These 7 Thanksgiving Meals Can Be Made Ahead of Time and Perfectly Frozen for the Big Day

While Thanksgiving is meant to be a relaxing day to be thankful for everything we have, admittedly, it can be a little difficult to be thankful when you’re struggling with the juggling act of Turkey Day. The turkey timer is going off, the potatoes need to be stirred AND your friends and family need to be attended to. How can one person do it all? Turns out, the answer is in your freezer. With these 7 Thanksgiving meals that can be pre-prepared and just thawed out for the big day, you might actually have a chance to stop and smell the turkey this year.

1. HORS D’OEUVRE: MUSHROOM TURNOVERS

This fancy appetizer is sure to impress your guests. Before you bake them, put the turnovers on a baking sheet and freeze. You can then put them in a freezer bag, where they’ll stay fresh for a whole month.

 

2. HORS D’OEUVRE: CRANBERRY MEATBALLS

I know I’m making these this year. These savory meatballs will stay fresh and frozen for a month leading up to the big day. Once you’ve thawed them, make sure to serve them up with cranberry sauce (homemade sauce optional).

 

3. FIRST COURSE: BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

This seasonal favorite is good to prepare a few weeks before your dinner, but make sure to hold off on adding the creme fraiche until Thanksgiving morning.

 

4. MAIN COURSE: TURKEY

The headlining act. Attempting the frozen turkey is not something we’d recommend to amateur chefs, but it is possible. The trick is freezing the perfectly cooked turkey meat in slices and thawing it out the night before.

 

5. SIDE: GARLIC HERB MASHED POTATOES

These guys need lots and lots of full-fat milk to keep them soft and fluffy while they freeze. It’s also handy to separate some spuds into different containers to combine when you reheat them for the fullest flavor.

 

6. SIDE: CHEDDAR GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

To keep this cheesy goodness at its most delicious state, wait for the casserole to cool, then layer the dish with a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of tin foil before sticking it in the freezer. This amazing dish will stay good for up to two months.

 

7. DESSERT: APPLE PIE

How could we forget dessert? Luckily for us apple pie lovers, fruit pies freeze much easier than custard ones, so this guy can sit (unbaked) in your freezer for a few weeks. The night before Thanksgiving, pop this pie in the oven and enjoy the next day!