30 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes For The Perfectly Prepared Host
30 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes For The Perfectly Prepared Host
Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
Fried leeks give this classic green bean casserole the most elegant topping. Make the casserole the day before Thanksgiving then fry the leeks the day of.
Classic Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Classic Cornbread Dressing
For all the go-getters and holiday planners, this heavenly cornbread dressing can be prepared a month ahead of time and stored in the freezer until the holidays.
Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
This elegant hasselback technique has completely transformed the traditional sweet potato casserole. Make this dish the day before turkey day.
Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Toasted pecans, cheese, and breadcrumbs gives this Sweet Potato Casserole some extra savory nodes.
Savory Corn Pudding
Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding
This fluffy and creamy corn pudding has won over our hearts and will win over yours too! This dish can chill up to two days then be reheated for the big feast.
Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze
Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze
Impress your guests by serving this show-stopping dessert. For the organized host, make sure to craft this cake two days in advance so it can fulfill it's requited chill time.
Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls
Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls
Form these decadent treats the week of Thanksgiving and store them in your fridge until they’re ready to be served.
Corn Pudding Casserole
Recipe: Corn Pudding Casserole
We cut some corners with this cheesy corn pudding by substituting frozen corn for fresh corn and prepared this crowd-pleaser a day ahead of time.
Classic Cranberry Salad
Recipe: Classic Cranberry Salad
This fruity dish requires a 24-hour chill time, so you’ll have an excuse to make it ahead of time.
Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Recipe: Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
These buttermilk potatoes can be prepared ahead of time and reheat oh-so beautifully. We like to add a sliver of butter on top as the finishing touch.
Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines
Recipe: Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines
These sugary, rich treats are so heavenly and can be stored in an airtight tin for up to a week.
Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole
You can mix up this classic casserole dish up to 3 days in advance—just slide it in the oven and add toppings the day of.
Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Recipe: Cheesy Potato Casserole
This delicate and rich casserole is so creamy that you wouldn’t believe us if we told you we prepared this ahead of time.
Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
It’s true what they say, macaroni and cheese tastes even better the next day. Store this best-ever dish in the refrigerator the day before the feast then let it sit out for 30 minutes before sliding it in the oven.
Apple Stack Cake
Recipe: Apple Stack Cake
This award-worthy apple delight requires two to three days of chill time to form together and solidify.
Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Recipe: Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Create this irressistible cookie dough then roll it in sugar for an extra sweet touch. Stick it in the fridge for up to two days then bake.
Fruitcake Bark
Recipe: Fruitcake Bark
Holiday bark is the perfect make-ahead treat to set out on the dessert table.
Classic Candied Yams
Recipe: Classic Candied Yams
Candied Yams is a staple Thanksgiving dish and you can assemble it three days in advance.
Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
This easy and cheesy recipe is oh-so creamy and half of it can be made a day in advance.
Crème Br?lée Cheesecake
Recipe: Crème Br?lée Cheesecake
Let this tangy and sweet cheesecake chill overnight then add the final br?lée touch when dessert time comes around.
One Month Ahead: Simple Chicken Stock & Make-Ahead Gravy
This easy homemade chicken stock adds loads of fresh flavor to our Make-Ahead Gravy.
Recipe: Simple Chicken Stock
Make Ahead: Pour cooled gravy into quart-size zip-top plastic freezer bags; seal and lay bags flat on a baking sheet. Place in freezer. Once frozen, the bags are easily stackable. Thaw three to four days in the fridge before reheating on the stovetop.
Recipe: Make-Ahead Gravy
One-Month Ahead: Easy Butter Rolls
Make Ahead: After Step 3, shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place them on a baking sheet. Place baking sheet in freezer, and freeze completely. Transfer frozen balls to a large zip-top plastic bag. The day before baking, place three dough balls in each cup of a lightly greased muffin pan, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until ready to bake as directed. Serve with Herb Butter and Sorghum Butter.
Recipe: Easy Butter Rolls
Parsnip-Potato Soup
Recipe: Parsnip-Potato Soup
This creamy soup is so easy to freeze and reheats beautifully. Make sure to lay the soup down flat in the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator three to four days before using.
Holiday Spice Cake & Grandmother Carter's Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Holiday Spice Cake
This Holiday Spice Cake is a breeze to freeze, just stack them into the freezer. These cake layers can be used to create Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle.
Recipe: Grandmother Carter's Cornbread Dressing
Nothing is tastier than Grandmother's homemade cornbread dressing. What's the secret? Freezing the mixture then transferring it to the fridge five days beforehand so that it can thaw in time for the Thanksgiving feast.
Mashed Potatoes with Greens
Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Greens
Mashed potatoes sure require a little bit of elbow grease to assemble, but with this make-ahead recipe, guests won't even know you broke a sweat to create this fluffy dish.
Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle
Recipe: Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle
Take out the Holiday Spice Cake layers to thaw then use it to create this one-of-a-kind holiday trifle.
Roasted Vegetable Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Oven space can be limited on Thanksgiving day, so roast these vegetables beforehand and serve them in the fridge until they're ready to serve.
Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù
Recipe: Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù
Forget the pies this Thanksgiving, make-ahead Tiramisu is the smarter way to go.
Dry-Brined-and-Marinated Smoked Turkey
Recipe: Dry-Brined-and-Marinated Smoked Turkey
It's possible to prepare the main dish ahead of time with this smoked turkey recipe.
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
Wake up on Thanksgiving morning and put this sweet potato mixture into your slow cooker. It'll be ready to serve by dinnertime.
For all the go-getters and holiday planners, these make-ahead recipes make Thanksgiving dinner a breeze. Oh, the Thanksgiving paradox: a house filled with loved ones who have traveled from near and far to see you, yet your quality time is spent with the stove. You try to seem a calm, cheery hostess, but in truth, you're frazzled. Your mind races with forgotten ingredients, you overmix the mashed potatoes, and the gravy burns. We're here to break the cycle. This year, we've designed every dish on our menu to be made ahead so all you have to do on the big day; is reheat and assemble. We have all the classic dishes like Old School Green Bean Casserole and Candied Sweet Potatoes on deck for easy to prepare beforehand dishes. Don’t worry we didn’t forget about the grand finale aka dessert--we’ve got an all-star lineup of seasonal treats. Revel in good company and delicious dishes this holiday season. A festive, fuss-free Thanksgiving? Now that's something to be thankful for.