday or frozen for longer storage, then gently reheated before dinner. Add a little turkey drippings at the end for even more flavor.
10. Garlic Herb Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe by RecipeTin Eats
This juicy turkey breast is cooked slowly with garlic and herb butter, keeping the meat tender while creating plenty of flavor for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s also ideal for prepping ahead, making it a practical main dish when you want less work on the holiday itself.
11. Brussels Sprout Casserole Recipe by Feel Good Foodie
This cozy casserole gives Brussels sprouts the creamy holiday treatment with a homemade Parmesan sauce and a bubbly cheese topping. The sprouts and creamy sauce can be prepared ahead separately, leaving just the final assembly and baking for Thanksgiving Day.
12. Mushroom Tartlets Recipe by Feel Good Foodie
Flaky puff pastry, caramelized onions, mushrooms, herbs, and melted cheese make these little tartlets an easy holiday appetizer. Prepare the mushroom filling up to a day ahead, refrigerate it, then assemble and bake the tartlets when you’re ready to serve.
13. Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe by Natasha’s Kitchen
Soft, fluffy homemade rolls always make a Thanksgiving table feel complete. These can be shaped and refrigerated for up to a day before baking, or frozen for even earlier preparation, so you can still serve warm homemade bread without starting the dough on Thanksgiving morning.
14. Pumpkin Pie Recipe by Preppy Kitchen
A classic pumpkin pie is practically made for preparing ahead. This version has a silky pumpkin filling flavored with warm fall spices inside a flaky crust. Bake it before Thanksgiving, chill it, and dessert is already taken care of when dinner begins.
15. Pecan Pie Recipe by Tastes Better From Scratch
This traditional pecan pie combines a rich caramel-like filling with plenty of pecans and a buttery pie crust. It can be completely baked one to three days before Thanksgiving and refrigerated, making dessert one less thing to worry about on the holiday.
16. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Recipe by Cookie and Kate
Smooth, cozy butternut squash soup makes a great starter when you want something seasonal but simple. Roasted squash, shallot, garlic, maple syrup, and nutmeg create plenty of flavor, and the soup actually works beautifully when made the day before and reheated.
17. Make-Ahead Creamy Mac and Cheese Casserole Recipe by The Kitchn
Creamy mac and cheese is always welcome on a holiday table, especially when you can assemble it early. This version uses sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and buttery cracker crumbs and can be completely assembled and refrigerated for up to two days before baking.
18. Baked Spinach Dip Recipe by Ahead of Thyme
Warm, cheesy spinach dip is an easy appetizer to have ready before guests arrive. This creamy version combines spinach with cream cheese, Parmesan, Asiago, garlic, and mozzarella, and the whole dish can be assembled a day ahead before being baked until hot and bubbly.
19. Garlic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes and Carrots Recipe by The Recipe Rebel
Tender sliced potatoes and carrots are baked in a creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce for a comforting Thanksgiving side with plenty of flavor. The entire casserole can be assembled and refrigerated for up to three days, then baked when you’re ready to serve dinner.
20. Apple Crisp Recipe by Spend With Pennies
Cinnamon-spiced apples and a buttery brown sugar oat topping make this apple crisp an easy alternative to pie. You can assemble it up to two days before Thanksgiving and keep it refrigerated, then bake it when you’re ready for a warm holiday dessert.
21. Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Salad Recipe by Half Baked Harvest
A fresh salad helps balance all those rich Thanksgiving favorites. This one combines greens, dried cranberries, maple-spiced walnuts, Manchego cheese, and a maple vinaigrette for plenty of fall flavor, while the components can be prepared ahead to simplify serving.
A little prep before Thanksgiving can completely change how the day feels. With appetizers, sides, gravy, turkey, rolls, and desserts already waiting in the fridge or freezer, you can spend less time juggling dishes in the kitchen and more time actually enjoying Thanksgiving.
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