The Make-Ahead Thanksgiving

What to do each day

Each recipe in this plan says which day to make it.

• Friday before

  If the turkey is frozen, move it to the fridge today. Kiwi moves this day to fit your bird’s weight.

• Monday

  Make the gravy and the cranberry-orange sauce. Both keep in the fridge.

• Tuesday

  Dry-brine the turkey. Bake the pumpkin pie.

• Wednesday

  Assemble the overnight stuffing and the mashed potato casserole.

• Thursday

  Roast the turkey. Bake the stuffing and potatoes while it rests. Make the green beans. Warm the gravy.

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dinner with Roast Turkey, Stuffing, and All the Trimmings

The ingredients for every dish, exactly as Kiwi's grocery list adds them up. Serves 10; change the number in the app and they rescale.

Dry-Brined Roast Turkey14 ingredients · 9 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 14 lb whole turkey, thawed; neck and giblets reserved for gravy
• 3 tbsp kosher salt, for dry brine, about 1 tsp per 5 lb
• 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 tsp baking powder, mixed into dry brine to crisp skin
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 6 sprig fresh thyme
• 3 sprig fresh rosemary
• 6 leaf fresh sage
• 6 clove garlic, smashed
• 1 yellow onion, quartered, for cavity and roasting pan
• 3 stalk celery, cut into large pieces, for roasting pan
• 2 carrots, cut into large pieces, for roasting pan
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth, for roasting pan
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil, for skin before roasting

The 9 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy15 ingredients · 9 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 2 lb turkey wings, for make-ahead stock
• 1 yellow onion, quartered
• 2 stalk celery, cut into pieces
• 1 carrots, cut into pieces
• 4 clove garlic, smashed
• 4 sprig fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 8 cups water, for stock
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth, to supplement stock if needed
• 1 tbsp soy sauce, for color and depth
• 1 tsp kosher salt, to taste
• ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground

The 9 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Overnight Sage Stuffing13 ingredients · 9 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 1½ lb sturdy white sandwich bread, cut into ¾-inch cubes, dried on Tuesday
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 yellow onion, diced
• 6 stalk celery, diced
• 4 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme, leaves only
• ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1½ tsp kosher salt
• ¾ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 tbsp neutral oil or butter, for greasing the pan

The 9 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Mashed Potato Casserole10 ingredients · 9 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 5 lb russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
• 2 tbsp kosher salt, for boiling water, plus more to taste
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for topping
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened; helps the casserole hold overnight
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup whole milk, warmed
• ¾ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp paprika, for top
• 1 tbsp neutral oil or butter, for greasing the baking dish

The 9 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Cranberry-Orange Sauce6 ingredients · 5 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 24 oz fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 orange, zested and juiced
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 pinch kosher salt

The 5 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Green Beans with Crispy Shallots9 ingredients · 5 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 2½ lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 4 shallot, thinly sliced into rings
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, for dredging shallots
• ½ cup vegetable oil, for pan-frying shallots
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 clove garlic, thinly sliced
• 1½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced, for finishing

The 5 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.

Pumpkin Pie13 ingredients · 6 steps

Ingredients · serves 10

• 1 package (2-count) refrigerated pie crust (contains wheat), one crust per pie; makes two 9-inch pies for 10 servings
• 30 oz canned pumpkin purée, two 15 oz cans; not pumpkin pie filling
• 4 large eggs
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

The 6 steps, with the amounts in each one and the timing worked out against the other dishes, are in the app.