Thanksgiving is around the corner, and if you’re hosting, chances are you’re starting to think about your to-do list. As the holiday approaches, starting your countdown now can go a long way in reducing stress. There are many small things you can do each day from now until Thanksgiving to make hosting more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
Being a planner by nature and having hosted Thanksgiving for over a decade, I wanted to share my personal Thanksgiving countdown, broken out by day starting the weekend before. Thanksgiving is a lot of work—there’s no way around that—and it can be stressful. But having a plan in place and doing a few key things in advance can make all the difference. After all, Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones, and as hosts, we deserve to enjoy the day just as much as our guests!
So, let’s dive into the day-to-day tasks that have been part of my Thanksgiving readiness plan for years.
To make it easier, we’ve also included a printable version of the countdown, which you’ll find at the bottom of this post.
Our Thanksgiving Countdown:
First, some important advice: Don’t do it all yourself.
Hosting doesn’t mean you have to do everything. If you haven’t already, reach out for help and coordinate who’s bringing what. For larger groups, consider starting an email chain or Facebook group—it’s way easier than phone calls or texts. Let your guests pick items from your list, whether it’s appetizers, wine, desserts, or rolls. This keeps things organized and avoids duplicates. Also, if you are looking for some tips on keeping the cost under control, check out our tips here.
Saturday/Sunday:
I try to get a fair bit done over the weekend before Thanksgiving. While it makes for a busy weekend, it helps set the holiday vibes and makes me feel calmer knowing I’m organized well before Thursday.
- Get the turkey organized: If your turkey is frozen, figure out when to start defrosting. The general rule is 24 hours of thawing time for every 4-5 pounds. For a 20-pound turkey, you’ll need to start defrosting 4-5 days ahead. Haven’t bought your turkey yet? Head out this weekend!
- Create your master list: Make one comprehensive list with sections for everything you need—food, supplies, and items to borrow. Don’t forget non-alcoholic drinks, paper goods, dinner rolls, ice, and staples like butter and spices. Also, think about any table essentials you might need, like candles, a gravy boat, or a large platter for the turkey.
- Delegate specific tasks: Assign someone to be the potato masher and another to handle the gravy. Both are important parts of the meal and require focus. In my family, my brother-in-law makes the gravy while my husband carves the turkey, and my son takes on the potatoes (his favorite side dish!).
- Grocery shopping: Tackle the bulk of your shopping early, preferably early Saturday or Sunday morning, and leave Monday for last-minute items. This helps you avoid the rush and stress closer to the holiday when the stores will be packed. Being in a crowded grocery store just days before the holiday is definitely not my idea of fun!
- Check your supplies: Make sure you have all the tools of trade ready before Thursday am. Since we use some things on Thanksgiving that we don’t use all the time, it’s easy to forget. Here are some of the ones we find essential:
- Turkey baster
- Meat thermometer
- Roasting pan large enough for your turkey
- Sharpened carving knife
- Gravy boat
- Salt and pepper shakers filled
- Napkins for the table and appetizers
Monday: Set the Scene
- Set your table: Without question, this is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. Each year, I try something new to keep it interesting. Setting the table in advance lets you savor the process and ensures you’re not rushing to finish it last minute- it will take the joy right out of it! Plus, it makes your home feel festive in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Every time I walk by the dining room table, I am reminded that the kids are coming home from college and that friends and family are coming. It makes my heart happy. Also, if you have kids you can get them involved.
- Finalize decorating: If you like to put out Thanksgiving-specific decorations or extra candles, now is the time to do it so you can enjoy them longer and have fewer tasks closer to the day.
Tuesday: Prep Veggies and Make Stuffing
- Prep veggies: I prep everything—like butternut squash, mashed potatoes, green beans, and creamed onions—in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge, and on Thursday morning, they’ll be ready to cook with minimal mess.
- Make the stuffing: Stuffing is often the most time-consuming part of the meal. Get it out of the way a few days early. I also like to get creative with the stuffing, trying new variations each year, and doing it advance gives me the time to do so.
Wednesday: The Day Before
- Organize Serving Dishes: Each year, I pull out my serving dishes and line them up on my dining room table, along with the appropriate serving utensils. I then drop a note in each one, saying what side dish goes in each dish. During the final moments of getting everything on the table (usually the most hectic part of the day), I don’t want to think about this, and anyone helping in the kitchen can follow the notes rather than ask you. Searching for your serving dishes with a crowd in the kitchen, saying excuse me repeatedly to get into the cabinets while getting everything out of the oven/off the stove can stress even the most experienced cook.
- Finish desserts and pies: if you are making your own desserts, plan to have them finished the day before. Or, consider taking a trip to your local farm stand and picking up some fresh pies. Buying desserts or asking guests to cover this part of the meal is a great time saver.
- Prepare the “How Can I Help?” list. Guests frequently offer help, but without specific tasks in mind, it’s tempting just to say you’re all set. Avoid this with a ready list of simple, quick tasks (like lighting candles, filling water glasses, or warming rolls). This way, when help is offered, you’re prepared to delegate without a second thought. Write it out beforehand and post it on your fridge. I also include mini “tips” such as where things are so your helpers can be as independent as possible.
- Clear off your counter space: Move unnecessary countertop appliances, such as toasters, blenders, etc., to other locations before Thursday so you have plenty of room to work and stay organized.
Thursday: Thanksgiving Day!
With most of the work done in advance, you should be in good shape on Thursday am. Here are my typical to do’s for Thursday:
- Get all the pots and pans needed to cook the veggies (already prepped), fill them with water, and have them ready to go on the stovetop.
- Know your “start the turkey” time and put a timer on your phone or oven so you don’t forget. You will be busy, but it is not that hard to forget an hour after it should have gone in the oven. Oops! Done that before!
- Cook your stuffing an hour or so before you are ready to sit down. If you don’t have room in your oven, cook it in earlier in the morning and then just warm it up before sitting down.
- Line up all your supplies within reach for making the gravy and mashed potatoes (flour, seasonings, potato ricer or mixer). Again, you don’t want to be digging around in your cabinets right before sitting down.
- If you are making whipped cream for desserts, chill the bowl you will use. It speeds up the whipping process.
Finally, take some time for yourself. Go for a walk, take a relaxing shower, and get ready to enjoy the celebration!
A Few Final Suggestions:
Make it Meaningful:
Thanksgiving is about being thankful, after all. It’s meant to be about sharing time with family and friends and being thankful for our blessings in life. It’s easy to forget that in all the shopping and chopping, Thanksgiving is a holiday that’s meant to be enjoyed.
Here’s a sentimental touch that is easy enough to bring meaning into your holiday: ask your kids (and adults, too) what they are most thankful for and have each person write it on the same piece of paper. Pop it into a frame and display it on your table or in a prominent spot in your kitchen for your guests to enjoy. It then becomes a beautiful keepsake to save and take out each year.
You could also buy a special family journal and have family members write in it each year, and the younger kids could draw pictures. It’s an easy way to create wonderful family memories and does not require much effort. When my son was four, he wrote down “apples, the earth, and his brother”, drew cute little pictures, and I ended up getting it laminated. I take it out every year on Thanksgiving, and it is one of my favorite Thanksgiving keepsakes.
Forget Perfection:
Drop the quest for the perfect holiday meal. True, Thanksgiving is a day that is primarily focused on food. It’s also important to remember it’s not all about that. It really is ok if your turkey does not turn out how you hoped, your mashed potatoes turn out lumpy, or you forgot a particular ingredient at the store. Just let it go- no one really cares or notices these things nearly as much as the host. Personally, I have really struggled with this one, but over time and with more hosting experiences, I know this to be true. Buy yourself some flowers as a reminder (what better excuse could there be?), consider preparing the fireplace for a friendly fire after dinner, or get your holiday pj’s out and ready to put on after all the guests have gone. You will then be set up to have time to reflect on the day and all that you are thankful for!!!
Printable Checklist:
Here is a printable version of the checklist:
