Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends to enjoy a delicious meal together. One way to make this special occasion less stressful is by preparing some dishes ahead of time. Today, we’ll explore traditional Thanksgiving recipes to make ahead, allowing you to spend more time with your loved ones and less time in the kitchen on the big day.
Thanksgiving Recipes to Make Ahead
Make-Ahead Turkey
Preparing the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal in advance can save valuable time and oven space on the day of the feast.
Consider brining and roasting the turkey a day or two before Thanksgiving.
Once cooked, carve the turkey and store the meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
On the day of the celebration, simply reheat the sliced turkey in the oven with a bit of broth to keep it moist and flavorful.
Recipes to Make Ahead: Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving side dish that can easily be made ahead of time.
After boiling and mashing the potatoes, add butter, cream, and seasoning.
Place the mashed potatoes in a slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting until ready to serve.
This will free up space on your stovetop and allow you to focus on other last-minute preparations.
Recipes to Make Ahead: Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce is a delightful addition to any Thanksgiving table.
To save time, prepare this tangy condiment a few days in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
The flavors will have time to meld and intensify, resulting in a more delicious sauce to accompany your turkey.
Stuffing
Rather than stuffing the turkey on Thanksgiving morning, consider making the stuffing a day or two ahead of time.
After preparing the mixture of bread, herbs, and other ingredients, refrigerate it until you are ready to bake.
This will not only save time on the busy day but also allow the flavors to develop further.
Pie
No Thanksgiving feast is complete without a selection of pies for dessert.
You can make and freeze pies well in advance, eliminating the stress of last-minute baking.
Whether it’s pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie, simply thaw and reheat before serving, and no one will know they were made ahead of time.
Thanksgiving Recipes to Make Ahead
By preparing certain dishes ahead of time, you can reduce stress and spend more quality time with your loved ones on Thanksgiving.
From the turkey to the pies, these make-ahead recipes will allow you to create a memorable feast without being overwhelmed by last-minute cooking.
Embrace the tradition of Thanksgiving with these time-saving and delicious make-ahead recipes.
Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years as a consultant. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate coaching and leadership, including mentoring early and mid-career professionals as well as current and future executives and leaders. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from relevant experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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