Best Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Let’s face it hosting Thanksgiving is a lot of work so I’m sharing my best tips for hosting a stress-free Thanksgiving Dinner.

It comes down to planning ahead with a timeline so that when Thanksgiving Day is here, you are prepared.

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Make a Timeline

While I’m outlining all of my best tips in a timeline format, it’s important for you to make your own personal timeline 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.

This outline is strictly a suggestion of some things you might choose to do. Remember it is your choice!

3 Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Make Your Guest List

Your Thanksgiving Day might be just a small family affair or a large family 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.

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/or who you are inviting.

Plan Your Menu

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.

I usually get a fresh turkey so that needs to be ordered three or more weeks out.

You can also plan what can be assigned to other guests if you prefer.

Plan an Activity

2 Weeks Before

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

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

If this is your first Thanksgiving and you don’t have all of these things, consider borrowing them from a family member and/or friends who aren’t entertaining or are coming to your dinner.

Delegate: If you are providing turkey, mashed potatoes, and dressing (none of these transport well) then let others bring the side dishes.

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.

One time saver is to order your dinner rolls 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.

Plan Your Table or Buffet

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.

Plan your serving Dishes and Serving Pieces

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

Rather than buy more things that I find space to store in this small house, I borrow from my next-door neighbor as they head to family for Thanksgiving. I return the favor for Christmas Day when they are entertaining.

Plan Your Cooking Prep Tools

Housekeeping Chores

Meal Prep

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.

The Turkey

One of the worst Thanksgiving mistakes is having a completely frozen turkey the day before. 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. 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.

Make Ahead Food

I’m a big fan of things that can be made ahead of time. These things can be made one or two days before, stored in the refrigerator, and popped in the oven (if necessary) on the big day.

Remember some other space and time savers can be your slow cooker and/or toaster oven

House Cleaning

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

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?

Don’t Want to Cook?

There are many restaurants and full-service grocery stores that prepare Thanksgiving meals. In that case, you can just make a phone call for reservations or place an order.

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,

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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