For probably 8 of the last 10 Thanksgivings, I’ve cooked almost the entire Thanksgiving dinner with my dad at my parents house and helped them host. I loved getting to help them host, and it is something I have really missed since moving across the country. But in helping my dad plan, prepare and cook, I’ve learned several tips from him to make hosting and cooking easier.
Thanksgiving is actually one of my favorite holidays! I love the planning, preparing and cooking for everyone. It’s so fun! But I also know that it can feel so overwhelming trying to take care of it all. Hopefully these tips can help make things go a little smoother.
Tip #1: Start With An Empty Dishwasher
Always start with an empty dishwasher. Whether you start it the night before or start it right after breakfast. Make sure the dishwasher is unloaded and empty before you start. As you cook, every utensil, bowl, pan and plate you use can be rinsed and put right into the dishwasher when you are done with it.
Then, run the dishwasher during dinner. This just makes cleanup so much easier. When it’s time to cleanup, you’ve already gotten through a big chunk of the dirty dishes that accumulate. Your sink won’t be overflowing, and the dishes won’t be way less overwhelming.
Tip #2: You’re Going To Need More Butter Than You Think
Maybe this is just our family. We are butter lovers. And each year, we go through so much butter. The first year that my dad hosted Thanksgiving at his house, we realized that we underestimated our butter needs greatly. Luckily we were able to get by, but we definitely learned our lesson for future Thanksgiving dinners. I wouldn’t buy stock in butter. But get one or two more packs than you think you need. If you don’t end up using it, you can store it in the freezer (because you’ll probably want it when you start on Christmas treats after Thanksgiving anyway).
Tip #3: Use Google Sheets To Plan Dishes
I love using Google Sheets for planning. Especially if you will have several people coming with different dishes. Put together a spreadsheet in Google Drive and send it out to everyone invited. Make sure you list out each dish that you need, and how many people are coming (so everyone knows how many servings to plan for). Then each guest can sign up for whatever part of the meal they are contributing. If you will be providing the ingredients and dishes, add a shopping list section to your spreadsheet so you know exactly what and how much you need to shop for.
I put together a spreadsheet for you! You can access it here. You will need to make a copy (File – Make A Copy) before you will be able to edit and send the spreadsheet. But hopefully this makes the planning stages easier on everyone. The spreadsheet is pretty simple and basic, but it will save you a step.
Tip #4: Outsource Whatever You Can
Homemade pies are great, and baking is so fun. But after cooking an entire dinner, I really don’t have any interest in making anything else. Even making one beforehand is too much craziness for me. I’d rather support one of the amazing local bakeries and pre order a pie from them. They have the flavors I want, and I know they’ll be delicious. Just make sure you reach out a couple weeks in advance to order. I’ve noticed that they often sell out pretty quick, so this is definitely something you don’t want to save for the last minute.
Last Thanksgiving, my aunt ordered a turkey breast and ham from Honey Baked Ham. It was perfect! I really love cooking turkey, but it really made Thanksgiving 100x easier. I got to focus on cooking other dishes and the turkey breast and ham were sooo delicious!
Even if you aren’t interested in pre-ordering dishes, outsource by asking guests to bring a dish to share. Even just bringing a salad is a big help.
I hope these tips can help make your Thanksgiving Dinner a huge success. And before Thanksgiving, be sure to check out this post with my favorite easy bread recipes that your guests will LOVE. Comment below what dishes you’re most excited for this Thanksgiving!
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