How to Host a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
Preview: Thanksgiving can be stressful for the host. This post shares ways to plan ahead so you can have a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving can be such a wonderful time of the year. There is the fun of getting together with family and friends without the pressure of gift-giving.
That is why it tends to be one of my very favorite holidays. However, stress can creep in if you are hosting the big meal. There are lots of dishes to prepare, not to mention cleaning the house.
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To make things easier, I wanted to share some ways to make hosting Thanksgiving easier, along with some menu ideas you can prepare ahead of time. Here’s to hosting a stress-free Thanksgiving that you can actually enjoy!
Be sure to grab my free checklist at the end of this post so you can print it out and have your home ready and the food prepared without stressing over how to get it all done.
Plan the Thanksgiving Menu
The very first thing to do to host a stress-free Thanksgiving is to plan the menu. Draw up a rough outline of what foods you would like to serve.
This will vary depending on the number of people you plan to invite. (If you’re not sure how much food you need, check out this article from Good Housekeeping.)
I always plan the menu BEFORE inviting people so that I have an idea of how much food is needed. (Better to plan on too much food rather than run out. Running out of food would not lead to a stress-free Thanksgiving!)
I also like to have an idea of some side dishes to suggest if others need help deciding what to bring.
A sample menu is shown below.
- turkey or ham
- dressing or stuffing
- green vegetable side – green bean casserole, broccoli casserole, or a simple steamed veggie
- potato dish – sweet potato casserole or mashed potatoes
- bread – rolls or cornbread are good options
- salad or second green vegetable
- dessert (1 or 2 or more depending on the number of people attending) – pumpkin pie, cheesecake, spice cake, etc.
- beverages – sweet tea, wine, coffee, etc.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be an elaborate meal. The focus should be on being thankful for our blessings and enjoying time with family and friends.
Invite People to Your Thanksgiving Meal
The second thing to do to have a stress-free Thanksgiving is to invite people. You may have a standard list of people that come every year or it may vary, but you still need to at least call each family and ask them to come and let them know what time you will be eating.
It is best to do this at least two weeks in advance. When you call to invite them, hopefully, they will ask what they can bring. Whether it be a side dish, rolls, or dessert, let every family that is coming contribute one dish.
Since you made a list of what you need – vegetable side dish, dessert, etc. you can ask them which item they would prefer to make. This way you don’t end up with 5 sweet potato casseroles and no dessert.
Start Cleaning In Advance
Don’t wait until the day before Thanksgiving to start cleaning your home. Yes, you will probably want to do a quick clean on the bathrooms the night before (or the morning of) but you shouldn’t save everything until the last minute.
If you have established a cleaning routine, your house is probably in pretty good shape. But whether you’ve been cleaning regularly or have let some things slide, make a list of what needs to be cleaned and plan it into your days.
If the windows need washing and the blinds need dusting, put time for that on your calendar. Set aside at least an hour a day if your home really needs a deep clean.
You can dust and clear the clutter several days in advance, but save the mopping and vacuuming until the day before. Don’t forget to enlist your family to help!
Most of all, remember that your home doesn’t have to be spotless. Most people are thankful they aren’t the ones doing the hosting (and therefore, the cleaning)!
Set the Table & Set Up the Serving Area Ahead of Time
The night before (or up to two days before), go ahead and set the table with your linens and silverware. If the food will be passed at the table, you can set the plates on the table as well.
Serving buffet style? The plates are better off in the front of the buffet line. But I like to go ahead and put silverware and napkins on the table anyway so guests don’t have to carry all that with a plate laden with food.
If you are doing a buffet, it is also a good idea to decide where each dish will be placed in the buffet line, including the dishes the guests are bringing.
I do this by placing a note where each dish should go. While it may seem silly, it will ensure you have space for everything. It can be stressful to realize at the last minute that you don’t have room for all the food.
You can also organize the buffet line so that all the side dishes are together and the main dish is at the beginning or the end (whichever you prefer). It also lets guests know where to put their dish when they arrive.
Have a few potholders and/or trivets to set the hot dishes on so they don’t burn your countertops.
I also like to set out a serving utensil for each dish. Many times guests will forget to bring a spoon so be sure you have plenty of serving utensils at the ready.
If you are short on utensils you may want to consider picking up a few plastic serving spoons to have on hand if needed.
Make a Few Dishes Ahead of Time
Do you want to be in the kitchen all day on Thanksgiving? I sure don’t. I want to visit with my family and enjoy the day. That’s why I’ve learned to make many dishes in advance.
My green bean casserole and most sweet potato casseroles can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight. They can then be placed in the oven and cooked just before time to eat.
If you are making dessert yourself, choose a dessert that can be made ahead of time. Cheesecakes are great, as well as most pies. Don’t forget that your guests should (hopefully) be bringing a dish as well so you shouldn’t feel the need to prepare everything.
Remember What Thanksgiving is About
Above all, remember your guests are coming for the food and fellowship. They don’t want a stressed-out host. If a few things have to slide, that’s OK!
If you don’t have time to break out the fancy china, grab paper plates instead. The added stress of making everything perfect will ruin the holiday for you.
And since you may also be thinking about family relationships and how to make those less stressful, check out my friend Miranda’s post on 6 Survival Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress. Many of these tips are applicable to both Thanksgiving and Christmas and even everyday dealings with family and friends.
How Do You Celebrate Thanksgiving?
So, how do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you host or are you fortunate enough to attend a get-together? If you don’t host, do you usually bring a dish? Let me know in the comments.
Don’t forget to get your free copy of my Thanksgiving Checklist. It lays out a plan to get your house ready and the food prepared so you can actually enjoy the day!
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Meet Julie
I’m a farm girl born and bred in North Carolina. I’ve been growing a vegetable garden for over 20 years (and helping my Mom grow hers even longer). I’ve been raising chickens in my bathtub and backyard for 12+ years. I believe that homegrown food can be made simple. Let’s get started.
