18 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides You Can Freeze or Slow Cook

These make-ahead Thanksgiving sides are the reason my Thanksgiving morning feels calm instead of frantic. Every dish waits in the freezer, the fridge, or a crockpot, so the oven stays free for the turkey and you get a cup of coffee before the doorbell rings.

Thanksgiving sides collage featuring stuffing, pumpkin-shaped dinner rolls, biscuits, and cornbread muffins with herbed butter, with the text “18 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides for a Stress-Free Holiday Table.”

This collection covers 18 make-ahead side dishes for Thanksgiving: six slow cooker sides that cook while the turkey roasts, eight casseroles and vegetable dishes you can assemble or freeze days early, and four breads that bake ahead and reheat quickly. It suits anyone hosting a crowd, bringing a dish to Friendsgiving, or cooking for a small table. Each recipe is built to be finished ahead and reheated without losing what makes it good.

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How to Plan Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides Around One Oven

The secret to make-ahead Thanksgiving sides is giving every dish its own appliance and its own day. This is the Thanksgiving meal prep schedule I follow every year. If you have ever wondered what dishes can you make ahead for Thanksgiving, the answer is nearly all of them.

Two weeks out: Breads, soup, and applesauce go into the freezer first, which is the easiest holiday meal prep of the whole season.
One week out: Thaw nothing yet; shop for the fridge sides and write the cooking schedule.
Two days out: Stuffing, stuffed squash, and the savory sweet potato casserole are the Thanksgiving side dishes to make ahead and refrigerate, assembled and covered in the fridge.
Thanksgiving morning: The potatoes, creamed corn, and the other Thanksgiving slow cooker side dishes go in early and hold on warm until dinner.
While the turkey rests: Rolls, biscuits, and anything with a crisp topping take the oven for the last stretch, so everything lands hot at the same time.

If you only own one crockpot, borrow a second one for the week, because it doubles how many Thanksgiving dishes you can finish before guests arrive. A copy of this plan on the fridge is the simplest Thanksgiving prep there is.

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Pinterest pin featuring stuffing, pumpkin-shaped dinner rolls, biscuits, and cornbread muffins with herbed butter, titled “18 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Sides for a Stress-Free Holiday Table.”

Freezer and Crockpot Tips for Thanksgiving Side Dishes

A few holiday cooking habits keep frozen and slow-cooked sides tasting like they were made that morning. Most make-ahead-and-freeze Thanksgiving recipes work best when you follow them.

Freeze in a lined dish: Line the baking dish with foil, freeze the casserole, then lift it out and wrap it so the dish is free until the big day.
Thaw overnight in the fridge: Casseroles heat evenly when they start cold rather than frozen, so move them down the night before.
Hold back the toppings: Fried onions, nuts, and crumb toppings go on at the end so they stay crisp.
Refresh with a splash of milk: Mashed potatoes and mac and cheese loosen up beautifully after a long hold on the warm setting.
Keep the lid on: Every lift of the lid lets heat escape, which is the first rule of crock pot cooking for a big meal.

These same habits work for Christmas side dishes too, so this list keeps earning its place through December.

Make-Ahead Million Dollar Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes topped with melted butter, black pepper, and fresh chives in a white serving bowl, with extra butter, chives, and seasonings on a white marble surface.

These make-ahead mashed potatoes are the anchor of my make-ahead Thanksgiving dinner. They stay rich and silky after a night in the fridge, and the crockpot warms them through on Thanksgiving Day without taking a single burner. Of all the make-ahead Thanksgiving sides on this list, this is the one to make first.
Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole

Two speckled bowls of mashed sweet potato casserole with crunchy pecan oat streusel next to a slow cooker.

Sweet potato casserole is the side people go back to twice, and making it in the slow cooker keeps it out of the oven entirely. It is one of the easiest sweet potato sides to make for a crowd, soft and warmly spiced. Load it in the morning, and it holds on warm until the turkey is carved, which is exactly what make-ahead Thanksgiving sides should do.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

This is the classic green bean casserole, only now it cooks in the slow cooker while the oven does turkey duty. The creamy sauce and beans go in early, and the crispy onions go on right before serving so they keep their crunch. It belongs on every list of Thanksgiving crockpot sides. It is one of those traditional sides nobody wants to see missing from the table.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

This copycat of a Texas barbecue favorite is sweet, buttery, and made entirely in the crockpot. It is one of the Thanksgiving vegetable sides kids eat without being asked, and it holds beautifully on warm for hours. Put it at the center of your crockpot side dishes for a crowd.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Crockpot Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese has earned a permanent spot on the Thanksgiving table, and this crockpot version blends in cottage cheese for a creamy, high-protein sauce. It cooks in the slow cooker and stays smooth on the warm setting, so it never needs a minute of oven time. It also earns a place among fall crockpot recipes long after the holiday. It is one of the best crockpot side dishes for a busy holiday afternoon.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup (Slow Cooker)

Close up of a bowl of butternut squash soup.

A small cup of this soup is an easy way to start Thanksgiving dinner while the last dishes come out. It is one of the easiest slow cooker Thanksgiving recipes, since the squash cooks down on its own and the soup freezes well in portions. Blend it smooth, ladle it warm, and you have a starter that feels special without extra work.
Get the recipe: Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

Sourdough Stuffing

This vegan sourdough stuffing is assembled ahead and baked in a Dutch oven, which is everything you want from stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving. The tangy bread holds its shape instead of turning soggy, even after a night in the fridge. I dry the bread cubes early in the week so the day-of work is just mixing and baking. Of all the make ahead Thanksgiving recipes here, this one rewards an early start the most.
Get the recipe: Sourdough Stuffing

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Caramelized Onions and Herbs

Top-down view of a savory sweet potato casserole baked with caramelized onions, rosemary, thyme, and sage in a white ceramic dish on a marble countertop.

Not all sweet potato dishes have to be sweet, and this savory version with caramelized onions and herbs proves it. The onions can be cooked days ahead, and the casserole can be assembled the day before and baked while the turkey rests. The flavor deepens overnight, which makes it one of the best Thanksgiving dishes to make ahead. It is a smart pick when you want a second sweet potato side dish that does not repeat the first.
Get the recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Caramelized Onions and Herbs

Baked Mac and Cheese

This baked mac and cheese has a creamy center and a crunchy topping, and it assembles completely ahead. Build it in the dish, refrigerate or freeze it, then add the topping just before it goes into the oven. It is the comfort food side that turns the holiday table into a real family dinner.
Get the recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese

Ratatouille Casserole

This vegan ratatouille casserole brings color to a table that leans heavily on beige. It tastes even better the next day and freezes well, which puts it among the easiest Thanksgiving vegetable dishes to prep early. Serve it warm or at room temperature, whichever suits your timing.
Get the recipe: Ratatouille Casserole

Creamy Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole

Baked wild rice and mushroom casserole with herbs in white ceramic dish.

Wild rice and mushrooms in a creamy sauce are among the best sides for turkey and gravy. The casserole assembles a day or two ahead, and leftovers reheat beautifully for the rest of the weekend. It is a hearty choice for feeding a crowd when you want something besides potatoes.
Get the recipe: Creamy Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole

Meatless Stuffed Acorn Squash

Cottage cheese stuffed acorn squash served on two plates.

These acorn squash halves are filled with cottage cheese, cranberries, and pecans, and they look stunning on a holiday table. You can stuff them two days early and bake them right before dinner, and they double as a main for any vegetarian guests. They are among the most unique Thanksgiving side dishes in this collection.
Get the recipe: Meatless Stuffed Acorn Squash

Instant Pot Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is an old-fashioned side that pairs beautifully with turkey, and the Instant Pot makes it in minutes. It keeps in the fridge for days and freezes well, so I make a big batch in early November. Kids can help mash and stir, which makes it one of the easy Thanksgiving recipes to hand off to little helpers. It is also an easy side dish for kids at a grown-up dinner.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Applesauce

Crispy Potato Cheese Croquettes

Crispy golden potato cheese croquettes stacked on a black plate with dipping sauce.

These croquettes are a fun change from mashed potatoes, crisp outside and cheesy inside. Shape them ahead and freeze them on a tray, then cook them while the turkey rests, and they join the list of make ahead Thanksgiving sides that taste freshly made. They disappear fast, so plan on them being the crowd pleaser of the night.
Get the recipe: Crispy Potato Cheese Croquettes

Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls

These rolls get their pumpkin shape without any string or twine, and they always get the biggest reaction at my Thanksgiving table. Bake them early, freeze them, and warm them in the oven for a few minutes before dinner. If you want homemade dinner rolls without baking on the day, these are the ones to make.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls

Homemade Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Buttermilk drop biscuits placed on a lined bannaton over a wooden surface.

Drop biscuits skip the rolling and cutting, so they are the fastest bread on this list. They freeze well after baking and reheat in a warm oven while you carve the turkey. Light, fluffy, and buttery, they are made for soaking up gravy. They also travel well when you are bringing Friendsgiving side dishes to someone else's table.
Get the recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

No-Knead Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia

This focaccia comes together with almost no effort and looks impressive in the bread basket. Bake it a few days ahead or freeze it, then warm it briefly so the crust crisps up again. The rosemary and sea salt make it one of the best Thanksgiving sides for anyone who would rather skip shaping rolls.
Get the recipe: No-Knead Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia

Gluten-Free Cornbread Bites with Jalapeño Honey Butter

Mini cornbread bites topped with swirls of jalapeño honey butter on a marble platter.

These cornbread bites make sure gluten-free guests have bread to enjoy too. Bake them ahead and freeze them, then warm them and set out the jalapeño honey butter just before dinner. They are one of the easy Thanksgiving sides that doubles as something to nibble while the turkey finishes.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Cornbread Bites with Jalapeño Honey Butter

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Sides FAQ

What can I make ahead for Thanksgiving?

Almost every side can be made ahead, including mashed potatoes, casseroles, stuffing, soups, breads, and sauces. Make-ahead Thanksgiving sides that are assembled one to two days early and baked on the day taste the freshest. Leave crisp salads, roasted vegetables, and anything that depends on a fresh crunch for Thanksgiving morning.

What are the best Thanksgiving side dishes to freeze?

Breads, soups, applesauce, and assembled casseroles are the make-ahead Thanksgiving sides that hold up best in the freezer. Mashed potatoes with plenty of dairy freeze well too, while vegetables in a thin sauce can turn watery. Thaw everything overnight in the fridge so it reheats evenly.

How do I keep crockpot side dishes for Thanksgiving warm without drying them out?

Switch the slow cooker to warm as soon as the dish is cooked and keep the lid closed. Most crockpot sides hold well for a few hours, and a splash of milk or broth brings back anything that starts to thicken.

How many sides should I make for Thanksgiving?

Five or six sides cover most tables: a potato, a green vegetable, a casserole, stuffing, bread, and something bright like applesauce. If you are cooking Thanksgiving recipes for a crowd, add one or two extra sides rather than doubling everything.