Thanksgiving Week Checklist - Everything You Need to Do In Advance to Prepare Your Thanksgiving Dinner

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the fun and festivities of the holiday season will begin soon. Being prepared ahead of time is key to enjoying a memorable Thanksgiving day. Getting organized for a special gathering can be a bit overwhelming, but I’m here to help. I’ve created this week-long checklist to help you stay organized and stress-free while preparing for the big day.

Daily Checklist

Sunday

Finalizing your guest list to get a final head count on who’s coming to dinner. Getting that magic number of how many people you’re cooking for will help you know the amount of food you will need to prepare. When making your list keep in mind if any of you guest have dietary restrictions. If so it would be a good gesture to include a few items on your menu that they can enjoy.

Once you have your final head count now it’s time to create your menu. This is the fun part. Create a Thanksgiving dinner menu that includes both Traditional dishes and something new. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the traditional turkey, dressing, ham and mash potatoes. But maybe this year try preparing your turkey in a new way and adding some non-traditional sides to your menu as well as the usual. Your menu should be a reflection of your exquisite taste so be as creative as possible. Make sure to include in your menu appetizers, main courses, sides, drinks and desserts.

Once you have finalized your menu and before you head to the grocery store. Write out the your ingredients you will need for each and every dish then check to see what ingredients you already have on hand. Once you know what you already have, make a shopping list for the rest. You could make one complete list and check off what you have then get what you need.

Monday:

Grocery shopping during the holidays can get pretty hectic. Take the list you prepared and head to the grocery store on Monday to give yourself plenty of time and beat the last minute shopping crowd. Check expiration dates on all products that expire quickly such as dinner rolls, breads, etc.

Make room for all you will need by clean out your fridge. Begin making room for all that you will need for your Thanksgiving dinner by getting rid of any expired or unwanted items. If you purchase a frozen turkey, it usually take up to 2 day to unthaw in the refrigerator. Use the following chart to determine how much time you will need to unthaw your bird.

The general rule is to allow 24 hours of thawing time in the fridge for every 4–5 pounds of turkey.

4 to 12 pounds: 1 to 3 days
12 to 16 pounds: 3 to 4 days
16 to 20 pounds: 4 to 5 days
20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 days

For example, if you have a 16-pound turkey, you should plan for about 4 days of thawing time in the fridge.

Tuesday:

Now that your shopping is done, let the preparation begin. Wash and chop vegetables such as celery, bell peppers, onion and garlic then place them in airtight containers and refrigerate until needed. Make pie crusts, cornbread for dressing, etc and prepare any other ingredients that can be done in advance. In addition to preparing in the kitchen. Begin any cleaning and decorating that needs to be done to create your beautiful setting.

Wednesday:

The day before Thanksgiving is where everything will come together. Start making the side dishes and desserts that can be made ahead of time. Many sides such as cranberry sauce, cornbread dressing, mac and cheese and collard greens can be cooked, cooled and refrigerated the night before. Desserts such as sweet potato pie, apple pie, pecan pie and 7-up cake are just as good or even better when prepared a day ahead of time. Getting the bulk of you cooking done the night before will save you time in the kitchen Thanksgiving day.

Finish any cleaning and decorating the day before as well. When Thanksgiving day comes keep you attention focused on preparing that delicious meal and spending time with family and friends.

Thanksgiving Day:

On Thanksgiving morning, cook the remainder of your menu. Make sure to give yourself enough time and oven space for all that need to cook in the oven. Roast your turkey early as it is the star of the show. Use the guide below to determine how long the turkey should cook. Prepare you ham, and any other proteins and finish off with the remainder of your sides.

Roasting a turkey depends on its weight and whether it’s stuffed or unstuffed. Here’s a general guideline for roasting an unstuffed turkey at 325°F (165°C):

Unstuffed Turkey:

8 to 12 pounds: 2.75 to 3 hours
12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3.75 hours
14 to 18 pounds: 3.75 to 4.25 hours
18 to 20 pounds: 4.25 to 4.5 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 4.5 to 5 hours

Stuffed Turkey:

If your turkey is stuffed, add an additional 15–30 minutes to these times.

Key Tips:

Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The turkey is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast and thigh, as well as the center of the stuffing if it’s stuffed.
Let the turkey rest for 15–20 minutes before carving to keep it juicy.

After all the cooking is complete, tidy up the kitchen, set your beautiful tables and enjoy what will come to be an memorable Thanksgiving.

Bonus Tips:

Preparing for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner is truly a ton of work but a labor of love. Enlist the help of family and friends to lighten your load. Don’t be afraid to delegate certain task that will make you life easier and your holiday a success. Use this checklist as a guide but tweak it to your pace. Set a realistic timeline to get your task done. The key is to not procrastinate and try to do to much at the last minute. An finally and most importantly have fun both on the journey to your big day and the destination. Remember to be grateful for God’s blessings and to enjoy the good food, family and friends and to make memories.

I hope this checklist helps you have a stress-free and enjoyable Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Cooking!