Food & DrinkRecipesThanksgivingNews

21 Stellar Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Make Ahead Of Time

The early bird gets to relax!
By 

Lifestyle Editor, HuffPost

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Everything Thanksgiving: Get all our Thanksgiving recipes, how-to’s and more!

Thanksgiving has the potential to create more stress in your life than you can ever imagine. In a whirlwind, it turns from an enjoyable holiday into a hectic cooking marathon if you don’t prepare ahead. 

Thankfully, these particular side dishes keep well in the fridge, so you can prepare them beforehand and save yourself a headache on the big day. You’ll breeze through Thanksgiving.

1
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Well Plated
Get the Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad recipe from Well Plated
2
Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole recipe from Half Baked Harvest
3
Vegetarian Gravy
Umami Girl
Get the Vegetarian Gravy recipe from Umami Girl
4
Beet Braised Lentils
Feasting at Home
Get the Beet Braised Lentils recipe from Feasting at Home
5
Nutty Wild Rice And Shredded Brussels Sprout Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Nutty Wild Rice And Shredded Brussels Sprout Stuffed Mini Pumpkins recipe from Half Baked Harvest
6
Maple Cranberry Sauce
Two Peas & Their Pod
Get the Maple Cranberry Sauce recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod
7
Farro with Dried Cherries and Pistachios
Cravings of a Lunatic
Get the Farro with Dried Cherries and Pistachios recipe from Cravings of a Lunatic
8
German Potato Salad
A Spicy Perspective
Get the German Potato Salad recipe from A Spicy Perspective
9
Creamy Brie Four Cheese Mac and Cheese
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Creamy Brie Four Cheese Mac and Cheese recipe from Half Baked Harvest
10
Cranberry Applesauce
Simply Recipes
Get the Cranberry Applesauce recipe from Simply Recipes
11
Herbed Black Beluga Lentils with Garlic Scapes and Yogurt Sauce
Dolly and Oatmeal
Get the Herbed Black Beluga Lentils with Garlic Scapes and Yogurt Sauce recipe from Dolly and Oatmeal
12
Green Goddess Mac and Cheese
Simply Recipes
Get the Green Goddess Mac and Cheese recipe from Simply Recipes
13
Cauliflower Couscous Salad
Cafe Johnsonia
Get the Cauliflower Couscous Salad recipe from Cafe Johnsonia
14
Orange Cranberry Almond Rice Pilaf
Oh Sweet Basil
Get the Orange Cranberry Almond Rice Pilaf recipe from Oh Sweet Basil
15
Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad
Two Peas & Their Pod
Get the Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod
16
Cauliflower Gratin with Ham Breadcrumbs
Dinner Was Delicious
Get the Cauliflower Gratin with Ham Breadcrumbs recipe from Dinner Was Delicious
17
Corn Remoulade
The Crepes of Wrath
Get the Corn Remoulade recipe from The Crepes of Wrath
18
Carrot Raisin Quinoa Salad
Aggies Kitchen
Get the Carrot Raisin Quinoa Salad recipe from Aggie's Kitchen
19
Balsamic Roasted Beets
Macheesmo
Get the Balsamic Roasted Beets recipe from Macheesmo
20
Wheat Berry and Fig Salad
Macheesmo
Get the Wheat Berry and Fig Salad recipe from Macheesmo
21
Perfect Gravy Without the Bird
The View from Great Island
Get the Perfect Gravy Without the Bird recipe from The View from Great Island

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Before You Go

Thanksgiving Alternatives For Turkey Haters
Roasted Rack of Lamb with Basil Goat Cheese Sauce(01 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Roasted Rack of Lamb with Basil Goat Cheese Sauce recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Crock-Pot Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin With Balsamic Glaze(02 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Crock-Pot Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin With Balsamic Glaze recipe from A Spicy Perspective (credit:A Spicy Perspective)
Slow-Cooker Herbed Balsamic Pork Roast(03 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Slow-Cooker Herbed Balsamic Pork Roast recipe from Cafe Johnsonia (credit:Cafe Johnsonia)
Coffee Rubbed Prime Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Gorgonzola Butter(04 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Coffee Rubbed Prime Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Gorgonzola Butter recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Mini Beef Wellingtons(05 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Mini Beef Wellingtons recipe from I Am A Food Blog (credit:I Am A Food Blog)
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze(06 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze recipe from A Spicy Perspective (credit:A Spicy Perspective)
Maple Mustard Roasted Chicken(07 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Maple Mustard Roasted Chicken recipe from Cafe Johnsonia (credit:Cafe Johnsonia)
Cranberry Pot Roast(08 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Cranberry Pot Roast recipe from Feasting at Home (credit:Feasting at Home)
Roasted Game Hens(09 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Roasted Game Hens recipe from A Spicy Perspective (credit:A Spicy Perspective)
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin(10 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Stuffed Pork Tenderloin recipe from Chaos in the Kitchen (credit:Chaos in the Kitchen)
Raspberry Balsamic And Pecan Encrusted Rack Of Lamb(11 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Raspberry Balsamic and Pecan Encrusted Rack of Lamb recipe from Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Bourbon Honey Glazed Ham(12 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Bourbon Honey Glazed Ham recipe from Goodie Godmother (credit:Goodie Godmother)
Roast Chicken with Yams, Oranges and Blue Moon(13 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Roast Chicken with Yams, Oranges and Blue Moon recipe with Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Rabbit In Mustard Sauce(14 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Rabbit In Mustard Sauce recipe from Simply Recipes (credit:Simply Recipes)
Beef Wellington With Green Peppercorn Sauce(15 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Beef Wellington With Green Peppercorn Sauce recipe from Eat, Little Bird (credit:Eat Little Bird)
Pork Tenderloin With Thyme-Fennel Spice Rub And Cider Cream Sauce(16 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Pork Tenderloin with Thyme-Fennel Spice Rub and Cider Cream Sauce recipe from Cafe Johnsonia (credit:Cafe Johnsonia)
Classic Prime Rib(17 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Classic Prime Rib recipe from Simply Recipes (credit:Simply Recipes)
Sticky Glazed Asian Ham(18 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Sticky Glazed Asian Ham recipe from Foodie Crush (credit:Foodie Crush)
Stuffed Flank Steak With Prosciutto And Wild Mushrooms(19 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Stuffed Flank Steak With Prosciutto And Wild Mushrooms recipe from A Spicy Perspective (credit:A Spicy Perspective)
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and White Wine Cream Sauce(20 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and White Wine Cream Sauce recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Prime Rib Roast With Red Wine Jus(21 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Prime Rib Roast With Red Wine Jus recipe from Steamy Kitchen (credit:Steamy Kitchen)
Chipotle Pineapple Jerk Glazed Ham(22 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Chipotle Pineapple Jerk Glazed Ham recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin(23 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Roast Chicken With Persimmons And Sage(24 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Roast Chicken with Persimmons and Sage recipe from Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin(25 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin recipe from Damn Delicious (credit:Damn Delicious)
Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Jus(26 of26)
Open Image Modal
Get the Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Jus recipe from The Crepes of Wrath (credit:The Crepes of Wrath)
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