Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Holidays & Events Chevron Right
  3. Thanksgiving Chevron Right
  4. Thanksgiving Meal Planner: A Day by Day Guide

Thanksgiving Meal Planner: A Day by Day Guide

By Food & Wine
Updated June 04, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Lucy Schaeffer
Pulling off a flawless Thanksgiving dinner is akin to a beautiful dance: Everything appears effortless and elegant on the surface, but behind the scenes there’s a lot of hard work, maybe some injuries and A LOT of advanced preparation. And the key to pulling off the biggest meal of the year (and actually enjoying it) is to start checking things off your to-do list now. From planning your menu to making your gravy and picking out your table décor, we’ve laid out all of these steps for you, including an hourly breakdown of the big day. Let us show you how to tackle this holiday like pro, one day at a time. —Julia Heffelfinger
Start Slideshow

1 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Saturday, October 28: Finalize your guest list.

Credit: Dougal Waters/Getty Images

Check with friends and family and figure out how many people will be attending. Once you have this number, then you can determine how much food and drink you’ll need to buy!

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sunday, October 29: Clean out your freezer.

Credit: Howard Shooter/Getty Images

This is a good time to eat those frozen leftovers and toss that freezer burned vanilla ice cream. You’ll need as much freezer space as you can get.

2 of 18

3 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wednesday, November 1: Plan your menu.

Credit: John Kernick

Three weeks should be enough time to have an epic menu all worked. If you’re searching for ideas, we’ve got a few. But whatever you decide, don’t forget to check out these tips to make sure you’re meal goes off without a hitch.

3 of 18

Advertisement

4 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Thursday, November 2: Check your equipment.

Credit: Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

Do you have a good roasting pan? Enough baking dishes? A reliable thermometer? Here are our essential tools for this year’s Thanksgiving.

4 of 18

5 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Friday, November 3: Order your turkey.

Credit: Con Poulos

A flawless Thanksgiving begins with a high-quality bird. Here are our tips on what type, how big and where to order to make sure that you buy a good one.

5 of 18

6 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Saturday, November 4: Make your grocery list and do your first round of shopping.

Credit: sergeyryzhov/Getty Images

Organize your list by grocery store sections (produce, dairy, dry goods) or by shop (bakery, butcher, farmer’s market) to make your trip extra-efficient.Then go pick up all of your non-perishables (flour, canned pumpkin, bread crumbs, etc.) and what you’ll need to make your turkey stock, gravy and pie crusts (see next steps). TIP: Don’t forget to stock up on resealable plastic bags and take-out containers for leftovers.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sunday, November 5: Make your turkey stock and gravy.

Credit: Bobby Fisher

No one wants to be whisking their gravy over a hot stove, waiting for it to thicken while hungry guests peer over your shoulder. Do yourself a favor and make your gravy when you make your homemade stock. Ask your butcher for turkey pieces like wings, backs and necks and make this deeply flavorful Turkey Stock and super-silky make-ahead Turkey Gravy from Anthony Bourdain. Just be sure to save enough stock for stuffing and soups.TIP: Bulky plastic containers take up a lot of space. Try pouring your stock and gravy into heavy duty resealable plastic bags and lay them flat in your freezer.

7 of 18

8 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Saturday, November 11: Make your pie crust.

Credit: John Kernick

This Flaky Pie Crust recipe uses a mix of butter and lard and will give you flawless results. After making the dough, divide into disks and wrap very well with plastic. You can also use this DIY vacuum seal method to prevent any drying out or weird odors from your freezer permeating the dough.

8 of 18

9 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sunday, November 12:Plan your table décor.

Credit: Rawpixel Ltd/Getty Images

Setting a beautiful table doesn’t have to be hard. Follow these easy tips for the freshest linens, and most elegant tablescapes and centerpieces.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Monday, November 13:Shop for beer and wine.

Credit: Con Poulos

Here’s our list of the best varietals to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner. And the best wines to go with turkey.

10 of 18

11 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wednesday, November 15: Clean out your fridge.

Credit: Gary Burchell/Getty Images

You’ll need the space in preparation for the week of cooking ahead.

11 of 18

12 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Saturday, November 18: Make copies of your recipes.

Credit: ChickiBam/Getty Images

If you’re using recipes from a magazine (you know, any magazine) or a cookbook, copy them so you don’t have to keep flipping between pages and balancing a big book next to the stove. Then, study up. You don’t want to get half-way through your prep and then realize something needs to cool overnight.TIP: Shuffling papers while your hands are covered in turkey juices is gross and no fun. Tape the recipes up on your kitchen cabinets for easy viewing (and finding).

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sunday, November 19:Pick up your turkey and perishable items.

Credit: photopalace/Getty Images

This is also a good time to make sure you’re ready for the day after Thanksgiving. Pick up all the fixings you’ll need for that epic leftover sandwich: good sliced bread, your favorite mayo, lettuce, some aged cheddar.

13 of 18

14 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Monday, November 20: Ready your turkey and bakeware

Credit: GMVozd/Getty Images

Defrost your turkey (if frozen) and your frozen prepped items (stock, gravy, pie crust) in the refrigerator.

This is the best way to gently, and safely, thaw your turkey so as to give it ample time to defrost (at least 24 to 36 hours). If you’re in a panic and it’s time to prep your bird, but it hasn’t thawed, let it sit wrapped and fully submerged in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Make your brine. Do this well in advance so that it has time to chill before you add your turkey. Be sure to use a pot that has enough remaining room for the bird and will fit in your fridge. Here are five brines to try on your turkey this year. Lay out your platters and baking dishes. Label each dish with which food will be going in or on it. If you can, do this where your buffet will be to make sure everything fits.

14 of 18

15 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tuesday, November 21: Prep and chill.

Credit: Anchiy/Getty Images

Pick up the items for your centerpiece (flowers, gourds, fruit, etc..).

Chill the wine and beer.

If you’re lucky and live in a cold place, the garage or a covered porch are ideal for this – just make sure it’s not below freezing out! Start prepping your side dishes and desserts. Wash and dry the lettuce for your salad, make your vinaigrette, roast and purée the pumpkin for your pie (if doing it from scratch), sauté the vegetables for your stuffing, stamp out your biscuits and store them in the freezer. The more you can get done today, the easier your next 48 hours will be. TIP: Save your vegetable scraps (onion peels, carrot greens, turnip butts, herb stems, etc..) and toss them in a large resealable plastic bag. Put this bag in your freezer and use it to make stock with the leftover turkey bones.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wednesday, November 22:Clean and do some final make ahead prep.

Credit: Dean Mitchell/Getty Images

Brine your turkey

. If you’re spatchcocking your turkey and your butcher hasn’t already done so, do it before you brine. If you’re able to store your turkey in its brine outside, just make sure that the container is secure and it’s in a safe, animal-free spot. (Spoiler: raccoons LOVE raw turkey.) Finish your make ahead sides. Assemble your stuffing, make your soup, mix your corn pudding – you can even make your mashed potatoes. Check out these six recipes for super-creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes. Clean your house. If you can, hire a cleaning service in advance, or put your loving family to work. Save the kitchen for last and don’t forget to run your dishwasher. Set your table and buffet. Pour yourself a glass of wine (you deserve it) and make your arrangements and lay out table runners, napkins, silverware, candles and place cards.

16 of 18

17 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Thursday, November 23: THE BIG DAY

Credit: Nicole Franzen

You’ve done hard work of planning and now it’s time to make sure it pays off.

17 of 18

18 of 18

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Friday, November 24:

Credit: Lucy Schaeffer

Sleep in and take the day off (we’re thinking Game of Thrones marathon, epic turkey sandwich and a nap on the couch). For dinner, try one of these 17 creative ways to repurpose those coveted leftovers.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 18 Saturday, October 28: Finalize your guest list.
2 of 18 Sunday, October 29: Clean out your freezer.
3 of 18 Wednesday, November 1: Plan your menu.
4 of 18 Thursday, November 2: Check your equipment.
5 of 18 Friday, November 3: Order your turkey.
6 of 18 Saturday, November 4: Make your grocery list and do your first round of shopping.
7 of 18 Sunday, November 5: Make your turkey stock and gravy.
8 of 18 Saturday, November 11: Make your pie crust.
9 of 18 Sunday, November 12:Plan your table décor.
10 of 18 Monday, November 13:Shop for beer and wine.
11 of 18 Wednesday, November 15: Clean out your fridge.
12 of 18 Saturday, November 18: Make copies of your recipes.
13 of 18 Sunday, November 19:Pick up your turkey and perishable items.
14 of 18 Monday, November 20: Ready your turkey and bakeware
15 of 18 Tuesday, November 21: Prep and chill.
16 of 18 Wednesday, November 22:Clean and do some final make ahead prep.
17 of 18 Thursday, November 23: THE BIG DAY
18 of 18 Friday, November 24:

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

Thanksgiving Meal Planner: A Day by Day Guide
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.