Thanksgiving Planning Guide

Presenting my complete Thanksgiving Planning Guide and free holiday hosting printable kit that includes holiday recipes, hosting tips and scheduling helps, and more!

Download free holiday hosting guide here!

Thanksgiving planning made easy!

Thanksgiving strategy makes all the difference.

When you’re hosting a big gathering, careful planning is what makes it all look easy. You don’t want to be rushing around, fretting over the details; holidays were made to be enjoyed, not worried about! We have a comprehensive plan to take you from zero to hero at Thanksgiving time. After all, just because you’re hosting the dinner, that doesn’t mean you should be a slave to the kitchen!

Whether this is your first or your twentieth time cooking Thanksgiving dinner, we have suggestions to help make the day more memorable–in a good way, that is!

Two Months In Advance

• Set the date

Set the date well in advance so you have time to prep and so guests can plan too, especially if you’re sending out invitations. If you invite the same people every year, a quick message works. For changing guest lists, you probably should spell out the details a bit more clearly—especially if hosting the day before/after Thanksgiving.

During the holidays, people may get multiple invitations, and if you send an invitation early, you can get on everyone’s calendar before they fill up. You may want to set up a guest list on an online invitation website and take advantage of the planning tools there. We have a set of templates and guides to download.

• Prepare your house

Take care of household chores: Do this now while there’s plenty of (stress-free) time to get everything done. Take care of seasonal tasks like raking leaves, washing windows, cleaning carpets, etc.

Streamline the kitchen: Hosting during the holidays puts your kitchen to the test. You’ll need plenty of room to prepare dishes and lay out the dinner spreads. Clear out the fridge, freezer, and pantry of expired foods and make as much room as possible for all the food for the party. Clean the oven and consolidate or organize cabinet contents to make room for platters and casserole dishes.

One Month In Advance

• Make a game plan 

The key to a stress-free Thanksgiving is planning ahead and making lists. Stay organized with a holiday guide and don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Even if you love to cook and entertain, hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a big job. Assign friends or family to bring something like a salad, appetizer, side dish, or drink.

• Send out invites. If you are using invitations, send them out a month in advance.
• Deck the halls. Decorate gradually and focus on one area at a time. Pick a day for outdoor decor and spread out indoor decorating to avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Gather recipes and make time to test new ones. Remember to go with what you know. If you’re famous for a particular recipe, make it. Also, try new recipes in advance so you can feel confident. Check out our Thanksgiving Menu for ideas, and be sure to ask guests about dietary restrictions.
• Plan how much food you’ll need. Check out my Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet later in this post to see how much food you’ll need for your guest count.
• Plan the recipe timing. Pick dishes that get better with time or that can be served at room temperature. The more you can make ahead of time, the better. Use slow cookers and countertop ovens to free up stove space.
• Make a grocery list for your recipes. Then, check your recipes against that grocery list. You don’t want to be halfway through the recipe and realize you’re out of eggs! If space allows, buy shelf-stable or frozen items a month out and save fresh items for the final days.
• Order any food you aren’t cooking yourself. Around the holidays, bakeries and restaurants get busier than usual, so give yourself plenty of time to order food.

The Week Of The Party 

• Shop for a centerpiece or order flowers. But don’t bring it home until the day before to keep it fresh.
• Wash or press tablecloths and napkins, or take them to the cleaners.
• Rent or borrow extra tables, chairs, glasses, or serving pieces as needed. Rental stores often carry everything you might need for hosting!
• Locate air fresheners and candles. I love burning seasonal candles for a holiday party! Some people have sensitivities to scents, so keep that in mind as well.
• Prepare the music. If you’ll be playing background music, create a playlist and test your setup ahead of time.
• Organize serving dishes. Gather all serving dishes, platters, and containers you’ll use. Make sure you have what you need or make rental arrangements. Consider using disposable foil pans for cooking and baking, and then transfer food to the nice serving platters to save cleanup time.
• Do most of your grocery shopping. You’ll still want to make a run to the store the day before Thanksgiving, but now is a great time to buy the things that can hold a few days. If you bought your shelf-stable and frozen items last month, this won’t be difficult. While you’re at the store, gab some to-go containers, plastic storage bags, or other ways for your guests to take home leftovers.
• Thaw the turkey! Frozen turkeys generally need 24 hours per 5 pounds of weight. So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, you’ll need (at least) four days of thawing. If you’ll be brining your bird, add another day onto that timeline.
• Make sure you have enough kitchen timers. Test them and map out how many you’ll need.
• Keep this Thanksgiving planning guide handy and refer to it often!

Turkey Day Minus One: The Day Before

• Prep everything you can today. You’ll be glad you did when something unexpected comes up tomorrow.
• Trash and recycling bins: Empty trash and recycling bins and place them in easy-to-access spots for guests.
• Shop for all the last-minute ingredients on your grocery list. Now is the time to make sure you have everything you’ll need. Also buy any store-bought items you won’t be making, like cheese, fancy bread, or a tasty appetizer.
• Make as much food in advance as possible. I like to make salad dressings, desserts (especially pies), and prep veggies the day before. Organize ingredients in the fridge by recipe. Many sides can be made or prepped today, then finished tomorrow (check out our recipes). Soups and stews can be fully cooked and reheated in a slow cooker. If you have help, knock out as much prep as possible now.
• Make (yet another) list: Count backward from your expected serving time and map out when dishes need to be started. You don’t want to forget to put the rolls in the oven! If you’re roasting a turkey or other large cut of meat, double-check their cook times.
• Set the table. If you can, set the table and put your serving platters out the day before the big event. This way you can take your time and tweak the decor.
• Get your home in shape fast with these tips: Use a laundry basket to go from room to room collecting clutter; carry some all-purpose cleaner, paper towels, and a vacuum for spot cleaning. (You already did a big cleaning, so this should be sufficient).
• Pick up the centerpiece. You did write that down, didn’t you?

 Party Perfect Time!

• Cooling tub: Set aside a tub of ice water to chill drinks and free up fridge space. Add a few towels nearby to dry off the chilled beverages. If don’t have space or a cute tub, set up an inflatable child’s swimming pool in the laundry room!
• Go through your list and prepare everything you have left to make. The more organized your list, the more smoothly this will go.

Morning: Start the turkey or ham. (If you suddenly find yourself puzzled about your turkey, consult the Butterball® Turkey Talk website).  If you didn’t prepare the stuffing or sweet potato casserole yesterday, you can prep those in the morning and bake them later. Start your slow cooker with a recipe.

An hour or two to go: Set out appetizers and cheese boards. Make rolls and mashed potatoes. Finish assembling salads. If you’ll be serving butter on the table, take it out of the fridge so it can soften.

30 minutes to go: Carve the turkey, make the gravy, and finish those side dishes in the oven.

• Be in the moment: You’ve made it! Of course, you want to be conscious of your guests and what they need, but make sure you enjoy the party. After all, you’ve earned it! Enjoy the food, the company, and be proud of what you’ve done. And if anyone asks if you need anything, steer them toward the pile of dirty dishes in the kitchen! Don’t forget to send leftovers home with anyone who wants some goodies for the next day.