4 Easy Meals for Thanksgiving Week So You Can Relax and Enjoy the Holiday

Routine is a comfort during busy times like Thanksgiving week, and it’s one of the many reasons I lean on meal planning. Between coordinating family and planning our Thanksgiving meal, I’m kind of decision-fatigued — so I’m leaning on a meal plan template to make the dinner decisions for me. Here are the four dinners I’m serving before and after our festive Thanksgiving meal and a look at what we’re eating in my household on Turkey Day.

As is our routine, we’re starting the week with pasta. This easy pasta bake will keep warm while we wait for my in-laws to arrive from out of town and to feed them when they walk in the door.

Get the recipe: Pepperoni Pizza Baked Pasta

I’m planning to do my last-minute Thanksgiving shopping on Tuesday after work, so my husband is squarely in charge of this dinner. For our kiddos, we’ll leave half of the sheet pan without the spicy salsa and pickled jalapeños.

Get the recipe: Loaded Black Bean Nachos

The evening before Thanksgiving I tend to want the antithesis of roasted turkey and buttery potatoes. We’re making this gingery poached egg soup that comes together — I swear — in 15 minutes. I’ll add some microwave-steamed edamame to complete the meal.

Get the recipe: Gingery Poached Egg Soup

I’m doing my best to make this my personally easiest Thanksgiving ever (I tend to do too much, to be quite honest). I’m making our bacon-wrapped turkey which requires no brining or futzing the day of, vegan mashed potatoes for their short ingredient list, five-ingredient dressing, and sweet potato casserole. I’ve got freezer biscuits prepped already and I’m planning to quickly cook some green beans on the stovetop. Guests (and my mother in-law) are in charge of dessert!

While I’m at the store buying my turkey, I am grabbing a can of biscuits and some grated cheddar cheese to make this loaded skillet bread for a fast dinner on Friday. It makes perfect use of Thanksgiving leftovers.

Get the recipe: Cheesy Turkey and Cranberry Skillet Monkey Bread

• The Beginner’s Guide to Meal Planning: What to Know, How to Succeed, and What to Skip
• The Best Way to Use a Weekend for Meal Planning Success
• Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before You Start Meal Planning
• 5 Strategies for Picking Recipes for a Week of Meal Planning

Join Our Meal Plan Club Facebook Group

Meal planning isn’t always easy — especially if you’re just getting started. But we’re firm believers that it’s the secret to stress-free weeknight dinners. We want to help you find inspiration and ease some of the pain points that come with getting dinner on the table night after night, whether you’re cooking one or a family of four or five. Every week we share a new meal plan solution specifically customized for you from reader requests or from a guest contributor, for Next Week’s Meal Plan!