So you’re thinking about cooking your first Thanksgiving dinner, but you’re not sure how or what or when or how. or ANY. OF. THE. THINGS?!
Put your meltdown on the back burner and don’t despair! It is certainly an undertaking to make a large meal with all the trimmings, but it’s a lot of fun and such a pleasure to see the happy faces on Thanksgiving Day! I’ve been cooking my own Thanksgiving meal for our family for a few years now. It’s always exciting for me because I simply love planning, shopping, and feeding my nearest and dearest. I joke with my husband that my love language is feeding people! It makes me so happy to put a warm meal into the bellies of those I love.
I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed the first year I was cooking my family’s Thanksgiving meal, but now I have a system that works for me that takes some of the stress away. I’m going to outline how I do it, and hopefully, this will help other newbies to feel less overwhelmed and more encouraged. My husband always says to me, how do you eat an elephant? The answer is one bite at a time! The trick for me is breaking everything down into smaller tasks. Let’s break this down into bites and simplify your holiday plans.
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Make a guest list
I always start my plan of attack by figuring out who is joining us for turkey time. Cooking your first Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal, so make sure your VIPs are invited! More importantly than who is coming is actually how many are coming. Figure out that number and jot it down. This will help you know how much food you should prepare, how many place settings you’ll need, if extra chairs are needed, and so on.
This is also a great time to think about how you’ll serve your meal. Will you break out the fine china, or will you keep it casual with disposable plates, napkins, and plastic ware? I love this disposable kit and will order it again this year for our family. Will Great Grandma be offended by plastic cups and paper napkins? Consider your guest’s and your family’s lifestyle, and plan accordingly. Hosting your own meal also means cleaning up your meal afterward, so keep that in mind. If you’re like me and have many small children running around, the thought of breaking out the fine china might seem a bit dicey. Do what works for you!
Plan the menu
This is my favorite part! This is where you get to jot down your favorite sides and appetizers to complement your family’s star of the show, the protein! In our house, this means a turkey, but I know others may prepare something different like ham or roast beef. Whatever you decide is up to you, but for my family, we stick with a traditional turkey. You can download my menu as well as a printable, blank menu here. Thanksgiving Menu 2019
Create a shopping list
Once you’ve figured out how many people are coming and what you’re cooking, it’s time to pull all your recipes and write a master grocery shopping list. This part takes some time! I like to look at this link from The Food Network for advice on how much food to make, in terms of quantity. It is super helpful for determining how large a turkey I need and if I should double or triple certain recipes. Fortunately, there are some terrific shopping deals at many grocery retailers, so your meal doesn’t have to break the bank. Once I create my list, I spend a little time deciding what store I will do the majority of my shopping. Here in Ohio, I usually stick with Aldi and Kroger. I’ve been shopping there for years! And no, this isn’t an ad; I just really love Aldi and Kroger!
This is also the point at which I look at my menu and decide if there’s anything I’d like to purchase that’s already prepared. For example, last Thanksgiving I was hugely pregnant and knew I needed to lighten my cooking load as much as possible, so I purchased my pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole from Costco. It helped me check two items off my list and still tasted delicious. No shame in outsourcing some of your cooking game!
Shop, shop, shop
Get your superstar grocery list and hit the store! Make sure you purchase your turkey at least one week in advance if you plan on buying a frozen turkey. Don’t be on the Butterball hotline because your bird is as hard as a rock come Turkey Day! That bird needs time to thaw, so play it safe and get your bird early. If you’re choosing a fresh turkey, you can obviously wait until closer to the big day, although in our area it is recommended that you order your fresh bird to ensure you get one.
Shopping for your holiday groceries can be done over a couple of weeks if it suits your budget (and sanity) better. I typically buy a few pantry items each week leading up to the big day. It’s all about what works for you and your family! Do what will help you feel prepared and relaxed. I usually allow myself extra time in the store compared to a regular shopping trip, and I give myself a few days lead time to make those last-minute runs to the store well before Thursday morning. Trust me, it’s crazy town at the grocery store this time of year. Bring your coffee and your patience when you hit the aisles at your local grocery store!
Week of Thanksgiving-Prep Timeline
I don’t know about you, but I like to catch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and be somewhat leisurely on Turkey day. When I was cooking my very first Thanksgiving dinner, I wanted to make sure my day was as streamlined as possible. One way that I do that every year is by prepping ahead of the cooking day. I break my menu down into three categories:
- Dishes I can make ahead of time. A lot of appetizers, desserts, and salads can be prepared the day before (or even two). This usually takes a few items off my list!
- Items I can prep ahead of time. Wash, chop, peel, dice, puree, etc. This saves me loads of time on Thursday, and alleviates that frantic feeling! Make sure you have lots of storage containers on hand.
- Things I have to do that day. What has to be done the day of?
To give you an idea of how I do this, I look at what I’m making and prepare anything that will be okay in the fridge ahead of time. Make whatever you can make ahead of time on Tuesday or Wednesday, as your schedule permits to ease your workload on Thursday. The goal is to work smarter, not harder! It is a must-do…that is unless you have a lot of oven space and extra cooking hands.
Cooking Timeline
What time are you serving your meal? Write it down, and then start moving your clock backward to know at what time each dish needs to be cooked. I usually serve lunch at 1, so I know that I have to cook my bird and allow it time to rest. I know it will need to come out around 12:40 and work from there. Depending on what side dishes you are preparing you may need to utilize a roaster pan or crockpot buffet to help you get everything cooked and ready at the same time. Spend some time jotting down what time you’ll need to cook or heat your dishes, so as not to forget your prizewinning scalloped potatoes or another family favorite. This will help you be able to outsource your help to willing family members on Thanksgiving day, also.
Cooking Your First Thanksgiving Dinner
Get up and get after it! Looking at your timeline and when you need to start working in the kitchen, decide what time you will need to wake up and prepare for your day. Then, put your plan into action! Be festive, enjoy yourself, and embrace the calm. Throw on your apron, set timers, and make notes as you go. I like to keep a notebook on the counter to help me jot down notes or times to remove food from the oven. It has helped prevent cooking disasters every year! And most importantly, it frees your mind up for other tasks, like socializing with friends and family.
Preparing a Thanksgiving feast can feel overwhelming, but by breaking it down into bite-sized pieces, (see what I did there?!), almost anyone can do it! And if you’re unsure of yourself, enlist the help of your guests (or your grocery store). Many families divvy up the menu and serve their meal potluck style. Whatever makes your heart happy and gets your tummy full is what you should do! Just remember, you can make your family a memorable meal by making a plan and following through with it. Cooking your first Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be a stressful experience after all!
