A Thanksgiving Menu from My Kitchen, with a Make-Ahead Plan
Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when everyone seems to expect the cook to perform a small miracle.
The secret, of course, is that very little of it happens on the day. Most of the work can be done earlier in the week, quietly and calmly, so that on Thursday you can actually sit down with everyone else.
Here is a full menu built entirely from recipes on my site, each one with every step explained, followed by a simple plan for what to make when.
THANKSGIVING 2026 Thursday 26 November. Scroll down for the make-ahead plan, or tap any dish for the full recipe. |
The Menu
TO START
Classy Deviled Eggs: Something to nibble while the last dishes come out of the oven.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup: Silky, autumnal and happy to be made the day before.
THE CENTREPIECE
Apricot Glazed Ham: A bone-in ham lacquered with apricot and Dijon. Feeds 14 to 16.
Prime Rib Roast: For a grand table, roasted low and slow with a crackling crust.
ON THE SIDE
Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The gravy's best friend, and fine to make a day ahead.
Potatoes au Gratin: Golden on top, silky beneath. Bake it the day before and reheat.
Amish Dinner Rolls: Soft, buttery and made for mopping up every last drop.
Cornbread: Best baked on the day, and quick enough to do it.
Roasted Asparagus with Thyme and Lemon: Twenty minutes, and something green on the plate.
FOR PUDDING
Apple Pie: Warmth in a crust. Bake it a day ahead.
Salted Caramel Apple Crumble: Spiced apples, homemade salted caramel and buttery crumbs.
Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread: Two loaves: one for the table, one for a friend.
Sticky Toffee Pudding: A British classic: a soft date sponge in deep toffee sauce.
What to Make When
Weeks Ahead
Crumble: freeze the unbaked crumble mixture for up to 3 months. It goes on the apples straight from the freezer.
Pumpkin Bread: bake and freeze the loaves, well wrapped, for up to 3 months.
Dinner Rolls: bake, cool and freeze for up to 3 months if you'd rather get them out of the way.
Up to 2 Weeks Ahead
Salted Caramel: the caramel keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Tuesday
Apple Pie: make the pastry. The dough disks keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Deviled Eggs: cook the eggs and make the filling. Keep the whites and filling separately for up to 2 days.
Pumpkin Bread: if baking fresh, it keeps in an airtight container for about 2 days.
Wednesday
Apple Pie: bake. Loosely covered, it keeps at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Butternut Squash Soup: make the soup and refrigerate it.
Potatoes au Gratin: bake, cool, cover and refrigerate.
Mashed Potatoes: make them and refrigerate.
Crumble: make the crumble mixture and keep it in the fridge.
Dinner Rolls: after the first rise, shape the rolls into the dish, cover and refrigerate overnight.
Thursday
Morning: Ham or Prime Rib into the oven, following its recipe's timings. Take the rolls out to finish rising, 1 to 2 hours.
Early afternoon: assemble and bake the crumble, and bake the cornbread, which is best on the day.
While the centrepiece rests: bake the rolls, reheat the gratin covered at 325°F (160°C), and warm the mash gently with a splash of warm milk and a knob of butter.
Last 30 minutes: reheat the soup, fill the deviled eggs, and roast the asparagus.
Chef Jon's tip: Write the plan on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge. Ticking things off is half the pleasure, and nobody has to ask what happens next. |
Oven space: most of Thursday's baking happens while the centrepiece rests, so plan your oven around it. Anything made ahead only needs reheating. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Thanksgiving dishes can I make ahead?
Most of them. The soup, mashed potatoes and potatoes au gratin can all be made the day before, the apple pie baked a day ahead, the dinner rolls shaped and refrigerated overnight, and the crumble topping and pumpkin bread frozen weeks in advance.
How do I reheat mashed potatoes without them going gluey?
Reheat them gently over low heat or in a covered dish in the oven, stirring in a splash of warm milk and a knob of butter.
Can I freeze dinner rolls for Thanksgiving?
Yes. Cool the baked rolls completely, wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then warm gently in the oven.
What can I make if I don't want to cook a big roast?
The Apricot Glazed Ham is the more relaxed centrepiece. It mostly looks after itself in the oven, and it feeds a crowd.
Made Something from the Menu?
I'd love to see it. Send me a photo or ask me a question. I read every one.
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