Here are my tips for a Thanksgiving meal plan that includes everything from recipes and shopping to platters and business cards.
Just as I make money on vacation, I took my best entertaining photos for this post 🙂
This year we will host Thanksgiving!
New house, new kitchen = a new space for the big banquet. We certainly have counter space to fit all the dishes! We are excited to entertain our families this year.
We’re hoping for nice weather so we can set the table on our covered porch, which has been a dream of mine since we built it.
Our families host Thanksgiving-style potlucks, where the host prepares the turkey but everyone brings a side dish or two to share. And usually people bring the same dishes they love to make and eat every year, so we have a pretty good idea of the menu. But we still need a solid execution plan!
I know from the past year as a host that the more organized you are, the easier it will be to execute the plan on the day of. So let’s talk about strategy for a Thanksgiving timeline.
Make a Thanksgiving Meal Plan
I get a little anxious about hosting big dinner parties. The number of guests who come multiplied by the variety of dishes is outside my usual comfort zone.
And the first way I can calm that anxiety is to start writing down the things I need to do and work backwards from dinner time. From cleaning to carving the turkey, here are tasks to consider before the big day!
Get organized for Thanksgiving
Clip recipes
You can skip this step if you prepare the same menu year after year or if you are hosting a potluck event. We usually do a hybrid and divide the recipes between 3 or 4 families so that each one contributes.
Either way, I think it’s fun to create new dishes year after year, especially vegetable sides! Here is a healthy sides summary from Fit Foodie and Fed + Fit 50+.
Make your shopping list
Long before you think about going, make a shopping list of all your recipes. You may want to sort by staples and fresh foods and whether you’ll need to go to more than one store. Never leave shopping until the last day or you could miss out on cranberries or canned pumpkin! Also: don’t forget to defrost your turkey.
Plan appetizers
I’m obviously a big fan of the Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board! Choose which board you’ll use (especially if you need to maximize cutting boards in the kitchen) and set out some serving spoons. You can even group your pantry ingredients for applications with the board (crackers, nuts, dried fruits) to bring them together.
Choose drinks
From elegant wines and a variety of grapes to non-alcoholic options for non-drinkers, set aside a few minutes to choose which wines you will serve and which drinks you will offer. Also, decide where you will keep them on the big day. Consider an ice tub and/or bar cart to keep people out of the kitchen and refrigerator. Don’t forget to chill the white wine (chill it even more than you think you could open it!) and pop out an opener.
make a timeline
I find it helpful to start at dinner time and work backwards based on how long it takes everything to cook. Since the oven, stove, and microwave may be in use, be sure to have dishes that can be reheated or cooked in a variety of ways. Bonus points for anything you can prepare the day before!
Clean + Tidy
The last thing you want to do when guests arrive is order, so do it as far in advance as possible. Remove any fragile or valuable items from your main areas if you will have children running around. Maybe even cover a blanket on the couch to keep your fingers from getting stuck! Add some special touches to your guest bathroom that people may need during their visit.
Set out serving plates and wash them.
I keep my turkey platter out of sight and the serving plates in my house get dusty. Therefore, it is imperative to give them a nice clean rinse. Once they are dry, I plan what recipe will go on each dish, right down to the serving spoons!
Set the table
If you only have one dining table like ours, you may have to wait until the day of, but the more you can do in advance, the better! Since the food will need more attention that day, the decoration should come first, if possible. At a minimum, choose a tablecloth or table runner, arrange flowers and decorations, place napkins, plates and cutlery, and choose glasses. Bonus: your house will look like a magazine!
We’re planning on having a kid’s table this year, so simple settings and/or favorites on that table need a little attention too 🙂
Plan name tags and games.
Thanksgiving is one of the days I love making name tags. We have them on a blackboard and the children love being the ones to write the names. We also play a Gratitude Game and I like to make little cards with themes that we pull out of a vase like “What is a place you are grateful for?” or “Who is a person who has had an impact on your life?” Even just setting out your deck of cards or bringing some board games can be a great step to start playing! Or maybe you’re a soccer family: get your team ready!
Organize your food storage containers + refrigerator storage.
Finally, clear the refrigerator of anything non-Thanksgiving related to make room for both ingredients and leftovers. And then prepare all your tupperware, with some tape to write on if you’re going to send it. You can also buy some recyclable boxes to send food home with guests.
Do you have extra cranberry sauce? Make cranberry sauce smoothies!
Or more blueberries in general? Try Cranberry Kale Chicken in the Slow Cooker!
Extra pumpkin? Try Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal for breakfast the next day!
Once your plan is ready, enjoy your vacation as stress-free as possible! And read my recommendations for a Conscious Vacation <3
