28 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes Your Guests Will Rave About

For a long time, even the idea of hosting Thanksgiving felt like an incredibly stressful feat. How can one possibly prep ingredients, cook a ton of different dishes, and be there to welcome guests through the door with apps and cocktails? It just didn’t make sense! Growing up, the hosts in my family always managed to make holiday gatherings look easy and feel elegant, and I never knew how they were able to do it—until recently.

Now that I’ve finally unlocked the secret to relatively stress-free entertaining, I realize it’s really not so complicated after all. All you need is a well-outlined plan with plenty of make-ahead components. This spreads the pressure (and use of the oven) across days and allows you to chip away at the work before the party, leaving you more time to enjoy your company.

It sounds simple, and it surely is, but you have to choose the menu wisely to lean into the make-ahead magic. Not every dish will stand up to a reheat or can sit in the fridge overnight and still taste amazing the next day.

I love making desserts, apps, and most sides ahead, with the turkey, gravy, and salads coming together the day of. Whatever your plan, you can rest assured that the recipes below are all make-ahead-friendly additions that you can count on this holiday season.