What if I told you that side dishes to make ahead are also something to look forward to this Thanksgiving? As we all can’t wait to celebrate the holiday with our loved ones, we can’t help but worry and stress over what food to serve. With tons of ingredients to shop for, various Thanksgiving dishes, and a handful of guests to serve, preparing Thanksgiving dishes could get tiring and expensive quickly. And let’s keep it real, even if the main course is the turkey, having tasty Thanksgiving sides are what makes an impressive and memorable meal.
With tons of pressure on the Thanksgiving side, planning ahead, getting your groceries delivered to you early, and getting a jump-start ensures preparations are done correctly. This is also a great way to ensure that you’ll get to spend more quality time with your loved ones when Thanksgiving day finally arrives! With these delicious and affordable Thanksgiving sides, you can do all of your prep work in advance and spend less time cooking and more time celebrating the holiday!
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Salad & Grain Thanksgiving Sides
Thanksgiving salads are the perfect counterpoint to all that carbohydrate-heavy food. They’re light, healthy, refreshing, and packed with organic ingredients – just what you need to brighten up your plate! Salads are hassle-free and quick to prepare. With almost every component readily available at groceries, you can save money by shopping for your ingredients early. In addition to this, you can chop all your ingredients and make your dressings in advance. On Thanksgiving day, right before your guests arrive, throw all of your components together and toss it right before serving.
Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Warm Pickled Onion Dressing
Delicata squash is a great vegetable to use in your salads! The flavor really captures the autumn season, and the best part is, you don’t even have to peel it! Simply cut up your squash, bake it, and combine it with the other ingredients days before. Mix all of your dressing ingredients and microwave it right before tossing to make sure the warm dressing coats every inch of your salad.
Kale Salad
Simple and delicious – this kale salad Thanksgiving recipe is the perfect combination of salty, sweet, and tangy. Besides the kale, you can prepare all of your components weeks ahead and toss them together just before serving!
Green Bean Quinoa Salad with Maple Citrus Dressing
This green bean and quinoa salad will not only be one of your healthiest Thanksgiving make ahead sides this year but the dish that will make guests’ taste buds do a happy dance! This easily made-in-advance salad is packed with flavor. It doesn’t need oven-time like traditional green bean recipes, so you’ll be able to save space for your other hot Thanksgiving dishes.
Apple, Cranberry & Walnut Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
This fresh fruit salad has all of your favorite fall flavors – crisp apples mixed with dried cranberries and walnuts. The make-ahead dressing will pack a punch and deliver a flavor that all of your guests will enjoy. Made from apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and honey, the hint of tartness pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the apples and cranberries.
Fruit & Nut Brussel Sprout Slaw
Try out something new and go for a slaw this Thanksgiving! This brussels sprout slaw is a mix of the right ingredients – tender brussels sprouts mixed with dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and fresh green onions. To round everything off, it’s tossed in an orange and Greek yogurt dressing that is a definite winner. This quick and inexpensive Thanksgiving recipe will surely make your Thanksgiving table stand out.
Granny Jordan’s Vegetable Salad
Like a favorite sweater that you just get enough of, this is one of the Thanksgiving vegetable dishes that are comforting and one you’ll definitely want seconds of. Although composed of simple and inexpensive ingredients, this dish is a crowd-pleaser because of how its flavors fit perfectly with other Thanksgiving dishes.
Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries & Nuts
A hearty and earthy wild rice salad is the perfect autumn salad, loaded with fruits, nuts, and healthy grains- you know this is one of the Thanksgiving sides that’s good for you! With wild rice readily available at most grocery stores now, we’re in the fall season, so you should try this delicious recipe!
Soups & Stews
Soup is the perfect first course to warm up on a cool November day and open your appetite to get ready for all the delicious Thanksgiving dishes. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer or a side dish, soups are comforting and delicious! Furthermore, soups and stews are great Thanksgiving sides that you can prepare and cook ahead of time, freeze, and quickly heat up before your guests arrive.
Rustic Italian Butternut Squash Soup
This creamy Tuscan soup made from winter vegetables is a soul-satisfying starter that guests of all ages enjoy. This Thanksgiving recipe uses the best natural flavorings to create a delicate yet full dish. The simple ingredients are enhanced by the right herbs and aromatics for an experience like no other!
Creamy Cauliflower and Parsnip Soup
Imagine the most creamy, smooth, and rich soup you’ve ever had. Now imagine that same taste with a hint of excitement from parsnips too! This recipe creates; it’s like eating pure indulgence in every bite-but without all those pesky calories or cholesterol fats. The addition of pureed rice to the mix here gives this soup a rich, silky smooth texture. This can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and frozen for a quick dinner option that’s easy enough even if you haven’t cooked in ages!
Curried Carrot and Apple Soup
This velvety Thanksgiving soup has a beautiful balance of sweetness, spice, and tang. The secret ingredient? Gingersnap cookies! This soup goes well with most of the other Thanksgiving sides and with a fruit-forward aromatic wine with an innate taste of sweetness. Cooking, boiling, and pureeing the components in batches does take a reasonable amount of time. So, it’s a bright idea to make this soup the day before, refrigerate it, and gently reheat it before your guests arrive.
Maple Butternut Squash + Apple Soup
What’s better than the taste of maple, squash, or apples in the autumn season? All of them combined into one dish, of course! This cozy and healthy maple butternut squash and apple soup is oozing with delicious fall flavors. Sweet, savory, and dairy & gluten-free, this thick and creamy delight is perfectly paired with toasted croutons or a piece of warm crusty bread.
Squash and Lentil Lamb Stew
Although lamb and lentils aren’t usually the first food that pops in mind when you think of Thanksgiving, this freezer cooking recipe is the perfect balance between exotic and exquisite! As good things take time, this stew takes 6-8 hours in the slow cooker until lentils are soft and meat is fork-tender. You can make this stew days ahead of Thanksgiving, freeze it, and partially thaw it in the refrigerator on Thanksgiving eve.
Wild Rice Soup
This Thanksgiving recipe will not only spark your guests’ appetites, but it’ll provide the same comfy feeling of slipping into a thick knitted sweater on a chilly day! The earthy flavors in this dish are enhanced by nutty wild rice and colorful autumn vegetables. Without any dairy, the soup gets its wholesome and rich flavor from white beans, cashews, almond milk, and white miso paste! I know it isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving dish. Still, I promise, this cozy and nourishing soup will have you heading back for seconds before you know it!
Roasted Root Vegetable Soup
Roasted beets, turnips, and parsnips give this vegetable dish the perfect blend of bitter and sweet flavors. This recipe calls for roasting the root vegetables before cooking them in stock and pureeing them in batches. So yes, this Thanksgiving recipe does take a good amount of time to make. Worry not!, you can make this tasty soup as early as three days before and keep it in the refrigerator just before serving on Thanksgiving day.
Casserole Thanksgiving Sides
Thanksgiving won’t be Thanksgiving without casseroles! Whether made of meat, vegetables, or both, your Thanksgiving meal won’t be complete without these savory delights around the table. Most casserole recipes are made with budget-friendly and easy-to-find ingredients, making them a convenient dish to make any day of the week.
The best thing about casseroles is that you can cook them days ahead to allow your ingredients’ flavors to build and blend seamlessly. In addition to this, you can bake your casserole in the same dish you plan on serving it in. Avoid unnecessary last-minute scrambling by simply heating them in advance and covering them in foil to keep them warm.
Do yourself a favor and get a jump-start on Thanksgiving preparations with these make-ahead casserole Thanksgiving dishes.
Green Bean Casserole
As green bean casseroles are a Thanksgiving staple, you can’t go wrong with an easy, kitschy dish like this. This green bean casserole combines fresh green beans and a silky and creamy luscious homemade sauce. Toss the fried onion toppings in crunchy breadcrumbs and add almonds or chestnuts for extra texture- it’s fantastic either way you make it. This recipe can be assembled and frozen for up to 2 months, so you can make two batches and save one for your Christmas feast!
Sweet Potato Casserole with Oat Streusel
Sweet potatoes are a crowd-favorite during the fall season and are a perfect ingredient to include in Thanksgiving sides. The soft mashed sweet potatoes have a subtle sweetness that pairs to perfection with the crunchy cinnamon-hinted oat streusel. For more texture and layers of flavor, you can add pecans, marshmallows, and more spices!
Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Broccoli and cheese is a classic pairing, and Thanksgiving sides are no exemptions from this rule. The crunchy panko breadcrumb topping is seasoned with thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne to give it a slightly spicy crunch in every bite. Whether you decide to serve turkey or something less traditional such as roast beef or fish as your main course, the light flavors of this dish will match it perfectly!
Corn and Bacon Casserole
One of the best fall vegetables that are easy to find and inexpensive is corn! The crunchy texture and subtle sweet taste compliments almost all of the Thanksgiving sides out there. Made with fresh-cut corn kernels and crispy bacon bits, this dish is perfect for those looking for that grilled taste even during the autumn season. The creamy sauce features garlic and basil to give an extra boost in flavor!
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
Buttery, cheesy, creamy. Got your mouth melting already! This cheesy and hearty Casserole is a delicious side dish that can quickly become one of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Baking potatoes will take around an hour, depending on the size of your potatoes, so it’s best to do the baking and mixing of all of your ingredients a couple of days before serving. Place it in the refrigerator and throw it in the oven for 15 minutes on Thanksgiving day, and you’re good to go!
Spaghetti Squash Casserole
This one is for all my spaghetti squash lovers out there! Besides being a healthier dish in comparison to using pasta as the base, this creamy, cheesy, crunchy, and downright delicious casserole will definitely impress everyone at your celebration! It is super simple to make and is perfect for the holiday feast. You can make this ahead and refrigerate the assembled casserole for 24 hours.
Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
Comfort food at its best, this Thanksgiving casserole is warm and totally satisfying with the perfect amount of flavor. This healthy twist on a casserole uses whole wheat pasta and lean chicken breast. Cooked in an oven-ready mushroom and yogurt sauce, this simple Thanksgiving recipe focuses on bringing out each ingredient’s earthy and rich natural flavors!
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Stuffing Thanksgiving Sides
No Thanksgiving table is complete without a baking dish full of stuffing. The crispy exterior masking warm and gooey inside tempts everyone to eat more than their fair share! These make-ahead stuffing recipes will help set up an impressive and low-stress feast. Capitalize on the flavors of this autumn season with these delicious stuffing dishes that feature bread, grains, or rice. Add these make-ahead dishes to your Thanksgiving meal this year, and get ready to amaze your guests!
Chorizo-Fennel Stuffing
This healthy stuffing recipe is easy to make and goes with almost anything. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, substituting shiitake mushrooms in place of chorizo and using mushroom or vegetable broth creates an equally tasty dish! To make this dish ahead of time, you can assemble everything and refrigerate it for up to a day. Before your guests arrive, reheat it in the oven for 20-30 minutes until you get a crispy top. Garnish it with chopped-up fennel fronds, and you’ll have a delicious smelling and tasting stuffing dish!
Herbed Wild Rice and Quinoa Stuffing
Wondering if there are Thanksgiving sides that are vegan, gluten-free, AND packed with protein? Look no further! We have one of the best Thanksgiving dishes that fit perfectly under that criteria. Brimming with fresh herbs, apples, dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans, this stuffing isn’t just for meat-avoiders and gluten-free eaters; it’s great as a pairing with any main Thanksgiving meat course!
Wild Mushroom Stuffing
While mushrooms are readily available year-round, the peak season for most of the wild mushrooms is in the fall or winter seasons. Although not the traditional type of stuffing you’ll usually hear about in Thanksgiving, I’m confident that this stuffing will satisfy those who prefer classic Thanksgiving stuffing and adventurous eaters, as well. This vegetarian make-ahead Thanksgiving dish is so good, you’ll be too excited to wait until Thanksgiving to grab a bite!
Cranberry Walnut Apple Stuffing
Thanksgiving dishes are all about the flavors of sweet and savory. And what better way to do this classic combo justice than blending these flavors in your stuffing? Although completely tasty on its own, you can drizzle a bit of balsamic to just take it over the top! This bread stuffing with sautéed apples, onions, and rosemary will be sure to please any guest at this year’s Thanksgiving celebration.
Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing
This delightful side dish is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal. Even if you’re someone who isn’t a big fan of stuffing, this could be the dish that changes your mind! This stuffing is a festive yet flavorful addition to your holiday meal. With simple and clean flavors that even the pickiest eaters love, this may be the one dish you’ll love to make every year.
Cider, Bacon, and Golden Raisin Stuffing
This stuffing is a blend of whole grain and country slices of bread, giving it the perfect deep earthy flavor. The apple cider and vinegar spiked golden raisins add just the right amount of sweet and tart notes. And, of course, crispy bacon bits just make every dish tastier!
Cornbread Sausage Stuffing with Apples & Cranberries
Loaded with ingredients that everyone loves, this is one of the Thanksgiving sides that aren’t just perfect for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas and family Sunday dinners, as well! Made out of cornbread, sausages, granny smith apples, and cranberries, the classic combo and sweet and savory makes this stuffing a stunner!
Thanksgiving Sauces
A Thanksgiving feast isn’t complete without the flavorful sauces and savory gravies to round off all of your Thanksgiving sides. Throw your store-bought sauce out the window! You don’t have to spend a lot of money and time to create a great-flavored sauce. Get a lot of your preparations out of the way early and try out these mouthwatering make-ahead Thanksgiving sauces.
Tomatillo & Apple Chutney
Looking to stray away from the typical sauces this year? You should try out this tomatillo and apple chutney in place of the iconic cranberry sauce. With dark sweetness from the brown sugar, tanginess from wine or fruit vinegar, and a bit of heat from various spices, this chutney serves up texture and flavor contrasts that you’ve never had before.
Cranberry-Orange Relish
With a hint of orange zest, cinnamon, and a few dashes of Cointreau or Grand Marnier, you can easily make this cranberry relish with a few fresh ingredients and some ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. If not, you can avoid the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and get these simple ingredients delivered straight to your door. Making this relish days before the celebration doesn’t only save you extra prep time on Thanksgiving, it also helps incorporate all the flavors together.
Orange-Fennel Mostarda
Right off the bat, wonderful aromas will fill your kitchen as you make this mostarda; it’ll be hard not to want to grab a spoon and eat it out of the pan! The best thing about this sauce? It’s even better the next day when the intense flavors of orange and fennel build up and linger! Eat this with crackers, toasted bread, and all of your other savory and sweet Thanksgiving sides.
Turkey Gravy
This easy and delicious turkey gravy is an absolute necessity for a Thanksgiving meal. It pairs perfectly with these Appetizing and Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes! It’s a quick and straightforward make-ahead gravy for when you get busy with your hectic schedule or if you just want to cut down on your preparation time. Another reason this gravy recipe is a keeper, it’s highly inexpensive to make because you only need a few very basic ingredients.
Mixed-Mushroom and Tarragon Gravy
With a variety of mushrooms, a bit of shallot and garlic, fresh herbs, and a hint of white wine or vermouth, this gravy is an elegant yet flavor-packed take on your traditional Thanksgiving gravy. This make-ahead gravy is excellent with a variety of meat Thanksgiving dishes. You can pair this with your traditional turkey, roast beef, high-quality steak cuts, and even meatloaf!
Rolls, Biscuits, and Bread
Dinner rolls, biscuits, and bread are a simple yet essential element in any Thanksgiving spread. They don’t only balance out all the dynamic flavors and textures of all the Thanksgiving sides; they double up as a vehicle to soak up delicious sauces and soup to wipe your dishes clean.
Yes, we can all agree that baking bread takes a lot of time, and it’s tempting to settle for store-bought dough. But fear not! These made-ahead bread recipes are here to save your Thanksgiving! All you’ll need to do is prep them ahead of time and pop them in the oven a few moments before your guests arrive to keep them warm. From savory rolls to sweet loaves, this selection of homemade bread is sure to satisfy and impress your Thanksgiving crowd.
Spinach Puffs
These Spinach Puffs are an effortless appetizer to make ahead of time for a Thanksgiving meal. They’re much easier than traditional spanakopita, which uses filo dough and can take quite some time too! These simple spinach puff pastries are simple, fresh-tasting, and so tasty that I assure you you’re going to want to include these in your weekly meal planning.
Light Tender Potato Dinner Rolls
You can’t go wrong with light, tender buns when it comes to your Thanksgiving sides. These make-ahead pull-apart potato rolls are just that! Made with real potato and butter, these beautiful fluffy dinner rolls are the perfect Thanksgiving starters to pair with sauce or soup. If you plan on making these ahead, you can refrigerate them for up to 24 hours after shaping them. Before baking them, loosely cover them and allow them to get back to room temperature.
Cran-Sage Rolls
Cranberry and sage? Who would’ve thought! With earthy notes from the sage, tanginess from the ginger, and a hint of sweetness from the dried cranberries, these rolls are so versatile! They can be an appetizer, a side dish, or even eaten alone as a snack to munch on during the Thanksgiving season! Another great thing about these rolls? These festive rolls can be made in advance and placed in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking!
Pumpkin Cornbread
This pumpkin cornbread is a fun and tasty twist on an old Thanksgiving make ahead favorite. The addition of the sweet pumpkin flavor adds a taste of autumn! This side dish is an absolutely great pairing with soup, stews, or chili. Moreover, you can enjoy it on its own, with a bit of honey butter or even the traditional cranberry sauce!
Gruyere, Mushroom, & Caramelized Onion Bites
Flakey puff pastry, sauteéd mushrooms, balsamic caramelized onions, applewood-smoked gruyere cheese. Need I say more? These fancy puff pastry delights can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time and take such a minimal time to whip up! Loaded with various components with rich and warm flavors, these little guys are what Thanksgiving dreams are made of!
Cranberry Orange Loaf
An autumn flavor combination that everyone loves is cranberry and orange. The citrus aroma of oranges and the tartness from the cranberries is a festive and bright pairing that excites everyone’s palettes. You can make this up to 5 days before Thanksgiving day and store it in an airtight container. This Thanksgiving recipe makes a great feast starter, dessert, or even a snack during the day that your guests can have with coffee or hot tea.
Whole Wheat Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
Making rolls for your Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to be nerve-racking and challenging! If you have kids, you can have them help you shape the rolls and place them into the muffin pans. These cloverleaf-shaped dinner rolls are not only fun and easy to make, but they’re soft and have the nutritional fibers in them from the whole wheat.
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Vegetable Dishes
Most of your Thanksgiving dishes might have permanent spots on your Thanksgiving menu year after year. Switching things up with your vegetable dishes is a great way to test new recipes and add variety to your Thanksgiving spread. You’ll be the hit of every Thanksgiving with your delicious and creative feasts. Guests will never know what’s coming next!
We all know that preparing various vegetable side dishes can be tiring, but it doesn’t have to be! Try out these easy and delicious make-ahead recipes that’ll make eating your greens feel like a treat!
Honey-Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have become a popular fall vegetable and are being used more frequently in Thanksgiving sides. This brussels sprouts and butternut squash dish is topped with crunchy toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Tossed in a lush spiced honey citrus sauce, there’s no doubt that this is one of the vegetable dishes that will shine next to your golden turkey.
Green Beans with Blood Orange and Tangerine Dressing
Let the unembellished facade fool you not! Crispy, light, and fresh are words that perfectly describe this dish. Tangerines and blood oranges give this make-ahead Thanksgiving recipe its unique citrus kick! With readily-available and inexpensive ingredients, short and straightforward cooking steps, this is probably one of the easiest and quickest Thanksgiving sides you’ll ever prepare!
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Glazed Carrots
Make a side dish with just three ingredients? Challenge accepted! If you thought salads were the easiest Thanksgiving sides to prepare, get a load of this 15-minute vegetable Thanksgiving recipe! Stop overspending on groceries and add this to your Thanksgiving side to your menu this year. Glistening orange carrots with brown sugar-butter glaze is an inexpensive, simple, healthy, and easy-to-prepare dish that will brighten up your Thanksgiving spread.
Savory Corn Pudding Recipe
Corn pudding is a staple Southern dish fit for almost every holiday gathering and is spot on for a Thanksgiving meal. Chopped onions and fresh thyme add a savory kick to this corn pudding recipe. With its golden-brown crust and fluffy and creamy consistency, this side dish definitely deserves a place at the table. A dish so good, even picky eaters can’t resist!
Winter Squash Agrodolce
Give your guests a spicy kick this year they won’t soon forget! With fresh produce like Kabocha squash and delicata squash spiced with red pepper flakes and Fresno chiles, this definitely isn’t one of your typical Thanksgiving dishes! Balancing off the heat with a hint of vinegar and sweet golden raisins, this Thanksgiving recipe will have your guests asking for seconds!
Roasted Beets with Citrus
When cooking for Thanksgiving, you don’t always have to go the traditional route with your flavors. If you’re looking for a bright and fruity-tasting side dish this year, you should give this Thanksgiving recipe a go. Roast some beets to bring out their sweet earthiness, add juicy orange slices for a bit of tanginess, and throw in a handful of your favorite greens. Sprinkle some flaky sea salt and some orange zest, and you’ll have a fall dish packed with the flavors of summer!
Creamed Spinach with Bacon
Creamed spinach with bacon is the perfect side dish! It has a sinfully good taste that you’ll never want to go back to regular veggies again. When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, you and your loved ones deserve to indulge in something a little sinful and fancy. Besides being a hit even with kids, this is one of those vegetable dishes you’ll feel guilty about eating but know that it was so worth it!
Sweet Thanksgiving Sides & Desserts
No matter what holiday it is, how many dishes were prepared, and how much you ate, there will always be room for dessert! After stuffing yourself with meat and loads of savory Thanksgiving sides, these Easy & Popular Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas are the best thing to comfort your tastebuds and cap off a great meal. From classic pumpkin-flavored desserts to bright cranberry and apple sweets, I’ve got you covered! With these sweet and delectable make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes, I challenge you NOT to devour them before Thanksgiving!
Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie
This pumpkin pie isn’t just any old way to celebrate fall. This tastes like a light and fluffy ice cream birthday cake, but with all the pumpkin goodness shining through! A great thing about this Thanksgiving side dish recipe is that you don’t need to fuss over baking a traditional pie crust. The oven-free buttery graham cracker is extremely easy to make. The crumbly crust is the perfect contrast against the silky and creamy filling spiced with cinnamon. The best part? Since it’s ice cream, you can make this in advance and store it in the freezer for weeks.
Apple Crisp
Simple, delicious, and a freezer-friendly dish for Thanksgiving? What more can you ask for? Whether you’re gathered around the table or you’re chilling on the couch watching your favorite holiday movies, this make-ahead apple crisp is the perfect dessert for your Thanksgiving dinner. It can be made in advance and stored in the freezer. Then simply reheat it in the oven for 25-30 minutes while everyone is enjoying your main course and delicious Thanksgiving sides.
Creamy Cranberry Salad
This creamy cranberry salad has it all! Packed with bundles of pineapple, grapes, bananas, and marshmallows, this dish is a perfect blend of tartness alongside its rich creaminess in every spoonful. Made with real juicy cranberries, you’ll get a natural pink and red color that will surely make this dish stand out in your beautiful Thanksgiving spread.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Honey
Sweet potato Thanksgiving side dishes are always a win on Thanksgiving, especially since it is a make ahead recipe. These whipped sweet potatoes with bananas and honey are a sure homerun that will impress all of your guests, even the children! For an extra kick, sprinkle some homemade candied pecans on top to give it that extra sweet crunch.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Cheesecake is an all-year favorite dessert. Why not make a Thanksgiving cheesecake full of autumn flavors? This Thanksgiving recipe is a great way to enjoy everything you love about pumpkin pie and cheesecake in one tasty holiday dish. You can easily prepare these pies up until 2 weeks ahead and freeze them for later use!
Reese’s Freezer Friendly Oatmeal Cookies
What do you get when you add candy and cookies? A showstopper your younger guests will definitely obsess over! You can make the cookie dough balls ahead of time, seal them in reusable bags, and into the freezer they go for up to 3 months! Loaded with peanut butter and chocolate candy, the children at your party will gobble these up in no time.
Mini Pecan Pies
Pecans give off a subtly sweet and delicate nutty flavor that’s such a joy to have during the fall season. These delicious mini delights are so easy to make, and they serve as little individual pies for everyone! These pies can be made ahead and frozen for 2-3 months in a ziplock bag, then taken out to thaw overnight in the fridge. On Thanksgiving day, simply take them out of the refrigerator, so they have time to get back to room temperature before you serve them up to your guests.
Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Maple Bourbon Glaze
Who doesn’t love a bundt cake? And of course, don’t forget about that sinfully delicious maple bourbon glaze! You’ve got to be kidding if you’re going to pass on this dessert. Bursting with warm, nutty, and earthy flavors of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, gingerbread is easily enjoyable during the Thanksgiving season, as well! With a highly moist and dense texture due to the buttermilk and sour cream in the batter, this spiced cake is the perfect pairing with your favorite holiday drink or an after-meal hot cup of joe.
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The best part of Thanksgiving is spending time with your loved ones while bonding and indulging in all the delicious food. So it’s always a great idea to get Threfrigeratorving preparations done before the big day. You’ll not only get more time to plan out and relax, but this will gift you with more precious moments spent for fun and celebration with your family and friends.
Shopping for groceries, preparing, assembling, and cooking ahead of time is the key to a complete and successful Thanksgiving meal that will surely impress every guest’s palate and tummy. With this list of delicious make ahead Thanksgiving sides and dishes, I hope you got some inspiration and ideas for your Thanksgiving spread this year.
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