50+ Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Make Ahead of Time

updated Sep 30, 2022

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Serving spoon inside sweet potato souffle dish. — Credit: Photo: Ghazalle Badiozamani | Food Stylist: Jesse Szewczyk
Sweet Potato Soufflé

Despite your most careful planning (did you make a detailed timeline?), cooking Thanksgiving dinner can still feel a little stressful once the big day rolls around. It holds true whether you’re having a small Thanksgiving dinner or hosting the whole extended family. That’s why we love getting a jump-start with one or several make ahead Thanksgiving sides.

From stuffing to potato sides to cranberry sauce, rolls, and more, we’ve got 54 make ahead Thanksgiving sides that can be prepped, assembled, or even totally cooked anywhere from a day to a month in advance.

Stuffing

Stuffing is a great make-ahead side. Depending on your schedule and energy level, you’ve got a couple of options. For just a little bit of a head-start, you can simply toast the bread up to several days in advance. Or if you prefer to tackle a little more, the whole dish can be prepped and assembled, then stashed in the fridge until you’re ready to slide it into the oven.

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Sausage and Apple Stuffing

You can prepare the stuffing and assemble the ingredients in the baking dish (just leave out the egg/broth mixture). Cover then refrigerate until you're ready to bake. When ready to bake, pour the egg/broth mixture over the top and bake according the recipe insturctions.

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The Best Easy Stuffing

It doesn't get much easier than this 5-ingredient stuffing. Plus it can be completely assembled, topped with butter, covered tightly with buttered aluminum foil, and refrigerated overnight.

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Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Get a head start by totally assembling the stuffing a day in advance, then top with butter, cover tightly with buttered aluminum foil, and refrigerate overnight.

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Sicilian Meatball Stuffing

Not only does this meat-filled recipe offer a welcome twist on your Thanksgiving stuffing, but it also comes with big make-ahead potential.

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Gluten-Free Cornbread and Mushroom Stuffing

This cornbread stuffing, filled with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, and pecans, is even better when made in advance.

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Classic Sage Stuffing for Thanksgiving

This classic turkey sidekick can be assembled and tucked away in the fridge up to a day before hitting the oven on the holiday.

Potatoes

The potatoes are a must on many a Thanksgiving table, and no matter how you like them, you’ve got options for getting a head-start.

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Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

These creamy baked mashed potatoes are loaded with two kinds of cheese and are make-ahead-friendly.

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Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Cream cheese upgrades classic mashed potatoes into the creamiest, dreamiest side.

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Smashed Potato Casserole

This decadent casserole takes a basic baked potato to a whole new level. Best of all, it allows you to get a head start on what's sure to be everyone's favorite side.

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Make-Ahead Mashed Potato Casserole

Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving essential, but they can take up precious time if you're making a big batch on the big day. Give yourself a head start with this casserole version of the dish.

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The Best Mashed Potatoes

Here's our recipe for how to make the best classic mashed potatoes, with recommendations for potato type, dairy additions, and mashing methods.

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Mashed Potato Puffs

Get a head start on assembling these individual potato puffs, and then pop them in the oven to reheat and re-crisp just before dinner.

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Vegan Mashed Potatoes

These garlicky potatoes are so creamy and lush — without a single drop of cream or butter.

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

When reheating, don't be afraid to add a splash or two of milk as you’re rewarming to bring them back to their creaminess.

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Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk & Vanilla Bean

Rich coconut milk and fragrant vanilla bean kick everyday sweet potatoes into holiday mode. Get a jump on Thanksgiving day by making this side dish a few days in advance.

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Stovetop Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Maple and Pecans

You'll want to hold off on the maple and pecan drizzle until just before this crowd-pleasing side hits the table, but the potatoes can be made a few days in advance.

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Sour Cream Balsamic Sweet Potatoes

This majorly upgraded side starts with whole baked sweet potatoes that can be cooked a few days in advance. All that's left to do is reheat and mix in the sour cream and balsamic before serving.

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Easy 5-Ingredient Sweet Potato Casserole

You know and love sweet potato casserole. Here's how to make it even easier. It can be made up to three days in advance - just leave off the marshmallows until right before baking.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé

An elegant take on sweet potato casserole made with whole eggs, spices, and brown sugar, and baked until light and puffed. Get a head start by baking the potatoes up to 3 days in advance.

Cranberry Sauce and Gravy

Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things to make in advance because it’s so low effort and freezes incredibly well. You can even make the gravy in advance — no turkey roasting required.

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Basic Cranberry Sauce

This sweet turkey accompaniment can be made up to two weeks in advance and tucked away in the fridge until the turkey is out of the oven.

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Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

This is a classic "dump it and forget it" recipe that will show you how to make the easiest batch of cranberry sauce. It'll keep in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for months.

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Citrus-and-Fig Cranberry Sauce

Citrus and figs amp up this bursting-with-flavor cranberry sauce.

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Fig Cranberry Sauce

Simmer the sauce at the beginning of the week, then store the finished sauce in the fridge until Thanksgiving.

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Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

Good news — you don't have to wait until the whole bird is out of the oven to tackle the gravy. This version, made with turkey pieces, can be made up to a few months in advance and stored in the freezer.

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Vegan Brown Gravy

Caramelized onions and mushrooms pack this brown gravy with rich, savory flavor. Get a head start by making the onions in advance or make the gravy a couple days before serving.

Vegetable Sides

No matter what kind of veggies you want to put on your table this year, here’s a good selection of make-ahead options.

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Green Beans Almondine

The green beans can be blanched and chilled up to 2 days in advance before finishing in the skillet.

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Air Fryer Carrots

Slender carrot sticks seasoned with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs air fried until tender and blistered. The carrots can be peeled and cut up to 4 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container.

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Classic Green Bean Casserole

You'll want to wait to add the fried onion topping until right before serving, but this classic casserole can be made up to three days in advance.

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Roasted Delicata Salad with Warm Pickled Onion Dressing

When the squash is roasted in advance, all that's left to do on Thanksgiving day is toss the ingredients together and heat up the warm dressing. And yes, you can totally use the microwave.

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Cumin-Roasted Carrots with Wild Rice and Chickpeas

Tackle this fresh and fragrant side by making the components a day in advance, then reheat and top with the cheese right before it hits the table.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Purée with Goat Cheese

When made in advance, all that's left to do on Thanksgiving day is to reheat this velvety purée and stir in the crumbly goat cheese.

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Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples, Hazelnuts & Brown Butter Dressing

Get ahead of dinner by prepping this elegant Brussels sprout salad the day before Thanksgiving.

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How To Make the Creamiest Mashed Cauliflower

Not only does this super-creamy side dish offer a lighter alternative to mashed potatoes, but you can also whip it up a few days before you plan to serve it.

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Smoky Creamed Kale

If you love creamed spinach, consider this recipe an invitation to branch out beyond the classic. Added bonus: It can be prepared a day or two before Thanksgiving.

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Light & Easy Broccoli Salad

This shredded broccoli salad benefits from staying put for an hour or two after being dressed. Want to get more of a jump on your salad? Prep the salad and dressing separately a day or two in advance, and then mix them just before serving.

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Thanksgiving Slaw

Thanks to a hearty shredded cabbage base, this seasonal slaw will stay crisp for hours after being dressed. Or make it a day in advance and mix in the dressing just before serving.

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Blistered Green Beans with Pickled Shallots and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Fresh green beans are stir-fried until blistered, then tossed with tangy pickled shallots and topped with crunchy, salty breadcrumbs. Get a head start by making the pickled shallots and breadcrumbs in advance.

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Easy, Classic Roasted Root Vegetables

A simple formula for roasting any mix of root vegetables — be it carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, or rutabagas.

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Air Fryer Butternut Squash

For crispy and tender butternut squash in a fraction of the time, use your air fryer. While the squash is best cooked the day of, it can be cut up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge.

Casseroles

One of the many great things about casseroles is that most can be totally prepped and assembled in advance, then covered and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them.

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Make-Ahead Creamy Mac & Cheese Casserole

This creamy, dreamy mac and cheese was specifically created for those of you that want to get a head start. It can be prepped days ahead of time, then just popped in the oven.

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Baked Polenta with Greens, Artichokes, and Gruyère

This ultra-comforting, veggie-heavy casserole can be prepped and assembled up to a day before cooking. Get an even bigger jump-start by making and freezing the filling up to one month in advance.

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Chickpea Casserole with Lemon, Herbs & Shallots

This hearty vegetarian casserole can be totally prepped and assembled a day in advance, then baked right before serving.

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Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

A more wholesome take on classic macaroni and cheese using a creamy cauliflower cheese sauce. Assemble the casserole a day in advance, but wait until baking to add the breadcrumbs and Parm for maximum crispiness.

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Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

This low-carb cauliflower casserole is inspired by a loaded baked potato with all the fixings.

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Wild Rice and Kale Casserole

You can cook just the rice and make the whole casserole up to a day in advance.

Rolls, Biscuits, and Bread

When in doubt, you can never go wrong with rolls or bread.

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Instant Pot Bread

This no-knead bread can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Sicilian bread is made even more delightful with the classic sesame seed ingredient. It'll keep at room temp for several days, or if you really want to get a jump, make it now and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

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No-Knead Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

Fresh-baked rolls make holidays even more special. Make this sweet potato version ahead of time, then warm them in the oven just before dinner.

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Herbed Olive Oil Fantail Rolls

This is the kind of impressive side that deserves plenty of attention before Thanksgiving day arrives. Make them ahead and warm them in the oven just before dinner.

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Make-Ahead Freezer Biscuits

Learn how to make biscuits with less mess any night of the week. (Hint: Make them ahead.)

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How To Make No-Knead Bread

This loaf is the simplest bread we know how to bake at home and it requires no stand mixer, no starter, no special knowledge, and no kneading.

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Roasted Garlic and Herb No-Knead Bread

This garlic and herb no-knead bread tastes far better than basic garlic bread — especially when you slather the still-warm slices with a little butter. Here's how to make a rustic loaf of garlic and herb bread without any kneading.

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Soft & Tender Dinner Rolls

These foolproof dinner rolls are best if eaten within a day or two, but will keep in an airtight container on the counter for up to 1 week. Rolls can also be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated in a warm oven.

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