The Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes
These Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes will help you have a delicious and low-stress turkey day. Recipes include easy appetizers, sides, desserts, and freezer dishes.
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The lead up to Thanksgiving is packed with excitement, planning, and stress. My Thanksgiving Checklist helps with this, but make-ahead dishes are really where preplanning can shine.
The key to identifying the perfect Thanksgiving make-ahead appetizers, sides, and desserts is to find something that doesn’t lose flavor, get soggy or gross, and reheats like a dream.
You can spend weeks trying out recipes and making copious notes about how each dish holds up. Or, you can just take advantage of all the testing I have already done, and use this list below.
Helpful Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Prep Tools
- Lots and lots of prep containers will keep your fridge organized and easy to navigate. We love these glass divided containers and this larger glass set. If you’re looking for BPA-free plastic, these reusable prep containers are awesome! You can also use them as take-home containers for guests. Keep the good containers for yourself!
- My Instant Pot and slow cooker are constantly churning out dishes for Thanksgiving. I wouldn’t want to prep without them.
- Having a steady supply of baking sheets at the ready means I’m roasting and baking things like a freaking boss.
- A workhorse in my kitchen is my 12-year old food processor. This thing helps me chop it like it’s hot. Chop allllllll the things!
- I use this amazing 8-cup measuring bowl for everything. I use it so often that I have no idea why I don’t just let it live on my counter permanently. The handle makes it amazing for keeping steady while mixing, it can measure and pour, and the deep size means you can mix your ass off without spilling anything.
- Idiot-proof digital thermometer. Cause ain’t nobody wants to give their guests food poisoning.
The Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes
Stuffing Biscuits
These super fluffy Stuffing Biscuits are a delicious addition to any meal! This easy one-bowl buttermilk biscuit recipe beats boxed mix every time.
Cheesy Garlic Bread {+Garlic Butter Spread}
Transform a simple baguette into Cheesy Garlic Bread with the best homemade garlic butter spread. This easy cream cheese garlic bread recipe lets you make delicious and affordable garlic cheese bread from scratch.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts {Whole30, Paleo, Keto}
This easy side dish of Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts is so delicious and healthy. Perfectly caramelized in the air fryer, these roasted and crispy brussels sprouts are Whole30, paleo, keto, and vegan. The perfect gateway brussel sprouts recipe for anyone new to trying this amazing veggie!
Sage Sausage Stuffing
Make the best Sage Sausage Stuffing ever with this class dressing recipe! Loaded with aromatic herbs and minced sausage, this dish will become a family favorite for holidays and cozy meals.
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes {Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese}
This deliciously Fluffy Mashed Potatoes recipe makes the best make-ahead potato side dish! Creamy and lump-free, these heavenly mashed potatoes with cream cheese will be the star of any meal.
The Best Orange Cranberry Sauce
The best Orange Cranberry Sauce recipe you’ll ever make! With only four simple ingredients, this simple make-ahead dish will help you rock the holidays.
Amazing Vegan Gravy
Amazing Vegan Gravy is the vegetarian gravy recipe you’ve been waiting for! Made with nutritional yeast and marmite for a ton of flavour, this vegan brown gravy is perfect with mashed potatoes, poutine, or as part of your Thanksgiving table. This healthy gravy recipe is made from scratch and it’s super simple!
Freezing Mashed Potatoes
Make holiday prep simple by learning all about Freezing Mashed Potatoes. A freezer stash of make-ahead mashed potatoes is also incredible for everyday meal prep and last-minute weeknight dinners.
Crispy Butternut Squash {Vegan, Whole30, Paleo}
Learn how to cook the best Crispy Butternut Squash you’ve ever eaten! This baked and healthy side dish is paleo, Whole30 compliant, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
Kale Chopped Salad
This delicious Kale Chopped Salad is a powerhouse of veggies with a touch of {optional} bacon. A hearty make-ahead salad that is packed with so much flavor, it might just become your new favorite side dish.
Easy Air Fryer Cornbread {Vegetarian}
This incredible Air Fryer Cornbread recipe comes together in just a few minutes with basic pantry staples. Perfect for fast dinners, breakfast or snacks, this from-scratch cornbread is a delicious treat the whole family will love. You’ll also find oven-baking instructions if you don’t have an air fryer.
Hasselback Roasted Beets With Goat Cheese {Vegetarian}
These Hasselback Roasted Beets With Goat Cheese are a fun and new way to enjoy this delicious vegetable! They’re so easy to make, but you’ll love the “wow” factor you get when you set them on the table.
Roasted Frozen Cauliflower {Vegan, Whole30, Keto}
Save time and money by making Roasted Frozen Cauliflower part of your weekly dinner rotation. It’s so easy to whip up this toasty cauliflower for a fast and healthy side dish.
Garlic Butter Green Beans {Vegetarian, Whole30}
Made with fresh or frozen produce, these simple Garlic Butter Green Beans are packed with so much flavor! Sure to become a favorite veggie side dish, you’ll make this easy gluten-free, vegetarian, Whole30, and paleo-friendly recipe again and again.
Canning Cranberry Sauce
By Canning Cranberry Sauce, you can enjoy this delicious traditional holiday dish all year long. Learn how to can cranberry sauce for fuss-free holidays.
Roasted Frozen Brussel Sprouts {Vegan}
Save time and money by making Roasted Frozen Brussel Sprouts part of your weekly dinner rotation. It’s so easy to whip up this frozen brussels sprouts recipe for a fast and healthy side dish.
Healthy Deviled Eggs {Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs}
These Healthy Deviled Eggs are a delicious and lighter take on a classic recipe. Greek yogurt deviled eggs are perfect for potlucks, dinner parties, Easter, and basically any event where people have taste buds and like to eat!
Easy Carrot Mash {Vegetarian, Whole30, Paleo}
A cozy bowl of this Carrot Mash is an easy and fast weeknight side dish. They’re a delicious potato-free option that goes well with so many main dishes. Mashed carrots are a simple vegetarian side that can easily be made vegan with one ingredient swap.
Gluten Free French Fried Onions {Whole30, Paleo, Keto}
You’re in for a treat with these Gluten-Free French Fried Onions! They are so good that it’s hard to believe these healthy crispy fried onions are Whole30 compliant, keto-friendly, and vegan. These fried onion strings can be made in the air fryer or baked in the oven.
Super Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Nothing welcomes fall like baking a batch of Soft Pumpkin Cookies! These easy whole wheat pumpkin spice cookies are topped with an incredible cream cheese frosting.
Air Fryer Roasted Beets {Vegan, Whole30, Paleo}
These Air Fryer Roasted Beets are an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in a flash! Perfectly caramelized in the air fryer, these simple roasted beets are Whole30, paleo, and vegan/vegetarian.
No Knead Dutch Oven Bread
No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread is the perfect easy bread for new bakers. This simple vegan homemade bread recipe has a short ingredients list and doesn’t require a stand mixer.
Roasted Frozen Broccoli {Crispy Broccoli}
Save time and money by making Roasted Frozen Broccoli part of your weekly dinner rotation. It’s so easy to whip up this crispy broccoli for a fast and healthy side dish.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash {Vegan, Whole30}
Crispy and perfect, roasted Air Fryer Butternut Squash is a fast and delicious side dish. You’ll love that they’re Whole30 compliant, vegan, and vegetarian and packed with so much flavor! No air fryer? You’ll find oven-baking options as well.
Nordy Bars {Nordstrom Magic Bar Recipe}
A homemade version of the famous Nordy Bars recipe from Nordstrom. This easy magic bar recipe combines chocolate chips, butterscotch, and marshmallows into a delicious cookie bar that is perfect for a crowd.
Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe
Learn to make these easy glazed carrots that are infused with an irresistible brown sugar and melted butter mixture. These stove top glazed carrots are quick to make and serve as a side for weeknight meals and elegantly serve during the holidays.
Whole30 Mashed Potatoes {Instant Pot or Stovetop}
These are the best homemade Whole30 Mashed Potatoes ever! This easy recipe for delicious garlic mash is easy to make ahead of time. You’ll never even believe they are dairy-free and can be made in the Instant Pot!
Baked Cauliflower Patties {Whole30, Paleo, Vegetarian, Keto, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
Healthy, crispy, and delicious, these Baked Cauliflower Patties are a Whole30 compliant, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low carb delight. This easy side dish is packed with flavor and is a tasty way to get more vegetables into your meals.
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry With Roasted Garlic
Looking for a delicious and easy savory appetizer? Baked Brie in Puff Pastry With Roasted Garlic is creamy, packed with flavor, and a sure-fire hit at your next party.
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
It’s so simple to whip up a batch of Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving or any time you’re craving a delicious cranberry side dish. Use fresh or frozen cranberries and just a few simple ingredients for this make-ahead cranberry sauce.
Air Fryer Cauliflower {Whole30, Paleo, Vegan, Keto}
Light, delicious, and crispy, Air Fryer Cauliflower is the perfect side or snack for fast healthy eating. Top with your favorite spices or sauce for an easy Whole30, paleo, vegan/vegetarian, or keto recipe.
Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli {Vegan, Whole30, Paleo}
Save time and money by making Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli part of your weekly dinner rotation. It’s so easy to whip up this tender broccoli for a fast and healthy side dish.
Air Fryer Biscuits With Green Chile
These Air Fryer Biscuits With Green Chile are a delicious addition to any meal! This easy one-bowl recipe with incredible New Mexico green chile beats boxed mix every time.
Easy Baileys Chocolate Dessert Pots
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes {Vegan, Paleo, Whole30}
These perfectly cooked Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes are ready in less time than oven-baked. Simple and fuss-free, this air fryer vegetable recipe is great for a fast dinner or weeknight side dish.
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes {Whole30, Vegan, Dairy-Free}
Creamy, fluffy, delicious, and with lots of zip, these Mashed Potatoes With Wasabi take a classic side dish to the next level. These comforting horseradish mashed potatoes are an amazing recipe that will be a new family favorite.
Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Fries
Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Fries are a delicious appetizer or snack. Baked, not fried, these crispy green beans are simple to make and cook in only 10 minutes! No air fryer? You’ll find oven-baking instructions too.
Instant Pot Beets {Pressure Cooker Beets}
Make tender and nutritious Instant Pot beets in under 20 minutes. This recipe will teach you how to cook delicious Whole30 and paleo beets in a pressure cooker.
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I eat low carb so I generally whiz through your recipes. I came to an abrupt stop when I saw the crispy onions. I have to try those. I think I’ll use pork panko for the almond flour to reduce the carbs further. For my share of the Thanksgiving meal this year I’m making low carb cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and a ‘secret’ (pretzel salad – shhh) dessert, and the fake cornbread for the low carb stuffing ahead of time. I’m so liking the adult daughters who are filling in with other dishes.Â
That sounds like a great spread, Diane!
I can’t wait to hear how the pork panko goes.
All-time favorite Thanksgiving dish? Definitely my mother’s lasagna. We’re not turkey people (or even Italian) and when we were teenagers we all decided we’d rather eat what we like. The night before Thanksgiving we spent in the kitchen making 3 pans of lasagna from scratch. (Hey, as long as you have to dirty dang near every pot, pan and bowl in the house you want to make it worth your time.) Two pans went in the freezer to have on those cold Minnesota winter nights and the third was enjoyed by each and every one of us. Friends always tried getting out of their own Thanksgiving to come eat with us. We never knew how many would show up but always had enough to go around. A big salad, cheese bread, and lots of veggies to round off the meal.
Joan, I looooooove this memory and tradition! It sounds so lovely and it makes my heart swell that meal prep is involved as well. Thank you so much for sharing this memory.
Chocolate puds look ace, though I’m not a fan of Baileys. Everyone else in the family is though! want to try the cheesey bread as well.
I’m not a Bailey’s fan either Pauline, but would definitely give it a try. I’m sure it would change my mind!
With everything turkey popping up, I kept thinking, “Yep. Thanksgiving’s coming.” “Yep. Good price for a turkey.” “Oh, we have to travel to your parent’s for Thanksgiving?” I never once realized, “THANKSGIVING IS IN TWO WEEKS!”
Ugh, when you say it like that, yeah it’s close!!!!
We had a dinner party for 12 people from our church last Sunday. Honestly, I was relieved to do all the crazy deep cleaning because it means I won’t have to do it before Thanksgiving. The garden is put to bed (it was kind of a mess before last week), Troy got all the cobwebs from the upper windows, and I washed the outside of the windows, etc.