Last minute thanksgiving – barefoot in the kitchen

Sometimes life doesn’t go according to script. I’ve been there. I felt like things were falling apart as I stood in my kitchen, overwhelmed by the stress of the upcoming event. If that’s you this Thanksgiving, I’m here to help. It’s possible to have a great holiday meal with as little stress as possible.

You can’t fix the big picture. I wish I could. But I can help you with meals. We created this last-minute Thanksgiving guide to help you enjoy a great dinner even if you start the day before. There’s also a printable shopping list. You have this.

last minute thanksgiving

First, let’s agree that not everything can be done with a last-minute Thanksgiving meal. Focus on the most important aspects. When I asked around, the things my community agreed were at the top of their “homemade” list were mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, and cranberry sauce.

You may want something else. Stuffing is one of the most popular side dishes, but it takes a little more time to go through all the steps and make it homemade. And I think many of us need rolls at the table (this time buy them in the store). Perhaps sweet potatoes are your family’s thing (replace them with mashed potatoes or green bean casserole).

If you take the time to customize your list, it will probably look a little different than mine. that’s ok. Its structure also functions in light adaptation. The point is, for a last-minute Thanksgiving to be a success, you have to focus on the people first. Less stress, less cooking, and more connection.

At the end of this post, you’ll find a complete grocery list and timeline that outlines exactly how to keep things moving with minimal stress on Thanksgiving Day.

Turkey or ham (or chicken!)

The first decision is probably the easiest. Do you want to make turkey or ham? My family loves this ham so I make it every year. But your family might just need a bird to get into the Thanksgiving spirit. If you don’t have the mental space, refrigerator, or oven space for a turkey, a rotisserie chicken or two will do just fine.

This is all to keep things as simple as possible. If you’re not cooking for a crowd and just want a meal to put on the table and share with your family, chicken is a great option to minimize stress in the kitchen.

How to thaw a turkey quickly

You can thaw your turkey in time for dinner, even the day before Thanksgiving. According to Butterball’s turkey tips, you’ll need a large container and cold water.

Place the turkey, breast side down, in an unopened packaging bag and thaw in enough cold water to completely cover the turkey. (I used my kitchen sink for this method.) Keep the turkey cool by changing the water every 30 minutes and rotating the bird every 30 minutes if you can’t cover it completely. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing time per pound of turkey.

Once the bird is thawed, you can cook the turkey in just an hour. Yes, it’s one hour. The key is to break the turkey into small pieces before cooking. I’ve been using this method for over 10 years, and I’ll never go back to roasting a bird. So don’t stress your turkey. This is actually one of the last steps of the holiday season.

mashed potatoes

While the turkey is roasting in the oven, prepare the garnishes for an hour. About half of this time will be used to chop and boil the potatoes for the butter-herb mashed potatoes. Mash them, finish with butter, cream, and seasoning, and press foil or parchment paper directly onto the potatoes.

When ready, put the lid back on the pot and shove it behind the stove. This will keep it warm for a while and it will be ready to eat.

crockpot cream corn

Crockpot creamed corn may become your family’s new favorite side dish. It’s easy to make, so it’s very likely that it will be yours. I literally just throw everything into the pot a few hours before the meal, put the lid on, and walk away. It’s not a joke. When ready to serve, just stir.

green bean casserole

I happen to be married to a man who thinks it’s not Thanksgiving unless he sees green bean casserole. I mean, for me? I was also happy to eat a delicious salad. Whichever route you go, plan on about 30 minutes of prep time.

If you’re like me and love a great salad, remember that you can keep it fresh by preparing it ahead of time and storing it in a ziplock bag in the fridge. I love this spinach and apple salad with honey cider dressing. (And I love being able to cross things off my list early in the morning!)

cranberry sauce

I know many people enjoy canned cranberry sauce. And if that’s your thing, no judgment here. But it’s also super easy to make, making it another great side dish for last-minute Thanksgiving. If you can boil water, this sweet and sour homemade cranberry sauce is ready in about 10 minutes.

additional side dishes

These four side dishes are what I would serve if I were making a Thanksgiving feast last minute. However, you can also trade it for something that will brighten up this holiday for your family.

With a little more prep time, Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing will turn even the most ardent stuffing hater into a fan. And these Vanilla Bean Whipped Sweet Potatoes are unlike any other Thanksgiving sweet potatoes you’ve ever eaten.

Last but not least, Aunt Judy’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad was the hardest for me to cross off the list. To be honest, I only make it on holidays. It’s one of my very favorite foods and I can’t ignore it when I have it at home. breakfast? Yes, please. lunch? absolutely. Snack after dinner? Oh yeah. Eat every meal until there’s nothing left in the pot. That’s very good.

last note

Let me admit that this list does not include dessert. During the busiest season of my life, I enjoy baking for the holidays, which is the first thing I let go of most years. The bakery and grocery store do an admirable job of taking care of that for me and giving me back time in my life that I need for other things.

If you would like to bake your own pumpkin pie or other traditional desserts, please do so. These are just suggestions. Just know that there are no rules.

What if the most important thing you need to do to enjoy the holidays is buy a rotisserie chicken, a package of mashed potatoes, a box of macaroni and cheese, a few cans of green beans, a bag of frozen corn, and a slice of pumpkin pie? Do that. Thank your grocery store for making it possible and enjoy a moment of peace off your feet.

This is a link to download a grocery store shopping list organized by department. I hope you and your family have a stress-free Thanksgiving.