THE secret to an stress-free Thanksgiving? Make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes! Not only can you prep many Thanksgiving recipes days ahead of time, you can also freeze many of them a month or more in advance.

Whenever I host a holiday meal, I have to do a bunch of make-ahead. Not only because I want to enjoy the day with guests, but also because I don’t want to be stressed. And prepping Thanksgiving is a lot of physical work – so prepping ahead is a sanity saver on that front, too.

I thought I’d share some make-ahead Thanksgiving ideas in case you’re in the same boat, too. From fresh cranberry sauce that’s perfect for freezing to gravy to stuffing and more, these Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Ideas will help your Thanksgiving stay stress-free.

Tips for Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

  • Simplify. As much as I want to make three desserts – one with flames, of course – it’s not worth losing my ever-loving mind to make it happen. It’s tempting to go all-out on Thanksgiving (and you should; it’s a feast after all!) but there is a balance to be had. Seven sides probably really aren’t necessary.
  • Ask for help. It’s okay! Listen, if you’re making the meal, it’s not crazy to expect some help around the house. My guy, for instance, does a ton of the house-cleaning before we have people over for a big holiday. There have also been times we’ve hired a house cleaner just so that worry is off the table and we can focus on our Thanksgiving menu.
  • Make ahead, make ahead, make ahead. I know we’ve gone over this, but seriously. The freezer, in particular, is my very best friend. A best friend who helps make sure that I’m enjoying my guests, wine glass in hand, as opposed to sweating bullets and cursing quietly (or not so quietly) in the kitchen.

Ready for some specific make-ahead Thanksgiving ideas? Here we go!

3-4 Weeks Ahead of Time

1. Cranberry Sauce

spooning out a serving of Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry Sauce
If you're a family that loves homemade cranberry sauce as opposed to canned, I have good news – cranberry sauce is one of the very best candidates for freezing ahead of time! I usually make it around the first of the month when I find myself with an extra half hour. Then let it cool, spoon it into a freezer bag, label, and freeze. You'll want to put it in the fridge to thaw a couple of days ahead of time.
Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce to Freeze Ahead
Fresh Cranberry Sauce in a white bowl

More cranberry sauce recipes for freezing:

2. Gravy

pouring vegetarian gravy over mashed potatoes in a white bowl
Gravy
Yes, gravy can be frozen ahead of time! It freezes and reheats beautifully. The recipe I'm featuring here uses butter, flour, onions, and vegetable stock, and – if you like – soy sauce and/or herbs for additional notes of flavor. It's a great gravy to feed everyone at the table – meat-eaters love it just as much as the vegetarians! Whip up a batch (might want to double it), let it cool, then place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Label and freeze up to a month ahead of time. Thaw overnight in the freezer, then reheat gently in a pan over the stove. Frozen gravy sometimes gets thicker than you like, but that's easily remedied with a splash or two of veggie broth.
Get the Recipe for Make & Freeze Gravy
cooking vegetarian gravy

More make-ahead gravy recipes:

3. Butternut Squash Soup (or other soups)

top view of roasted butternut squash soup in a pot
Butternut Squash Soup
Soup is such a cozy, welcome addition to the Thanksgiving table, and even better, it's perfect for making 3-4 weeks ahead of time! I love a creamy soup like pumpkin soup, squash soup, sweet potato soup, or even carrot soup. Make the soup, let it cool to room temp, then place in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Label and freeze, then put it in the fridge the night before the holiday so it can thaw. Warm gently on the stove and serve. Easy peasy!
Get the Recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

More make-ahead soups:

4. Pumpkin Pie and other desserts

Pumpkin Pie
This Impossible Pumpkin Pie recipe is made in the blender then baked for the easiest pumpkin pie recipe ever – plus, it freezes shockingly well, too. Other pumpkin pie recipes are great for freezing, too. So are apple pie, berry pie, pecan pie – lots of pies! Not to mention cakes, brownies, crisps, dessert bars, and even cheesecake. To make ahead and freeze, you'll want to bake your dessert, let it cool completely then freeze uncovered until firm. After it's frozen, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and THEN foil, to prevent freezer burn. You can also put it in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and make/apply things like icing and whipped cream the day-of.
Get the Recipe for Impossible Pumpkin Pie

More make-ahead desserts for freezing

1-2 Weeks Ahead of Time

5. Baked Mac & Cheese & other baked pasta dishes

Baked Mac & Cheese
Pasta dishes are another great candidate for making ahead of time. I usually put this one in the 1-2 week ahead of time category as pasta texture can change if it spends too long in the freezer. This Baked Mac & Cheese recipe is one of my most popular Thanksgiving recipes – both here at home and all over! I love that mac and cheese is a traditional holiday dish for so many. For creamy pasta dishes like this mac and cheese, I prefer to assemble it up to the point before I would actually bake it, then cover it tightly in the casserole dish and freeze. I like to pull it out and put it in the fridge a couple of days beforehand, then bake the day-of.
Get the Recipe for Baked Mac & Cheese

More baked pasta recipes for freezing ahead:

6. Stuffing

top view of buttery herb stuffing with a sprig of rosemary
Stuffing
For stuffings and dressings, my favorite approach is to assemble completely, freeze it unbaked, thaw in the refrigerator a couple of days ahead of time, and bake on Thanksgiving Day. This approach tends to help preserve the best texture and gets you a lovely freshly crisped top.
Get the Recipe for Best Stuffing

Stuffing & dressing recipes for prepping ahead

7. Sweet Potato Casserole & other sweet potato dishes

close-up of a spoonful of sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes freeze beautifully thanks to their naturally starchy texture, which helps them stay creamy and smooth after thawing. Mashed sweet potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, and sweet potato casseroles are all great candidates. Prepare as directed up to the point of baking (if it's a baked sweet potato dish), cool completely, and then transfer to a freezer-safe container, label and freeze. For casseroles, leave off crunchy toppings until you're ready to bake. Thaw overnight in the fridge, add any toppings, and bake or reheat in the oven until warmed through. You can reheat mashed or whipped sweet potatoes gently on the stovetop or in the oven, adding a splash of milk or cream if needed.
Get the Recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole
white plate with a serving of sweet potato casserole with a silver fork

More sweet potato recipes:

8. Mashed Potatoes

Close-up top view of Best Ever Mashed Potatoes with cream cheese in an oval dish with thyme leaves and a pat of butter.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are another great Thanksgiving make-ahead dish, especially when they're made with plenty of butter, cream, or cream cheese, like my ultimate mashed potatoes recipe. The added fat from cream cheese helps keep them rich and creamy after freezing and reheating. Make the recipe as directed, let the potatoes cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and cover tightly. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat gently in the oven or on the stovetop, stirring in a splash of warm milk or cream if needed.
Get the Recipe for Mashed Potatoes to Freeze Ahead
Mashing potatoes with a masher.

More mashed potato recipes for freezing:

9. Dinner Rolls

Dinner Rolls
Bake the rolls as directed and let them cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze. When you're ready to serve, thaw at room temperature while still covered to keep them from drying out. Warm briefly in a 300°F oven, wrapped loosely in foil, until soft and heated through. You can make them a week or two ahead and still have soft, fluffy rolls ready for your Thanksgiving table. 
Get the Recipe for Homemade Dinner Rolls

More rolls & bread recipes for making ahead of time:

10. Vegetarian Wellington and other main dishes

Vegetarian Wellington
For this chickpea Wellington ,repare the mashed potato filling and chickpea loaf, shape it into a log, and freeze it without the puff pastry. When you're ready to make the Wellington, thaw the filling in the refrigerator, wrap it in puff pastry, and bake as directed. Vegetarian meatloaf can be baked ahead too, cooled completely, and frozen; thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
Get the Recipe for Vegetarian Wellington

More freeze-ahead Thanksgiving entrees:

Bonus freeze-ahead Thanksgiving recipe:

  • Green Bean Casserole – this one doesn’t fit neatly into a category but it’s great for freezing ahead! Just assemble up to the point of baking – don’t add the crispy onions – then cover tightly and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge, add the French-fried onions, and bake.
top view of fresh green bean casserole with crunchy French fried onions on top

More Thanksgiving Goodness

Recipes

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10 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes for Freezing

Author: Karen
Make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes make for a much less stressful Thanksgiving! Prep and freeze these dishes for a relaxing holiday.
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Ingredients

  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Gravy
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Rolls
  • Dessert
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Vegetarian Mains
  • Stuffing & Dressing
  • Baked Pasta Dishes
  • Soups

Instructions

  • Pick a dish and a recipe to make ahead and freeze. Wrap with plastic wrap and then foil or place in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Label. Thaw at least overnight in the fridge and follow individual recipe instructions for reheating.
  • Enjoy your stress-free Turkey Day!

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