Ridiculously Easy Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make Ahead of Time

jennysmithmattfeldt
Nov 18, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Mar 10

Skip the stress and let these make ahead sides do the heavy lifting while you sit back and actually enjoy the holiday...

By JENNY SMITH MATTFELDT Published November 18, 2024

Thanksgiving is basically the Olympics of food prep, whether you’re hosting the whole shebang or just bringing a side dish. The secret to surviving it all? Make-ahead side dishes. Not only do they lighten your stress on the big day, a lot of them actually taste better after chilling overnight so all those flavors can meld. So, skip the stress, and let these dishes do the heavy lifting while you sit back and actually enjoy the holiday.

Mom's 3 Cheese Bread

Recipe courtesy of my mom, this one is a show stopper. Not only can you make this cheese bread loaf ahead of time, you can get pretty creative with it. Try adding fresh or dried herbs right into the dough or cutting it into smaller pieces and making individual knots. For how complicated it looks it's extremely simple to make. Just don't stress too much about how it rolls together as you can see from these photos it can look different every time, it will taste great no matter what.

½ cup warm milk

1 egg

¼ cup water

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 cup flour

2 tsp yeast

1 cup shredded cheddar

½ cup shredded Swiss

¼ cup grated parmesan

1. Preheat your oven to 350°. Mix the yeast and warm milk together & allow it to sit until foamy.

2. Combine egg, water, olive oil, salt, and flour with milk and yeast.

3. Roll out dough to 18x12 approximate rectangle.

4. Sprinkle cheese to ½” from edges, roll up dough as if you are making cinnamon rolls & place it seam side down on a greased cookie sheet.

5. Twist into a figure eight and tuck the ends under the center of the dough roll. Use a knife to make 1” deep cut into the center top of roll, spanning the full length until ½” from ends. This will allow roll to fall open slightly and spread as it rises.

6. Allow it to rise until the loaf has doubled in size, sprinkle a little more cheese over the top, & bake at 350° for 35 minutes.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is one of those love-it-or-leave-it dishes, there’s no middle ground. But this make-ahead cranberry sauce, inspired by the queen of hosting herself, Martha Stewart, might just win over even the skeptics. With bright orange and tart cranberry flavors, it gets even more delicious after a night or three in the fridge, giving all those flavors time to meld into perfection.

Cornbread Stuffing

This sausage cornbread stuffing, another gem from Martha Stewart, is a game-changer for your Thanksgiving lineup. You can prep it a day (or even two) in advance, making it a stress-free addition to the menu. The cornbread twist adds a fun, flavorful spin while still keeping that classic, cozy stuffing vibe we all know and love.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are non-negotiable at Thanksgiving, it’s the dish everyone expects to see on the table. But let’s be honest, they can be a bit of a workout to make. Save yourself the hassle by getting all the heavy lifting done ahead of time. With a little prep, you’ll have creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes ready to go without breaking a sweat on the big day.

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Bacon-wrapped green beans are the veggie side dish you didn’t know you needed. They’re a fun, personal-sized twist on the usual greens, and let’s be real everything’s better with bacon. The best part? They’re ridiculously easy to make, and you can prep them ahead of time for a no-fuss, crowd-pleasing addition to your Thanksgiving spread.

Brussel Sprout Caesar Salad

This shaved Brussels sprout Caesar salad is a fresh, modern twist on the classic Caesar and trust me, it’s a winner. Whether you serve it warm or cold, it’s packed with flavor and so easy to prep ahead of time. I make this one all the time because I love brussel sprouts and the Caesar dressing only gets better with a little extra time to mingle. Just combine everything right before serving, and you’ve got a side that’s as simple as it is delicious.

Relish Tray

Nothing says 'special dinner' to me quite like a classic relish tray. My Italian gramma Olive made one for every Sunday dinner, so it’s a nostalgic must-have for me. The beauty of a relish tray is that you can make it your own, but the essentials? Cut carrots and celery, baby pickles, mini corn cobs, green and black olives and if you’re feeling a little frisky, some homemade Thousand Island. It’s simple, charming, and a total throwback in the best way.