Thanksgiving Checklist {Free Printable}
A user-friendly printable Thanksgiving checklist for all type-A planners. If you’re hosting, this Thanksgiving checklist helps you make sure food, cleaning, and other details aren’t overlooked.
When you are a Type A person, nothing causes more excitement and stress than planning for a big event. Lists! Checklists! Organizing! Spreadsheets!
Those words are like drugs to my people. Today I am sharing my anal-retentive Thanksgiving checklist. I have included a printable if you feel the need to print one out for yourself.
And if you have made it this far into a Thanksgiving checklist post, chances are you’re as sick as I am and can already picture how this checklist is going to look laminated.
Spoiler alert: it’s gonna look real sexy.
If you’re tasked with cooking any of the meal, you’ll love this list of the Best Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes. Anything you can get done ahead of time will make the big day more simple. Additionally, follow my tips and tricks in this post on Easy Healthy Meal Prep to make all your prep work go more smoothly.
And for my vegetarian and vegan friends, my girl Katie over at Hey Nutrition Lady has created a Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu.
As with anything in life, some items on the checklist will apply to you and some won’t. Homes are different, situations are different, and preferences vary wildly.
If you see a task that doesn’t apply to you, simply ignore it or sub in your own. I’ve even included some blank lines for you to modify the list to meet your own needs.
One of my favorite ways to kick off the planning for a big event is to go through the house and declutter. Set a goal as to the number of large trash bags you will donate, rehome, or toss.
Clutter is confining and inhibits creativity and efficiency. And it stresses me the hell out. So starting off with a clean slate is important to me.
And like all good Type A planners, the very first thing on the list is to make a list. Go ahead and check that one off as soon as you hit print. Instant gratification is good for the soul!
Save Time and Money on Thanksgiving Shopping
Azure Standard
We love Azure Standard for the prices and selection of food. Azure Standard is an amazing source for bulk organic and sustainable products at incredibly affordable prices. All the benefits of warehouse club pricing without any membership fees. Save 20-40% off of grocery store prices!
Get our Azure Standard Shopping List here
Butcher Box
Butcher Box is now offering free 10-14 pound Thanksgiving turkeys to all new customers who sign up before November 17th!
Butcher Box Turkeys are 10-14 lbs, all-natural (no basting ingredients, no artificial ingredients, minimally processed), animal welfare certified and never ever given antibiotics.
Butcher Box also delivers the best 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage breed pork, and wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon directly to your door on your schedule for less than $6.00 per meal. And shipping is always free!
Get your free Thanksgiving Turkey here
Thrive Market
We love Thrive and order at least once a month. I love the products and prices and my kids LOVE the boxes for forts. 🙂
Thrive Market is an online marketplace on a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. They offer the highest quality, healthy and sustainable products available for every budget, lifestyle, and geography.
You can shop for thousands of the best-selling organic foods and natural products at 25-50% below traditional retail prices, all shipped right to your door. Even better, they qualify for cashback from Rakuten (formerly ebates).
Want to try it for yourself? This link will give you a FREE 30-day free trial to Thrive Market, PLUS 25% off your first order (and free shipping for orders over $49).
Homemade Green Cleaning Ideas for Thanksgiving Prep
- Eco-Friendly Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
- Homemade Dusting Spray and Furniture Polish
- Cleaning Schedule for Working Moms
More Helpful Organization Posts You’ll Love
- Pantry Essentials for the Home Cook
- Zero Waste Food Storage Ideas
- Freezer Essentials for Healthy Cooking
We’re having thanksgiving at my brother and sister-in-law (more of a sister than my actual sister). I’ll share this with her since I know she like she to be organized
That is a awesome to do list but shit, just looking at that stresses me out!😬
This checklist is most definitely my jam! In fact, last night I was lying in bed fantasizing about my picture perfect Thanksgiving to be and realized that I needed to add “make ice” and “buy food containers” to my list.
As with you, Thanksgiving is my Super Bowl and I always get so excited. My favorite part of the planning phase is menu editing. I rarely change the menu – most everything is someone’s must-have. But I love reading recipes and toying with the unholy idea that I could just make cheddar garlic biscuits instead of rolls this year (shocking!).
Yaaasssss! You’re my people!
I too am someone who doesn’t change the menu often. Troy’s extended family is very traditional to say the least. But sneaking in a new appetizer, side dish, or dessert makes me feel like a rebel. Last year I made this pie and it was a huge hit: https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/brown-butter-vanilla-pear-pie?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=realsimple
I don’t know how I missed this. We never host (I live with two sever introverts), but I love the idea of this list! Maybe next year I can convince Jared to let me host for Thanksgiving as we will be close enough for some of my family to come visit.
I vote you just schedule it ahead of time Tina and those two introverts can deal!!!