Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday — mainly because there are no gifts involved! It’s also not nearly as consumer-driving as Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas.
Plus, I LOVE making all sorts of delicious fall foods, desserts, and other Thanksgiving favorites this time of year.
The only thing I don’t love about our large holiday gathering is the last-minute rush to prepare the food at the exact right time while everyone is waiting and watching!
As a result, I’ve nearly perfected the art of making ALL my favorite Thanksgiving recipes in advance!
Yup, you read that right!
I’m to the point where I almost don’t do any cooking on the actual holiday — just re-warming the food.
And I promise, it still tastes amazing!
A Few Benefits of Make-Ahead Recipes:
- Less stress — the bulk of the food is ready before the holiday.
- Less mess — you can have it all cleaned up before guests arrive.
- There’s time to run back to the store if you forget something.
- You don’t have to wake up at 4 am on Thanksgiving to get the turkey started.
- You can actually go to church on Thanksgivng.
- You can use the bones from the turkey to make extra broth ahead of time — which you can then use for gravy, stuffing, and to reheat the turkey meat.
The only downside (from my perspective) is that you won’t get that nice Norman Rockwell moment with your family eagerly waiting while you place the giant turkey on your table.
Just buy the puzzle to do after your meal, and call it good! 😂
Have I convinced you yet?
Ok then, let’s dive into some of my favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes, and how you can easily make them ALL ahead of time!
How to Make Your Turkey Ahead
Yes, it’s fully possible to make your turkey several days in advance and still serve tender, juicy meat at your holiday meal.
I’ve been doing it this way for YEARS and no one has complained yet!
I’ve also heard from hundreds of you over the years — that you now also make your turkeys in advance. So this method works for more than just me. 🥰
Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below to make your turkey anywhere from 1 to 7 days before your meal. I also wrote an entire post about this method a few years ago.
STEP 1 = Season your turkey as desired (I use garlic, salt, pepper, onion, thyme) and place BREAST DOWN in an oven-safe “turkey bag”.
STEP 2 = Roast turkey according to directions on oven bags (based on the weight of the turkey). Allow turkey to rest in the juices until it’s cool enought to handle.
STEP 3 = Remove meat from the bones and refrigerate in a large food storage container.
I usually try to cut large chunks of meat, and I keep the bones in the legs so someone can eat those! I also separate white and dark meat so people can choose their preference.
STEP 4 = Make bone broth with remaining bones. You can then use this broth for gravy, stuffing, and when you reheat the turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
Just put the bones in your largest slow cooker, fill it with water, and cook on low for 24 hours.
STEP 5 = Reheat turkey meat in slow cookers or large roasting pan, covered in broth.
I use 2 slow cookers — one for dark meat, one for white meat. I cover the meat with bone broth and turn the slow cooker on low, starting about 4 hours before we’re going to eat.
If you want to do it in the oven, you’ll probably only need 1 hour at 250ºF — but make sure you pour broth in the pan and cover with a lid or tinfoil so the broth doesn’t evaporate.
It won’t look as pretty as a nicely dressed bird, but it will taste amazing and you’ll save yourself so much stress and mess!
Make-Ahead Hot Side Dishes
Every recipe below can be made 1-4 days in advance, covered, and refrigerated until your Thanksgiving Meal.
Simply preheat your oven to 350ºF and throw everything into the oven at the same time (about 45 -60 minutes). Or cook in a slow cooker on low for 4 hours.
Make sure your food is covered if you’re reheating it in the oven.
- Sausage Stuffing
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
- Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Carrots
- Easy Vegetable Bake
- How to Make and Reheat Roasted Vegetables
- Gravy — just make your gravy (with broth) in advance and reheat it in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
Make-Ahead Cold Side Dishes
- Easy Layered Lettuce Salad
- Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad
- Loaded Kale Salad
- Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce :: You can freeze this weeks in advance.
- Finger Jello :: always a winner with kids!
Make-Ahead Breads and Rolls
I’ve had good luck warming up homamde bread and rolls that I make the night before.
However, if you’re using pre-packaged refigerated dough (like for the pull-apart biscuits below), you’ll probably want to do that right before your meal.
- Semi-Homemade Cornbread
- From Scratch Cornbread
- 100% Whole Grain Dinner Rolls
- Semi-Homemade Bread / Rolls
- Pull-Apart Herb Biscuits — these are best to make just before the meal
Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts
Almost any “cold” pie or dessert can easily be made the day before and refigerated until after your meal — in fact, they often taste BETTER when allowed to sit overnight.
NOTE: If you prefer warm fruit pies, just place them on cookie sheets and pop them into a 250º oven for roughly 20 minutes.
These are some of our favorite cold pies and desserts.
- Pumpkin Pie Delight Dessert :: It’s just as delicious as your favorite pumpkin pie, but feeds twice as many people!
- Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie :: A cross between cheesecake and pumpkin pie.
- Double-High Pumpkin Pie :: Another amazing twist on a classic pumpkin pie.
- No-Bake Fruit Pies :: Tweak this recipe for raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, or peach.
- No-Bake Pudding Pie :: This is always a hit with the kids!
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie :: Another great make-ahead option.
- Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie :: A long-time favorite for me.
- Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars :: These are amazing!
- Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Bread :: Try it with applesauce instead of oil.
- Pecan Lemon Bars :: These freeze great too.
- 4-Layer Caramel Peanut Butter Fudge :: I only make this for the holidays!
- Simple Spiced Molasses Cookies :: So much flavor in this holiday treat.
A Sample Make-Ahead Timeline:
Here’s an idea of what I do on each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day.
SATURDAY
- Defrost the turkey
- Make applesauce (refrigerate until Thursday)
- Make a variety of bars and cookies (freeze until Thursday morning)
- Clean out my fridge
- Gather/print all my recipes
- Shop my pantry/freezer and make a list of everything else I need to buy for the meal
MONDAY
- Buy all groceries (including drinks and paper products, if necessary)
- Refrigerate drinks
TUESDAY
- Make the turkey (refrigerate until Thursday morning)
- Start the bone broth in slow cooker
- Make sweet potaotes and mashed potatoes (refrigerate until Thursday morning)
- Make stuffing and carrots (refrigerate until Thursday morning)
WEDNESDAY
- Make lettuce or brussels sprout salad (refrigerate)
- Make pumpkin pie and pudding pie (refrigerate)
- Make dough for rolls (refrigerate)
THURSDAY
- Remove cookies and bars from freezer to defrost on counter
- Remove bread dough from fridge and form into rolls, let rise
- Put turkey in large slow cookers with broth and start warming on low (4 hours)
- Bake rolls (15 minutes)
- Reheat potatoes, sweet potatoes and veggies (45 -60 minutes)
- Set up buffet with cold food and add hot food as guests arrive
- Enjoy your meal + dessert without all the stress and extra mess!
FRIDAY
- Choose some of these ideas to use up all your leftovers!
MORE Tips for Simple Holiday Gatherings
Along with making all my food in advance, here are a few additional tips and tricks I use to simplify my holiday gatherings.
- Start cleaning out your fridge now so you’ll have room for all the extra food.
- Stick to traditional holiday foods — don’t try to make something “new” or different.
- Stock up on paper products and aluminum pans to make cleanup much easier.
- Have extra containers on hand to send food home with guests.
- Double or triple line your trash cans so you don’t need to mess with putting a new bag in.
- Set up your food in a buffet style to lessen the number of serving dishes you need and to speed up the serving process.
- Clean the bathrooms before people arrive… clean the rest of the house after they leave!
A Few Thanksgiving Fun Facts:
The first thanksgiving was in the Fall of 1621 and included roughly 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. It was said to have lasted 3 full days. Apparently only 5 women were present as many of them were unable to survive the difficult first year.
There was no turkey on the first Thanksgiving — it was most likely venison, ducks, oysters, lobsters, eel, and fish. They most likely DID eat pumpkins — but not as pie.
Thanksgiving became a national US holiday in 1863, thanks to Sarah Josepha Hale (writer of the classic song, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”) who apparently convinced President Lincoln after 17 years of faithfully writing letters campaigning for this to happen.
Thanksgiving is said to be the reason for the introduction of TV dinners in the 1950s. Apparently Swanson had more than 260 tons of extra turkey in 1953, and a salesman suggested that they should package it into aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes.
The whole “watch football on Thanksgiving Day” tradition started in the 1920’s when the NFL started their Thanksgiving Classic games. Since then, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted games on Thanksgiving Day.
NOTE: These “fun facts” are from our local Library — I don’t have an exact source. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving Week!
In case you’re wondering, I won’t be out shopping on Black Friday 🙂
Chris says
I hope you and Dave and all the kiddos have a GREAT Thanksgiving break! God bless you!
Debbie says
I forgot to add that the fun facts about Thanksgiving is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing. Since I was born in the Philippines we didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving until we moved to the US. Christmas is the biggest holiday we celebrate there, but is sure has become consumer driven for sure. The fun facts about Thanksgiving is good to know.
Andrea says
Thanks Debbie — I also enjoyed the Fun Facts π
Debbie says
I like how you like Thanksgiving holiday most based on the reason you gave. I do like Christmas most but not as much as I get older because of the consumerism. I really have to try that caramel apple pie cheesecake bars. It looks super yummy. I was thinking of buying cheesecake from Costco for Christmas and making candied pecans to put on top and drizzle it with caramel sauce. The cheesecake bars will be fun to make. Make ahead recipes are the way to go.
Donna Marie says
You seem to have it all together!!! Glad you and yours can enjoy such a wonderful holiday!!! Blessings to you and yours.
Andrea says
haha — well when it comes to planning food in advance, I try to “have it all together”. Other parts of my life might not fall so neatly into place, but I like to have my act together when it comes to food π
Sylvia Nelson says
I would like to try roasting my turkey the day before Thanksgiving. You mention to put it with the juices into the crockpot. I like to use the juices for the gravy. So, what should I put in the crockpot with my turkey? Thanks!
Andrea says
HI Sylvia! I also use the juices to make gravy, but then I make bone broth from the bone after I take the meat off the bone and use that for the slow cooker. You could also just add water or store-bought broth.
Summer says
Thanks for ideas! I love how simple your recipes are and how common the ingredients, that I literally just go to my pantry.
Annnnnd you need to update your “Meet the Dekker’s” to a photo with the newest baby! As I am scrolling back and forth in your posts and there is a new baby missing! lol
Blessings to your and yours this wonderful season! Enjoy!
Andrea says
I know — I was just thinking about the fact that I never updated that page after Clara was born — maybe I’ll get to it over the holiday weekend (maybe!)
Luba @ Healthy with Luba says
Andrea, just reading this article made me hungry. I won’t be out shopping Friday either. π
Gabriela says
Those pretzel turkeys are so cuteβ¦ π
Courtney Barnes says
I already made your Pumpkin Pie Delight Dessert this year! I’ve made it a few times and it always comes out awesome! My husband isn’t a big fan of pumpkin pie, but he certainly loved this! I highly recommend this!
I’ve also made your Bumbleberry Pie which is fantastic!
Come to think of it, I haven’t made any of your recipes that I didn’t love! Thanks for all the great recipes!
Mara Beard says
Oh my gosh the pretzel turkeys are ADORABLE!! Thanks so sharing, have a great day!
Andrea says
Thanks — they were trickier to make than I thought, but everyone thought they were SO CUTE (and they taste amazing!) They are the perfect combo of salty and sweet!
Kate says
I’m wondering if anyone reading this has a recipe for a sweet potato side where you don’t have to peel the sweet potatoes first? I absolutely hate that task! I’ve made sweet potatoes in my crockpot with the skin on (they are really good that way, just add a little butter and brown sugar) but I need something fancier for Thanksgiving!
Andrea says
Hi kate,
I’ve honestly never made sweet potatoes without peeling them first — I might have to try your slow cooker method though!
That said, I posted your question to my Facebook page to see if anyone has an answer π You can follow along with any answers here.
Oh, and if your kids are old enough, you could make them peel!!
Kate says
Thanks for posting to Facebook! I am following the comments! And yes, the crockpot method is so easy. You just scrub the sweet potatoes and leave them a little wet (they need the moisture to cook). Cook on high for 4 hours. That’s it!
Andrea says
Thanks for the recipe π
Joy says
These are wonderful tips! I have enjoyed your blog and recipes for years. The idea of roasting the turkey the day before is very helpful. How long do you need to warm it up the next day.
Andrea says
Thanks Joy!
As for warming the turkey up — you’ll want to save the juices from the roasting pan (and maybe add a little more broth/water, depending on how much turkey and juice you have). I cut all the turkey off the bones and put it in the slowcooker with the juices and then put it in the fridge.
Since everything is very cold, it usually takes at least an hour on high, and then a few hours on low — but again, this just depends on the size of your slow cooker and how much turkey you have to reheat. You’ll need a large slow cooker or a few smaller ones!
Myka says
Yummy! Pumpkin pie dessert! This article was just what I needed, thanks Andrea!
Myka
http://www.supersimpleways.com
Henriette says
I tried your approach to fixing the turkey this year, and it was great! The reheating in crock pot with broth just made it so moist. Love the sausage apple stuffing. When I got up on Thursday, all I had to do was reheat the already prepared dishes and shape/bake my rolls. Sooooo much more relaxing for the cook! Thank you for the inspiration.
Andrea says
yay — thanks so much for sharing, Henriette!
I’m thrilled your Thanksgiving Day was more relaxing and less stressful. Your food sounds delicious (and I love the sausage/apple stuffing too)