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    Home » Recipes

    Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes

    [published_or_updated] · by Angela Paris · Leave a Comment[affiliate_disclosure]

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    Short on time for Thanksgiving? No problem. We've found a whole bunch of delicious make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes that everyone will love!

    Thanksgiving Make Ahead Side Dishes collage image with text overlay.
    Jump to:
    • Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes
    • 💭 Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Thanksgiving Ideas
    • Our Best Turkey Recipe
    • More Easy Side Dishes
    • Thanksgiving Décor and Activities
    • 💬 Comments

    Whether you're traveling to spend Thanksgiving with family or hosting the dinner yourself, you have no time to spare on Thanksgiving Day. It's busy enough as it is, right?

    Prepping easy recipes a day or two before Thanksgiving dinner can save you a lot of time. Everything from the cranberry sauce to the stuffing can be made at least a day ahead of time, so you're not rushing to get everything ready for your Thanksgiving meal.

    And don't worry... these delicious side dishes will be even more yummy the next day. Most of these sides are not only great for Turkey Day, but also wonderful for Christmas and other holidays, too.

    Before you start cooking, print off a copy of our free Ingredient Substitutions Printable. Trust me, it'll save you time!

    Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes

    You're going to love how much easier Thanksgiving day is when you make a few dishes ahead of time! Be sure to also check out our Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Recipe collection.

    Close up of mashed sweet potatoes.

    These Brown Sugar Mashed Sweet Potatoes are my go-to make ahead side for holidays and even busy weeknights.

    (These are especially good served with our brown sugar compound butter, which you can also make ahead!)

    Loaded Cauliflower Mash is incredibly easy to prepare ahead of time; boil the cauliflower, blend it with butter, sour cream, and seasonings. Store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to top with cooked bacon, reheat, and serve.

    Close up of Top down view of green bean casserole with French onions on a plate.

    This easy green bean casserole without mushrooms can be assembled the day before. Prepare the dish according to the instructions but without the fried onions, then cover it with foil and store it in the fridge before baking.

    On Thanksgiving, add the fried onion topping and pop it in the oven.

    Close up of butternut squash on a baking pan.

    You can prepare Cinnamon Butternut Squash ahead of time by chopping, seasoning, and roasting it, then simply storing it in the fridge for easy reheating when needed.

    Wild Rice Salad with apples, peas, and pecans in a white bowl.

    Because this Wild Rice Salad is easy to make ahead, it's a great holiday side dish.

    The combination of nutty rice, sweet baby peas, crisp apples celery, and other ingredients make it perfect Fall.

    Buttery dinner rolls in a skillet.

    These semi-homemade Buttery Dinner Rolls | require no kneading! Just pop the frozen dough into the pan and let them rise. Once they're baked and cooled, store in an airtight container. To reheat, wrap them in foil and place them in the oven just before serving.

    Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes: White plate of Low Carb Broccoli Casserole with a fork.

    Cheesy broccoli casserole with cream cheese, ranch dressing, and sour cream is super easy to make and always a huge hit.

    Plus it's a great low carb option for your dinner table.

    Close up of Cowboy Corn Casserole on a serving spoon.

    Make Thanksgiving way easier (and yummier) with a scrumptious Cowboy Corn Casserole. It's loaded with smoky bacon, lots of cheese, and crunchy corn for a creamy dish that tastes even better the next day. It's a wonderful make-ahead side for the holidays!

    Close up of a sweet potato roll.

    Homemade Sweet Potato Rolls are easy to make a day or two before. Store them in an airtight bag or container.

    Or, you can just cook the sweet potato so it's all set when you're ready to bake.

    roasted beet and orange salad on blue plate

    Roasted Beet Salad pairs the earthy root vegetable with sweet oranges, crunchy pecans, and cotija cheese for a perfectly balanced side dish that's fantastic for holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

     

    Cheddar Cornbread in a square baking dish.

    Cheesy Cornbread (Cast Iron Cornbread) is easy to make a day or two ahead of time and always a big crowd pleaser!

    Serve it with some homemade Garlic Chive Butter, which can be made a week in advance!

    Italian Green Bean Salad in a bowl garnished with lemon.

    Instead of adding another hot dish to your Thanksgiving menu, try this easy Italian Green Bean Salad instead.

    This recipe is simple to make ahead; just wait and add the nuts right before setting it on the table.

    Close up of a spoon on a dish of Candied Sweet Potatoes with warm spices.

    You can prep these delicious stove top candied sweet potatoes up to three days ahead by cooking them with orange juice, zest, brown sugar, and warm spices, then storing them in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, simply reheat them on the stovetop for a comforting side dish that captures the essence of Thanksgiving.

    Close up of Red Skin Mashed Potatoes in a bowl with a spoon.

    Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes can also be made a day or two ahead of time.

    To make them taste 'just mashed', I add a little bit of extra butter and garnish them with fresh parsley just before serving.

    Platter of make ahead Italian Roasted Mushrooms and Veggies

    Grab some garlic and Italian seasoning and get ready to make these easy Italian Roasted Mushrooms and Veggies from Jo Cooks.

    With cremini mushrooms, cauliflower, and tomatoes, this flavorful dish brings a touch of Italy to your holiday table.

    Make ahead gravy with bacon in a gravy boat.

    This Bacon Gravy from The Stay at Home Chef can be made a day or two ahead of time - which is especially helpful if you need bacon garnishes for other dishes (besides, who only cooks a few slices of bacon at a time??)

    When you're ready, place it into a small crockpot on low, or warm it up in a saucepan.

    Close up of make ahead succotash with bacon and scallions for Thanksgiving.

    Succotash with Bacon and Scallions from Food, Folks and Fun is a deliciously savory side dish for Thanksgiving. It combines tender corn, chopped peppers, and lima beans with cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh scallions for a festive twist on a classic.

    Close up of make ahead mac and cheese.

    Homemade Mac and Cheese can take a while to make, which is why I love this easy make-ahead recipe from Spend With Pennies.

    You can prepare this mac and cheese recipe up to 2 days ahead of time; just save the cheese for topping until you're ready to bake it.

    Close up of make ahead cranberry orange relish.

    Everyday Eileen recommends whipping up this easy Cranberry Orange Relish recipe ahead of time so that the flavors have a chance to meld. Made with fresh cranberries, chopped apple, and pecans with hints of orange and ginger, who wouldn't want to taste all those yummy flavors?

    Close up of Make Ahead Stuffing.

    This Homemade Stuffing recipe from Simple Joy is a scratch-made recipe that's easy to make a day or two before. Just assemble, cover, and refrigerate. Then, on Thanksgiving day, you only have to cook it - easy peasy!

    Bowl of Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts.

    Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts from Bowl Me Over makes a vibrant and flavorful addition to Thanksgiving dinner, offering a delicious combination of sweetness and earthiness that perfectly complements the holiday feast.

    💭 Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about make ahead Thanksgiving recipes.

    What can you make ahead for Thanksgiving?

    Prepping or making side dishes a day or two before Thanksgiving is a huge time saver. Roasted and mashed vegetables are great for making ahead because they reheat easily. Here are some common dishes that are easy to make ahead of time:
    Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
    Stuffing
    Butternut Squash
    Beets
    Carrots and Parsnips
    Dinner Rolls
    Cranberry Sauce
    Compound Butter

    What tools will help with make ahead recipes?

    1. Start by making a Thanksgiving menu plan and double up on your prep where ever you can. For instance, if multiple dishes call for minced onions, cut them all at once, or toss them into the food processor and pulse.

    2. Prep ingredients and use restaurant-style storage containers to keep everything fresh and organized in the refrigerator.

    3. To reheat your dishes, think about using other appliances such as a slow cooker or a buffet server.

    How far in advance can you make Thanksgiving side dishes?

    You can start preparing your make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes 1-2 days ahead of time.

    How can I add something extra to make the perfect side dish?

    Use fresh ingredients just before serving to add extra flavor to your dishes. Fresh herbs are a great way to add tons of flavor. You might have a dish that could benefit from fresh lemon zest or a drizzle of olive oil, too.

    More Make Ahead Recipes

    • Potatoes Au Gratin Casserole | Swirls of Flavor
    • Easy Cranberry Sauce with Apples, Pecans and Pineapple | Two Healthy Kitchens
    • Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad | Chelsea's Messy Apron
    • Emerils Baked Oyster Dressing | The Cagle Diaries
    • Slow Cooker Creamed Corn | Damn Delicious
    • Make Ahead Creamy Butternut Squash Bake | Juggling Act Mama
    • Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans | The Gracious Wife
    • Easy Baked Rice with Mushrooms | Glue Sticks & Gumdrops
    • Favorite Cranberry Sauce | Studio Delicious
    • Easy Baked Potato Casserole | Juggling Act Mama
    • Cheesy Potato Casserole | I am Homesteader
    Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes StoryDishes

    More Thanksgiving Ideas

    While these are not make ahead recipes, they are really awesome recipes that I think you're going to love.

    You might also enjoy these other Thanksgiving ideas:

    • Thanksgiving BINGO Printable
    • Best Juicy Turkey Recipe
    • Printable Thanksgiving Place Cards
    • Simple Turkey Brine
    • Turkey Sheet Pan Dinner
    • Thanksgiving Bingo with text overlay.
    • Top down view of a Thanksgiving charcuterie board with baked brie.
    • Roasted turkey stuffed with fruit and vegetables in a white serving dish.

    Our Best Turkey Recipe

    You're going to absolutely LOVE our step-by-step guide for Simple Turkey Brine and Best Juicy Turkey Recipe!  It is the most flavorful and delicious turkey I've ever made.

    Roasted Turkey on a serving platter.

    More Easy Side Dishes

    A white serving dish of asparagus with toasted pine nuts, fresh cranberries and Parmesan cheese.

    While this recipe for Pan Seared Asparagus isn't one that can be made ahead of time, it is definitely one that will impress! To save yourself some time, prep the asparagus ahead of time so that all you need to do is cook them.

    These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries are perfect for Thanksgiving, and you can find more tips about How to Store, Clean and Steam Brussels Sprouts here.

    • Cast Iron Skillet Cranberry Stuffing
    • Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • Garlic Green Beans
    • Oven Roasted Beets
    • Honey Glazed Baby Carrots
    • Kid Friendly Vegetable Side Dish Recipes collage image with text overlay.
      Kid Friendly Vegetable Side Dishes
    • Collage image of Best Side Dishes for Chicken Casseroles with text overlay.
      What to Serve with Chicken Casserole
    • Pulled Pork Side Dish collage with text overlay.
      Sides To Go With Pulled Pork
    • Roasted Cowboy Butter Cauliflower Bites on a baking sheet.
      Cowboy Butter Cauliflower Bites
    Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes collage image with text overlay.

    Thanksgiving Décor and Activities

    We love Thanksgiving so much that we've got tons and tons of free printables for you, our amazing readers!  Check these out:

    • Thanksgiving Chalkboard Printable
    • Gratitude Cards for Thanksgiving
    • Printable Thanksgiving BINGO
    • Pinecone Turkey Craft for Kids
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    Welcome! I'm Ang'e - the Juggling Act Mama! I love sharing quick and easy recipes, creative DIY projects, and fun family travel with you. Like many of you, I am a multi-tasking mama juggling priorities which is why here I offer solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle.

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