Hey y'all!
Every year somebody asks me, "Angie, how do you get a whole Thanksgiving dinner on the table without losing your mind?" Well, come on then, I'll tell you my secret: I don't cook it all on Thursday. I spread it out over the whole week, a little bit each day, so when the family walks in, I'm actually sitting down with them.
Here's my game plan. Steal it!
The Weekend Before: Make Your List
Sit down with a cup of coffee and write out your whole menu, then your shopping list. Shop for everything that keeps (canned goods, flour, sugar, spices, butter, broth) this weekend before the stores get crazy.
Buying a frozen turkey? Get it now. It needs to thaw in the refrigerator, and that takes about one day for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 20-pound bird needs 4 to 5 days in the fridge, so don't wait until Wednesday!
Monday: Get Ahead on the Easy Stuff
- Make your cranberry sauce. It's actually better after a couple of days in the fridge.
- Bake your cornbread for the dressing. You want it a little dried out by Wednesday anyway.
- Make your pie crusts and keep them wrapped in the fridge.
Tuesday: Chop, Chop, Chop
Chop all your onions, celery and bell peppers for the dressing and casseroles. Bag them up and label them. This one step saves me at least an hour on Thursday morning.
Wednesday: Desserts and Casseroles
- Bake your pies. Pecan pie and sweet potato pie both hold up great overnight.
- Make the banana pudding so it can set up in the fridge.
- Put together your casseroles (sweet potato, mac and cheese, green bean) and keep them covered in the fridge, ready to bake.
- Mix your dressing, but don't bake it yet.
Thursday: Turkey Day!
- Get the turkey in the oven first thing. It's done when the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F on a meat thermometer.
- Let it rest at least 30 minutes before carving. That's when everything else goes in the oven!
- Make your gravy from the pan drippings while the turkey rests.
And that's it. You'll be sitting at the table with everybody instead of standing at the stove.
Want my whole Thanksgiving menu?
My Southern Thanksgiving cookbook has all 13 of my family recipes, from the turkey and cornbread dressing to the banana pudding, plus my full day-by-day game plan, a printable shopping list and turkey charts. It's an instant download, just $9.99.
Not Up for Cooking This Year?
I get it, and you know what? That's okay. Everybody likes different things, and sometimes we're just not up to it. Take the whole family on a trip instead, where nobody has to cook a thing or clean a thing. Tell me about your dream getaway and I've got the hookup for you.
My Kitchen Must-Haves
Y'all ask me all the time what I cook with. I keep all my favorites in one spot on my Amazon Faves page.
Want a New Recipe Every Week?
Pull up a chair at my Supper Club! Members get a brand-new Southern recipe every week, a monthly live cook-along and first dibs on my vintage finds. And if you're not ready for that yet, grab my free monthly goodie.
Well, come on then, let's get cooking!
Bye for just now! Angie