Thanksgiving Hosting Made Easy for 2025

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Plan your Thanksgiving menu with ease using our mix-and-match recipes and hosting tips for a stress-free and memorable celebration!

Everything you need is found in this post, so you can bookmark it OR you can get an easy “clickable” digital printable that has all the main information in one easy place to store on your phone.

Get The Printable!

Thanksgiving can be an amazing time to get together with friends and family, and (hopefully) enjoy each other’s company! However, all to often the stress of the perfect big meal gets in the way. Our whole goal with this post is to make that stressful day easier and more enjoyable!

With a little planning, suggestions, tips, and organization, it can be simple AND enjoyable. That’s why we’ve put together a selection of menu options to help you mix and match the perfect meal with ease. Plus, we’ve included our favorite tips and tricks to make prep smoother, so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the celebration!

What you’ll find below:

Get the printable. A “clickable” guide to help you pull off the perfect Thanksgiving meal without the stress.
Tips you’ll thank us for later: We’ve pulled together some of our best tips to help you prepare, cook, and serve with confidence this Thanksgiving.
Less-Stress Schedule: Timing on food prep to spread out the work and reduce the kitchen fatigue.
Choose your own adventure: Thanksgiving menu. A build-your-own menu with simple, delicious options for a stress-free Thanksgiving meal.
More Cooking tips and tutorials

Get the Printable!

Make planning and preparing your Thanksgiving meal even easier with our printable guide! It’s a simple way to stay organized and make sure everything comes together smoothly.

Download Here

Kristyn’s Thanksgiving Hosting Tips

Plan Early – Decide your full menu (drinks, desserts, and all!) at least a week ahead and stick with it. One plan = way less stress.
Shop Smart – Do your big grocery trip 3–4 days before. Stock up on butter, cream, and foil (you’ll always need extra)!
Prep Ahead – Chop veggies, measure ingredients, and mix sauces on Wednesday. Label everything so it’s grab-and-go on the big day.
Make-Ahead Magic – Casseroles, cranberry sauce, and desserts taste even better made early. Thanksgiving Day should be about reheating, not rushing.
Write a Cooking Schedule – List when each dish goes in and out of the oven. It’ll keep your timing on track and your mind calm.
Delegate – Don’t do it all yourself! Let guests bring a dish or assign small jobs like setting the table or carving the turkey.
Share the Oven – Turkey goes on the bottom rack. Sides bake on middle or top racks (most do great at 325°F–375°F). When the turkey rests, use that time to crisp rolls or finish sides.
Clean As You Go – Keep warm, soapy water in the sink and load the dishwasher throughout the day. A tidy kitchen = a calmer cook.
Set the Table Early – Do it the night before. Waking up to a beautiful table makes the morning feel peaceful and festive.
Let Go of Perfect – Something might burn or spill (and that’s okay). What matters most is the laughter and love around your table. 💛

Schedule

Day Before: Prep and make side dishes, cover and refrigerate; Make desserts, cover and refrigerate
Morning of Make rolls start to finish. Cover to keep soft.
3-4 HOURS BEFORE: Prep Main Dish and start baking/cooking
1 Hour Before: Place prepped side dishes in oven with the main dish
30 MINUTES BEFORE: MAKE THE DRINK

Choose Your Adventure Menu Planning

Planning your Thanksgiving menu just got easier! We’ve put together our favorite recipes for every part of your meal—appetizers, breads, mains, sides, desserts, and drinks—so you can mix and match to create the perfect spread while taking away the stress.