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Thanksgiving is, without a doubt, my favorite day of the year. It’s a day of beautiful, wonderful, delicious chaos. The sound of the game on TV, the clatter of pans, the smell of the turkey roasting, and that moment you finally sit down with the people you love… it’s just magic. My family moved to Australia but we still celebrate this tradition down under.

Thanksgiving table filled with turkey, cornbread, bean casserole, rosted garlic carrots and pumpkin pie

Table of Contents

But let’s be real. Pulling off that magic? It can be stressful. I’ve been there—juggling 10 different dishes, trying to remember thaw times, and desperately hoping the gravy isn’t lumpy.

After years of hosting, I’ve finally cracked the code. The secret to a perfect Thanksgiving is all about the game plan.

This is not just a list of recipes. This is my complete guide to building your perfect menu, from the make-ahead secrets I swear by to the showstoppers my family demands every single year. You are going to host your best Thanksgiving ever. Trust me. You’ve got this.

Karina’s Make-Ahead, Stress-Free Secrets

The oven is the most valuable real estate on Thanksgiving Day. The key is to have as many dishes as possible ready before the turkey even goes in.

  • 1 Week Out: Make your cranberry sauce and pie crusts. Your Home Made Cranberry Sauce will taste even better, and you can freeze your pie crusts.
  • 3 Days Out: If your turkey is frozen, it’s time to move it to the fridge! This is the golden rule—24 hours of thawing for every 4-5 pounds.
  • 1-2 Days Out:
    • Chop! Chop all your veggies for stuffing, side dishes, and aromatics. Store them in airtight containers.
    • Make Desserts: Pies and cheesecakes (like my Pumpkin Pie or Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake) are always better the next day.
    • Make Soups: Soups like our Butter Squash Soup taste incredible when reheated.
    • Make Breads: Cornbread, biscuits, and sticky buns can all be made and stored in an airtight container.

The Main Event: The Perfect Turkey (And More!)

This is the moment. Don't be intimidated! My number one tip for a juicy, flavorful bird is to rub it all over (and under the skin!) with a fenerous amount of softened Honey Garlic Butter. It guarantees a cripy, golden brown skin and keeps the meat unbelievably moist. Don't forget to let it rest for 30 minutes before carving!

5 from 32 votes

Juicy Roast Turkey

This is my fail-proof, classic recipe. I’m giving you all my secrets for a juicy, herb-roasted bird that will be the star of your table
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One Pan Juicy Herb Roasted Turkey & Potatoes With Gravy
5 from 1 vote

One-Pan Juicy Herb Roasted Turkey

This is the ultimate easy mode. The turkey, potatoes, and veggies all roast together in one pan, soaking up all those incredible flavors. The cleanup is a dream.
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Sliced of Crispy Skinned Slow Cooker Turkey is THE MOST succulent Turkey, WITHOUT brining OR marinading! This Turkey will have EVERYONE talking!
4.93 from 14 votes

Crispy Skin Slow Cooker Turkey

Don’t have oven space? Or maybe you're cooking for a smaller crowd? Let your slow cooker do all the work! The meat becomes fall-off-the-bone tender, and I'll show you how to crisp the skin right at the end.
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Baked Maple Glazed Ham
5 from 11 votes

Maple Glazed Ham

Not everyone is a turkey person, and that's okay! This gorgeous maple-glazed ham with its sticky-sweet crust is always a crowd-pleaser and a beautiful second main.
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Prime Rib with garlic butter served with green beans and mushrooms
4.91 from 31 votes

Garlic Butter Prime Rib

Want a true showstopper? A prime rib slathered in garlic butter is pure elegance. It’s surprisingly easy and will make your guests feel so special.
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Easy Appetizers & Starters

Give your guests something to nibble on so they aren't hovering over your hot stove! These are easy to make ahead and set out right before everyone arrives.

A Loaded Thanksgiving Cheeseboard to kick off your day/night with an easy and quick, throw together cheeseboard that requires zero skill and no prep work!
5 from 4 votes

Loaded Thanksgiving Cheeseboard

This is my go-to. It looks incredibly impressive, has zero cook time, and is loaded with seasonal fruits, nuts, cheeses, and crackers.
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Sausage Cream Cheese Dip Stuffed Mushrooms
5 from 9 votes

Sausage Cream Cheese Dip Stuffed Mushrooms

Warning: these are addictive. That creamy, savory sausage filling in a tender mushroom cap? They'll be gone in five minutes.
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Pumpkin Soup
4.56 from 25 votes

Thick & Creamy Pumpkin Soup

There is nothing more comforting than starting the meal with a small cup of velvety pumpkin soup. You can make this days ahead!
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The Best Potato Side Dishes

It’s not Thanksgiving without potatoes… and I mean multiple kinds of potatoes! My secret? Make your mashed potatoes ahead and keep them warm in the slow cooker! It saves so much stress.

Zoom in image Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes
5 from 22 votes

Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes

This is the classic, buttery, fluffy mashed potato recipe you dream of. So simple, so perfect.
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Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with wooden spoon
4.91 from 10 votes

Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

My stress-free secret! Make them hours ahead and keep them perfectly warm in the slow cooker. No last-minute mashing!
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Overhead view of sweet potato casserole with golden toasted marshmallows on top and pecan crumble showing around the edges, fresh from the oven.
4.34 from 3 votes

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Is it even Thanksgiving without this? Creamy, fluffy sweet potatoes topped with a layer of gooey, toasted marshmallows. My family devours this.
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Close up image of Crispy garlic roasted potatoes sprinkled with fresh green herbs on a baking tray.
4.94 from 15 votes

Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes

You need a crispy potato on the table. These are tossed in garlic and parmesan and roasted until golden and crunchy.
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Herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese are roasted together to make the best Crispy Browned Butter Parmesan Roasted Potatoes!
5 from 10 votes

Browned Butter Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

If you want to get fancy, this is it. The browned butter adds such a rich, nutty flavor that is just incredible.
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Must-Have Vegetable Sides & Casseroles

This is where you add color and crunch to the plate! These are the crowd-pleasers that even the kids will eat.

Crunchy Green Bean Casserole with homemade cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions!
5 from 3 votes

Green Bean Casserole

Forget the canned stuff. My homemade version uses fresh green beans and a creamy mushroom sauce that is 1000x better. It’s a classic for a reason
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Honey Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
5 from 2 votes

Honey Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts

This is a side dish powerhouse! Sweet butternut squash, crispy brussels sprouts, and cranberries all roasted together. It’s beautiful and so delicious.
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Side view of Honey Garlic Butter Carrots
4.93 from 55 votes

Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots

These are like candy. The honey garlic butter sauce caramelizes in the oven and makes these carrots irresistible.
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Corn casserole in casserole dish with cheese
4.88 from 8 votes

Corn Casserole

A Thanksgiving staple! It’s a super moist, slightly sweet, and savory cornbread-like dish. It’s pure comfort in a pan.
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Garlic Parmesan Mac And Cheese is better than the original! A creamy garlic parmesan cheese sauce coats your macaroni, topped with parmesan fried bread crumbs, while saving some calories! | https://cafedelites.com
5 from 31 votes

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mac and Cheese

The ultimate crowd-pleaser. This baked mac and cheese is extra creamy, super cheesy, and has a crunchy golden top
Honey Dijon Apple Bacon Cranberry Salad screams Cranberries, Spinach, Walnuts And BACON! All drizzled with the most perfect Honey Dijon Dressing!
5 from 14 votes

Honey Dijon Apple Bacon Cranberry Salad

You need something fresh and bright on that heavy plate. The sweet and tangy dressing on this salad with bacon, apples, and cranberries cuts through all the richness perfectly.
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Stuffing, Breads & The Final Touches

This is the glue that holds the entire meal together!

Overhead view of a rectangular baking dish filled with homemade herb stuffing, with toasted bread pieces, flecks of green herbs, and a gold serving spoon nestled inside.
4 from 1 vote

Homemade Buttery Herb Stuffing

The KING of all side dishes. This is my classic, buttery, herb-packed stuffing (or dressing) that tastes like pure holiday magic.
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Sausage & Herb Stuffing Recipe is FULLY STUFFED with so much flavor, and perfect for serving as a Thanksgiving side with gravy!
5 from 26 votes

Sausage Herb Stuffing

If you love a heartier, more savory stuffing, this is the one for you. The sausage adds so much incredible flavor.
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Easy Fluffy Buttermilk Cornbread with a hint of honey is the perfect side to chili's, soups or stews! Crunchy buttery edges with a soft and fluffy centre!
4.98 from 98 votes

Easy Buttermilk Cornbread

The perfect partner for soup or just for sopping up gravy. This cornbread is so moist and tender.
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crunchy bacon cheddar biscuits stacked on a white plate
5 from 2 votes

Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

Want to really wow your guests? These fluffy biscuits loaded with bacon and cheese will do it.
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Turkey Gravy Recipe in a pan
5 from 3 votes

Easy Turkey Gravy

The most important part! This is my never-lumpy, rich, and flavorful gravy recipe that you can make with or without turkey drippings.
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Cranberry Sauce in a bowl
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Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Please, step away from the can! This is SO easy to make (days ahead!) and tastes a million times better.
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The Grand Finale: Show-Stopping Desserts

You must save room for dessert. These are my all-time favorites, and yes, you can (and should!) make them the day before.

Top view of Pumpkin Pie
5 from 1 vote

Classic Pumpkin Pie

It’s not Thanksgiving without it. This is my go-to recipe for a silky, perfectly spiced pumpkin pie.
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A piece of Chocolate Pecan Pie
5 from 7 votes

Chocolate Pecan Pie

My favorite twist on a classic. The rich, gooey pecan filling is even better with pockets of melted chocolate.
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Top view image of Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
4.85 from 13 votes

Easy Cinnamon Apple Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Want an easy-to-serve dessert? This warm, bubbling apple rolls with its cream cheese frosting
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Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake is a fluffy, creamy pumpkin cheesecake perfect for Thanksgiving
5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

This is the ultimate showstopper. A layer of rich chocolate cheesecake topped with a layer of creamy pumpkin cheesecake. It’s insane.
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Apple Pie Deep Dish Skillet Cookie in a pan
5 from 1 vote

Apple Pie Deep Dish Skillet Cookie

A fun, modern dessert that everyone will love. A giant, warm apple pie cookie baked in a skillet and served with ice cream
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I am so excited for you to have your best Thanksgiving yet! I hope this game plan helps you feel relaxed, prepared, and ready to enjoy the day.
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Karina eating butter chicken from a gold fork out of a bowl with a nann bread on the side.

Hey Good Food Lovers! It’s nice to see you! My name is Karina. Welcome to Cafe Delites, my beloved space for the last 10 years where my passion for food has flourished and connected millions!

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