Thanksgiving Prep Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday

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No matter how late in the month Thanksgiving falls, it always seems like there is never quite enough time to get everything ready.

Doing what you can ahead of time will save your sanity on the big day, making cooking all of those favorite dishes and hosting a crowd a breeze! These are the same things I do to ensure dinner for 15+ gets on the table while still being able to enjoy the day.

1. Get your recipes together

If you haven’t already pulled out the menu from your favorite cookbooks, clippings, and website printouts, now’s the time! You don’t want to be running around trying to find that card with Aunt Lucy’s famous corn casserole the night before.

Flag the cookbooks and collect any papers on a clipboard. I’ve seen some people tape theirs to the inside of a cabinet door—or the outside—so it’s at eye level for cooking.

2. Make your shopping list

Grab those recipes and write down everything you’ll need to make the dishes, including quantities.

From assisting at Whole Foods Market recipe photo shoots to organizing my recipe testing for Texas Co-Op Power and my own site, I know having a detailed list is crucial. I like to use the computer so I can easily add quantities, and then organize the list by where to find everything at the store.

I’ve linked my planner in the button below. It’s a simple spreadsheet that you can sort by area to make your shopping easier!

3. Make your list, part 2

For this list, you’re going to note everything you need that isn’t food. This includes things you may or may not already have on hand, from tracking down Grandma’s silver to grabbing a few extra drinking cups. For me, this meant finally buying a proper gravy boat last year, after years of using a liquid measuring cup.

Once you have your list you’ll be able to set those items aside, borrow them from friends, or make a plan to purchase.

4. Clean out the pantry, fridge, and freezer

If you’ve got expired ingredients or your dried herbs are dusty, ditch them. Make a goal to eat down your stash of food so there’s room for all of those holiday ingredients and casserole dishes.

If you’ve got a few hours to spare you can tackle this all at once, but I spread out the task and take care of a few things here and there while I’m waiting for the coffee to brew or dinner to finish cooking.

Many pantry staples are on sale right now for the season, so it’s a good time to restock even if you’re not hosting the holiday!

5. Clean the oven

Most of us don’t clean our ovens as often as we should! Make a plan to do it when you won’t need the oven for 24 hours.

I recommend cleaning by hand if you’re able. It’s not as simple as using the self-cleaning function, but you won’t run the risk of the oven breaking right before the biggest cooking day of the year.

6. Create a timeline for prep and cooking

I do this every year and it saves my sanity!

Work backwards from when you want to serve dinner, noting the time and temperature for cooking dishes, and whether you need the stove or oven. This will help you determine if you need to pull out the slow cooker for mashed potatoes or if you can bake the mac and cheese and stuffing at the same time.

Pies should be baked the day before, as they need time to cool and set. Fruit pies like apple cranberry pie can be stored at room temperature, while custard pies like pumpkin pie with graham cracker crust or sweet potato pie need to be refrigerated.

Here’s my actual timeline from 2023 for dinner served at 6pm:

7. Make what you can now

In my timeline above, I make a handful of things a few days before Thanksgiving. However, you could actually get started on some of it now!

Cranberry sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for about 10 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months! If you want to freeze it, let it cool, then transfer to a freezer bag to store flat, or use a silicone tray for cubes.

Pie crust can also be frozen. Choose your own adventure on whether you want to freeze the crusts unrolled, rolled flat, or shaped to a pie pan. Frozen pie crusts keep for about 3 months. Read more about freezing pie crust over at King Arthur Baking!

If you’re serving a cocktail at dinner, you can also make a rich simple syrup ahead of time. It’s quick and easy to make, and will keep in the refrigerator for months.

8. Make a plan for leftovers

It’s almost guaranteed that there will be leftovers at Thanksgiving, no matter how many dinner guests you have!

Whether you love to make turkey sandwiches or want to send your guests home with doggy bags, you’ll need to have plenty of storage options on hand. Ask guests to bring their own reusable containers, or grab disposable foil food containers from the dollar store.

Be sure to check out my post on repurposing Thanksgiving leftovers too!

With a little bit of planning now, you can make the daunting task of hosting Thanksgiving feel like a breeze. Happy eating!