19 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes That'll Save You Time on the Big Day Simplify meal prep with this collection of holiday recipes that can be made ahead. Close Credit: Louise Hagger Thanksgiving is a wonderful time filled with friends, family, and feasting—and a lot of cooking. So much cooking, and often only one oven to do it all. So, how to do it all? Planning. Making some dishes in advance will take the pressure off pacing and allow you to be present and enjoy the holiday. Luckily, nearly every element of the meal (aside from the turkey) can be made days ahead and chilled or frozen. Whether you are the sole chef de cuisine or contributing to a potluck, these make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes come to the rescue. Be sure to map out which make-ahead dishes will require heating, so you know you have stovetop or oven space. 18 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers to Kick Off a Fabulous Feast 01 of 19 Juniper-and-Gin Gravlax Credit: Justin Walker Gravlax makes any occasion special, and homemade gravlax takes Thanksgiving snack platters to a whole new level. This one has subtle floral flavors, thanks to the gin and juniper berries. The salmon needs three days to cure, so it’s a perfect make-ahead appetizer for the holidays. View Recipe 02 of 19 Twice-Baked Potato-and-Raclette Casserole Credit: Paola + Murray This rich, dense potato casserole is inspired by the flavors of fondue—luscious mashed potatoes are mixed with melty raclette, cream cheese, and sour cream. They’re super moist and creamy, so they can easily be reheated before topping with crispy potato skins and fresh chives. View Recipe 03 of 19 Herb-Cheese Palmiers Greet your holiday guests with these flaky elephant ears. Each layer of puff pastry is coated with cheddar, parmesan, and fresh seasonal herbs. They’re best served at room temperature, so make them ahead to clear out some oven space on the big day. View Recipe 04 of 19 Easy Pie Crust Credit: Clive Streeter It's just not Thanksgiving without pie! You can make and freeze pie crusts up to a month in advance so that putting together your favorite pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies for the big day will be a snap. View Recipe 05 of 19 Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce Fresh cranberries, sugar, orange zest, and juice make a simple, deeply flavored cranberry sauce. Stored in an airtight container, this sauce will keep in the refrigerator for a week. View Recipe 06 of 19 Dinner Rolls Credit: Dana Gallagher These moist, tender dinner rolls are rich with eggs and butter. Once the dough is shaped, it can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to two months before Thanksgiving. When ready to bake, simply add two hours to the second rising. View Recipe 24 Thanksgiving Recipes That Are Perfect for Feeding a Crowd 07 of 19 Gingery Beet Soup Credit: Johnny Fogg Warming ginger adds tingling heat to this velvety and festive red soup. It needs only a final flourishing swirl of tangy yogurt before serving. View Recipe 08 of 19 Pumpkin Cheesecake Credit: Mikkel Vang Two popular favorites—pumpkin pie and cheesecake—are rolled into one delightful dessert. Cheesecake keeps well in the refrigerator for several days, and it also freezes nicely. To thaw, simply place it in the refrigerator 24 hours before you wish to serve it. View Recipe 09 of 19 Caramelized Sesame Chickpeas Glazed in a salty-sweet blend of sesame seeds, honey, and olive oil and roasted until crunchy, the humble beans make a nicely adult, tree-nut and peanut-free alternative to the typical candied nuts. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container for up to a week. View Recipe 10 of 19 Roasted Vegetables With Pomegranate Vinaigrette Roasted cauliflower, Romanesca, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts get a sophisticated finish from a pomegranate vinaigrette and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds. Wash and trim the vegetables, and make the vinaigrette, up to two days in advance. View Recipe 11 of 19 Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing Credit: David Loftus This sage-seasoned cornbread and sausage stuffing gets a creamy texture from the addition of eggs. It can be assembled and refrigerated, baked or unbaked, for two days. View Recipe 12 of 19 Luxurious Mashed Potatoes Generous doses of butter and cream make these mashed potatoes suited to a special occasion. Make them a day in advance and refrigerate in a baking dish. Twenty minutes before serving, cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350 degrees. View Recipe 13 of 19 Marinated Mushrooms Credit: Sang An Marinated in lemon juice, white wine vinegar, fresh oregano, and olive oil, these mushrooms taste even better when made a few days before serving. Serve this easy appetizer with olives and a selection of cheeses. View Recipe 14 of 19 Cranberry-Poached Pears Refrigerated in their poaching liquid, these cranberry-kissed pears will keep for up to three days. Serve them with crème fraîche or cinnamon ice cream for a refreshing Thanksgiving dessert. View Recipe 15 of 19 Sweet Potato and Sage-Butter Casserole In this Thanksgiving side dish, mashed Yukon gold and sweet potatoes are enriched with sage-infused butter and milk and then baked under a topping of crisp breadcrumbs. Make the potato mixture two days in advance and add the breadcrumbs just before baking. View Recipe 16 of 19 Shredded Brussels-Sprout Salad With Hazelnut Crunch Credit: Louise Hagger A make-ahead salad—yes, really! This crunchy Brussels sprout salad can be prepped one to two days ahead. The delicious hazelnut crunch can be made and stored in an airtight container and the Brussels washed, chopped, and stored in resealable plastic bags. Toss the salad and top with the crunch while the turkey is resting. View Recipe 17 of 19 Potato and Mushroom Pie Credit: Gentl and Hyers As a substantial side or stand-alone dish, this impressive pie is filled with seasonal mushrooms, hearty potatoes, and the best cheeses. It can be made a day ahead, and heated before serving. View Recipe 18 of 19 Lemon Vinaigrette This versatile, bright-tasting lemon and olive oil vinaigrette will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Use it to dress up Thanksgiving side dishes like sautéed green beans, Brussels sprouts, spinach, or salad greens garnished with dried cherries and toasted hazelnuts. View Recipe 19 of 19 Cauliflower Gratin Tender cauliflower is surrounded by Gruyère cheese sauce under a crunchy coat of breadcrumbs in this make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish. Make the cauliflower and cheese sauce mixture up to two days in advance; top with breadcrumbs just before baking. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Holidays & Events Thanksgiving Recipes