Easy Thanksgiving Menu and Prep Schedule
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This Thanksgiving Menu is filled with easy-to-make classic favorites we love for the big day. From Thanksgiving turkey, to salads, side dishes and dessert recipes too. Plus, we’ll talk about an easy prep schedule leading up to Thanksgiving Day.
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Making dishes and parts of recipes ahead helps keep everything running smoothly on Thanksgiving Day.
Are you ready to plan the Thanksgiving menu? Here we go!
Thanksgiving Menu:
- Holiday Cheese Board
- Herb Roasted Turkey with this Easy Turkey Dry Brine Recipe
- 10 Minute Cranberry Sauce
- Greens and Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts
- Creamy Carrot Soup with Leeks and Ginger
- Wild Mushroom Stuffing
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
- Classic Green Bean Casserole
- Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mashed Potatoes
- Creamed Spinach
- Apple Crisp
- Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Tassies
- Spice Sugar Cookies
I’m so excited for this feast! And the leftovers? Oh my, my mouth is watering already. Friday after Thanksgiving, in my house, is always Leftover Turkey Vegetable Noodle Soup. Well, and Christmas shopping, decorating, and even more leftovers!
Here’s how I like to prep the Thanksgiving Menu.
Thanksgiving Menu Prep Schedule
Sunday:
- Clean the refrigerator and make space for dishes
- Write grocery list and shop for ingredients.
- If using a frozen turkey, begin to thaw in the refrigerator.
- Make the Pecan Tassies and freeze and ahead.
Monday:
- Make the cranberry sauce and refrigerate.
- Make the Spice Sugar Cookies and freeze ahead.
Tuesday
- Begin to dry brine the turkey.
- Cube the bread for the Wild Mushroom Stuffing and let sit out to dry overnight.
Wednesday:
- Chop the bread and prep the mushroom and herbs for the Wild Mushroom Stuffing. Will finish and bake on Thursday.
- Prep ingredients for the Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, and pre-cook the bacon.
- Wash and prep salad greens.
- Prep vegetables for the Creamy Carrot Soup with Leeks and Ginger but don’t make it in the Instant Pot until Thursday.
- Assemble the Green Bean Casserole and have ready to bake on Thursday.
- Boil the sweet potatoes for Easy Sweet Potato Casserole, mash and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake the Traditional Pumpkin Pie.
- Make Easy Creamed Spinach, let cool, and refrigerate in an airtight container
- Set the table
Thursday:
Morning:
- Make the Apple Crisp but hold off on baking until you sit down to dinner.
- Assemble the Holiday Cheese Board and leave at room temperature.
- Begin roasting the Herb Roasted Turkey.
1-2 Hours Before the Feast:
- Prep and begin boiling potatoes for the mashed potatoes.
- Assemble and bake the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash, bake the Green Bean Casserole, and Sweet Potato Casserole.
- Combine the dry cubed bread and mushroom mixture for the Wild Mushroom Stuffing and bake.
- Add Creamy Carrot Soup ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook according to recipe.
- Let the turkey sit for at least 20 minutes before carving and placing on an oven-proof platter. Keep warm before serving with either foil or warming in a 200-degree oven.
- Make the gravy and mash the potatoes.
- Assemble the salad.
- FEAST!
- While you are feasting, bake the Apple Crisp.
