Thanksgiving 2025 Menu & Prep
Since Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, it seems ideal to update my preparations post from 2020 with a few new recipes and an updated schedule/order of operations. Preparing what you can ahead of time, using what you can for leftover recipes, and serving everything hot takes practice and experience—but not to worry, it’s absolutely worth it. You’ll only need 21 eggs and a dependable oven or two. I’m also including a grocery list at the bottom to help you get your ducks in a row, sooner than later.
Menu
Roasted Rosemary Turkey
Herbed Cornbread Dressing
Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Pistachio Pesto Green Beans
Melissa’s Sweet Potato Casserole
Au Gratin Potatoes
Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries & Pecans
Pomegranate Apple Salad with Honey Cider Balsamic Vinaigrette
Whole Cranberry Sauce
Fresh Dinner Rolls
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Buttermilk Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Southern Pecan Pie
Mini Pavlovas
Vanilla Whipped Cream
Vanilla Bean Flan
Sunday - Monday:
• BEGIN THAWING YOUR TURKEY.
Place the turkey from the freezer into the refrigerator to thaw. Make sure you place it into a large bowl to catch any water or drippings. Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. I do not brine my turkey and always buy Butterball brand. Yes, I know about last year’s rumors around that brand, and, no, it’s not true.
Tuesday:
• PREPARE PIE CRUSTS. You’ll need 4 pie crusts, which is 2 of the Flaky Pie Crust recipes.
Wednesday:
• MAKE THE DESSERTS.
Go ahead and bake all of your pies, pavlova, and make the whipped cream to use exclusively for desserts. I linked my Bourbon-Spiked Whipped Cream above, but you can simply omit the bourbon.
• ASSEMBLE THE FRUIT SALAD.
Chop all of your fresh fruit, drain and add your canned fruit, make your whipped cream, and assemble.
• MAKE THE FLAN.
Make your flan and get it into the refrigerator to chill and set.
• PREPARE THE WHOLE CRANBERRY SAUCE.
• CHECK THE THAWING TURKEY.
At this point, your turkey should be almost completely thawed. If it’s not, fill your bowl halfway with water and submerge the turkey in it’s wrapper to speed up the thawing process.
• BAKE THE CORNBREAD AND ASSEMBLE THE CORNBREAD DRESSING.
I find it much easier to assemble the dressing the day before and bake it the day-of; it doesn’t hurt it at all.
• BOIL THE YAMS AND ASSEMBLE THE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE.
Similar to the dressing, making this casserole the day before minus adding the marshmallows on top, is perfectly fine.
• SLICE POTATOES AND PLACE INTO AU GRATIN DISH.
You can pre-slice your potatoes using a mandolin, arrange them in an au gratin oval dish, cover with plastic wrap but press it to the surface of the potatoes to prevent browning and refrigerate.
Thanksgiving Thursday
• PREHEAT THE OVEN, REMOVE THE NECK AND BAG OF INERDS, PREP AND BEGIN ROASTING THE TURKEY.
• PREPARE THE SALAD.
• BOIL GREEN BEANS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS, SEPARATELY, DRAIN, COVER, SET ASIDE.
• BAKE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE AND DRESSING.
Both need one hour, and be sure to place the marshmallows on the sweet potato casserole prior to baking.
• PREPARE THE DOUGH FOR THE ROLLS.
It needs to rise for 30 minutes.
• PREPARE THE AU GRATIN SAUCE.
Add the sauce to the potatoes and bake.
• PLACE DRESSING, AU GRATIN POTATOES, AND SWEET POTATOES INTO A TOASTER OVEN OR SECOND OVEN TO WARM.
If you don’t have a toaster oven or second oven, do not bake the casseroles until the turkey is done and being sliced.
• FORM THE ROLLS.
Set aside to rise for another 30 minutes.
• SLICE BOILED BRUSSELS IN HALF AND BEGIN TO SAUTE.
These can be sautéing while you do the next step.
• BOIL WILD RICE, ADD INGREDIENTS, AND BAKE.
This dish takes about 45 mins to bake at 375°F, so it should be placed into the oven after you remove your turkey for slicing.
• SLICE THE TURKEY.
The turkey should be done and ready to be sliced, covered, and warming at about 150°F. Remember to let it sit for about 15 mins prior to slicing so the juices can return to the meat.
• TOSS THE GREEN BEANS WITH THE PISTACHIO PESTO.
Toss, place into a serving dish, and add to the group of warming dishes.
• BAKE THE ROLLS WHILE YOU PREPARE SALAD DRESSING.
• LAY OUT YOUR FOOD AND SERVE!!
I hope this makes sense as it can seem like a bit much until you actually do it. I don’t have a mac ‘n’ cheese dish this year since the wild rice dish is our pick, but you would prepare your mac ‘n’ cheese in the same step as the rice if you prefer that instead. Having a Breville toaster oven is a complete game changer for those of us without double ovens. Baking pies, rolls, and warming dishes is super efficient in these ovens. I’ve even passed one of mine down to my grown son and will likely give my current oven to my youngest soon. I haven’t used an actual toaster in a decade.
Since I prepare the entire meal alone, the above is my process. If you have more help in the kitchen, this order of operations is still great to divvy amongst your helpers. See the grocery list below to help you when shopping. Any recipe not linked above can be found in my cookbook, The Southern Whisk: A Well-Rounded Palate.
x, Melissa
thanksgiving GROcery list