Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 24 Delicious Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes (Because You Deserve a Holiday, Too) By Betty Gold Betty Gold With more than a decade of experience writing and editing food and nutritional content, Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and acting senior food editor at Well+Good. Betty has also spent time working in product analysis at Good Housekeeping and in food production on The Martha Stewart Show. Highlights: * Bachelor of Science in Food Studies & Nutrition from New York University * Industry professional for 11 years * Served on mastheads at Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping Magazines * Worked in publications department at James Beard Foundation Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 3, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images Whether you are preparing every course from scratch or hosting a laid-back micro-Thanksgiving, make-ahead recipes are key. Why? So you can avoid running around like a chicken (ahem, turkey) with your head cut off when the doorbell rings and your famished family members start flooding your already-crowded kitchen. Seriously, put in a little prep work a day or two in advance, and you'll *finally* be free to dive into the charcuterie and Chardonnay by 3 p.m. along with the rest of your crew. Many dishes can be prepared at least a day in advance and simply reheated right before serving. Aim to have everything—from the traditional hors d'oeuvres to the homemade bread to your family's favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes—done by the time you start preparing our simple turkey recipe. 01 of 24 Rosemary Pecans Beatriz da Costa This spiced pecan recipe makes for a deliciously addictive (and relatively healthy) Thanksgiving appetizer. The pecans can be prepared and stored at room temperature in an airtight container up to one week in advance. Get the Recipe 02 of 24 Goat Cheese Spread Dana Gallagher Our recipe for creamy goat cheese spread makes a bright addition to any cheese plate, but can easily stand on its own as a Turkey Day appetizer. It can be prepared and refrigerated up to two days in advance. Get the Recipe 03 of 24 Cannellini Bean, Scallion, and Prosciutto Dip Beatriz da Costa This high-protein app packs plenty of flavor, thanks to fresh scallions and salty prosciutto. It can be prepared and refrigerated (without the garlic) up to one day in advance; add the garlic just before serving. Get the Recipe 04 of 24 Tender Greens with Champagne Vinaigrette Salad Marcus Nilsson The lettuce, herbs, and vinaigrette in this tender greens salad can be prepared and refrigerated, separately, up to one day in advance. Dress and toss the salad just before serving. Get the Recipe 05 of 24 Lettuce, Orange, and Pecan Salad Maura McEvoy The fresh lettuce, oranges, shallots, pecans, and vinaigrette can be prepared and refrigerated, separately, up to one day in advance. Dress and toss the salad just before serving. Get the Recipe 06 of 24 Cranberry and Orange Relish Justin Bernhaut This vibrant Cranberry and Orange Relish can be prepared and refrigerated up to four days in advance, but do not add the cilantro. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Mix in the cilantro just before serving. Get the Recipe 07 of 24 Chilled Pineapple-Cranberry Relish Kate Merker Our Chilled Pineapple-Cranberry Relish can be prepared and refrigerated up to two days in advance. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Get the Recipe 08 of 24 Cranberry Sauce John Kernick This simple, classic Cranberry Sauce can be prepared and refrigerated up to four days in advance. Serve chilled or at room temperature. get the recipe 09 of 24 Green Bean Salad with Walnuts, Fennel, and Goat Cheese John Kernick The vinaigrette, green beans, and walnuts in this delicious side dish can be prepared and refrigerated, separately, up to one day in advance. Toss the green beans with the fennel, walnuts, goat cheese, and vinaigrette just before serving. Get the Recipe 10 of 24 Autumn Cabbage Slaw Miha Matei This vibrant slaw can be prepared and refrigerated, keeping the oranges separate, up to two days in advance. Fold in the oranges just before serving. Get the Recipe 11 of 24 Fennel and Apricot Stuffing Mikkel Vang The stuffing can be assembled (but not baked) and refrigerated up to one day in advance. Bake from room temperature at 400° F until heated through, 30 to 45 minutes. Get the Recipe 12 of 24 Spinach and Gruyère Gratin Miha Matei This creamy spinach- and cheese-packed gratin can be prepared (but not baked) and refrigerated, covered, up to one day in advance. Bring to room temperature, then bake as directed, adding 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time. Get the recipe 13 of 24 Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges Kate Merker The sweet potatoes can be cut and seasoned up to two hours before cooking. Or they can be roasted and refrigerated up to one day in advance; reheat in oven, from room temperature, at 350° F to 400° F. Get the recipe 14 of 24 Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Golden Raisins Justin Bernhaut These sautéed Brussels sprouts can be made and kept at room temperature up to two hours in advance, or refrigerated up to one day in advance. Reheat them in the oven, from room temperature, at 350°F to 400°F. get the recipe 15 of 24 Cider-Roasted Vegetables Dana Gallagher These rich root vegetables can be roasted and kept at room temperature up to two hours in advance or refrigerated up to one day in advance. Reheat from room temperature at 350° F to 400° F. get the recipe 16 of 24 Mashed Sour Cream and Scallion Potatoes Susie Cusher Mashed potatoes can be made and left at room temperature up to two hours in advance or refrigerated up to one day in advance. Reheat in a large saucepan, covered, adding milk as necessary to adjust the consistency. get the recipe 17 of 24 Roast Butternut Squash Puree Marcus Nilsson Fresh butternut squash puree can be made and left at room temperature up to two hours in advance or refrigerated up to two days in advance. Reheat in a large saucepan, covered, for 10 minutes. Get the recipe 18 of 24 Pumpkin Cheesecake John Kernick This dreamy, creamy pumpkin cheesecake pie can be prepared and refrigerated, loosely covered with plastic wrap, up to two days in advance. get the recipe 19 of 24 Sweet Potato Pie qSang An Our sweet potato pie can be prepared and stored at room temperature, loosely covered with foil, up to one day in advance. get the recipe 20 of 24 Pressed-Crust Pear Tart Beatriz da Costa Talk about elegant. If you don't have a rectangular tart pan, you can use a round one to make this pressed-crust pea tart. The dessert can be prepared and stored at room temperature, loosely covered with foil, up to one day in advance. get the recipe 21 of 24 Chocolate Silk Pie Marcus Nilsson This delicious pie can be prepared and refrigerated, loosely covered with plastic wrap, up to two days in advance. Top with the cocoa and whipped cream just before serving. get the recipe 22 of 24 Gingersnap-Pear Cheesecake Sang An This cheesecake, made with crumbled cookies and fresh pears, can be prepared and refrigerated, loosely covered with plastic wrap, up to two days in advance. get the recipe 23 of 24 Citrus Pound Cake with Cranberry Syrup Sang An Our super simple Citrus Pound Cake with Cranberry Syrup can be prepared and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic, up to one day in advance. The syrup can be prepared and refrigerated up to one day. get the recipe 24 of 24 Pumpkin Bread Sang An Pumpkin bread can be prepared and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic, up to one day in advance. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit