15 Easy Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes
I love prepping ahead for Thanksgiving, and these easy make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes make the holiday less stressful and more enjoyable.
With everything from classic sides to delicious desserts, these recipes allow me to prepare dishes in advance, freeing up more time on the big day.
Whether it’s stuffing, casseroles, or pies, each recipe is designed to be prepped ahead of time and stored until ready to serve. This way, I can focus on spending more time with family and less time in the kitchen.
These make-ahead recipes are perfect for ensuring a smooth and delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Let’s dive into some of the best easy recipes to prepare before the holiday rush!
1- Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Who can say no to Popcorn chicken? At least, I can’t. It is my go-to recipe to make a fantastic homemade appetizer, game-day snack, or fulfill my late-night cravings.
2- SHORTCRUST PASTRY MINI SAUSAGE ROLLS
These homemade Shortcrust Pastry Mini Sausage Rolls are a delicious combination of flaky and buttery shop-bought pastry with perfectly seasoned hearty sausage meat.
3- PUMPKIN SOUP WITHOUT CREAM
This delicious pumpkin soup without cream is truly magical! It is dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan and uses canned pumpkin to keep things simple. If you’re a pumpkin fan, this recipe will become a go-to during the fall and winter season.
4- Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes baked with the perfect creamy cheddar cheese sauce is the perfect easy side dish for any meal. A must at any family gathering and so perfect for holidays like Easter or Christmas, it’s the side dish everyone loves.
5- SPINACH PIE
Scarpazoun—this dish originated in Emilia Romagna as a simple dish consisting of seasonal greens enclosed in a flaky pie crust with herbs that delivered even more flavor.
6- Sweet Potato Cornbread Recipe
This subtly sweet, tender skillet sweet potato cornbread is everything you love about the classic side with a fun Fall twist. Drizzle with butter and honey and serve with your favorite chili!
7- Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
The easiest, most delicious dairy-free mashed potatoes! Russet potatoes blended with creamy vegan butter, garlic, & dairy-free milk. The BEST side dish for all of your holiday meals!
8- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
These Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are buttery, creamy, and sprinkled with loads of cheese! It’s a crowd-pleasing side that can easily be made in advance.
9- Stuffing with Sausage and Apples
If you’re looking for the most mouthwatering homemade stuffing recipe, you’ll be greatly rewarded for making this apple sausage stuffing. Friends and family will devour this one.
10- Orange Cranberry Sauce
This homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce is a classic choice for your holiday menu. Fresh orange juice and zest add a hint of citrus to this sweet and slightly tart cranberry sauce.
11- Low Sugar Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a batch of this 5-minute fresh cranberry orange relish. Full of fresh cranberries, a whole orange, and nuts, It’s a crunchy, no-cook version of cranberry sauce.
12- Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
This savory sweet potato casserole is easy to throw together, and can also be made in advance to save time on the big day. Just pop it in the oven right before serving!
13- Vegan Cranberry Quinoa Salad
This easy vegan quinoa salad recipe is delicious and really easy to make, too. It was originally created by Celebrations Catering for our wedding reception and it was such a hit they agreed to let me share it with all of you!
14- Grandma’s Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing
This is the best stuffing recipe, very likely the same one your grandma used to make. Made with milk, turkey stock, onions, celery and herbs, this family recipe is the quintessential side dish for Thanksgiving.
15- Mashed Butternut Squash
Mashed Butternut Squash is a very easy and simple dish that goes perfectly as a side dish, especially in the fall or winter. With just 4 ingredients, this is a very convenient and low maintenance side dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
