A list of delicious make-ahead Thanksgiving (or Christmas) side dishes that will make return appearances to your holiday table year after year. These recipes are tried and true, family and kid tested.
Each year, I plan on making my Thanksgiving plans way in advance; menu, setting the table, cleaning the house, planning the day out, making some dishes ahead – but then life, life just happens. Can anyone relate?
TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE HOLIDAY MEAL
While we all want the picture perfect Thanksgiving meal, one thing I’ve learned through years of entertaining is to relax more, not worry about everything being spotless!
- Broom sweep your floors, after all, your perfectly mopped floors will once again be dirty after Aunt Freda accidentally drops her plate on the floor.
- Declutter what you can and clean your bathrooms, on that I must insist!
- Set your table a day or two ahead of time.
- Make as many dishes as you can ahead of time.
- Be ready for your guests; if you are running behind, be sure to get yourself ready first, nobody likes to arrive with their host upstairs with wet hair.
- You can always ask your guests to help set the table, put finishing touches on things, carve the turkey, put together an appetizer, pour a drink! Why not, they’d love to, wouldn’t you if asked?
- Relax, put on some relaxing music and breathe, put a smile on your face, stop and sit with your guests.
THREE NO FAIL THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES
We’ll start with a couple of sides of what might be my favorite parts of Thanksgiving or any holiday for that matter — Thanksgiving Praline Yams and Fresh Cranberry Pomegranate Relish and Easy Yeast Rolls.
Think about what is on your menu that you can make ahead and plan on making one every few days, from now until Thanksgiving, or better yet, ask those who are joining you to bring along a side or two. I cannot tell you enough the one thing I’ve learned about having people over is to ask, don’t do it all alone!
FABULOUS MAKE AHEAD THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES
Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes you Can Make Ahead!
Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Rolls
Soft and chewy, these Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Rolls are simple and scrumptious. A touch of molasses and honey, healthy whole wheat flour give these rolls amazing texture and great flavor, similar to Outback or Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread.
Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy sweet potatoes in a bourbon casserole with a crunchy pecan oat topping.
Easy Yeast Rolls
A super easy light, buttery and delicious yeast roll; started in your bread machine for fresh, hot rolls in no time!
Fresh Cranberry Relish
This cranberry relish is super simple and is a beautiful addition to your holiday menu! Bright and festive, sweet and tart, 4 ingredients to this quick dish.
Simple Thanksgiving Dressing - Great All Year Long
A delicious dressing just for the holidays perfect with any meal!
Sugared Cranberries | 3 Sugar Varieties
Sugared Cranberries are a fabulous, simple and beautiful holiday garnish and snack!! Fresh cranberries bathed in a quick hot simple syrup bath, then rolled into a variety of sugars.
How to make Candied Sweet Potatoes
Deliciously simple candied sweet potatoes or yams!
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
Cheesy potato casserole topped with buttery corn flakes, creamy, cheesy, easy with no canned soup. The best potluck and holiday dish ever. Make ahead and gluten free option.
{My Mom's} Cranberry Sauce - Fresh cranberries with pineapple & orange.
Delicious classic Cranberry sauce, a tradition.
Maple Apple Sausage Stuffing
The BEST stuffing or dressing to perfectly compliment your holiday dinner. Stuff a turkey, serve as a side with pork or poultry. Tart cranberries, crisp sweet apples, crunchy pecans and savory sausage, sweet maple syrup and a splash of bourbon, this will become your new stuffing.
Spicy Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
A new spicy twist on a classic holiday dish!
Praline Yams (Sweet Potatoes)
An amazing make ahead side-dish for the upcoming holidays! Light, creamy, complex, with undertones of orange and cinnamon, touched with a hint of whiskey, not to mention the indulgent sweet pecan praline topping.
Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes
These Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes quick, and they are loaded with incredible flavors; like garlic, Boursin cheese, spices, cream and broth for restaurant style mashed potatoes! Stovetop and slow cooker instructions included.
Giblet Turkey Gravy (Make Ahead!)
This recipe for silky, smooth, oozing with amazing turkey flavor gravy is the last one you will ever need! Make ahead and save time on your busy holiday, while you wow your guests with this gravy.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze has a secret to the perfect crispy, roasted leaves, then drizzled with a warm honey balsamic glaze.
Glazed Tarragon Carrots
This recipe for Glazed Tarragon Carrots is so simple, with the fresh, earthy flavor of tarragon, a little butter and sea salt, you will have an incredibly easy, quick and tasty side dish.
Easy Instant Pot Turkey Breast
The best, juicy and tender boneless turkey breast made in less than an hour in your Instant Pot! Need to supplement your white mean this Thanksgiving, or just having a small gathering, this turkey breast recipe is perfect!
Wild Rice Harvest Salad
Wild Rice Harvest salad is overflowing with lots of satisfying crunchies, and you'll enjoy eating the rainbow of toppings. Dressed with this easy to prepare maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake
A fall inspired pumpkin spice coffee cake, kind of a like a giant honey bun. With maple vanilla icing spread over a warm cake. A moist warm cake, ready in an hour.
Chocolate Bread Pudding
This Chocolate Bread Pudding uses whole food ingredients; turning bread, chocolate, cream and eggs into a rich, decadent chocolate delight! Perfect for a special breakfast or dessert!
Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Dreamy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes; enhanced with the flavorful elegance of roasted garlic, these will become your go-to mashed potatoes.
Mini Chocolate French Silk Pies with Toffee Graham Crust
Smooth as silk, Mini Chocolate French Silk Pies are the bomb! Creamy, decadent chocolate French silk pie filling on a toffee graham cracker crust, with a dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream.
Try these traditional dishes to complete your Thanksgiving meal; creamy mashed potatoes, rich giblet gravy, maple sausage pecan stuffing and of course a juicy, tender tasty turkey or try this Instant Pot Turkey Breast if you are feeding a smaller crowd.
Whether you are joining others or hosting Thanksgiving yourself, I pray that it is filled with deep gratitude, I pray you are able to find oodles of reasons to be thankful and that it spills out of you onto others around you!
A Thanksgiving Psalm
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness and delight;
Come before His presence with joyful singing.
Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His].
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting,
His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.
Psalm 100 (AMP)
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