Freeze Your Feast: The Ultimate Make-Ahead Thanksgiving
Recipes for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
This year, Food Network Kitchen took on a major Thanksgiving challenge: Is it possible to make the entire feast ahead? They tested, tweaked and retested to come up with a full Thanksgiving menu that freezes beautifully, which means you can say goodbye to that typically chaotic week before the feast. With these recipes in your arsenal, the whole meal will be sitting pretty in the freezer, ready for the big day.
Make-Ahead Roasted Turkey Breast
Get the recipe here. Timing your turkey can be the most nerve-racking part of your holiday dinner, so stress less and make it 100 percent ahead! Brining the breast makes it extra moist and flavorful. Roast and freeze it, then simply thaw, slice and reheat with an herbed butter. Keep the wishbone and use it to hope for something really fun (you’ve got the relaxed-dinner thing covered).
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Get the recipe here. If you’re trying to get ahead of the holidays, you can check gravy off your day-of to-do list. This simple gravy is made with turkey stock (if you happen to have it) or chicken broth, and enriched with a roasted turkey wing, leg or neck. For chicken gravy, you can use leftover wings or bones from a roasted chicken.
Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole
Get the recipe here. Dedicate just a little bit of your freezer space to this crowd-pleasing casserole and save yourself some time during the hectic days right before Thanksgiving. Make the green bean-and-mushroom favorite (no canned soup required), then freeze and forget it. To serve, just reheat (from frozen) and top with crunchy fried onions.
Make-Ahead Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Get the recipe here. Is your holiday dinner to-do list too long? Save time by making this easy sweet-potato dish about 98 percent of the way and then freezing it. The potatoes are roasted and then pureed in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Reheat on the big day, and add the tiny finishing touch of a sprinkle of chopped pecans and scallions.
Make-Ahead Sausage Stuffing
Get the recipe here. Stress less at the holidays by getting your stuffing halfway done before T-Day. Simply prepare the bread cubes, sausage and vegetables, then stop and freeze. Finish and bake it on the big day. Once you have the prep in the bag, the rest is easy.
Make-Ahead Cranberry-Fig Chutney
Get the recipe here. Make this tangy-sweet chutney, then freeze it. Let it thaw the night before the feast, and microwave it quickly before serving, just to take the chill off. For an easy variation, use dried plums, dates or apricots instead of figs.
Make-Ahead Dinner Rolls
Get the recipe here. Surprise guests with freshly baked dinner rolls without resorting to a store-bought package. Just prepare the rolls and prebake them 75 percent of the way through, and then freeze them. Pop the rolls in the oven and brush them with butter right before serving.
Make-Ahead Deep-Dish Apple Pie
Get the recipe. Bake your holiday pie in advance (up to two weeks) this year, then freeze and forget it. Simply thaw it in the fridge overnight, then pop it in the oven right before serving to take the chill off. We use vodka in the pie dough, which doesn’t make the crust taste boozy, but does make it extra flaky and tender.
Make-Ahead Whipped Cream
Get the recipe. Sometimes it’s the little details that can make a meal. Fresh whipped cream is a must for holiday pies but is often forgotten amidst the chaos. If past experience tells you that you’ll surely forget to whip some up (even if it’s super easy), go ahead and make it in advance, then freeze and forget it. The corn syrup stabilizes the cream — no re-whipping required!
From Food Network Kitchen
Behold, an entire Thanksgiving feast that can be made ahead! Every dish in this menu freezes beautifully, from turkey to green bean casserole to pie.
More from Food Network:
The Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Make Thanksgiving Cupcakes Instead of Pie
Which Pumpkin Pie Should You Make for Thanksgiving?
Food Network Chefs’ Best Thanksgiving Appetizers