Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of work. There's the turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and more. So how early can you make Thanksgiving side dishes? We've got 100 Thanksgiving side dish recipes that you can make ahead so you have less to do on Turkey Day!
From roasted Brussels sprouts to creamy mashed potatoes, these make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes will free up your oven and stove top on the big day. And with recipes like make-ahead green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, you'll have more time to enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.
So how early can you make Thanksgiving side dishes? Most of these recipes can be made a day or two in advance, so you're not stuck in the kitchen all day on Thanksgiving. And with recipes like make-ahead green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, you'll have more time to enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.
Here is the scoop on how early you can make Thanksgiving sides.
Planning Your Thanksgiving Menu Ahead
The holidays are a hectic time of year, and Thanksgiving is no exception. From shopping for groceries to cooking the feast, there's a lot to do in preparation for the big day.
One way to make things easier is to plan your Thanksgiving menu ahead of time. This way, you can space out the tasks and have everything ready to go when the big day arrives.
Finding make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes for the main event, like from the Food Network, will give you more time for the whole day.
When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, how early can you make them? And second, what is the best way to reheat them? We've got all the answers to your questions, plus 100 delicious recipes to get you started.
100 Side Dishes to Make Ahead
1. Sweet Potatoes baked in Aluminum Foil
2. Green Beans
3. Pumpkin Pie
4. Brussel Sprouts
5. Pecan Pie
6. Sweet Potato Casserole
7. Dinner Rolls
8. Apple Pie
9. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
10. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
11. Butternut Squash
12. Root Vegetables
13. Sour Cream
14. Cranberry Chutney
15. Roasted Turkey Wing
16. Traditional Green Bean Casserole
17. Orange Juice
18. Cream Cheese Sauce
19. Red Onions
20. Roasted Carrots with Olive Oil
21. Greek Potatoes
22. Baked Potato Casserole
23. Loaded Baked Potatoes
24. Buttermilk Biscuits
25. Corn
26. Deviled Eggs
27. Acorn Squash
28. Corn Casserole
29. Turkey Stock Soup
30. Fruit Pies
31. Stuffed Mushrooms
32. Meatballs
33. Balsamic Roast Potatoes
34. Garlic Bread
35. Spanakopita
36. Cannellini Beans
37. Roasted Cauliflower
38. Coleslaw
39. Macaroni and Cheese
40. Chicken Broth Soup
41. Cauliflower Mash
42. String Beans
43. Creamed Corn
44. Collard Greens with Lemon Zest
45. Side Salad
46. Creamed Spinach
47. Roasted Parsnips
48. Snow Peas
49. Candied Yams
50. Sweet Potato Salad
51. Kale Salad
52. Quinoa Salad
53. Brown Rice
54. Wild Rice
55. White Rice
56. Stuffed Acorn Squash
57. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
58. Potato Soup
59. Carrot Soup
60. Corn Chowder
61. Broccoli Casserole
62. Broccoli Salad
63. Cauliflower Rice
64. Zucchini Casserole
65. Ratatouille
66. Caprese Salad
67. Grilled Asparagus
68. Roasted Beets
69. Beet Salad
70. Blackberry Cobbler
71. Peach Cobbler
72. Cherry Pie
73. Rhubarb Pie
74. Blueberry Pie
75. Key Lime Pie
76. Strawberry Shortcake
77. Lemon Bars
78. Brownies
79. Chocolate Chip Cookies
80. Pumpkin Bread
81. Banana Bread
82. Zucchini Bread
83. Carrot Cake
84. Apple Cake
85. Cupcakes
86. Rice Krispie Treats
87. Pumpkin Seeds
88. Sweet Potato Fries
89. French Fries
90. Onion Rings
91. Fried Pickles
92. Jalapeno Poppers
93. Mozzarella Sticks
94. Chicken Wings
95. Buffalo Chicken Dip
96. Guacamole
97. Salsa
98. Pico de Gallo
99. Chips and Dip
100. Fruit Salad
Make-Ahead Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
You can make most of your Thanksgiving side dishes ahead of time, which will free up valuable oven and stove space on the big day. Here are a few tips to make sure your dishes turn out perfectly:
Most vegetables can be prepped (chopped, etc.) a day or two in advance and stored in the fridge.
Casseroles and other baked dishes can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen until ready to bake.
Mashed potatoes can be made ahead of time and reheated just before serving.
Gravy can also be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove top.
Why Cook Ahead?
Cooking holiday meals on Thanksgiving day is always stressful. In order to best prepare yourself, you will want to go to the grocery store ahead of time. Making sure that you have all of the ingredients for easy Thanksgiving side dishes.
It is important to plan ahead and gather your shopping list with items like pie dough for pie crusts, fresh herbs, maple syrup, and anything else you want to add extra flavor to your Thanksgiving feast. Having everything mise en place for the next day will save you lots of time.
If you can even get your holiday menu grocery shopping done a couple of days ahead, that is all the better. Another great tip is to save anything you can serve at room temperature for the last minute.
Also, if you are cooking several pounds of turkey, you will need your oven space free for that baking sheet, roasting pan, or baking dish on Thanksgiving Thursday.
Pro tip, any other prep work you can do ahead of the Thanksgiving meal, like setting your Thanksgiving table, is an easy way to spend more quality time with your loved ones. Having a good time with your family is more important than spending a long time cooking.
Things to Remember
The great thing about preparing your best Thanksgiving recipes ahead of time is that you can always just store them in the fridge with plastic wrap covering them, and then reheat them with a damp paper towel to keep everything moist.
Also, if you want to try new Thanksgiving recipes, home cooks will appreciate the extra time to test them out. This will allow you to perfect the new crowd pleaser.
Wanting to make the perfect side dish is also a good reason to use your slow cooker.
Also, you do not have to completely cook your side dishes ahead of time. Just preparing some steps early is still a big help. For example, if you do not want to make your mashed potatoes until Thanksgiving, you can still peel the potatoes and store them in cold water overnight.
Another tip is to save your refrigerator space for food, and instead fill your washing machine with ice to chill any beverages and wine bottles.
Final Thoughts: How Early Can You Make Thanksgiving Sides
The Thanksgiving holiday season is more about spending time with your loved ones than making a perfect holiday dinner, but it is still fun to cook the full thanksgiving menu! Cooking Thanksgiving sides ahead of time will let you find the perfect balance so you can spend less time cooking and as much time with your family as possible.
Making your sides ahead of time is the perfect way to ensure that your dinner table is full of things to pair with your main course. Choosing sides as the first things to cook will save you a bit of stress, and it is still a great way to complete your holiday table.
No matter how you plan out cooking for Thanksgiving, the important thing is to have fun and spend time with those you love.
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