1Cranberry Sauce
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE This sweet-tart sauce is almost as easy as opening up the canned stuff, and you know your Thanksgiving spread deserves better. This is one of the Thanksgiving dishes you can make up to a week in advance. (Bonus: The flavors will meld and deepen while it hangs out in the fridge.)
Get the Cranberry Sauce recipe.
2Creamed Brussels Sprouts
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON We LOVE giving Brussels the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. To make ahead, simple assemble everything in your baking dish, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, pop it in the oven until it’s bubbly and lightly golden.
Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
3Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4Dry Brine Turkey
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn't dry out in the oven: Brine it! To properly brine your turkey, you'll want to do it for a minimum of 48 hours, so get started as early as the Monday before the big day!
Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.
5Butternut Squash Soup
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 6Mashed Potato Casserole
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: Taylor Ann SPENCER Mashed potato casserole is the ultimate holiday side dish we’ve all been waiting for. It's creamy, fluffy, and oh so cheesy. Want to make this recipe ahead? Make it entirely, waiting to add the breadcrumb topping, and refrigerate. Proceed with the recipe, but expect around 20 minutes more baking time.
Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
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7Pecan Pie
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Nothing screams Thanksgiving more than a classic pecan pie. The craggy, crunchy top gives way to that delicious, rich interior FULL to the brim of nuts. You can also make it ahead of time!
Get the Pecan Pie recipe.
8Turkey Cheese Ball
Parker Feierbach Of all things resembling a turkey, this cheese ball has to be the cutest. We used carrots, pecans, pretzels, and bell peppers to create the iconic look, but feel free to get creative with it. Make the cheeseball itself ahead of time, then add decorations and dippers day-of.
Get the Turkey Cheese Ball recipe.
9Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10Sweet Potato Salad
PARKER FEIERBACH This sweet potato salad is the perfect way to lighten up any autumnal dinner, and especially your Thanksgiving spread. Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange super food. Did we mention it's great warm or cold (which means you can make it ahead!)?
Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.
11Cornbread Dressing
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Homemade cornbread is preferred for this dressing, BUT using boxed-mix or store-bought cornbread is totally okay too, as is assembling this 24 hours before you're ready to bake. As the oven preheats day-of, let it rest and come to room temperature on the counter, then bake.
Get the Cornbread Dressing recipe.
12Best-Ever Farro Salad
Parker feierbach With pecans, Parm, green apples, and leafy arugula, this salad is hearty and holds up well—AKA a make-ahead dream. It's got ALL the elements you need: sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, fatty, fresh, but feel free to make it your own with your preferred mix-ins too.
Get the Farro Salad recipe.
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13Sweet Potato Casserole
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE To make this classic Thanksgiving side dish ahead, simply prep the casserole up to step 2, then refrigerate until you're ready to bake (we recommend no more than a few days ahead of time). When you're ready to bake, then you can prepare and top with the crumbly topping!
Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
14Classic Stuffing
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON The key to amazing stuffing is freshly dried bread, not store-bought bread cubes. Let your bread dry out on the counter for about 48 hours or toast them at a very low temperature until dehydrated. You can also assemble this whole dish the night before, then bake off on the big day.
Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.
15Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS This cranberry-topped whipped feta dip is here to save your holiday appetizer planning. Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip.
Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.
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16Green Bean Casserole
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Save some time (and oven space) on the busy holiday by making this Thanksgiving side ahead of time. Simply assemble the casserole (EXCEPT for the fried onions), cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you're ready to bake!
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
17Apple Pie
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE We're being 100% serious when we say this is the BEST apple pie recipe out there. Make it ahead of time so the filling can set in order to achieve perfect slices. If you prefer it warm, simply put it in the oven a few minutes before you'd like to serve dessert.
Get the Apple Pie recipe.
18Sour Cream & Onion Dip
PHOTO & FOOD STYLING: ANDREW BUI Letting the onions caramelize properly is key to the flavor of this dip. Going low and slow allows them to develop color while breaking down and becoming sweet and jammy. It will stay good in the fridge for a few days, so it's great to make ahead of time.
Get the Sour Cream & Onion Dip recipe.
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19Classic Corn Casserole
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON This classic Southern side is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. You can also make it ahead of time—simply prep the casserole, wrap in storage wrap, and place in the fridge until you're ready to bake the next day.
Get the Classic Corn Casserole recipe.
20Funeral Potatoes
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER If you'd like to make this casserole ahead of time, assemble up until the Cornflake topping, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, top with the buttery Cornflakes and bake (keep in mind that it might take up to 20 minutes longer to bake—keep an eye on it).
Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.
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