Planning the Perfect Thanksgiving: My Go-To Recipes, Table Ideas, and Prep Tips

Every November, right around the time the stores start stacking canned pumpkin into pyramids, I pull out my notebook and start dreaming up Thanksgiving dinner.

I love the whole process — the flavors, the memories, the traditions we carry from year to year. But most of all, I love creating a day that feels warm, welcoming, and just a little bit magical.

This year is no different. I’ve been thinking (and overthinking!) what will make the cut… and yes, I’m already deep into lists, grocery notes, and game plans.

All the classics lined up buffet-style — the best kind of holiday parade.

Always Starting With the Classics

You can call me old-fashioned, but I’ll pick the “tried and true” every time. There are certain recipes I just can’t imagine Thanksgiving without — dishes that show up like beloved relatives.

Here’s what’s always on my radar:

Smoked Herb & Garlic Turkey

Our turkey is always smoked on the Big Green Egg, rubbed down with a generous layer of herbed butter, and stuffed with aromatics.

Citrus, onion, celery, herbs — the aromatic quartet that makes the whole house smell like Thanksgiving.

Recipe inspiration: 👉 Fresh Herb and Garlic Smoked Turkey by Grits and Pinecones https://www.gritsandpinecones.com/fresh-herb-and-garlic-smoked-turkey/

There’s something deeply satisfying about massaging that compound butter under the skin — messy hands, delicious payoff.

Straight off the Big Green Egg — smoky, herby, and worth every minute.

Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

If there’s one recipe that has saved me year after year, it’s this one.

Make-ahead mashed potatoes in the works — the hero of every calm Thanksgiving morning.

Recipe inspiration: 👉 https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/creamy-make-ahead-mashed-potatoes.html

I make them the day before, smooth them into a big bowl (you probably saw that picture!), and tuck them into the fridge.

Fluffy, creamy, done — the simplest dish that makes everyone feel at home.

They reheat flawlessly and taste like you spent all day mashing.

Sausage & Herb Stuffing

I use turkey sausage, brown it the day before, and mix it into this dreamy base from Once Upon a Chef.

Recipe inspiration: 👉 https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/sausage-herb-stuffing.html#tabrecipe

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

A make-ahead must — the kind that gets better after a day in the fridge.

Recipe inspiration: 👉 https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/cranberry-sauce.html

Veggie Turkey Appetizer

This one is more about fun than technique — bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, and a little “turkey” made of veggies perched beside the dip.

Kids adore it, and honestly… adults do too.

Pies

Pumpkin and Apple are staples around here, often ordered from Piefection in Mesa (if you know, you know).

What’s New? Well… That’s Still up For Debate This Year

Each year, I love adding one new recipe to the lineup. Last year it was the sweet potato casserole with that crunchy streusel topping:

Recipe inspiration: 👉 https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/sweet-potato-casserole.html#tabrecipe

It was such a hit that I’m tempted to bring it back — but I also love trying something unexpected.

Here’s the fun part: I haven’t decided what this year’s new dish will be.

Maybe something savory.

Maybe something sweet.

Maybe something Southern.

Maybe something so simple I’ll wonder why I didn’t try it sooner.

So I’d love your ideas.

What’s one dish your family can’t live without on Thanksgiving?

Drop it in the comments — you might just inspire what lands on our table (and gets photographed, taste-tested, and shared with all of you!).

Creating a Table That Feels Like Home

For me, the table is part of the memory. Some years we keep it cozy with china and candles. Others — like this year — the weather is too beautiful to ignore, so the picnic tables head to the backyard.

Arizona sunshine + fall tablescape

Between the fresh flowers, tall white candles, and lanterns hanging from the tree, it feels like stepping into a fall postcard. I promise you, even iced tea tastes fancier under twinkle lights.

As the sun set, the backyard turned into the coziest little Thanksgiving glow.

And yes — the napkin bundles with rosemary and cinnamon sticks will be making an appearance. They’re simple, inexpensive, and smell like the holidays.

Simple touches that make the table feel special.

Our Family Traditions

Thanksgiving isn’t just about food around here — it’s about everything happening around the food.

Bingo at the coffee table (the kids take it VERY seriously).

Telestrations for the adults who still need dessert before committing to a real board game.

Bingo before dinner - the perfect way to keep little hands busy and big laughs going.

The “supervising committee” — our two French bulldogs — waiting for anything (and I mean anything) to fall on the floor.

My official kitchen supervisors — patiently waiting for “quality control samples.”

And of course… the famous Pinecone Turkey Crafting Station.

These kids make the cutest little pinecone turkeys, and every year they get more creative. One year we even had a contest with a Starbucks gift card on the line. Let’s just say feathers were flying.

A little sunshine, a glue bottle, and Grandma’s patience — the perfect crafting recipe.

Last year’s flock — colorful, quirky, and impossible not to smile at.

Those little moments — glue-sticky hands, laughter, mashed potato finger swipes — they make the day just as sweet as any pie.

The Little Planning Tricks That Make Thanksgiving Actually Enjoyable

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of hosting Thanksgiving: the more I can do before the big day, the more I get to actually enjoy the people gathered around my table.

I love cooking — truly — but I love slow coffee refills, porch chats, and laughing with the kids even more.

So I’ve become a big believer in make-ahead everything and plan-ahead whenever possible.

I always start by ordering my farm-fresh turkey, pies, and ham 1–2 weeks in advance. One little online order and suddenly half the meal is taken care of — I can’t recommend it enough.

And before I even step foot in the grocery store, I make a guest list and a menu. Not only does it help make sure there’s enough food for everyone, but it keeps me mindful of any dietary needs. (No surprises on Thanksgiving — at least not when it comes to food!)

From there, I map out a timeline. Nothing fancy — I just use the Notes app on my phone and set a few timers the morning of. It keeps everything warm and ready at the right moment, instead of me peeking into the oven every ten minutes like it’s a newborn.

When it comes to cooking, here’s what always gets done early:

• Cranberry sauce — 2–3 days ahead

• Make-Ahead Creamy Mashed Potatoes — the day before

• Sausage for stuffing or pancetta for green beans — browned ahead to save stove space

• Dips, spreads, and salad dressings — made early so the flavors can settle

• Pies, cookies, cakes, and breads — baked a few days ahead and happy as can be

One of my favorite tricks isn’t even about cooking — it’s about setting the table.If I’m feeling extra organized, I’ll set out my tableware and tablecloths a week early.

And my little signature touch? A linen napkin tied with twine, tucked with a sprig of rosemary and a cinnamon stick. Simple, fragrant, adorable.

But my biggest time-saver of all? Delegating.

Once I see my timeline laid out, I know exactly where I need help. Desserts, dinner rolls, drinks — these are easy things to hand off. And if someone in the family has a beloved recipe (you know the one), let them bring it!

You’d be amazed how much more joyful the day feels when everyone pitches in.

Less rushing. More connecting.

That’s my kind of Thanksgiving.

Your Turn — Let’s Plan Together

This year’s menu is still taking shape, and that’s the fun part. The classics are staying, of course, but I’m wide open to your ideas for something new to try.

What should my “new recipe of the year” be?

Is there a dish your family insists on? A twist on a classic? A secret ingredient you swear by?

Share your favorites in the comments — let’s build this year’s menu together.

After all, half the joy of Thanksgiving is the planning… the other half is the leftovers.