Let’s face it. The holidays are hectic.
But that’s only if you insist on doing everything the old-fashioned way, with prep work done the day of. This year, save time (and your sanity!) by prepping some of the most time-consuming tasks ahead of time.
Here are a few easy make-ahead recipe tips guaranteed to make this holiday your most enjoyable one yet.
Need some more Thanksgiving recipe hacks? Check out these 11 easy, make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes!
4 Easy Make-Ahead Recipe Tips
One month before: Make & freeze unbaked pies
No more frantic last-minute prep. You can prepare fruit pies up to a month before needed, cover them in several layers of plastic wrap, and freeze.
To bake, simply place your pie in a hot oven and bake as usual, adding 15-30 minutes to make up for the in-oven thawing time.
3 days before: Pre-chop ingredients
Firm veggies, onions, and garlic can all be chopped 2-3 days early, making your holiday menu prep extra quick and simple.
Dice everything you need for the stuffing. Chop all of the ingredients needed for your sides. Mince herbs, then slice appetizers and snacks and store it all in deli containers in your fridge. Now that’s an easy, budget-friendly way to get a leg up on all that cooking!
24-48 hours before: Brine your turkey in a cooler
Brining turkey is one of the best ways to get a tender bird. But it takes up so much space in the fridge!
Instead, fill a large cooler with ice and place your turkey in a large bag full of brine. Twist the bag closed and cover. Your turkey stays cool and safely brines for up to 48 hours — no extra fridge space needed!
12 hours before: Slow cook potatoes & mash right in the Crock Pot
You don’t have to do the stove juggle if you use your slow cooker for mashed potatoes.
Just before bed the night before holiday dinner, toss tiny red potatoes in a slow cooker, pour 1-2 cups of broth over top, cover, and cook on low overnight.
In the afternoon, you can use an electric mixer to mash the potatoes right in the crockpot. Feel free to toss in butter, cream, or milk, to get the consistency your family loves.
Know what else you can make in the slow cooker? Your cranberry sauce! Check out my slow cooker cranberry sauce recipe.
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