37 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes To Help You Get A Jump On The Big Day

Making Thanksgiving dinner this year? No matter whether you’re hosting your entire family, a small group of friends, or are just cooking for yourself and a partner or roommate, we bet you know that prepping beforehand is the best way to ensure a smooth Turkey Day. The issue is, which things can and can't be made ahead? Is it sacrilege to make mashed potatoes a day early? How early is too early to start thawing the turkey? How do you make gravy without any meaty drippings? We’ve got answers to all your questions and concerns here—37, in fact. Turns out, you can make a TON of Thanksgiving dishes completely ahead of time—for everything else, there’s usually at least one step you can get a jump on before the big day. Check out our time-saving, make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes for ideas—you’ll be thanking us this year for all the time they save you.

If you’re all about fresh flavor and don’t want to make too much ahead, do yourself a favor and at least make your appetizers and pies the night before. Desserts like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or apple pie are actually better baked a day ahead, so their fillings have time to set up for a clean slice. Appetizers too are important to have ready to go early so you can fend off hungry guests while you take your time re-heating all the mains. Our pumpkin cheese ball, our cranberry brie pull-apart bread, or our turkey cheese ball are sure to keep your guests entertained, no matter how impatient they are for dinner.

Casseroles are another great option for making ahead, because you can assemble them, then put them directly into the oven to bake the next day. Get a head start on all the classics—like green bean, sweet potato casserole, and corn casserole—so you can breathe easier on the big day. Hot tip: make a breakfast casserole, like our overnight French toast or our egg & hash brown casserole, the night before too, then bake it while you’re getting ready for the hubbub of the day. You (and any overnight guests) will be glad you did.

We’ve also included a number of recipes here that MUST be started ahead of time in order to be their best on the big day. Turkey is the best example—no matter whether you’re going with a wet or dry brine or something different altogether, most birds benefit from being paid some attention before Thursday. In the very least you’re going to want to confirm at least three days before that your bird will be the right temperature when you go to roast it (no one wants to have to deal with an unexpectedly still frozen bird).

Another example is stuffing. Most stuffing recipes want to be made of stale, crunchy bread that can soak up all the yummy flavors without getting soggy. You could toast them in the oven, but space is at a premium in there and you wouldn’t want to risk toasting them too much or too little. Optimum texture is really best achieved through being left out overnight or longer, so plan ahead.

Want even more Thanksgiving ideas? Check out our top Thanksgiving cocktails, our favorite Thanksgiving desserts (that aren’t all pie), and our must-have Thanksgiving side dishes too.