Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes: Easy Dishes To Prep Days Before

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, but if you’re in charge of the cooking, it can feel overwhelming very quickly. While I can’t guarantee serenity, having some of the dishes prepped or made in advance really can limit the stress (and the dishes!) on the holiday. Here are a variety of make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes to help you get started. Many of these can even be made weeks ahead of time!

While making the entire meal ahead of time is pretty difficult, preparing a few of these easy make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes will cut down on cooking time and free up oven and stovetop space on Thanksgiving Day. If you’re new to making recipes ahead, start with just one or two dishes and focus on the prep work that will make the biggest difference for you.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes by Course

The first step to a calmer Thanksgiving Day is to plan out your meal along with times for prep and cooking. The second step is to make some dishes ahead of time, so you aren’t caught up in cooking and serving a full meal all in one day.

Items like sauces, desserts, sides, and drinks can easily be made 1-2 days ahead of time. There are also many dishes that can be frozen until the day of, drastically cutting back on your stress and time.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers

Everyone always seems to arrive hungry on Thanksgiving, so having appetizers ready is practically a necessity to keep people fed (and out of the kitchen)! I think this is an ideal place to ask guests to bring something to share. Let them bring the cheese ball while you focus on the rest of the meal!

Brie Cranberry Toasts

Why save the cranberry sauce for the turkey? Brie cranberry toasts layer crostini, herbed butter, brie, and cranberry sauce for a little preview of Thanksgiving dinner! Cranberry sauce and the seasoned butter can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Remove cranberry sauce and butter from the refrigerator an hour before broiling toasts and layering with cheese.

Cornbread Crackers with Pumpkin Butter

Quintessential Thanksgiving flavors but in the appetizer course. Cornbread crackers with pumpkin butter will get everyone into the mood! Pumpkin butter can be made up to 5 days ahead of time and refrigerated in a sealed container.

Crackers can be made the day before Thanksgiving, or you can freeze them until the day of to make further ahead of time. Another option is to make the dough ahead of time and freeze it, leaving the baking until the day before Thanksgiving.

Fall Charcuterie Board

Possibly the most beautiful board, a fall charcuterie board is a perfect start for Thanksgiving. Plate meats, cheese, and fruits on the platter earlier in the day. Cover it and refrigerate until guests arrive—something like this lidded cheese board is helpful! Then add crackers, nuts, and honey before serving.

Make Ahead Veggie Hors d’oeuvres

This recipe for make ahead veggie hors d’oeuvres is a great one! Grilled veggies are made 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. About an hour before serving, simply plate them with small forks. A Thanksgiving appetizer on the lighter side that won’t fill everyone up before the main meal.

Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli

This broccoli appetizer is the fall and winter version of a classic favorite with asparagus in spring. Lightly steamed broccoli is wrapped in prosciutto and broiled for a simple yet delicious appetizer for Thanksgiving.

Steam broccoli and prep with prosciutto the day before. Refrigerate covered (ideally in an oven-safe dish). Bring to room temp and broil for 3-4 minutes before serving. These could easily be broiled in a toaster oven or air fryer if your oven is already full!

Herb Cheese Crackers

A light appetizer, these herb cheese crackers are a great nibble for the table. These crackers require two rounds of baking, so you can easily do the first ahead of time and save the second bake for Thanksgiving or the day before.

Following directions through freezing the whole loaf of bread up to 2 months ahead of time! The morning of Thanksgiving, remove loaf from freezer, slice and bake for fresh crackers for the rest of the day.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes

You can get a list of 45 side dishes for Thanksgiving here, but here are some of our favorites as well as some make-ahead tips for the Thanksgiving dinner classics.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Tips

Did you know you can freeze mashed potatoes? Make your favorite recipe up to 1 week in advance. Let them cool completely and freeze in a sealed container.

The night before Thanksgiving, put the frozen mashed potatoes in the refrigerator to slowly thaw. Reheat in the microwave, in the oven, or on the stovetop. You’ll want to mix them periodically to get them heated through. If your potatoes are grainy, simply add some butter or cream and stir vigorously!

PRO TIP: Top it with this garlic butter (also easy to make ahead and refrigerate)!

Make Ahead Stuffing Prep

Save time on Thanksgiving by chopping the vegetables and preparing the bread cubes for your stuffing ahead of time. Freeze the vegetables and bread in separate containers. Transfer them to the refrigerator the day before Thanksgiving to thaw, so you can assemble your stuffing more quickly on the holiday.

Cinnamon Sugar Squash

Cinnamon sugar squash is my ultimate comfort food. Butternut squash topped with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. This is my preferred “sweet side dish” over candied yams!

There are two easy ways to make this recipe ahead of time.

Option 1: Roast squash halves until fork tender, then let it cool completely. Store the squash halves in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat in the microwave or bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes. Then add the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon according to the recipe instructions.

Option 2: Roast squash halves until fork tender, then let it cool completely. After roasting, scoop the squash flesh out of the skin and transfer it to a microwave- and oven-safe serving dish. I like to top it with the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon before chilling in this version. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

When ready to serve, let the dish come to room temperature. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through or bake, covered, at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.

Roasted Broccoli Salad with Grapes

This roasted broccoli salad is delicious warm or at room temp. Make the salad the day before Thanksgiving. Cover and refrigerate. Let the salad sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

Kale Farro Salad

Whole-grain farro (I like to use the 10-minute farro from Trader Joe’s) mixes with finely chopped kale, dried apricots, feta, and a light olive oil dressing. Kale farro salad can be made the day before. Serve it chilled or let it come to room temperature for about an hour before eating.

Wild Rice Pilaf

Wild rice is mixed with sweet potato and yellow onion for a lighter, seasonal side dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving. To make this wild rice pilaf, cook the wild rice ahead up to 3 days ahead of time.

On Thanksgiving Day, cook the sweet potatoes and onion on the stovetop and mix them with the prepared rice. You can do this up to 2 hours before serving. Keep the pilaf covered and reheat on the stovetop before serving, or transfer it to a slow cooker on low to keep it warm until dinner.

Kale Quinoa Salad

This kale quinoa salad is on my Thanksgiving table every year I host. Roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, kale, and quinoa come together with a light honey Dijon and lemon dressing.

Roast the squash, cook the quinoa, and make the dressing up to 3 days in advance. Then just mix with chopped kale and goat cheese!

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Breads

Breads are some of the easiest Thanksgiving recipes to make ahead and freeze, making this a great place to start if you’re new to preparing food in advance! Most breads can be baked weeks ahead of time and frozen until Thanksgiving. Simply remove them from the freezer on Thanksgiving morning and let them thaw at room temperature. Warm them in the oven or toast them just before serving for that fresh-out-of-the-oven experience!

Focaccia Rolls

These focaccia rolls will be a hit. Follow the recipe for everything spice focaccia rolls. Cool completely and freeze in a sealed container until Thanksgiving day. Feel free to swap out the everything seasoning topping for an herbed butter, sesame seeds, or just a sprinkle of sea salt.

Greek Cornbread

Greek cornbread with feta and honey is an unexpected but delectable combination. Make the cornbread according to the recipe up to a few weeks ahead of time. Cut the cornbread, let it cool completely, then freeze until the morning of Thanksgiving.

Let the cornbread thaw at room temperature and warm in the oven at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes. Top with feta, honey, thyme, and lemon zest. It can be served individually or you can place all the pieces on a single platter and add toppings for ease. Offer serving tongs to save some sticky fingers.

Sweet Potato Bread

One of my favorite recipes of all time, this sweet potato bread is a sweeter take for your meal side dish. Make the bread, cool completely, and slice it up to a few weeks ahead of time. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for a few weeks.

Remove from freezer the morning of Thanksgiving or from refrigerator up to an hour before serving. Serve at room temperature or butter and grill in a pan for the full treat!!

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts

Pies are the classic Thanksgiving dessert, but sometimes something unexpected is even more enjoyable! These make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts feature seasonal fall flavors and are easy to prepare in advance. From apple pear crisp to pumpkin cake, you can have dessert ready before Thanksgiving Day even begins.

Apple Pear Crisp

A classic fall dessert, apple pear crisp always hits the spot. This one can easily be made up to 3 days in advance. Once cooked, let it cool completely, cover, and refrigerate. Serve at room temperature or warm in a 350°F oven for 20–30 minutes.

It’s delicious on its own, with vanilla ice cream, and with homemade whipped cream (alcohol infusion optional)!

Pumpkin Cake

Once my mom introduced this pumpkin layer cake to our family, there was no going back. A yummy alternative to pumpkin pie, this dessert has two layers of moist, delicate pumpkin cake layered with fresh whipped cream and topped with a cinnamon glaze.

To make it ahead, bake the cake layers up to 3 weeks ahead of time. Let cool completely, wrap, and freeze. The day before Thanksgiving, transfer the cakes from the freezer to the refrigerator. On Thanksgiving, assemble the cake with the whipped cream and cinnamon glaze. Keep refrigerated until 30 minutes before serving.

Cranberry Biscotti

For a lighter dessert offering with coffee and tea, make cranberry biscotti. I always keep my biscotti in the freezer! They thaw in just minutes and are a nice sweet treat without being overwhelming.

Cardamom Cake

A seasonal cake without the fanfare, this cardamom cake is sweetened with honey and paired with a maple whipped cream. Make the cake weeks ahead of time and freeze it until Thanksgiving. Thaw before serving and top with freshly made maple whipped cream.

Sugared Nuts

An old-fashioned recipe I learned from my aunt, sugared nuts are a snackable sweet that’s always a hit. Unlike traditional candied nuts, these have a creamy, sweet coating. You can use any nuts you like. I like to use a mix of nuts. These can be made up to 2 days ahead of time.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Drinks

I always love a nice glass of wine with our Thanksgiving meal, but there are plenty of other seasonal cocktails and mocktails that are easy to make ahead. No need to play both mixologist and chef on Thanksgiving Day!

Fall Sangria

If you’re serving a crowd, try fall sangria rather than individual cocktails. Sparkling white wine, apple juice, and rum mix with seasonal spices and fruit for the perfect drink. The sangria should be made at least 3 hours ahead of time, but you can make it up to 24 hours ahead of time.

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Cocktails can easily be made ahead of time and in bulk. This recipe for an apple cider bourbon cocktail makes 2, so multiply for the number of guests you have who’ll be drinking. Mix all ingredients except ice and garnishes together up to 24 hours ahead of time. Refrigerate. Stir well before serving.

Cranberry Mocktail

This cranberry mocktail combines cranberry juice with a rosemary simple syrup. It’s topped with club soda for some bubbles. Mix the cranberry juice and rosemary simple syrup up to 1 day ahead of time. Serve and top with club soda and rosemary garnish if desired.

Pomegranate Lemonade

This seasonal pomegranate lemonade is a must-have at Thanksgiving. It’s great as a N/A beverage and it’s easy to mix it with a spirit for an adult beverage. Combine all ingredients except pomegranate arils and lemon slices up to 24 hours ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to serve, then add the garnishes.

Thanksgiving Recipes To Make Ahead and Freeze

Many Thanksgiving recipes can be made completely ahead of time and frozen until you’re ready to serve them. Freezing is especially helpful for foods that don’t lose their texture or flavor when thawed and reheated. Some of the best foods to make ahead and freeze include:

• bread
• rolls
• pie crust
• cookie dough
• baked cookies
• cakes and cake layers
• mashed potatoes

Always let baked goods cool completely before wrapping and freezing. Store items in airtight, freezer-safe containers or wrap them well to help prevent freezer burn.

What Not To Make Ahead for Thanksgiving

There are a few Thanksgiving dishes that are better made on the day of your meal.

• Turkey: Turkey is best cooked on Thanksgiving Day. If you purchase a precooked turkey, you’ll still need to plan time to heat it before serving.
• Crispy dishes: Foods with crispy edges or crunchy toppings can lose their texture when made too far ahead. Instead, prepare everything except the crispy topping and add it just before baking or serving.
• Fresh green salads: Salads made with delicate greens or raw produce are best assembled on Thanksgiving Day so they stay fresh and crisp.

The goal isn’t to make absolutely everything ahead of time. It’s to take care of the dishes and prep work that will save you the most time.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Timeline

2-3 Weeks Ahead

These are the best candidates for making completely or mostly ahead and freezing.

• Everything Spice Focaccia Rolls – Bake, cool completely, and freeze.
• Greek Cornbread – Bake, cool, cut, and freeze. Add toppings on Thanksgiving.
• Sweet Potato Bread – Bake, cool, slice, and freeze.
• Pumpkin Layer Cake – Bake cake layers, wrap, and freeze. Assemble with whipped cream and glaze on Thanksgiving.
• Cardamom Cake – Bake and freeze. Defrost before serving; make whipped cream separately.
• Herb Cheese Crackers – Freeze the bread loaf, then slice and bake on Thanksgiving.

The week before

These recipes can be prepared or prepped several days ahead.

• Mashed Potatoes – Make up to 1 week ahead and freeze. Transfer to the refrigerator the night before Thanksgiving to thaw.
• Pumpkin Butter – Make up to 5 days ahead and refrigerate.
• Cinnamon Sugar Squash – Roast and refrigerate the squash flesh with toppings for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Kale Quinoa Salad – Roast squash, cook quinoa, and make dressing up to 3 days ahead.
• Wild Rice Pilaf – Cook wild rice up to 3 days ahead. Prepare remaining ingredients on Thanksgiving.
• Apple Pear Crisp – Bake up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate.
• Sweet Potato Bread – Can also be refrigerated for up to 3 days if not frozen.
• Cranberry Biscotti – Freeze. Remove from freezer day of (or minutes before serving)

1-2 days before

These dishes are best made a day or two before Thanksgiving.

• Brie Cranberry Toasts – Make cranberry sauce and seasoned butter up to 2 days ahead.
• Cornbread Crackers with Pumpkin Butter – Bake crackers the day before if not frozen.
• Make Ahead Veggie Hors d’oeuvres – Grill vegetables 1–2 days ahead.
• Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli – Steam broccoli and wrap with prosciutto the day before.
• Roasted Broccoli Salad with Grapes – Make the salad the day before.
• Kale Farro Salad – Make the day before.
• Stuffing – Chop vegetables and prepare bread crumbs ahead; freeze separately, then thaw the day before for quick work on Thanksgiving Day
• Sugared Nuts – Make up to 2 days ahead.
• Fall Sangria – Make up to 24 hours ahead.
• Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail – Mix ingredients up to 24 hours ahead, excluding ice and garnishes.
• Cranberry Mocktail – Mix cranberry juice and rosemary simple syrup up to 1 day ahead.
• Pomegranate Lemonade – Mix ingredients up to 24 hours ahead, excluding garnishes.

Day Of

• Fall Charcuterie Board – Arrange meats, cheeses, and fruit earlier in the day. Add crackers, nuts, and honey before serving.
• Herb Cheese Crackers – Slice and bake the frozen loaf.
• Wild Rice Pilaf – Cook sweet potatoes and onion, combine with prepared rice, and reheat.
• Pumpkin Layer Cake – Assemble with whipped cream and cinnamon glaze.
• Cinnamon Sugar Squash – Reheat if prepared ahead.
• Greek Cornbread – Thaw, warm, and add toppings.
• Brie Cranberry Toasts – Assemble and broil.
• Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli – Bring to room temperature and broil.
• Fall Sangria, Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail, Cranberry Mocktail, and Pomegranate Lemonade – Finish with ice, garnishes, or club soda as appropriate.

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Setting the table is as necessary as it is part of the tradition. One quick Thanksgiving Day hack is to set the table before the big day so it isn’t another to do. You can also have guests help with this while you’re in the kitchen (calmly) getting everything together!

Looking for some inspiration? Try some of these Thanksgiving table ideas!

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving FAQs

What Thanksgiving dishes can I make ahead of time?

Many Thanksgiving dishes can be prepared ahead of time, including appetizers, side dishes, breads, desserts, and drinks.

Make cranberry sauce, pumpkin butter, salads, and desserts a few days ahead. Breads, cakes, crackers, and even mashed potatoes can be made and frozen weeks in advance. Use the Thanksgiving timeline above to plan what to prepare and when.

How many days ahead can I prepare Thanksgiving dinner?

You can start preparing Thanksgiving dinner up to 2–3 weeks ahead! Many breads and desserts can be baked and frozen, while side dishes and sauces can be prepped 3–5 days ahead. Appetizers, salads, and drinks are generally best prepared 1–2 days before Thanksgiving. A little planning makes it much easier to spread out the work.

What Thanksgiving foods can I freeze?

Many Thanksgiving foods freeze well, including bread and dinner rolls, pie crusts, cookie dough, baked cookies, cakes, and mashed potatoes. You can also freeze prepared cinnamon sugar squash. Let baked goods cool completely before wrapping and freezing, and store everything in airtight, freezer-safe containers. Follow individual recipe instructions for thawing and reheating.