10 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes You'll Be Grateful For

By Jenna Helwig
Get a head start on the biggest meal of the year by prepping and cooking ahead of time. 
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Make-Ahead Mashed Potato Casserole

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Once this crowd-pleasing potato dish is assembled, cover it with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

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Slow-Cooker Gingerbread Cake

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This moist cake is, miraculously, made in the slow cooker! Serve it hot, warm, or at room temperature. Pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and Dried Fruit Compote.

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Cranberry-Grape Sauce

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Prep and chill this easy sauce a few days before Thanksgiving. Take it out of the fridge an hour before the big meal to allow it to come to room temperature.

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Ginger Ale Salad

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The women in Parents Copy Editor Alexa Barre's family have been making this side dish for five generations. It needs to chill for at least six hours, so prepare it in the morning or the day before. 

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Cute Gobbler Cupcakes

The whole family will love these adorable, make-ahead treats.

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Turnip Casserole

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This dish is a favorite at Parents Digital Director Julia Dennison’s house. She says this dish is the one that always gets people going for seconds, thirds, even fourths. Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours ahead. Add the breadcrumbs and melted butter just before baking.

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Autumn Kale Salad

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Most leafy greens need to be dressed right before serving, but this colorful, crunchy green side dish is the rare salad that can be prepped ahead of time. Roast the squash up to 24 hours in advance, and assemble the whole salad an hour before serving. 

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Cheddar-Pecan Crackers and Apple Butter

Yunhee Kim
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No one has to know how easy this appetizer is to make! The apple butter can be prepared a few days ahead of time. Refrigerate the crackers for up to three days. 

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Pumpkin Streusel Tart

Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski
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Capture the sweetness of the season with a dessert inspired by pumpkin pie. The buttery, nutty topping and thick crust make it heartier and crunchier—and dare we say, more delicious?—than the traditional finale to a Thanksgiving meal. Make the tart the day before or morning of and serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Orange-Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole

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If you’re going to a holiday potluck bring this citrusy side to your host's house unbaked and pop it in the oven while the turkey is resting.

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