Here are my tips for a Thanksgiving meal plan that includes everything from recipes and grocery shopping to serving platters and name cards.
Just like I take out the silver on vacation, I took all my best fun photos for this post 🙂
We are hosting Thanksgiving this year!
New house, new kitchen = new space for the big feast. We definitely have the counter space to fit all the dishes! We are excited to entertain our families this year.
We are hoping for warm weather so we can set up the table on our screened in porch, which has been a dream of mine since we built it.
Our families do Thanksgiving, where the host makes the turkey, but everyone brings a side or two to share. And usually people bring the same dishes they like to make and eat every year, so we have a pretty good idea of the menu. But we still need a solid execution plan!
I know from past hosting years that the more organized you are, the easier it is to execute the plan on the day. So let’s discuss strategy for a Thanksgiving schedule.
Make a Thanksgiving meal plan
I get a little nervous about hosting large dinner parties. The number of guests coming multiplied by the variety of dishes is out of my normal comfort zone.
And the number one way I can calm that stress is to start writing down the things I need to do and work backwards from dinner time. From cleaning to carving the turkey, here are the tasks to consider in the lead up to the big day!
Get organized for Thanksgiving
Recipes for clips
You can skip this step if you make the same menu year after year or if you are having a potluck event. We usually do a hybrid and split the recipes into 3-4 families so we can each contribute.
Either way, I think it’s fun to come up with new dishes every year, especially vegetables! Here is one rounding of healthy sides from Fit Foodie and 50+ from Fed + Fit.
Make your grocery list
Long before you even think about going, make a list of all your prescriptions. You may want to sort by staples and fresh foods and if necessary head to more than one store. Never save shopping until the last day or you might miss out on the cranberries or canned pumpkin! Also: don’t forget to defrost your turkey.
Plan appetizers
Obviously I’m a big fan of the Thanksgiving charcuterie board! Choose which board to use (especially if you want to maximize cutting boards in the kitchen) and lay out some serving spoons. You can even group the ingredients in your pantry for board applications—crackers, nuts, dried fruit—to bring them together.
Choose drinks
From fancy wines and a variety of grapes to non-alcoholic options for non-drinkers, take a few minutes to choose which wines to serve and which drinks to offer. Additionally, decide where they will be stored on the big day. Consider a tub of ice and/or a bar cart to keep people out of the kitchen and fridge. Don’t forget to chill your white wine (even colder than you think you can open!) and pop a corkscrew.
Make a schedule
I find it helpful to start at dinner time and work backwards based on how long everything takes to cook. Since the oven, stove and microwave may be used, make sure you have dishes that can be reheated or cooked in a variety of ways. Bonus points for anything you can make the day before!
Clean + Tidy
The last thing you want to do with arriving guests is to settle, so do it as early as you can. Remove anything fragile or valuable from your main areas if you have children running around. Maybe even throw a blanket over the sofa to avoid sticky fingers! Add some special touches to your guest bathroom that people might need while visiting.
Put the serving plates and wash them
I store my turkey platter on display and the dishes I serve at home get pretty dusty. So giving them a nice clean rinse is essential. Once they are dry, I plan which recipe will go on which plate – right down to the serving spoons!
Set the table
If you only have one dining table like us, you may have to wait until the day of, but the more you can do in advance the better! Since the food will need your attention the most on the day of the day, the decoration should come first if possible. At the very least, choose a tablecloth or runner, arrange flowers and decor, place napkins, plates and cutlery, and select glasses. Bonus: your home will look like a magazine!
We are planning on having a kids table this year so the simple arrangements and/or favors on this table need some attention 🙂
Design name tags and toys
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days to do name tags. We have chalkboards and the kids love being the ones to write the names. We also play a Gratitude Game and I like to make little cards with themes that we pull out of a jar like “What is one thing you are grateful for?” or “Who is a person who has influenced your life?” Even just locating the deck or laying out a few board games can be a great step to getting the games started! Or maybe you’re a football family – get the gear ready!
Organize food storage containers + fridge storage
Finally, clear out the fridge of anything non-Thanksgiving themed to make room for both ingredients and leftovers. And then get all your stuff ready – with some tape to write on if you’re going to send it. You could also buy some recyclable boxes to send food home with guests.
Got extra cranberry sauce? Make Cranberry Sauce Smoothies!
Or extra cranberries in general? Try Cranberry + Kale Chicken in the slow cooker!
Extra pumpkin? Try Pumpkin Oatmeal for breakfast the next day!
Once your plan is ready, enjoy your vacation as stress-free as possible! And read my recommendations for mindful vacations <3
