Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. For years, it meant heading home to my parents’ house over Thanksgiving break and looking forward to the family specialties we only got at this dinner.
We would go all out. My cousin would come, we’d catch up with friends, and one year we even had a cornhole tournament, that got pretty competitive. The food was a big deal, but so was having everyone together.
When my parents moved up here, their house wasn’t big enough to host everyone, so Thanksgiving moved to our house. Brett took on a huge part of the cooking because he’s a master chef, and I am very happy to benefit from that talent! My brother and his wife come over, and last year we had extended family join us, too.
I love a full house. But feeding that full house can definitely be stressful, especially for the person doing most of the cooking. (Brett, not me.)
Over the past few years, we’ve learned a few hosting party tricks and how much a little planning can help. These are the shortcuts worth making room for so you can enjoy the people gathered around your table. Here are our 8 Thanksgiving tips for less stress so you can enjoy more connection this holiday season.
1. Make What You Can Ahead of Time
A Thanksgiving menu gets a lot more manageable when every dish doesn’t have to start and finish on Thursday. Look over your recipes ahead of time and figure out what you can prepare early. That might mean making a dish completely ready to bake, prepping ingredients, or simply measuring everything so it’s ready when you need it.
Write those steps into your plan, too. “Chop ingredients Wednesday” is much more helpful than a mental note to get ahead somehow. Some of our family favorites that we make ahead of time are the sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce. Brett has even cooked the turkey ahead of time and reheated it the day of. Start with the family favorites you know you’re making, then look for ways to spread out the work.
2. Give Everyone Something to Graze On
Our Thanksgiving grazing board is a tradition I have no plans to give up.
We fill it with meats, specialty cheeses, olives, gherkins, fruit, nuts, seeds, and assorted crackers—the works! It’s fun to put together, looks beautiful, and gives everyone something to snack on while dinner is cooking.
We usually eat around 5 or 6, so having something available beforehand keeps everyone from becoming starving beasts while they wait. The idea is a little grazing to bridge the gap until dinner.
And if making a big board sounds like another job, a few cheeses, crackers, and fruit will still give guests something to enjoy when they arrive.
3. Use Nice Disposable Dishes
I am fully in favor of a pretty table that doesn’t leave you with a mountain of dishes. For larger gatherings, nice disposable plates and napkins can still feel festive, especially alongside a tablecloth or a simple centerpieces. Look for sturdy plates that can handle an actual Thanksgiving dinner.
You can also use this shortcut selectively. Keep the dishes you love for dinner and use disposable plates for appetizers or dessert. Every little bit of cleanup you save yourself counts when you’re hosting a crowd.
4. Give Guests Something Specific to Bring
When someone asks, “What can I bring?” have an answer ready. A specific request makes it easier for them and takes something definite off your list. Ask for an appetizer, a favorite side, dessert, or drinks—whatever would help most.
Our go to, is dessert. We’re not huge bakers so anything someone can add to the festivities is welcome. And you can end up with quite the assortment. It’s also a lovely way to make room for someone else’s family specialty.
5. Get the Table and Serving Dishes Ready Early
Pull out your platters, bowls, and serving utensils before the kitchen gets busy. Assign each dish a place and use a little sticky note if it helps: mashed potatoes here, vegetables there, rolls in this basket. You’ll spot anything you’re missing while there’s still time to find it. If you can set the table the day before, even better.
This also makes it easier for someone to help. They can see where things belong without asking the chef to stop and direct every move.
6. Let Guests Help Themselves to Drinks
Set up a drink area with cups, napkins, an opener, and the drinks you’re serving. Include water and something the kids can easily help themselves to.
If you have the space, put it outside the main cooking area. Guests can refill without gathering right in front of the oven. It’s a small setup task that saves you from answering “Where are the cups?” while trying to get dinner ready.
7. Make a Simple Cooking Timeline
Work backward from the time you want to eat and write down when each dish needs to go into the oven or onto the stove. Pay particular attention to anything competing for oven space. Include reheating, resting time where your recipe calls for it, and those final steps that are easy to forget.
Keep the timeline somewhere visible so anyone helping can follow along. You don’t need an elaborate spreadsheet. A piece of paper that keeps everything out of your head is enough.
8. Have Take-Home Containers Ready
Put take-home containers and something to label them with in one place before guests arrive. When it’s time to share leftovers, you won’t be hunting through a cabinet for a lid that almost fits. Guests can take home a little of their favorite dishes, and you can get the kitchen settled sooner.
After all that cooking, those family specialties deserve an encore.
8 Thanksgiving Tips for Less Stress and More Connection
Thanksgiving means a lot to me because of the memories we’ve made around it. I want to enjoy the full house, hear the conversations, and have Brett get a chance to enjoy the day, too.
A few things done early, some help from family, and fewer dishes waiting afterward can make that easier. I hope these 8 Thanksgiving tips help you enjoy more connection and less stress this coming holiday.
What’s one Thanksgiving tradition—or hosting shortcut—you would never give up?
