a glass gravy boat of savory-looking pale brown gravy with a glass ladle in the foreground
Looking for a stress-free Thanksgiving menu even though you're hosting? Here are more than 70 recipes you can make ahead of time so you look like a pro.

Future You Will Be Extra Thankful

Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole
10 Classic Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Casseroles
Looking down on a carafe of make ahead turkey gravy garnished with fresh thyme and cracked black pepper
How to Make Thanksgiving Gravy Ahead of Time
pumpkin pie with whipped cream
How to Freeze Pumpkin Pie
Mashed Potatoes
How to Freeze and Reheat Mashed Potatoes

Explore Make-Ahead Thanksgiving

a dish of Chef John's Tangerine Cherry Cranberry Sauce on a linen table runner with fall decor in the background
Tangerine Cherry Cranberry Sauce
82 Ratings
Cranberry Hummus
Cranberry Hummus
a close up view of a spoonful of sweet potato casserole, topped with pecans and brown sugar, being lifted from a white baking dish.
Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole
4,080 Ratings
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A slice of double layer pumpkin cheesecake topped with whipped cream
Double-Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
3,981 Ratings
an overhead view of partially sliced pumpkin bread sitting on a wooden cutting board with a single slice buttered.
Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread
10,462 Ratings
A bowl of Watergate salad topped with maraschino cherries and sprinkled with chopped nuts, presenting a vibrant green hue typical of the dessert.
Watergate Salad
468 Ratings
A hand dipping a chunk of sour dough bread into a bread bowl filled with spinach dip
Best Spinach Dip Ever
1,427 Ratings
a glass gravy boat of savory-looking pale brown gravy with a glass ladle in the foreground
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
463 Ratings
A bowl of homemade pumpkin spice on a cutting board with a wooden spoon
Homemade Pumpkin Spice
263 Ratings
high angle looking into an open apple pie in a pie pan
Apple Pie Filling
464 Ratings
close up on a plate full of pumpkin bars topped with cream cheese frosting
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
171 Ratings
Raw potatoes next to peeled potatoes
Can You Peel and Cut Potatoes Ahead of Time?
Cranberry apple brie bites on a plate.
Cranberry Brie Bites
91 Ratings
A couple of slices of double layer pumpkin pie on plates.
Double Layer Pumpkin Pie
348 Ratings
looking down at a large bowl of cranberry orange relish
Easy Cranberry Orange Relish
84 Ratings
A bowl of make-ahead mashed potatoes, topped with melted butter and black pepper
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
473 Ratings
high angle looking into a casserole dish of steakhouse potatoes romanoff
Steakhouse Potatoes Romanoff
197 Ratings
Closeup of a side of a pie with flower designs in the crust
Easy Homemade Pie Crust
498 Ratings
a low angle close up view looking over the corner of a white casserole dish into a spoonful of make ahead stuffing being lifted out.
Make-Ahead Stuffing
39 Ratings
High angle closeup of a baking dish with twice baked potato casserole with bacon being spooned out
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
341 Ratings
a bowl of creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes
Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
109 Ratings
close up view of Garlic Toast on a platter
Make-Ahead Garlic Toast
46 Ratings
a low angle super close up view of a bowl full of cranberry chutney.
Cranberry Chutney
217 Ratings
Savory Pumpkin Hummus
51 Ratings
Chef John's Potato Roses
Chef John's Potato Roses
108 Ratings
Smoked Turkey (Without Smoker)
3 Ratings
Cranberry Sauce with Apples
27 Ratings
close up view of Breakfast Casserole with spinach and mushrooms in a glass baking dish
Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole
399 Ratings
overhead view of Cheesecake with Cranberry Glaze and Sugared Cranberries on a platter
Cranberry Cheesecake
22 Ratings
top-down view of cream cheese topped with a cranberry compote on a harvest-themed plate with crackers on the side
Cranberry Dip
270 Ratings
Slow Cooker Candied Yams
4 Ratings
Rich Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
97 Ratings
cranberry bread pudding in a glass dish
Cranberry Bread Pudding
30 Ratings
Make-Ahead Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
5 Ratings
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
9 Ratings
Jack Daniel's Very Merry Eggnog
3 Ratings
close up view of sliced Slow Cooker Turkey Breast With Dressing, cranberry sauce, and salad on a white plate with a fork
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast With Dressing
11 Ratings
Spanakopita II
351 Ratings
Cranberry Jell-O Salad with Mandarin Oranges
14 Ratings
Chef John's Buttermilk Pie
60 Ratings
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
16 Ratings
round sour cream cranberry cake with one slice plated
Cranberry Sour Cream Kuchen
43 Ratings
Turkey Cheese Ball for Thanksgiving
11 Ratings
Cranberry, Apple, and Fresh Ginger Chutney
115 Ratings
Amazing Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms
22 Ratings
Thanksgiving Egg Noodles
2 Ratings
Sweet and Spicy Turkey Rub
3 Ratings
Cranberry Orange Relish with Orange Flavored Liqueur
113 Ratings
Grandma's Deviled Eggs
20 Ratings
Best-Ever Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing
55 Ratings
Mama's Southern Cornbread Dressing
4 Ratings
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
10 Ratings
Snickerdoodle-Crusted Apple Pie
14 Ratings
people reaching for side dishes around thanksgiving table
5 Things You Should Absolutely Do Ahead for Thanksgiving
Olive Puffs
60 Ratings
Spiced Cranberry Sauce
3 Ratings
Pickled Shrimp
6 Ratings
Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
132 Ratings
Thanksgiving Cheese Ball
53 Ratings
Mini Pecan Pie Cheesecakes
3 Ratings
breaded stuffing in an oval casserole dish
Classic Simple Stuffing
2 Ratings
Cranberry Parfait
3 Ratings
Cranberry Sauce with Walnuts
2 Ratings
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Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy with Porcini Mushrooms and Marsala Wine
18 Ratings
Shrimp Cheese Ball
6 Ratings
Make-Ahead Marsala Turkey Gravy
13 Ratings
Baked Cinnamon Apple French Toast
33 Ratings