Have you ever wondered What side dishes can be made the day before Thanksgiving? It is a time for family, friends, and of course, lots of food. This year, why not take some of the stress out of Thanksgiving by preparing some side dishes ahead of time?
There can be a lot of pressure to get Thanksgiving dinner just right. But it doesn’t have to be all stressful – some dishes can be made ahead of time, so you can relax a little on the big day. If you’re looking for side dish ideas that can be made the day before Thanksgiving, read on! We’ve got plenty of recipes to choose from.
We have plenty of make ahead recipes for your Thanksgiving meal like sweet potato casserole, beans, and biscuits.
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What side dishes can be made the day before Thanksgiving?
Find just the right dish for your next holiday meal with these easy Thanksgiving side dishes. All of these sides pair nicely with the main course, they are all a crowd pleaser dish.
Perfect way to help make your Holiday Entertaining Easier and satisfy everyone’s taste buds at the same time is to make delicious side dishes. Simple ways to pre-prep and spend more quality time with family members and friends.
Let’s face it, we all have enough stress in our lives. It is wonderful when we can slow down and enjoy each other’s company. For us, great food always seems to be at the center of our time together.
Sausage and Herb Stuffing
This recipe combines bread, sausage, and herbs for a delicious savory comfort foods.
Make this Budget-Friendly Side Dish Recipe ahead and reheat the day of the Thanksgiving dinner.
Get the full recipe for Sausage and Herb Stuffing
Three Bean Salad
This three bean salad has a delicious vinaigrette dressing, which takes the flavors over the top. A make ahead fresh cold salad.
The flavors have a chance to meld together, which makes it taste even better.
Get the full recipe for Three Bean Salad
Imitation Crab Pasta Salad
This imitation crab pasta salad is a perfect make-ahead recipe.
Combine the imitation crab meat with peas, onions, and cheese for a filling summer pasta salad. Add the creamy salad dressing as it brings the tastes and textures together just perfectly.
Get the full recipe for Imitation Crab Pasta Salad
Restaurant-Style Hash Brown Casserole
This restaurant-style hash brown casserole is loaded with cheesy onion flavor. Simple ingredients big taste. A perfect Holiday recipe for those special occasions like Thanksgiving Dinner or Christmas morning.
Get the full recipe for Restaurant-Style Hash Brown Casserole
Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad
This is almost like a broccoli slaw. It is an addictive blend of tricolor rotini pasta, cheese, onion. broccoli, and a delicious creamy cider coleslaw dressing. Make this cold salad the day ahead and it will amp up the flavors even more.
Get the full recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad
Quick Kool-Aid Pickles
Tangy, sweet, and sour these Kool Aid Pickles are a crazy twist on a usually savory condiment. You might not have heard of them before but they’re pretty popular!
Thanksgiving appetizer that even the kids will love. Easy make ahead recipe for the whole busy holiday season entertaining.
Get the full recipe for Quick Kool-Aid Pickles
Cauliflower and Mashed Potatoes
These Mashed Cauliflower and Creamy Potatoes are a great addition to the Holiday table. A pure comfort food with less carbs than our usual mashed potato side dish.
A better way to make this is prepare one or two days ahead of time and reheat the day of. Reheat in the oven, slow cooker, or microwave.
Get the full recipe for Cauliflower and Mashed Potatoes
Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Assemble the day before and bake the day of. This baked macaroni and cheese recipe is an old classic one that I grew up on. One of our family favorites for comfort food. Choose your shredded cheese and bake this until all the cheese is melty and bubbly.
Get the full recipe for Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Potato Casserole
The perfect comfort food on a cold wintery day or the perfect side for your Sunday or holiday table. This delicious dish is packed with cheesy, creamy, potato flavor and is perfect for a crowd.
Get the ingredients in the casserole dish the day before. Refrigerate and bake the day of your Holiday dinner.
Get the full recipe for Potato Casserole
Easy Cranberry Clementine Sauce
Let’s make the easiest and tastiest 15-minute cranberry sauce ever. You can make it up to three days in advance too. Or make it the last minute.
Get the full recipe for Easy Cranberry Clementine Sauce
Cranberry Orange Sauce
This delicious cranberry sauce recipe is infused with the festive flavors of orange and cinnamon, making it the perfect side for your Thanksgiving Table and holiday dinners. Super easy to make, ready in 20 minutes and can be prepped ahead.
Get the full recipe for Cranberry Orange Sauce
Garlic and Parmesan Sweet Potato Stacks
Simple to make with a few basic ingredients, they are easy to prep and look so upscale. A delicious part of an easy weeknight meal. This is a scrumptious comfort food showstopper for your Thanksgiving menu too.
Cheesy, buttery, and garlicky, the crispy edges of the stacks are so good, and the middles are soft and creamy. With hint of fresh thyme, they are a delicious sweet and savory side that everyone is sure to love.
Get the full recipe for Garlic and Parmesan Sweet Potato Stacks
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
A delicious, simple, and satisfying holiday side dish. Save time and stress for your Thanksgiving Day meal by making this ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To Reheat: Add the sweet potatoes to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for a few seconds. They warm really fast, so be careful.
Get the full recipe for Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Make Ahead Herb and Walnut Stuffing
Make Ahead Herb and Walnut Stuffing is just what you need to go on your dinner table this fall. This easy to make stuffing is loaded with chewy walnuts, lots of herbs and fluffy pieces of bread for the perfect side dish. A great side to serve at any Sunday dinner or Thanksgiving.
Get the full recipe for Make Ahead Herb and Walnut Stuffing
Creamy Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
This creamy Green Bean Casserole From Scratch recipe is loaded with onions, mushrooms, and green beans, and Gruyere.
Have a stress-free Easy Thanksgiving dinner by preparing your side dishes ahead of time and heating the day of.
Get the full recipe for Creamy Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Savory Bread Pudding with Sausage and Sage
Creamy, savory bread pudding with sausage, sage and caramelized leeks is a savory side dish that is a great Thanksgiving side dish.
Get the full recipe for Savory Bread Pudding with Sausage and Sage
Homemade Potato Bread Stuffing Recipe
Easy side dishes that will elevate a weeknight meal. Stuffing is the perfect side dish to compliment turkey or roast chicken.
Get the full recipe for Homemade Potato Bread Stuffing Recipe
Root Veggie Mash with Butternut Squash Recipe
Make ahead for your turkey day. Boil the vegetables until they are all fork tender and easily mashable. Add butter and seasonings and mash. Place in covered casserole dish or airtight container. When ready to serve you can either bake or reheat in the microwave.
Get the full recipe for Root Veggie Mash with Butternut Squash Recipe
Creamy Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes with Chives
Creamy mashed potatoes that are buttery, and the perfect side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any family meal. Make with with sour cream, chives, and Yukon gold potatoes for a rich and creamy flavor.
Get the full recipe for Creamy Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes with Chives
Fall Quinoa Salad
This fall make ahead quinoa salad is inspired by all the flavors of the season. The star of this salad is the fruit: crispy apple, juicy orange, and tart cranberries give each bite bright, fresh, delicious flavor.
Get the full recipe for Fall Quinoa Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with lemon Vinaigrette
It’s an easy, show-stopping side salad that’s perfect for your dinner table or holiday menu.
Get the full recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with lemon Vinaigrette
Homemade Gravy without Drippings
Homemade Gravy Without Drippings is an easy from scratch gravy recipe without drippings so you don’t have to wait for the meat to be done. Make it ahead of time to reduce stress for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Get the full recipe for Homemade Gravy without Drippings
Scalloped Root Vegetable Skillet
Red and yellow beets, turnips, and sweet potatoes thinly sliced and baked together with fresh herbs, butter, and freshly grated parmesan cheese in this fresh and delicious side dish.
Get the full recipe for Scalloped Root Vegetable Skillet
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
A fabulous way to enjoy sweet potato deliciousness, and a perfect side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any everyday meal.
Get the full recipe for Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Funeral Potatoes
Funeral Potatoes are an easy, cheesy potato side dish. This cheesy potato casserole is great make-ahead side dish recipe.
Get the full recipe for Funeral Potatoes
Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice
Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice makes a nice gluten-free alternative to stuffing.
A blend of brown rice, wild rice, crunchy pecans and dried cranberries. It’s a festive gluten free alternative to stuffing or a nice side dish to game or poultry.
Get the full recipe for Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
The rainbow of vegetables are seasoned with oregano, thyme and a squeeze of lemon juice. These are the perfect vegan side dish to pair with grilled meats, add to a rice bowl or a healthy side dish.
Get the full recipe for Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
Cheesy Spinach Souffle
Bake this casserole and store the casserole in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap.
Pull it out of the refrigerator while you preheat the oven, but it will still need extra time to bake as it will be colder than if freshly made.
Get the full recipe for Cheesy Spinach Souffle
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping
Sweet Potato Casserole is inspired by Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse with a decadent sweet potato filling and crunchy brown sugar streusel topping. It’s a fantastic autumn and holiday dish that is comforting, sweet, and full of flavor.
Get the full recipe for Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping
Wild Rice Stuffing Casserole
It’s gluten-free, so everyone can enjoy it, even if they’re on a gluten-free or wheat-free diet.
It’s got a perfect blend of savory, sweet, crunchy, and chewy in every bite.
You can make it a day ahead and heat it if you’re serving it for a party. PS it’s a great buffet side dish.
Get the full recipe for Wild Rice Stuffing Casserole
Butternut Squash Milk Bread Rolls ( Soft Dinner Rolls ) – Egg Free
These butternut squash milk bread rolls are pillowy, soft and sweet like Hawaiian rolls, but with more character and flavor.
The squash isn’t obtrusive or even obvious in this recipe, rather, it harmonizes perfectly with the other flavors of the roll.
Get the full recipe for Butternut Squash Milk Bread Rolls ( Soft Dinner Rolls ) – Egg Free
Candied Roasted Sweet Potatoes
One of the most delicious sweet potato recipes with a buttery glazed alternative to a Southern sweet potato casserole. Roasting them first caramelizes them like a steakhouse roasted sweet potato. My favorite easy make-ahead side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or even a summer potluck dinner.
Get the full recipe for Candied Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Make -Ahead Green Bean Casserole
This Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole recipe incorporates fresh green beans and a homemade cream-of-mushroom soup that is delicious enough to be eaten on its own.
Get the full recipe for Make -Ahead Green Bean Casserole
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.