Thanksgiving Prep: A Timeline for a Stress-Free Holiday

Let’s face it: Hosting Thanksgiving and doing Thanksgiving Prep is a lot of work. I’m here to help make it as stress-free as possible.

It all comes down to planning so that you are ready to celebrate with your family and friends on Thanksgiving Day. I have it all broken down for you.

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Making a Prep Timeline

While I’m outlining all of my best tips in a timeline format, it’s important for you to make your own personal game plan based on what and how you are planning for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Give yourself enough time and space for self-care during this busy time. Depending on your situation, you might start your timeline at 4 weeks or even before.

With proper planning, you can have a stress-free Thanksgiving day.

As a gift to anyone who is a friend of Living Large in A Small House, I have a three-page timeline with a checklist for you to use. If you want access, share your email address with me in the sign-up box below.

This outline is strictly a suggestion of some things you might choose to do. Remember everyone’s timeline might look a little different.

4 Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Make Your Guest List

Thanksgiving Day might be just a small family affair or a large family and friends gathering. It might be a Friendsgiving. It might even be something like a friend of ours does, she invites a few soldiers from our local naval base to join her family every Thanksgiving.

If you’re going to someone else’s home for the day, this will give you an idea of how much work it can be and ideas for how you can help.

Plan Your Menu & Create Grocery List

When you plan out your meal in advance you will have less stress leading up to Thanksgiving day. 

Decide what you’re going to serve. When I entertain or have a large dinner, I make my plans and then work backward with my calendar and plot out how I will execute everything.

You can also plan what can be assigned to other guests at this time. You don’t have to do it all yourself.

Plan an Activity

This is something that is completely optional however if there are children coming to your dinner, it’s a really good idea.

If you need any supplies, now is the time to do that so it is done and out of the way.

Place Your Orders

2 -3 weeks out is also the time to place any additional food orders. It’s a time saver to order your dinner rolls and pies from a local bakery or even the bakery at your grocery store. I’ve found that dinner rolls can be completely sold out if you leave it up to chance. Ordering them costs the same but ensures that you have rolls.

If you aren’t a cook, you can order your whole meal. It’s usually a service that is available from many restaurants and even your local grocery store.

3 Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Invite Your Guests

This could be a formal mailed invitation, a phone call, an e-vite, or even a text depending on the formality of the day and who you are inviting.

Inventory and Plan Your Serving Pieces

Check to ensure you have everything you need so you’re not panicking about a bowl for the mashed potatoes at the last minute.

My Mother-In-Law uses sticky notes on each dish with what will go in it. It’s a genius idea to make sure you have enough dishes.

Rather than buy more things you will need to find space to store, borrow from family or friends.

I share entertaining items with my next-door neighbor as they head to family for Thanksgiving. I return the favor for Christmas Day when they are entertaining.

Plan Your Table or Buffet

I do a trial run of my table so that I know exactly what I need and what it will look like. I know this is over the top but it’s how my mind works

Make sure everything is clean if not used often. Polish the silver if you’re using it.

Plan Your Drink Area

You will want beverages for your guests. If you are serving alcohol, you can make it simple by just serving beer and wine. If you want a full bar there is more prep involved. I use THIS as a guide for purchasing liquor.

I love the idea of a beverage dispenser for flavored water or ice tea. Then it’s out and available throughout the day.

Plan Your Cooking Prep Tools

My Thanksgiving timeline with checklist is in my FREE Resource Library which is a treasure trove of great things for my followers.

2 Weeks Before

Delegate Some of the Meal Prep

If you provide turkey, mashed potatoes, and dressing (none of these transport well), let others bring something to add to the meal

It’s OK to be specific about what you would like them to bring. You don’t need 5 green bean casseroles.

I personally assign the desserts and appetizers to others and just make the main meal. Now is the time to assign what you need help with. Most people ask when they are invited what they can bring.

Deep Clean Your House

A deep clean of your home a few weeks out is a great time to get this chore out of the way. Then you will just need to do some spot cleaning right before the big day.

Linens

Wash and press (if necessary) your tablecloth and napkins if you aren’t using paper. I put my tablecloth on a delicate dry take it out damp and put it right on the table. No need to iron.

Same with my napkins I lay them out on top of the tablecloth flat and let them air dry.

This is basically the same method I use with my sheets to have a crisp iron feel without the work.

Shop for Pantry Staples

You can start purchasing your pantry staples and items for your make-ahead meals a few weeks early.

It helps eliminate the shock of that one big grocery bill. You can also take advantage of sales that start 3-4 weeks out.

1 Week Before

Plan for a busy week. I have a blog post about how to handle a stressful week. I also have an Entertaining with Ease series that you might enjoy.

Take the Thanksgiving Turkey out of the Freezer

One of the worst Thanksgiving mistakes is having a completely frozen turkey the day before Thanksgiving. I hear about it so often! The turkey needs to come out of your freezer well in advance.

If your turkey is frozen you need 1 day for every 4 pounds of turkey for thaw time. So if you have a 20 lb., frozen turkey, you need to take it out of the freezer 5 days before Thanksgiving. So don’t count Thursday as you need it totally thawed and ready to work with that day. If I’m using a frozen turkey I take mine out of the freezer on the Friday before Thanksgiving and put it in the refrigerator.

Be careful with a fresh turkey they are only good for two days in the refrigerator before cooking. (Including brining)

We brine our turkey so that is 12 hours we need to take into account on our timeline.

Grocery Shopping

Armed with your list, head out to the store. If you’re cooking on a budget check sale flyers and make a list for each of the grocery stores you need to shop at.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I’m a huge fan of Instacart (what a time saver and worth every penny) and Aldi. Not only do I save so much money by shopping at Aldi, I think their groceries are superior to our large chain grocery store.

Prepare Make Ahead Food

I’m also a big fan of things that can be made ahead of time.

Some things can be made a few weeks ahead of time and frozen (*) Take them out of the freezer the day before and thaw in the refrigerator.

Other foods can be made a day before and stored in the refrigerator.

Remember to consider using your slow cooker and toaster oven to prepare some of the dishes. This helps if you don’t have enough oven space to make all the side dishes.

Last Minute House Cleaning

2 Days Before

1 Day Before

Thanksgiving Day

Cooking Timeline

For the final preparations of the Thanksgiving meal, I rely on a cooking timeline. Once we determine the time that we are going to eat, I work backward starting with when the turkey needs to go into the oven (3-1/2 – 4 hours/unstuffed 20 lb., turkey) taking into account resting time once it’s cooked (tent the turkey with foil for 30-45 minutes) and carving time (10 minutes). Then I fill in the blanks with everything else.

It can be a lot of food prep and food cooking. You might consider a slow cooker and toaster oven to help with food prep and space for everything to be prepared on time.

While Turkey is Cooking

Don’t be afraid to ask other members of your household to be responsible for some of the chores.

You can also ask guests who are coming to make last-minute pick-ups like the rolls or the ice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do You Cook a Turkey?

I rely on the Butterball Turkey Site for all the best turkey information. They even have a hotline if you can’t find an answer on their extensive site.

What is a Traditional Thanksgiving Menu?

A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Day

The ultimate goal is to have a memorable turkey day with family and/or friends and to have a good time.

I’ve laid out a lot of things but remember, this is your party and you can make it as complicated or simple as you like. Whatever you plan make sure that works with your life and schedule.

You want it to be a stress-free Thanksgiving Day!

Before the first doorbell rings, take a deep breath and remember that it’s really all about the company and fellowship.

Wishing you a stress-free, thankful-filled day.

Peace and Love,

As an added thank you, I’ve created editable place cards for your Thanksgiving Table. Become a friend of Living Large in A Small House and you have access to all of my FREE Stuff.

Looking for more Thanksgiving Inspiration? Visit some of my blogging friends

• 9 Steps to Setting a Thanksgiving Table – Bluesky at Home
• How to Set an Alfresco Thanksgiving Table – Southern Home and Hospitality
• How to Mix and Match Patterns for a Fall Tablescape – The Tattered Pew
• How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving – Simply 2 Moms
• Delicious Pumpkin Bread – White Lilac Farmhouse
• 7 Thanksgiving Place Setting Options – White Arrows Home
• Thanksgiving Moss Covered Centerpiece – Thistle Key Lane
• Thanksgiving Table Runner Ideas – Perfecting Places
• Thanksgiving Tablescape DIY Ideas – Saved From Salvage

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