10 Make Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes
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Just in time for your Thanksgiving planning, today I’m sharing with you 10 recipes that can be made ahead of time! Add in a juicy and flavorful slow cooker turkey breast that you pop in the crock pot the morning of and you can have your whole meal ready without breaking a sweat on the big day.
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This is how my Grandmama made her dressing each year and it was always moist and delicious! I didn’t even know dressing could be dry until I got older and had it at other houses! This recipe is your secret to success every time.
To make ahead: Make cornbread up to a month (or more) ahead of time and crumble it up to store in gallon zipper seal bags in the freezer. A day or two ahead of time (or Thanksgiving morning), assemble dressing in slow cooker insert, put lid on, and store in fridge. Thanksgiving morning, place insert into slow cooker base and cook according to directions.
One bite of this dish and you’ll see why I say it represents all that is right and good in the world. This is a simple way to take your Thanksgiving feast up a notch and you’ll be surprised at how simple it is, no special equipment needed!
To make ahead: Make this dish the day ahead of time and cover it with foil, stored in my fridge. When we sit down to eat, I remove it from the fridge and set it on the counter. 5-10 minutes before dessert time, I sprinkle the brown sugar over the top and place it under the broiler until it has melted, spread, and hardened. No torch or special equipment needed!
To make ahead: Mix up a batch of my Mama’s Spoon Roll dough up to three days ahead of time and store covered, in the fridge. Whenever yore ready for fresh, hot rolls and the delicious smell of baked bread, just scoop the dough out into muffin tins and bake!
To make ahead: Make these now, store in your freezer in zipper seal bags. The night before your meal place them in the fridge to thaw a bit. Pour into serving bowl and reheat until fully warmed in the microwave. They’ll taste as if you just made them!
This delicious pie is a perfect stand in for Pecan – and no one will even know it isn’t pecan unless you tell them! I developed this recipe to save money because pecans are so expensive nowadays, but ended up with floods of thank you letters from parents of children with nut allergies ,what an unexpected blessing!
To make ahead: Make this pie up to three days ahead of time and store in your fridge. Remove from fridge the morning of Thanksgiving or just before serving (if you prefer it cold).
To make ahead: Make this 4 or 5 days ahead of time and store in the fridge, it just gets better by the day. I’ve learned the hard way to double it. Last year, I made it ahead of time and ended up eating it all before Thanksgiving. I can’t help myself!
Pumpkin Pie Dip – Cream Cheese, Pumpkin, and Perfect Spices. What’s not to love?
To make ahead: Make this up to two days ahead of time and store in fridge until time to serve.
To make ahead: Make this the day before and store in the baking dish, covered, in the fridge. Pop it in the oven and bake according to directions 30 minutes before your meal.
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole is a must have on our Thanksgiving Table.
To make ahead: I make this up to three days in advance and store it in the baking dish covered in foil in my refrigerator to pop in 30 -40 minutes before mealtime. Note: this picture is old as the hills and I really need to photograph it again to update the post. The problem is that every time I pull one out of the oven, folks are waiting to devour it!
Make these now, yes, now! You can make these more than a month in advance. This is a treasured family recipe from my husband’s Granny Jordan served as a side or a dessert (your preference). Keepthem in the freezer until you are ready to serve and then serve frozen.
Bonus:
Daddy’s coconut cake just gets better the longer it sits. Make it at least three days ahead of time for a moist and delicious cake unlike any other. Keep it in the fridge until time to serve dessert.
I’ve just become a pastor at a very small church. Each year, they provide a Thanksgiving meal for anyone who wants to share in it on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, have special music, a speaker from a charity to whom they give the love offering for the evening. I am going to use several of your Thanksgiving recipes!!! Thank you so much and may God continue to bless you and your family!
Blessings to you and your church Samantha, I am so honored that you are going to use a few of my recipes and I hope that everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!
All my favorites !!! Thanks so much and happy Thanksgiving.
I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving too Doris!!!
I made the faux pecan pie last year for Thanksgiving, and my husband didn’t even realize there were no pecans in it! He loved it. I’ll definitely have to make it this year, too. I love your recipes!
I LOVE hearing that Kristin!!! It sure is a lot more affordable!
These make ahead recipes will be very helpful. I think we will really enjoy the 3 Bean Salad.
It does make Thanksgiving day much less stressful!! I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!
I am recovering from having a major surgery so this looks like it would be something I could take my time at. I am so blessed to have come through surgery so well am so grateful and blessed to to be doing so well. I believe in miracles. thank you so much . I know that my positive attitude and determined spirit has been the secret in addition to the good lord and the love and prayers of many dear friends and family. thank you for all that you do !
I am so glad to hear you are recovering well Debby!!! I pray for a continued and speedy recovery and I 100% agree, attitude does play a HUGE part in it!!! Hugs and blessings to you!!
The do ahead recipes all look delicious..now that I am Eighty years young..I still enjoy cooking.so
I will plan some of these recipes this thanksgiving..You are a Jewell .for being so helpful..thanks for all your ideals to making life easier and lots more fun…..
You’re awesome Dorothy! Keep cooking girl, as long as you enjoy it. I plan to be just like you in about 15 years or so if The Good Lord is willing!
I’m going to make the spoon rolls and slow cooker cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving, and maybe the three bean salad, too. I’ve been using a recipe for mashed potatoes in the slow cooker for a few years, which makes Thanksgiving “crunch time” much smoother…so I can’t wait to add another slow cooker recipe to that hectic day! Thank you for the great recipes!