10 Thanksgiving Hacks to Make Cooking Easier

Thanksgiving should be about laughter and gratitude, not last-minute grocery runs and kitchen chaos. As a wife and mom, I’ve faced my fair share of holiday cooking hurdles, balancing the pots and the tots, all while trying to keep the magic of the season alive.

Through it all, I’ve gathered some nifty hacks to make Thanksgiving cooking a bit easier—tried and true tricks that let you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family.

These aren’t just tips, they’re my little lifesavers, and I’m excited to share them with you. I hope they’ll smooth out your holiday prep as much as they’ve smoothed out mine!

Plan Ahead with a Precise Menu

Starting your Thanksgiving prep with a detailed menu might just be the most stress-saving hack yet. I lay out every dish I plan to make, then jot down each ingredient needed, checking them off as I go through my pantry and fridge. This means one big, organized shopping trip—and you’re set. In my house, that shopping list always includes a mountain of butter. It’s practically a staple for every dish from mashed potatoes to pie crusts.

Choose a Fresh Turkey to Skip the Thaw

Every year, figuring out the thawing time for a frozen turkey feels like a guessing game—one that I seem to lose more often than not. So now, I go for a fresh turkey. No more guessing, no more stressing over whether it’ll be ready to roast on time.

If you haven’t tried a fresh turkey, I highly recommend it. Not only do you skip the whole thawing ordeal, but many say they can taste the difference in freshness. Believe me, when you pull that perfectly roasted turkey out of the oven, it feels like you’ve got Thanksgiving all figured out.

Save Stove Space with a Thermos

When it’s game time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving, finding a free burner can feel like a high-stakes scavenger hunt. Here’s a hack I swear by: pour your freshly made gravy into a thermos. It keeps it piping hot without taking up precious stove space.

This way, you can focus on getting those last-minute dishes done without juggling pots and pans on every burner. Plus, it’s always a little fun to pour gravy out of a thermos—feels like a magic trick at the table!

Easy Exit with Takeout Containers

As a busy mom, the post-Thanksgiving cleanup is a daunting task I’d rather avoid. My solution? I ask everyone to bring their own takeout containers for leftovers. It’s a win-win: guests get to take home some delicious turkey and sides, and I don’t have to worry about washing an endless pile of dishes—or being tempted by too many leftover desserts!

And let’s be honest, with the little one on the way and those pregnancy cravings hitting, it’s pretty tempting to keep a whole pumpkin pie to myself. But this way, I can share the love (and the calories).

Prep Veggies Early to Save Time

Here’s how I cut down my kitchen time and up my family time on Thanksgiving: I chop all my veggies and herbs a couple of days ahead. Everything from onions for stuffing to carrots for the roast gets prepped and tucked away in the fridge. I even label the bags with what dish they’ll go into.

This bit of organization means when Thanksgiving Day rolls around, I can actually relax a little and enjoy the parade or a cup of coffee before the whirlwind of cooking begins.

Mashed Potatoes Made Easy

Who knew a slow cooker could be your secret weapon for stress-free Thanksgiving sides? This year, I’m doing my mashed potatoes ahead of time and then using my slow cooker to keep them warm.

Just cook them as you usually would, then pop them in the slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting. It frees up stove space and keeps your potatoes ready to serve without needing a last-minute reheat. Plus, it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re trying to get that turkey carved and to the table.

Make Roasting EASY with a Veggie Bed

Roasting a turkey or any meat doesn’t need fancy racks or special gadgets. Lay a simple foundation of quartered onions, whole carrots, and celery stalks right in your roasting pan. Not only does this elevate your meat for even cooking, but those veggies will soak up all the delicious drippings, adding an extra layer of flavor to your roast.

And here’s a mom tip: don’t toss those veggies after; freeze them! They make a fantastic base for soups and stews later, which is perfect for those chilly days ahead.

Declutter Your Fridge for the Feast

As the holiday approaches, finding space in the fridge can be as stressful as the cooking itself. I like to tackle this head-on by clearing out all those half-empty condiment bottles and random jars that clutter up the shelves.

Pop them into a cooler to keep them handy but out of the way. This frees up so much space for your prepped dishes or that big beautiful bird you’re planning to brine. Trust me, a little pre-holiday decluttering goes a long way toward making Thanksgiving prep smoother.

Make Gravy Ahead to Save the Day

Ever felt like making gravy while everything else demands your attention is a kitchen nightmare? Well, here’s a little secret from my own Thanksgiving playbook: make your gravy ahead of time. A few days before, I swing by the store for some turkey necks or wings, roast them up, and use those drippings for the gravy.

It’s one less thing to worry about when you’re aiming to get that dinner table festive and ready. Trust me, reheating gravy is a breeze and it tastes just as homemade—because it is.

Brine Your Turkey for Ultimate Flavor

If you’ve ever faced the disappointment of a dry turkey, brining is your safeguard. It’s like giving your turkey a spa day in a sea of spices and sweetness, ensuring it comes out of the oven moist and flavorful every time.

I mix a generous scoop of kosher salt with some lemon, then throw in whatever’s in my spice rack—maybe some peppercorns, thyme, or a dash of smoked paprika. Let the turkey soak up all these flavors overnight and you’re set for a show-stopping centerpiece that’s anything but bland.