19 Thanksgiving Recipes You Should Make Ahead

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you’ve probably started to finalize your menu and figure out exactly what you’ll be cooking and baking.

When looking ahead for the week, it’s always a great idea to know what dishes you can make head for Thanksgiving to help lighten your load that morning.

I love making a handful of things in advance - it helps lighten the load when it comes to lmeal preparations and also with timing dishes for oven space.

To get started, here are 19 delicious Thanksgiving recipe you can make ahead. Trust me - you'll wow your guests even if you don’t make them the same day.

1. Garlic Butter Baked Mushrooms Recipe

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This flavorful and sophisticated mushroom and garlic side is simple to make, requiring very few ingredients and cooks quickly. You can prep this garlic butter baked mushrooms recipe the night before in a baking dish and throw in the oven at the last minute on Thanksgiving - a quick 15 minute bake time means you can means you can cook this as you’re bringing everything else to the table.

2. Bourbon Ginger Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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A new kick on a classic favorite, this bourbon ginger cranberry sauce recipe sauce combines fresh ginger, cranberries, bourbon, orange juice, zest, and dark brown sugar for a delectable side dish that your guests will always remember. You can prepare this homemade cranberry sauce recipe up to two days in advance and store in the refrigerator to keep fresh while waiting for Thanksgiving day.

3. Cauliflower Rice Stuffing Recipe

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Whether you’re low carb, gluten free, just looking for new ways to incorporate vegetables into your meal, or simply a huge cauliflower fan, this savory cauliflower rice stuffing recipe will hit the spot. You can easily prepare it a day or two in advance and store in the fridge until Thanksgiving. To serve it, simply tuck it into the oven to warm it through right before dinner is ready.

4. Pioneer Woman Mac and Cheese

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For a side dish that adults and children alike will enjoy, this indulgent, creamy mac and cheese recipe can be made a day or two before the big day and will supplement or replace just about any side that pickier eaters will refuse. In many parts of the country, serving mac and cheese on Thanksgiving is a must, so try our version of the Pioneer Woman mac and cheese recipe - it's a crowd pleaser!

5. Butter Pecan Fudge Recipe

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This creamy, sweet delight tastes amazing served alongside your after dinner coffee or tea. The amazing thing about fudge is that it can be left at room temperature, properly wrapped, for one to two weeks - this is the preferred way to store fudge. Refrigerated fudge can become crumbly and lose its moisture. If you make too much or want to save it for a later date, you can store it in the freezer for two to three months!