With Thanksgiving here, some may not know how to throw the best dinner to impress their families and friends. Whether this is your first time hosting the dinner or if you’re simply looking for some new recipes, here’s a guide to follow for the best Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Plan:

Once you are sure that you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, start by making a guest list of everyone you’d like to be there. This helps you make sure you’ll have enough space for everyone, but also allows you to take note of any dietary restrictions ahead of time.

Once you know how many people are coming, start planning what foods you’d like to serve. Will you be including your grandma’s secret apple pie recipe, creamy mac and cheese, or maybe serve pink lemonade instead of soda? Make sure your menu is well-balanced because you don’t want to have twice as many desserts as main dishes. And if a loved one offers to bring food, let them. It’ll make the dinner even more special.

Once you know what you’re planning to serve, from food to dessert and drinks, make a grocery list. Organize everything by section, such as all dairy, vegetables, meat and pantry items, so you’re not running around like crazy, grabbing eggs one minute and tomatoes the next.

Don’t wait until the last minute to shop. The day of, or even the day before Thanksgiving, the store gets hectic and often runs out of the essentials you really need. And most importantly, get the ham and or turkey first before the store sells out!

2. Menu Ideas

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinners, you need to have an idea of how you’re gonna serve the food. Whether you’ll be bringing out dishes in a specific order or place everything on one table so guests can choose what they want.

Here’s a nice, easy classic line-up you can follow that’s good and easy to make.

Turkey (even a rotisserie chicken, or ham since it doesn’t necessarily have to be turkey)

Stuffing

Mashed potatoes + gravy if you like it

Mac and cheese

Vegetables (carrots, corn, broccoli)

Rolls (or even the simple King Hawaiian rolls)

Desserts (can be anything, cake, pies, cheesecake, even muffins!)

Decide at least one to two weeks before what you’re planning on making so that you can buy everything you need in a fashionable manner.

3. Prepping

now for the best part. Prepping for the food usually takes the longest and could be the most stressful, but if you do it ahead of time and stay organized, it can actually be the most fun and enjoyable part, especially if you enjoy cooking.

Once you have everything you need, make sure to prep as much as possible ahead of time. Cut up your vegetables, make your desserts the night before, and prepare any casseroles so they can be refrigerated until you’re ready to cook them. And if you’re planning on having a turkey, make sure you thaw it one day before for every four to five pounds.

Prepping everything ahead of time can help save you a lot of stress on Thanksgiving Day. You’ll be cooking, cleaning, and still trying to find a moment to get yourself ready and look lovely for dinner. That’s why it’s best to have your ingredients prepared and as much done in advance as possible!

4. The day of Thanksgiving

Here’s a super simple timeline that could help you do everything on time while also having time to get ready.

Morning:

Since the turkey takes the longest, you should start with it, along with putting the casseroles and or the mac and cheese to warm up at the same time with the turkey, so you’re able to kill two birds with one stone.

Afternoon:

Start to make the mashed potatoes since they are the easiest to make, but it also takes quite a bit of time. While you’re doing that you can also start cooking vegetables and start making your sides that you will offer during the dinner.

30 minutes before serving:

Start warming up your rolls if you made them from scratch, so they are nice and warm, and add final seasoning for everything else that needs to be seasoned or needs a bit more seasoning. If you are making drinks, you could start making them now as they can be ready and set up for when your guest arrives.

5. Set the vibes

Once you’re done with cooking and everything is finalised, you can start cleaning up, decorating and prepping your tables. Set out plates, utensils and drinks so everything is ready for your guests. Don’t forget about the decor; it ties it all together and creates that perfect cozy fall vibe. And if you’d like, you can always play some fun themed or holiday music to set the mood to make it more enjoyable.

6. Host with a heart

The best Thanksgiving dinners aren’t perfect; they are personal. Make sure you’re having fun with your loves and share gratitude for what you appreciate about them. What truly makes a good Thanksgiving is the connection you have with the people around you. Share laughter that fills the kitchen, tell stories at the table and enjoy the moments that make the day and dinner special.

Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner may take planning, preparation, and a little patience, but at the end, it is all worth it once you see everyone’s faces smile and light up at the table. From organizing your menu to decorating the table, every step adds to the joy of creating a memorable celebration.