Hosting Thanksgiving? Ina Garten Swears by This Make-Ahead Menu

This year, we’re extra thankful for the queen of hosting, Ina Garten. Through her personal social media, she recently shared valuable advice to help save time in the kitchen ahead of Thanksgiving. She’s parsed out an entire meal prep plan for all the Thanksgiving dishes you could dream of. Start cooking on Monday, and you’ll spend hardly any time at all in the kitchen on Thanksgiving.

Garten is known for her hosting prowess, and one of her top tips involves preparing your food ahead of time when possible, so that you can spend time with your guests instead of in the kitchen. “Every year, I try to plan my Thanksgiving menu with delicious dishes I can make ahead, because I hate running around on Thursday like a chicken with my head cut off (or, for this holiday, a turkey!),” Garten jokes on her Instagram. 

Follow Garten’s simple four-day Thanksgiving prep schedule for a stress-free meal that’s guaranteed to make you say, “How easy is that?”

Monday: Turkey Time, Ahead of Time

Garten’s two-in-one turkey recipe covers your Thanksgiving gravy and roast turkey in a single day. The work needs to start a few days before you actually roast the turkey—you’ll first wash, drain, and dry your bird, and then rub it with salt, rosemary, and lemon before placing it into the refrigerator for one to two days. 

Garten recommends starting her Make-Ahead Roast Turkey recipe on the Monday before Thanksgiving, and finishing it the day of. If you need to cook your bird ahead of time, Garten provides instructions for reheating it on Thanksgiving Day so your guests won’t notice the difference. Your reheating plan will require some of Garten’s make-ahead gravy, though, so let’s get cooking. 

Garten’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy recipe combines onion, garlic, chicken stock, Cognac, and a generous amount of herbs. You’ll finish your gravy with the juices from the turkey pan after it’s done roasting, which is why it’s a good idea to make your gravy and roast your turkey on the same day.

When it comes time to reheat your turkey, all you need is an oven-safe serving tray and some make-ahead gravy. Cover the bottom of the serving tray with a quarter-inch of gravy, then arrange the turkey on top. Pop the whole thing in the oven for 15-30 minutes, and your turkey will come out piping hot and ready to serve to your guests.

Tuesday: Ditch the Pumpkin Pie

Garten said it herself on her Instagram post, "There are always so many apple, pecan, and pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving!” Mix things up by trying out her Pumpkin Flan with Maple Caramel—it’s literally oozing with fall flavors. This huge flan can serve up to 10 people, and only takes 30 minutes of active work in the kitchen. 

Starting this recipe on Tuesday ensures you have plenty of time to let the flan rest in the fridge (it needs a minimum of 3 hours). Just keep it in its cake pan in the fridge until Thanksgiving, and turn the flan out right before you’re ready to serve it. The light and creamy pumpkin flan is the perfect pie alternative, and the maple-flavored caramel finish makes this dish the pinnacle of fall. 

Wednesday: All About the Side Dishes 

On Wednesday, it’s time to focus on the sides. Mashed potatoes are a must, of course—Garten’s Make-Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes recipe is perfect for preparing ahead of time. About an hour before you’re ready to serve Thanksgiving dinner, just bake your prepared mashed potatoes in the oven for 40 minutes. They’ll come out piping hot and taste like you just made them.

Yukon gold potatoes are the star of this recipe, and garlic-and-herb goat cheese is what brings sharp, creamy flavor to the mix (or should we say mash). Sour cream, half-and-half, fresh Parmesan, and garlic will make these potatoes a dish your guests are sure to remember.

Leek & Artichoke Bread Pudding is the other side you’ll be prepping ahead of Thanksgiving. It takes under an hour to prep, but it’s quite the impressive side dish. White bread, pancetta, leeks, and artichoke hearts star in this crispy, savory dish. It’s a fantastic alternative to turkey stuffing, so you spend less time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day.

Garten didn’t mention her famous cranberry sauce recipe in her meal prep menu, but we think it’s another clever way to save time before Thanksgiving. She spruces up jarred cranberry sauce in just a few minutes—your guests will think it’s totally homemade, without any of the work. 

Thursday: Pull It All Together

It’s time to finish up your turkey—and there’s also one final dish in store for your holiday dinner. First, you’ll want to grab the turkey from its place in your refrigerator and get roasting. (If you made your gravy ahead of time, you can finish it off with the turkey juices just before you start plating dinner.) 

In the meantime, Garten's Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts are the final dish you’ll need to make. They’re straightforward and only take 15 minutes to cook, so feel free to save them until you’re nearing dinnertime. You’ll season the Brussels with salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar to create a mouthwatering side dish of Thanksgiving greens. Just don’t forget to heat all the prepared dishes you made throughout the week before dinner rolls around.