Food & Cooking

10 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Make Ahead

Free up your oven and your stress levels with sides you can prepare a day or two early.

Editorial TeamNovember 4, 20261 min read

The secret to a calm holiday meal is doing as much as possible before the day. These classic sides can all be made ahead and simply reheated.

Make 2–3 days ahead

  1. Cranberry sauce: it actually tastes better after a day or two in the fridge.
  2. Gravy base: make it with stock now and add turkey drippings on the day.
  3. Bread for stuffing: cube and dry it out ahead of time.

Make the day before

  1. Mashed potatoes: reheat with a splash of milk and butter.
  2. Sweet potato casserole: assemble, cover and bake on the day.
  3. Green bean casserole: prep everything except the crispy topping.
  4. Mac and cheese: assemble and refrigerate, then bake.
  5. Roasted vegetables: chop and store in containers, ready to roast.
Pro tipLabel each dish with its reheating temperature and time. Anyone can then help in the kitchen.

Make on the day (quick)

  1. Simple green salad with a make-ahead dressing.
  2. Dinner rolls warmed in the oven while the turkey rests.

Reheating tips

Reheat dishes until piping hot all the way through. A slow cooker set to warm is perfect for keeping mashed potatoes ready, and frees up oven space.

With sides sorted early, you can focus on the turkey — and actually enjoy the day.

#Food & Cooking#Thanksgiving
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Written by Editorial Team

Our editors research, test and simplify everyday tasks so you can get them right the first time. Spotted something we should update? Let us know on our contact page.

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