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Plan ahead and keep your Thanksgiving stress-free with this Collection of 20+ Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes. Each is one easy to prepare in advance and even more delicious the next day.
Table of Contents
- Thanksgiving Dressing
- Homemade Dinner ROlls
- Classic Mashed Potatoes
- Gravy Recipe (No Drippings)
- Funeral Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Jiffy Cornbread Casserole
- Butternut Squash Casserole
- Classic Cheese Ball
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Poultry Seasoning
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Brussels Sprout Salad
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Beet Salad with Goat CHeese
- Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash
- Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
- Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
- Farro Salad Recipe
- Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin
- Easy Fruit Dip Recipe
- Cornbread Dressing
- Rice Pudding
If you want to make this Thanksgiving your easiest one yet, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re hosting a full house, celebrating with a few close friends, or keeping things cozy at home, this collection of more than 20 make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes will help you get a head start on the holiday cooking. From casseroles and mashed potatoes to sauces, desserts, and appetizers, many of your favorite dishes can be prepped – or fully made – a day or two in advance.
Not sure where to begin? Start with the dishes that actually taste better after resting overnight, like cranberry sauce, pie, and most stuffing/dressing recipes. Casseroles are another holiday lifesaver since they can be assembled ahead of time and baked fresh before serving. And if you’re brining or roasting a Thanksgiving turkey, planning a few days in advance ensures your bird is fully thawed, seasoned, and ready to go.
So grab your grocery list, clear a little fridge space, and let’s dive into some of the very best make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes that will save you time and sanity on the big day.
1
Thanksgiving Dressing
The secret to truly great stuffing starts with the bread. Simply let your bread dry out on the counter for 48-72 hours or lightly toast them in the oven until dehydrated. You can even assemble the entire dish the night before and pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving Day.
2
Homemade Dinner ROlls
Made with just 7 simple ingredients, these soft, buttery dinner rolls can baked the day before Thanksgiving, then reheated in the oven at 325°F for about 10 minutes until warm.
3
Classic Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are rich, buttery, and YES, absolutely delicious even when they’re made ahead of time. Simply reheat them with a little melted butter and milk before serving. Not sure about making your mashed potatoes ahead? Try my Crockpot mashed potatoes instead.
4
Gravy Recipe (No Drippings)
This gravy recipe can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 4 days, making it the perfect make-ahead option for busy holiday meals like Thanksgiving. Simply reheat it the stovetop over low heat.
5
Funeral Potatoes
You can make this classic, creamy casserole up to two days ahead. Assemble it without the cornflake topping, cover, and refrigerate. Before baking, add the topping and bake until hot and bubbly, adding 10-15 minutes to the cook time if chilled.
6
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mash the sweet potatoes up to 2 days ahead, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to bake, spread the mashed sweet potatoes in your casserole dish, add the streusel topping, and bake until hot and golden.
7
Jiffy Cornbread Casserole
This cornbread casserole can be prepared up to two days ahead of time. Simply prepare the cornbread casserole mixture, pour it into the prepared baking dish, cover, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving until golden and set.
8
Butternut Squash Casserole
This cozy casserole features roasted butternut squash, bacon, apple, and kale topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs. It’s best to assemble it the day before and bake it fresh on Thanksgiving. You can also swap in roasted acorn squash.
9
Classic Cheese Ball
This delicious appetizer can be made up to 5 days in advance (and it actually tastes better that way!) Simply prepare, shape, and refrigerate until ready to roll in nuts and serve. For a sweet and savory twist, try my Pineapple Cheese Ball instead.
10
Butternut Squash Soup
The naturally sweet, nutty flavor of butternut squash makes it a favorite for cozy fall soups. Blended with sweet potatoes for extra creaminess, this soup is a perfect Thanksgiving side dish or starter. And best of all, it can be made ahead.
11
Poultry Seasoning
This poultry seasoning is made from all dry ingredients and can be prepared and stored well in advance. It’s perfect for countless Thanksgiving recipes like stuffing, turkey, or gravy. You can even add it to homemade turkey soup.
12
Sweet Potato Pie
This sweet potato pie has a velvety smooth filling with the perfect touch of warm spice in every bite. For the best flavor, bake sweet potatoes instead of using canned, and make 1-2 days ahead to let it set. Extra sweet potatoes? Use them to make sweet potato cornbread.
13
Brussels Sprout Salad
This festive fall salad features shaved Brussels sprouts, kale, pomegranate seeds, avocado, and pecans in a lemon-shallot vinaigrette. Prep the greens and dressing a few days ahead, then simply toss everything together on Thanksgiving.
14
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This homemade cranberry sauce totally beats the store-bought stuff and is so simple to make. You can make it up to a week ahead of time, let it cool, and refrigerate it in a sealed jar. Bring it to room temperature before serving. That’s it!
15
Beet Salad with Goat CHeese
This roasted beet salad with arugula, goat cheese, and pistachios is perfect for making ahead. Roast and chill the beets a day or two before, then assemble the salad and drizzle with homemade balsamic vinaigrette just before serving.
16
Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash
This stunning vegetarian side dish tastes even better when made ahead. Roast the squash and cook the filling up to a day in advance, then store separately. When ready to serve, stuff and bake until heated through.
17
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
To make these, we stuff baby bella mushrooms with Italian sausage, garlic breadcrumbs, and plenty of cheese. Stuff them ahead of time and bake them when you’re ready for an easy appetizer or simple side dish this Thanksgiving.
18
Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
Move over, pineapple – this blood orange upside-down cake is a stunning Thanksgiving dessert with bright citrus flavor and jewel-toned top. It stays fresh at room temperature for up to a day, making it the perfect make ahead dessert.
19
Farro Salad Recipe
This simple, yet flavorful salad features crisp arugula, chewy farro, sweet apples, and shaved Parmesan all tossed in a tangy Dijon vinaigrette. Want to prep it ahead of time? You can cook the farro and prepare the dressing up to 3 days in advance.
20
Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin
This potato casserole features layers of thinly sliced potatoes coated in a rich, homemade cream sauce and melted cheese. You can prepare the sauce and slice the potatoes up to 24 hours ahead – just keep the potatoes submerged in cold water to prevent browning until you’re ready to assemble.
21
Easy Fruit Dip Recipe
This fruit dip may take just 5 minutes to whip together, but it’s even better when made ahead. Prepare it up to 3 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate until serving. You can also chop the fruit a day ahead – just store it in airtight containers to keep it fresh.
22
Cornbread Dressing
This Cornbread Dressing is made with homemade sweet cornbread, mild Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, and fresh herbs. You can bake the cornbread 2 days ahead or assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance.
23
Rice Pudding
This deliciously creamy rice pudding, made with rice, milk, and sugar, is infused with hints of almond extract and cinnamon. It’s an easy gluten-free dessert that tastes even better when it’s made a day in advance.
Want even more Thanksgiving recipes? Check out my top Thanksgiving side dishes and favorite fall salads. Here’s to a wonderful holiday feast, full of flavor and joy! If you give these a go, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Happy Thanksgiving!
