16 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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Thanksgiving dinner is so much easier when you can get a few dishes out of the way before the big day! These 16 make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes include creamy mashed potatoes, holiday casseroles, old-fashioned cornbread dressing, cranberry salads, and more.
Whether you’re hosting family or bringing a dish to Thanksgiving dinner, these easy holiday recipes will help you get a head start on the cooking.
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Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Make Ahead
Oven space and timing can be two of the biggest challenges when you’re preparing a big holiday meal. There’s nothing worse than trying to get the turkey, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and gravy ready at exactly the same time!
That’s why I love having a few make-ahead recipes on the menu. Some dishes, like cranberry salads and cold vegetable sides, you can make completely ahead and keep in the refrigerator. Others can be assembled a day or two early, leaving just the baking or reheating for Thanksgiving Day.
I’ve gathered 16 make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes, including several of my family’s favorite holiday recipes and a few delicious ideas from other food bloggers.
Each recipe includes a make-ahead note, so you’ll know what can be done early and what needs to wait until serving time.
Make-Ahead Potatoes, Gravy, and Dressing
These traditional Thanksgiving sides are usually the ones competing for stove and oven space. Getting some of the preparation done early can make a big difference.
1. Easy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
If you love traditional, creamy mashed potatoes, this recipe from Home & Plate is a great option for Thanksgiving. Made with potatoes, butter, and milk or cream, they’re just the kind of classic mashed potatoes that go perfectly with turkey and gravy.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the potatoes up to two days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat according to the recipe before serving, adding a little butter or milk if needed.
2. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
If you want something a little more indulgent than regular mashed potatoes, my loaded mashed potato casserole is a great holiday side dish. It’s made with creamy mashed potatoes, Gruyère and Monterey Jack cheeses, crispy bacon, and green onions.
The cheesy, bubbly topping makes it a wonderful addition to a Thanksgiving meal.
Make-ahead note: Assemble the casserole up to the baking step, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Follow the recipe’s instructions for bringing the dish out of the refrigerator before baking.
3. Make-Ahead Gravy
Gravy is one of those things that always seems to need attention right when everything else is ready! This make-ahead version uses roasted turkey or chicken wings to develop a rich flavor without waiting for the Thanksgiving turkey to come out of the oven.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the gravy in advance and refrigerate or freeze according to the recipe directions. Reheat in a saucepan before serving.
4. Classic Cornbread Dressing
This old-fashioned cornbread dressing is my mom’s recipe, and it’s a Thanksgiving tradition in our family. Made with cornbread, a little stale bread, celery, green onions, sage, and poultry seasoning, it’s a simple, savory dressing that’s especially good with gravy.
We love serving it with Mom’s giblet gravy, but a quick gravy made with turkey drippings is delicious, too.
Prep-ahead note: Bake the cornbread the day before, then let it cool and dry along with the additional bread. On Thanksgiving Day, crumble the bread, combine the ingredients, and bake until golden brown.
5. Savory Sausage and Cheddar Bread Pudding
This savory bread pudding combines sausage, cheddar cheese, bread, and a rich egg mixture. It’s a little different from traditional Thanksgiving dressing, but would also make a wonderful breakfast casserole if you’re hosting overnight holiday guests.
Make-ahead note: Assemble the casserole the night before, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Bake according to the recipe directions before serving.
Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Casseroles and Vegetables
Casseroles are especially handy for holiday meals because many can be assembled ahead and baked when you’re ready. These recipes offer a mix of classic Thanksgiving flavors and lighter vegetable sides.
6. Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams
This easy sweet potato casserole is one of our family’s holiday favorites! Canned yams make the preparation especially simple, and the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and toasted marshmallow topping give it that classic sweet potato casserole flavor.
It’s a great choice when you need an easy Thanksgiving side dish without peeling and boiling sweet potatoes.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the sweet potato mixture ahead and refrigerate it in the baking dish. Heat the filling first, then add the marshmallows for the final bake so the topping is freshly toasted.
7. Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Bacon Pecans
If you prefer a savory twist on sweet potato casserole, this version has a bacon, pecan, and herb topping. A little bourbon adds another layer of flavor, although the recipe also provides an option to leave it out.
Make-ahead note: Assemble the casserole as directed, cover, and refrigerate for up to two days. Bake before serving according to the recipe instructions.
8. Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole
A homemade mushroom sauce, fresh green beans, and a crispy onion-and-panko topping make this a flavorful alternative to the classic green bean casserole.
It’s a nice option when you want something traditional but with more homemade components.
Make-ahead note: The recipe includes instructions for freezing the prepared casserole separately from the topping. Allow one to three days for thawing in the refrigerator, then bake and add the topping as directed.
9. Green Beans Gremolata
If you want a lighter vegetable side to balance out the richer Thanksgiving casseroles, these green beans are a pretty choice. They’re tossed with lemon zest, parsley, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts for plenty of fresh flavor.
Prep-ahead note: Blanch and chill the green beans ahead of time, and prepare the gremolata separately. Finish the quick sauté and toss everything together shortly before serving.
Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Salads and Cranberry Sides
Cold salads and cranberry dishes are some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes to prepare ahead. They don’t take up oven space, and several actually benefit from a little time in the refrigerator.
10. Layered Salad
A colorful layered salad looks beautiful on a holiday buffet. This one combines fresh vegetables, eggs, bacon, cheese, and a creamy dressing in a large serving bowl.
Because it’s assembled in layers, it makes a pretty presentation alongside all those warm Thanksgiving casseroles.
Make-ahead note: Assemble the salad, cover, and refrigerate for up to eight hours according to the recipe card. Toss just before serving.
11. Mom’s Classic Pea Salad
This is another one of my mom’s holiday recipes that I finally got her to write down! Her creamy pea salad is made with sweet peas, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, dill relish, and mayonnaise.
It’s a simple, old-fashioned side dish that pairs perfectly with turkey or ham, and it’s always been a favorite at our family gatherings.
Make-ahead note: Mix the salad the day before, cover, and refrigerate. I recommend making it no more than 24 hours ahead for the best results.
12. Fresh Cranberry Relish with Pomegranate, Pineapple, and Orange
If you want something a little different from traditional cranberry sauce, this fruity cranberry relish is a delicious choice. It combines cranberries, pomegranate juice, mandarin oranges, pineapple, and pecans for a sweet and tart side with plenty of texture.
It’s especially good after the flavors have had a chance to mingle.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the cranberry relish the day before Thanksgiving and refrigerate until serving. The flavor is even better the next day.
13. Cranberry Jello Salad
This cranberry Jello salad is one of my favorite holiday side dishes! Fresh cranberries, raspberry gelatin, pineapple, mandarin oranges, apples, and pecans come together in a sweet, tart salad with a little crunch.
The bright cranberry color makes it especially pretty on the Thanksgiving table.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the salad the day before and refrigerate until the gelatin sets. I don’t recommend assembling it more than 24 hours ahead because the fruit can release moisture and loosen the gelatin.
14. Black Cherry Jello Salad
This black cherry Jello salad is a longtime family favorite. It’s made with black cherry gelatin, pineapple, pecans, cheddar cheese, and Cool Whip for a creamy, sweet holiday side.
It might sound like an unusual combination, but it’s one of those old-fashioned holiday recipes our family looks forward to every year.
Make-ahead note: Allow the gelatin to set completely before adding the remaining ingredients. The finished salad can be prepared a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator.
15. Easy Fruit Salad
A fresh fruit salad is a nice way to add something colorful and refreshing to a Thanksgiving meal. My easy fruit salad combines strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, mango, kiwi, blueberries, and apples with a light pineapple dressing.
The dressing is made with reserved pineapple juice and a little instant vanilla pudding mix, giving the fruit a lightly sweet coating without making it heavy.
Prep-ahead note: Prepare sturdy fruits ahead and refrigerate. Add delicate fruit and toss with the dressing closer to serving time to preserve the texture and color.
16. Three Bean Salad
Our family also makes a version of this salad with white beans instead of chickpeas; we call it “Christmas Beans,” but it’s just as good for Thanksgiving! This recipe mixes chickpeas, kidney beans, and green beans, tossed in a sweet, tangy dressing.
This easy cold side dish can be prepared well before dinner, making it especially helpful when your oven is already full.
Make-ahead note: Prepare the bean salad the day before and refrigerate overnight. Stir well and allow it to continue marinating until you’re ready to serve.
Good to Know: Which Thanksgiving Sides Can You Make Ahead?
Not every make-ahead Thanksgiving recipe works the same way. Some can be completely finished before the holiday, while others are best assembled early and baked or reheated just before dinner.
- Make completely ahead: Traditional mashed potatoes, gravy, pea salad, cranberry relish, cranberry Jello salad, black cherry Jello salad, and three bean salad.
- Assemble ahead and bake later: Loaded mashed potato casserole, bourbon sweet potato casserole, sweet potato casserole with canned yams, savory sausage and cheddar bread pudding, and green bean casserole.
- Prep ingredients ahead: Cornbread dressing, green beans gremolata, and fresh fruit salad. These recipes still need some final preparation on Thanksgiving Day.
You can also assemble the layered salad earlier on Thanksgiving Day, though its recipe calls for a shorter refrigeration window than the other cold salads.
💡 Pro Tip: Put your slow cooker to work on Thanksgiving Day! It’s great for keeping fully cooked mashed potatoes or gravy warm while you finish the turkey and casseroles. Use the warm setting, stir occasionally, and keep hot foods at 140°F or above until serving. That’s one less thing taking up space on your stove!
Don’t Forget Thanksgiving Dessert!
Once you’ve planned your side dishes, it’s time to think about dessert! Here are a few more of my family’s favorite holiday treats:
- Old Fashioned Chess Pie
- Easy No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Chocolate Brownie Pie
- Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
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I like black cherry jello salad and pea salad recipe. Thank you for the list.
That bourbon sweet potato casserole looks AMAZING! And bacon pecans?! Yes please!!