41 Best Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

This sweet-tart sauce is almost as easy as opening up the canned stuff, and you know your Thanksgiving spread deserves better. This is one of the Thanksgiving dishes you can make up to a week in advance. (Bonus: The flavors will meld and deepen while it hangs out in the fridge.)

Get the Cranberry Sauce recipe.

We LOVE giving Brussels the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. To make ahead, simple assemble everything in your baking dish, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, pop it in the oven until it’s bubbly and lightly golden.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn’t dry out in the oven: Brine it! To properly brine your turkey, you’ll want to do it for a minimum of 48 hours, so get started as early as the Monday before the big day!

Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.

Mashed potato casserole is the ultimate holiday side dish we’ve all been waiting for. It’s creamy, fluffy, and oh so cheesy. Want to make this recipe ahead? Make it entirely, waiting to add the breadcrumb topping, and refrigerate. Proceed with the recipe, but expect around 20 minutes more baking time.

Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.

Nothing screams Thanksgiving more than a classic pecan pie. The craggy, crunchy top gives way to that delicious, rich interior FULL to the brim of nuts. You can also make it ahead of time!

Get the Pecan Pie recipe.

Of all things resembling a turkey, this cheese ball has to be the cutest. We used carrots, pecans, pretzels, and bell peppers to create the iconic look, but feel free to get creative with it. Make the cheeseball itself ahead of time, then add decorations and dippers day-of.

Get the Turkey Cheese Ball recipe.

This sweet potato salad is the perfect way to lighten up any autumnal dinner, and especially your Thanksgiving spread. Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange super food. Did we mention it’s great warm or cold (which means you can make it ahead!)?

Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.

Homemade cornbread is preferred for this dressing, BUT using boxed-mix or store-bought cornbread is totally okay too, as is assembling this 24 hours before you’re ready to bake. As the oven preheats day-of, let it rest and come to room temperature on the counter, then bake.

Get the Cornbread Dressing recipe.

With pecans, Parm, green apples, and leafy arugula, this salad is hearty and holds up well—AKA a make-ahead dream. It’s got ALL the elements you need: sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, fatty, fresh, but feel free to make it your own with your preferred mix-ins too.

Get the Farro Salad recipe.

To make this classic Thanksgiving side dish ahead, simply prep the casserole up to step 2, then refrigerate until you’re ready to bake (we recommend no more than a few days ahead of time). When you’re ready to bake, then you can prepare and top with the crumbly topping!

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

The key to amazing stuffing is freshly dried bread, not store-bought bread cubes. Let your bread dry out on the counter for about 48 hours or toast them at a very low temperature until dehydrated. You can also assemble this whole dish the night before, then bake off on the big day.

Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.

This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.

Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.

Save some time (and oven space) on the busy holiday by making this Thanksgiving side ahead of time. Simply assemble the casserole (EXCEPT for the fried onions), cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake!

Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.

We’re being 100% serious when we say this is the BEST apple pie recipe out there. Make it ahead of time so the filling can set in order to achieve perfect slices. If you prefer it warm, simply put it in the oven a few minutes before you’d like to serve dessert.

Get the Apple Pie recipe.

Letting the onions caramelize properly is key to the flavor of this dip. Going low and slow allows them to develop color while breaking down and becoming sweet and jammy. It will stay good in the fridge for a few days, so it’s great to make ahead of time.

Get the Sour Cream & Onion Dip recipe.

This classic Southern side is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. You can also make it ahead of time—simply prep the casserole, wrap in storage wrap, and place in the fridge until you’re ready to bake the next day.

Get the Classic Corn Casserole recipe.

If you’d like to make this casserole ahead of time, assemble up until the Cornflake topping, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, top with the buttery Cornflakes and bake (keep in mind that it might take up to 20 minutes longer to bake—keep an eye on it).

Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.