It’s crazy that it’s time to think about my Thanksgiving 2024 Menu & Prep Schedule. Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays to host! It is my favorite time of year to bring everyone together around the dinner table and share a delightful meal and conversations with loved ones.
This year, we have 15 people coming. With a sizeable meal, thinking through the menu and planning everything takes time. Over the years of hosting Thanksgiving, I have tried multiple ways of preparing this meal, but I believe I have nailed down my process and timeline to precisely what works for me. Again, this is what works for me, and it may not be exactly what you need, but I am happy to help you if you have any questions.
The number one tool I use while planning my Thanksgiving timeline is my notes app on my iPhone. I start by listing every guest coming, including myself and my husband. I then list my menu by course: appetizers, mains, side dishes, and desserts. Next, I write out my recipes or print off my recipes and begin to make my shopping list on the same note as everything else. I list my shopping list in these categories: produce, meat, dry goods, dairy, deli, and frozen.
Once my planning is complete, I begin creating my timeline. I typically break it down by what I can accomplish as soon as possible and what needs to be done the day of. Again, this works for me, and you might need to adjust the timeline to fit your schedule. Below, I will list my Thanksgiving menu and my Thanksgiving prep schedule.
Thanksgiving 2024 Menu
Appetizers: (We usually eat the appetizers as lunch)
- Large Charcuterie Board
- Ham & Swiss Sliders
Main Dishes:
- Oven-Roasted Turkey
- Smoked Turkey
Side Dishes:
- Mashed Potatoes & Turkey Gravy
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Mac & Cheese
- Balsamic Bacon Brussel Sprouts
- Sourdough, Sausage, & Pear Stuffing
- Cranberry Sauce
- Dinner Rolls with Butter
Dessert:
- Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake
- Grandma’s Fruit Salad
Thanksgiving 2024 Prep Schedule
Sunday:
- Thaw out turkeys
- Make grocery list
- Stock up on drinks
Monday:
- Thoroughly clean the house
- Prepare sourdough bread
- Set the table
- Clean out the fridge
- Get out all of the baking pans and dishes needed
- Turkey roasting pan
- Baking dishes for casseroles
- Charcuterie board
- Pie pans
- Set out all serving dishes needed
- Plates for turkeys
- Gravy bowl
- Bowl for mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, Brussels, and rolls.
- Serving spoons, forks, and tongs.
- Set out butter in butter dishes.
Tuesday:
- Grocery shop
- Organize groceries per dish
- Make cranberry sauce
- Bake sourdough bread
- Prepare turkey brine
- Cut sourdough bread into cubes to dry out for stuffing
Wednesday:
- First thing in the morning, get the turkeys in the brine.
- Make the sausage mixture for the stuffing and store in the refrigerator
- Make fruit salad
- Make cheesecake
- Grate cheese for the mac and cheese
Thursday:
- Make the pumpkin pie
- Make the pecan pie topping for cheesecake
- Take turkeys out of the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature
- Make the charcuterie board
- Prep the ham and Swiss sliders
- Preheat smoker and oven for turkeys
- Roast and smoke turkey – timing will vary on the size of turkeys, so plan accordingly
- When ready to serve lunch – bake the sliders and serve the charcuterie board
- Make the sweet potato casserole
- Make the mac and cheese
- Make the green bean casserole
- Assemble stuffing
- Make the bacon-balsamic Brussels sprouts
- Let the turkeys rest for at least 30 minutes before carving
- Bake your casseroles, mac and cheese, stuffing, and rolls
- Make the turkey gravy from the drippings of roasted turkey
- Serve dinner!
This may seem overwhelming, but I promise you will get through it if you keep moving and cooking. If you are using recipes, read them a few times before Thanksgiving day so you know what to do without stressing. Also, remember you don’t have to do it all by yourself. It is more than okay to ask others to bring a dish or help out the day of, and usually, guests are more than happy to help.
If you have any questions about Thanksgiving, the menu, the Prep schedule, or anything else, please let me know in the comments!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Shop My Thanksgiving Must-Haves
The exact roasting pan I use is the All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster with Rack: here.
A charcuterie board similar to the one I use here
I have used these baking dishes for years and love them
My exact turkey platter
Springform pan for the Pecan Pie Cheesecake
My favorite cutting boards
My absolute favorite pots and pans that I have had for over 7 years
The best carving set
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Don’t forget… at the end… you have to do all the dishes!