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Thanksgiving is, as far as I know, the only national holiday centered entirely around food, so to say the expectations are high is an understatement. The sheer quantity of food is intimidating, especially for a first-timer. I’ve been hosting for the past six years, and at first it was difficult to know how to plan. That’s why I’m sharing several Thanksgiving make-ahead recipes to help you be less stressed and more chilled before the BIG day.
What Can You Make Ahead for Thanksgiving?
A lot! I always spread my prep out over several days, making just one or two things a day for three or four days. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I’m less overwhelmed and more prepared.
This make ahead Thanksgiving schedule shows you what to do and when. Pick what works for your menu, skip what doesn’t, and let other things pick up the slack, like your Crockpot!
A Note from Me
I’m sharing some great recipes found here or from our sister site, Easty Healthy Recipes, but this mini-guide is based on my eBook, The Complete and Total Guide to Thanksgiving.
Inside are all my planning tips, a full menu with new recipes, a master shopping list, equipment suggestions, and a detailed timeline. And guess what? This eBook is free with a 40 Aprons Premium membership. Plus, you’ll have access to meal plans, exclusive recipes, my entire eBook library, and an ad-free browsing experience!
Your Stress-Free Thanksgiving Prep Schedule
| When | Pick 1 or 2 to Make | Quick Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks before | Pie crust, dinner rolls, or turkey stock for the freezer | Plan your menu, buy nonperishables, and check your serving dishes |
| 1 week before | Nothing yet | Buy your turkey and plan your table |
| 5 days before (Friday or Saturday before) | Nothing yet | Move your frozen turkey to the fridge (see the timing guide below) |
| 4 days before (Sunday) | A casserole or two | Buy perishables and pick up any store-bought frozen desserts |
| 3 days before (Monday) | Cranberry sauce | Set up your table decor |
| 2 days before (Tuesday) | Mashed potato and a sweet potato side | Start the brine that night |
| 1 day before (Wednesday) | Gravy and a creamy dip | Rinse and dry the turkey, chop stuffing vegetables, and move frozen items to the fridge |
| Thanksgiving Day | Turkey, stuffing, pie, and green bean casserole | Thaw frozen rolls in the fridge, then warm your make-ahead sides |
When Should You Thaw Out Your Turkey?
| Turkey Size | When to Move to the Fridge |
|---|---|
| 12 pounds | Saturday evening (5 days before) |
| 14 pounds | Saturday evening (5 days before) |
| 16 pounds | Friday evening (6 days before) |
2 Weeks Before – Suggested Recipes
This is when you refine your menu, stock up on the pantry or nonperishable staples you need, and figure out your guest list.
You could tick these off your list:
- Instant Pot Turkey Stock – I also use a Crockpot (you can’t tear me away from my GreenLife), or follow the recipe and use an Instant Pot.
- Make Ahead Parker House Rolls – These are pillowy, buttery, and soft, and easy to freeze and unthaw on the big day (just bake as directed).
- Pie crust – Yes, for the classic pumpkin pie, a make ahead crust is the smart way to go, because you can freeze it and take it out and prepare your filling the day before. Try our Keto Pie Crust or this Vegan Pie Crust.
1 Week Before – Suggested Table Decor
Time to buy your turkey, and the best method is to plan on about 1 pound per person for the whole turkey, ¾ pound for a bone-in breast, or ½ pound for a boneless breast. If you want leftovers, a 12-to-14 pound turkey is a sound choice. If you get a frozen turkey, check the thawing times above to know when to move it to the fridge.
If you want even information on choosing a turkey, read my post: How Much Turkey Per Person.
The second thing you can do is figure out your table decor. My table looks pretty much the same every year because the vibe is rustic, elegant, and super easy.
a) I lay down butcher paper. Roll it down the table, then write where everyone is sitting. Guests can also write what they’re thankful for—it’s really cute!
b) I then add gold taper candlesticks. Drape greenery loosely around the holders; it’s super simple but looks so nice.
c) Tuck in winter fruit. I use mostly pomegranates and small red Bartlett pears. Cut the pomegranates into halves or quarters and rinse them so there’s no juice, then just throw it all in there.
I’m absolutely in love with the Quince table linens, gorgeous smelling candles, and their serverware! They offer simple, yet classy items that aren’t overly expensive.
5 Days Before – Turkey Thawing Tips
Once you’re ready to move your frozen turkey to the fridge, keep these points in mind:
- Put it on a rimmed pan. Don’t unwrap the turkey; set it on a rimmed baking sheet or in a roasting pan. This catches any liquid or drips.
- Check the turkey before your brine. Reach into the cavity to feel for ice, then remove the giblets and neck. If it’s still icy, run cold water through the cavity until the ice is gone.
- If it’s still frozen, don’t panic. This has happened to me, so I submerge the turkey in its leakproof wrapper in cold water. Allow about 30 minutes per pound and change the water every 30 minutes. Skip the brine in this case, and cook right away.
4 Days Before – Suggested Recipes
You’re getting closer, so use this day to buy all the perishable items on your list, and any frozen desserts you don’t want to make from scratch. Some delicious ideas are sorbet, seasonal ice cream (pumpkin, maple, oh yum), or a chocolate mousse cake.
Every year, I buy a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake in the shape of a turkey.
Why, you might ask? My kids don’t care about pumpkin pie, except my daughter. They love it and enjoy not only the cute shape but that sweet, sweet taste.
As for what to make ahead, casseroles are perfect, because you can freeze them or prep them and finish cooking on the day:
- Creamed Onions – Hear me out on this one; you can peel the pearl onions up to 5 days ahead, and then finish making it 2 days before Thanksgiving. Refrigerate peeled onions in an airtight container until you’re ready to finish the recipe.
- Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole (Two Ways!) – A rich, creamy sweet potato base is topped with either mini marshmallows or a buttery, crunchy pecan streusel. And you can easily make these before; all the instructions are at the recipe link!
3 Days Before – Suggested Recipes
One make ahead dish I prepare at this time is cranberry sauce! Here are some delicious versions:
- Cranberry Sauce with Rosemary and Orange – A lovely take on the classic, fresh rosemary and tangy orange juice add a depth of flavor to the sweet and tart cranberry sauce. My family loves this one!
- Instant Pot Whole30 Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Rosemary – This one is so easy to make, tastes incredible, and doesn’t have added sugar. I love this one with green bean casserole.
- Jellied Cranberry Sauce – Sometimes you just want a classic, and this one delivers with its show-stopping shape.
In terms of more table decor ideas, some years I create a Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for my kids.
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Then︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏set︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏each︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏place︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏with︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏spotted︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏plates,︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏striped︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏napkins,︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏gold︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏silverware,︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏and︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏a︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏New︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏York style︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏coffee︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏cup.︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏Little︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏taxis︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏with︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏the︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏kids’︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏names︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏on︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏them︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏work︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏as︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏place︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏cards.︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏Tie︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏a︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏couple︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏of︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏crayons︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏together︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏with︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏twine︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏so︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏they︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏can︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏draw︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏right︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏on︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏the︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏paper,︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏then︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏scatter︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏some︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏confetti︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏around︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏the︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏skyline︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏for︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏a︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏parade︂ 󠆭͏͏͏͏͏͏͏feel.
My kids absolutely love it, and it’s SOOO cute!
2 Days Before – Suggested Recipes
I’m pretty sure potatoes and sweet potatoes are THE most popular sides in my house. I try to prepare a couple of these, so they’re ready to heat up and go on Thanksgiving Day:
- Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes – If you’ll have guests with a dairy intolerance, these are a must-make. These are rich and creamy thanks to a combo of coconut milk and plant-based butter.
- Whole30 Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs – A great paleo option, where you do less and let the IP handle the hard work. They’re rich, garlicky, and divine!
- Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole – One of our most popular recipes, this is a simple, slightly sweetened sweet potato mash topped with an absolutely delicious praline pecan topping that adds a wonderful layer of nutty crunch.
Brining Your Turkey
If you’ve never used this method before, brining means soaking your turkey in a salt solution, which creates a moist and flavorful bird. I’ve been brining my poultry for years, and it really elevates your store-bought turkey to a restaurant-quality feast!
If you need some tips and a brining recipe, check out these resources:
- How to Brine a Turkey – I take you step-by-step through the brining process.
- Quick Turkey Brine – If you’re really strapped for time, use this fast brine recipe to get the job done!
1 Day Before – Suggested Recipes
Once you’re done rinsing off your turkey and cutting some vegetables you’ll be using the next day, slip in a few more make ahead dishes.
- Make Ahead Turkey Gravy – I must admit, I don’t make my gravy ahead, but I know a lot of you do! The beauty of this recipe is you don’t need turkey drippings for this.
- Boursin Dip – Rich, savory Boursin cheese is turned into a perfectly creamy dip with just 3 simple ingredients!
- Cream Cheese Fruit Dip – This is truly irresistible, made up of a simple mix of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipping cream. Make this 24 hours in advance!
- Everything Bagel Dip – So easy, this is a creamy blend of sour cream, cream cheese, and mayo. It takes minutes to make and store it until you’re ready to serve.
For dips, I tend to like small crockpots like this one from Beautiful (Drew Barrymore line). They’re super cute, and you can use them for serving if you want to keep an appetizer warm.
Thanksgiving Day – Finishing Recipes
This is THE day!! With all that prep, you likely only have a few dishes to get ready:
- How to Cook a Turkey Perfectly – If you’re stumped on this part of the process, I’ll hold your hand through how to make the juiciest turkey ever.
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole – I’m all about a green bean casserole done in a slow cooker. I can set it, forget it, and warm up my other dishes.
- Easy Keto Pumpkin Pie or Vegan Pumpkin Pie – Use that pre-made crust and prepare the filling from one of these recipes. Honorable mention is cottage cheese pumpkin pie, which can be made a day ahead!
A few key kitchen tools I always recommend are a sturdy roasting pan, a fat separator for gravy or broth, and an in-oven probe thermometer. At this stage, you’ll need all three to create your delciious Thanksgiving dinner!
What to Wear on Thanksgiving
Since I’m always running around cooking, baking, or serving, I struggle to find comfortable but cute clothing.
But Quince never lets me down. I found a few dresses that caught my eye:
- Cotton Cashmere Ribbed Sleeveless Midi Dress – I read that this is soft but light and breathable, which is perfect for someone who stands over a hot element all the time!
- Tencel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress – I love this versatile, flowy wrap dress that can be styled casually or more formally. And the feel is soft and airy!
- Washable Stretch Silk Tiered Maxi Dress – With a cute smoked waistband and tiered, flowy shape, I can wear it all year round. As a busy mom, versatility in my clothing is a must!
Final Viral Idea – Popcorn Turkey
I made this DIY popcorn turkey and shared it on our socials last year. My kids couldn’t get enough and loved it, so I’m considering doing it again this year. Watch the reel here!
It’s easy to reproduce for your kids:
Step 1: Open a big brown paper grocery bag and fill it with popcorn.
Step 2: Hot-glue the opening of the bag and make folds to form the shape of the turkey’s body. The idea is that the bag will lie flat on a counter, almost like the shape of roasted turkey lying on a platter.
Step 3: Cut white strips of white construction paper to create the classic turkey-leg frill.
Step 4: Stuff two brown paper lunch bags with more popcorn and twist the ends. Hot-glue the turkey-leg frill around each leg.
Step 5: Then hot-glue each leg to the sides of the turkey’s body.
Step 6: Once everything is dried and set, use scissors to cut open the big brown grocery bag (the body) to reveal the popcorn.
Then, watch kids devour it with joy!
Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite holidays, so my wish is that this guide was helpful to your own planning!
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