• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet Cayenne
  • ABOUT
    • Work With Me
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • RECIPES BY CATEGORY
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Main Entree
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • How-To Guides
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • NEWSLETTER
    • CONTACT
    • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home

    Thanksgiving Menu Planner + Tips for Keeping it Simple

    Published: Nov 6, 2018 · Modified: Sep 25, 2020 by Whitney Reist · This post may contain affiliate links |

    Today I'm going to walk you through planning a menu for Thanksgiving, as well as share some of my time, money, and sanity-saving tips that will ensure you enjoy the holiday with family and friends!

    A white bowl of cranberries with two honeycrisp apples and a bunch of fresh thyme on a white counter.

    Let's get our Thanksgiving planning on! Whether you are hosting a family gathering, being part of a Friendsgiving, or just being a guest, there are tips for everyone here that will help keep your planning simple and attainable. Even if you aren't playing a big role in the planning, use some of these suggestions to encourage your host/hostess and be a help to them!

    Most of our family Thanksgivings involve at least 10 people, and I've had the opportunity to host myself and help others host. Over the years, my mom and I have given a lot of thought to how to keep things simple yet make it special. Our goal is to not plan so much that we get stressed and so tied up with the work that we don't enjoy being with family. Below is the menu planner I will be using to keep us organized - keep reading for my tips on filling it out and making your game plan!

    Ready to start planning? Download and print the 2-page planner and sign up for my weekly newsletter to get monthly menu planning sheets and a FREE e-cookbook!

    A thanksgiving menu planning sheet.

    Planning the Menu

    Beverages

    • Ask your guests to bring the beverages. This is a simple thing for people to bring that could potentially take up a lot of real estate in your fridge if you were providing it yourself. There are many guests who hate to cook and will jump at the chance to just bring a drink! Whether it is jugs of tea, lemonade, soft drinks, coffee or a slow-cooker filled with apple cider, drinks are a simple thing to check off your list and delegate to others without asking for too much.
    • Suggested recipes: Applepom Fizz, Spiced Tea, Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
    A moscow mule mug with a sparkling apple cider mocktail inside and a garnish of apple sliced and cinnamon stick.

    Appetizers

    • Choose no-cook appetizers and delegate to guests. If someone on your guest list asks if they can bring something, don't say no! People love to feel like they are contributing, and even if you'd like to control the main menu, specify a simple appetizer that a guest can bring that doesn't involve cooking. Your oven, stovetop, microwave, and toaster are likely going to be tied up!
    • Ask for: mixed nuts, platters of fruit, cheese and crackers, prosciutto-wrapped fruit, salami, and sliced cucumber, or a homemade party mix (like Chex).
    • Suggested recipes: Antipasto Board, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip with Fruit
    A cutting board with charcuterie and vegetables.

    Sides

    • Keep it simple and stick to 3-4, plus rolls and cranberry sauce. People tend to think they need WAY more sides on Thanksgiving than can comfortably be consumed. My head spins when people tell me that plan to fix stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, brussels sprouts, and mac and cheese - all for one meal! I think it's good to challenge yourself to stick with 3 sides - 4 at the max, and then maybe up the volume by focusing on really high-quality ingredients. Choose a stuffing and add veggies to it, one type of potato dish, a big platter of colorful roasted veggies, and maybe a big colorful salad!
    • Utilize appliances wisely - choose two sides that are cooked on the stovetop or Slow cooker, one for the oven, and one that doesn't require cooking and can be made ahead, like a salad.
    • Plan incredible leftovers with the rolls/bread option. I've observed many a Thanksgiving where the rolls are an afterthought and, as a result, barely touched. I choose the rolls or bread that I plan to offer based on the type of leftovers I'd like to have. With all of the carb and starch-heavy sides and desserts, people typically tend to skip the bread offering anyway. Fresh bakery brioche rolls or rustic boules make for incredible sandwiches the next day or overnight French toast over the holiday weekend, so that is typically what I plan to have on hand!
    • Suggested Recipes: Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Kale and Apple Salad, Roasted Acorn Squash, Maple Whipped Butternut Squash, or Harissa and Maple Roasted Carrots

    Main Dish

    • Purchase your turkey at least a week in advance, and set reminders to thaw it on time. Turkeys take a lot longer to thaw than you think - a minimum of 2 days and more like 3-4, so set a reminder on your phone to thaw it on time because it's easy to forget.
    • Make extra gravy - because you always will need it, and extra gravy can disguise a dry turkey if that ends up being the reality.
    • Just ask Ina. Her make-ahead turkey with gravy, truffle butter turkey, and herb-roasted turkey breast are all fantastic options - you won't go wrong with any of these!

    Desserts

    • Stick to two desserts (or less) that you make, and delegate the rest! I'm picky about desserts and have to make sure that I have a chess pie and a chocolate pecan pie present on the table. After that, I really don't care what anyone else brings! Thanksgiving desserts are can be personal, so if someone wants to bring their favorite, by all means, let them!
    • Suggested recipes: Old-Fashioned Chess Pie, Apple Dumplings with Sparkling Cider Sauce, or this Easy Apple Tart!
    An overhead shot of apple dumplings in a red cast iron braised on a white counter top.

    Setting a Schedule

    On the menu planning sheet, I've left spaces for you plan tasks that can be done 2-3 days ahead, the day before, and the day of. Here's how I like to divide and conquer:

    2-3 Days Ahead

    • Do a little shop (see below)
    • Set the table - see this post to see how I'm setting mine!
    • Make pie crusts, cranberry sauce, start drying out bread for stuffing
    • Wash, chop and prep veggies for cooking (2 days before)

    The Day Before

    • Make-ahead mashed potatoes or sweet potato casserole
    • Make-ahead dressing or stuffing
    • Make desserts
    • Set up food and beverage serving areas
    • Put together any fresh flower arrangements

    Thanksgiving Day

    • Cook turkey and gravy
    • Cook sides (like roasted veggies)
    • Warm make-ahead dishes (like stuffing and mashed potatoes)
    • Eat and enjoy!

    Making a Shopping List

    When it comes to shopping for a big day like Thanksgiving, I like to divide the work into two shopping trips. The first "big shopping trip" is for items that will be stored in the freezer, pantry, or that will keep in the fridge for over a week. Think things like flours, nuts, dairy products, potatoes, carrots, celery, stock, eggs, etc. The second "little shop" is something that I plan 2-3 days before Thanksgiving and will include items like fresh produce, flowers, and any incidentals I may have forgotten.

    A thanksgiving menu planning sheet.

    Ready to start planning? Download and print the 2-page planner and sign up for my weekly newsletter to get monthly menu planning sheets and a FREE e-cookbook!

    Do you have any tips, tricks, or strategies you turn to when prepping for Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear about it - Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes!

    I’d also love to feature your creation in my weekly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured! Quick and easy recipe videos are available on my YouTube channel, and lots of menu inspiration on my Pinterest boards.

    Videos

    Don't miss these recipes!

    • A St. Patrick's day themed snack board with corned beef, sauerkraut, soda bread, and other charcuterie items.
      St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Square-red-velvet-cheesecake-bars
      Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
    • Two cups of hot chocolate topped with jumbo marshmallows.
      The BEST Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
    • An overhead shot of a glass baking dish with green bean bundles and a serving spoon.
      Bacon-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

    Want more?

    Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get exclusive content (like menus, cooking downloads, and more!), blog recaps, and a chance to connect or be featured!

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Many of the links in my posts are affiliate links, which means I can get a small commission for any click or purchases made through the links. I am also an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello there!

    I'm Whitney, the chef, photographer, dietitian, and blogger-extraordinaire behind Sweet Cayenne. Welcome to my online kitchen!

    About Whitney & Sweet Cayenne

    What's In Season

    • A pink bowl on a cutting board filled with sweet potato lentil curry and rice.
      Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach
    • A cinnamon roll on a white rimmed plate.
      Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
    • A cinnamon apple cake with two slices cut out on a piece of parchment paper with a navy blue background.
      15+ Healthy Apple Recipes
    • Bell Pepper Nachos
    • An up-close shot of a white bowl of Southern-style pasta e Fagioli.
      Southern-Style Pasta e Fagioli
    • Two Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders on a blue ceramic plate with a baking dish of sliders and blue napkin in the background.
      Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

    Free cookbook and menu planners!

    Subscribe to my weekly newsletter & receive a free e-cookbook of my 25 best recipes along with menu planning sheets!

    Cozy Cooking:

    A pink bowl on a cutting board filled with sweet potato lentil curry and rice.

    Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach

    An overhead shot of a white soup ramekin filled with ribolita soup and topped with crusty bread on black background.

    Instant Pot + Slow Cooker Ribolita (Italian Bread Soup)

    A gray plate of red beans and rice with a gingham dish towel and a glass of water on the side.

    Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

    An overhead shot of a white bowl filled with turkey and drop biscuit dumplings.

    Turkey and Drop Biscuit Dumplings (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

    A white bowl of soup filled with posole verde and garnished with avocado and cilantro.

    Instant Pot Chicken Posole Verde

    An overhead shot of a wicker charger with parchment paper and Mango Mojo Chicken Tacos with a side of mojo sauce and avocado ranch on the side.

    Mango Mojo Chicken Tacos

    Travel Here Next:

    • The product wall of skincare items at Lemon Laine Oil Bar in Nashville, TN.
      Nashville Finds: Lemon Laine Oil Bar
    • A girl standing on a beach in Positano, Italy.
      Positano, Italy: Budget-Friendly Travel Guide
    • A photo of Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy
      The Best Tuscan Road Trip Itinerary + Tips on Driving in Italy
    • A traveling foodie's guide to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy - including what to taste in Parma, Modena, and Bologna! European travel guide and itinerary.
      A Foodie's Guide to Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    Cooking Guides

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Photography Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 SweetCayenne