The Ultimate Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner

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Private chef and food educator Ollie George Cigliano shares how to host a successful Thanksgiving feast

Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: December 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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• 2-3 Weeks in Advance
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• 3-5 Days Before
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• 1-2 Days Before
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• Thanksgiving Day
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• Printable Place Setting Template
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• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Expert Q&A

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Hosting Thanksgiving is a big job, but it’s worth it—seeing your loved ones gathered around the Thanksgiving table is incredibly rewarding! Having a clear, organized plan can help make your holiday run more smoothly. We talked to a chef, event specialist, and nutritionist to get tips on hosting a memorable Thanksgiving meal—from what to do in the weeks and days leading up to the meal to how to help the day of run smoothly.

The next Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026 in the United States and Monday, October 12, 2026 in Canada.

How do you host a Thanksgiving dinner?

Private chef and food educator Ollie George Cigliano recommends planning ahead and preparing as much as possible beforehand to make Thanksgiving go smoothly. Here’s a sample schedule:

• 2–3 weeks in advance: Finalize your guest list, plan your menu, and check that you have enough serving dishes and dinnerware.
• 3–5 days in advance: Finish your shopping, defrost the turkey, and deep clean and decorate your home.
• 1–2 days in advance: Pre-make as many dishes as possible, set the table, and finalize your day-of timeline.
• Thanksgiving Day: Cook your turkey, finish making and warming up side dishes, serve the meal, and ENJOY!

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Preparing 2–3 Weeks In Advance

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1. 
   1
   Finalize your guest list. Event decor specialist Anna Braff says that if you’re planning to host Thanksgiving dinner, one of the first things you should do is to “figure out your guestlist and try to get as many confirmed RSVPs as you can.” That way, you’ll know in advance how many people you’ll be feeding, how many drinks you’ll need, and how many seats to plan for.

   • If you want to send invitations, try to mail them out about a month in advance and include clear instructions on how to RSVP.
   • You can also invite guests over the phone, by text, or in person—whatever works best for you!
   • If any of your guests have dietary restrictions or allergies, try to accommodate them the best you can. It’s also okay to ask them to bring a favorite dish that they can share with everyone!
   • Reader Poll: We asked 207 wikiHow readers how they preferred to respond to an informal dinner invitation, and only 3% of them said an in-person conversation. [Take Poll]

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Ollie George Cigliano is a private chef and food educator with over 20 years of experience. She’s also the owner of Ollie George Cooks.

   Katie Hake, RDN, LD, is a registered dietician and licensed nutritionist who specializes in sustainable health and fitness.

   Anna Braff is an event decor specialist and the founder and designer at Provenance Rentals. Her work has been featured in Vogue, People, and InStyle.
2. 
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   Plan your Thanksgiving menu. Cigliano says you should “plan your menu and create your shopping list” as early as possible. You can include whatever you want in your menu, but if you’re going for a traditional Thanksgiving spread, here are a few ideas to help you get started (plus links to our articles on how to make them).

   • Turkey
   • Stuffing
   • Mashed potatoes (and gravy)
   • Cranberry sauce
   • Green bean casserole
   • Candied sweet potatoes
   • Dinner rolls
   • Pumpkin pie
   • Apple pie
   • Pecan pie
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Katie Hake RDN, LD

   Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer

   Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.

   

   Katie Hake RDN, LD
   Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer

   Include traditional family recipes, if you have them. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed with the ones you love. This often includes traditional dishes passed on from generation to generation.

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3. 
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   Let guests know what dishes they should bring. “Consider asking those invited to each bring something to share,” says registered dietician and nutritionist Katie Hake, RDN, LD. “This can allow for more variety, flavors, and recipes to be shared, contributing to the pleasure and enjoyment of holiday traditions over a meal.” Make a list of everything you want to be included in the meal, choose what you want to make, and delegate the rest.

   • Sharing the meal prep can make hosting a lot easier, since you won’t be solely responsible for every single dish on the dinner table.
   • You can even ask each person to bring a dish for a potluck-style dinner! Just coordinate who’s bringing what to ensure you don’t end up with multiple versions of the same dish.
4. 
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   Make sure you have enough serving dishes, utensils, and dinnerware. Once you know what you’ll be preparing, go through all of your serving dishes. Label each one with the dish it will hold. Doing this in advance will give you plenty of time to shop if you need to add a dish or platter.

   • If you’ll be using your own china and cutlery for your guests, make sure everyone will have a dinner plate, dessert plate, bowl, fork, knife, spoon, and drinking glass.
   • Braff says that pretty serving platters can really make a difference in your tablescape. For an inexpensive option, she says, “You can get really cute platters at the thrift store—they don’t have to match.”
   • Braff adds, “You can rent all your flatware, dishware, and silverware, so you don’t have to keep it and store it.”
   • You can also use disposable dinnerware for easier clean-up.
   • Plan your seating as well—you need a chair and room at a table for every guest. If you don’t have enough already, you’ll probably need to rent, borrow, or buy extra tables or chairs. (Folding tables and chairs are a great option if you entertain regularly, since you can easily stash them when they’re not in use.)
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Section 2 of 4:

Preparing 3–5 Days Before Thanksgiving

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1. 
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   Do your shopping. Double-check to make sure you have all of the spices and ingredients on hand that you’ll need for cooking—it could throw off your schedule if you have to run to the store last-minute. You can pick up non-perishable items like flour and nuts weeks in advance, if you’d like, but plan to shop just a few days before Thanksgiving for things like produce, since they won’t keep as long.

   • Remember to stock up on basics like trash bags, toilet paper, and napkins.
   • Stock up on drinks for your guests. If you’ll be serving alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, or cocktails, be sure to provide non-alcoholic options for kids or adults who aren’t drinking.
   • Be sure to get any dishes, cutlery, or decorations you want on hand, too.
   • It’s also a good idea to pick up disposable take-out containers so your guests can take home leftovers!
2. 
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   Defrost the turkey for 3 days if it’s frozen. Cigliano says that if your turkey is frozen, allow it to defrost for three days in the fridge. “If you’re dry aging (which is essential for crispy skin), add an extra day. If you’re wet or dry brining, you’ll want an extra day as well. So it terms of prepping your bird, plan up to 5 days ahead.”

   • A turkey requires 24 hours of thawing time for every 4–5 lb (1.8–2.3 kg) of weight. It’s okay to leave a thawed turkey in the fridge for 1–2 days before you cook it.
3. 
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   Deep clean your house. Braff recommends taking the time to really get your place clean before guests arrive. “It’s important to get things clean and presentable—and cleaning a few days beforehand can help you beat last-minute stress.” Here are a few tips to get things ready:

   • Clean the bathrooms well and stock them with extra hand towels and toilet paper.
   • Clear out a shelf or two in your fridge so you’ll have room once you start prepping food.
   • If you’re using linen tablecloths, check whether they need to be washed.
   • Make sure any serving dishes, utensils, and dinnerware are clean. Check for dust if they’ve been stored for a while.
   • Declutter your kitchen counters.
   • Ask a friend or family member to help if you’re short on time, or hire a cleaning service to help.
4. 
   4
   Decorate your house and table. You don’t have to make your whole house Thanksgiving-themed from top to bottom, but adding a few fall decorations here and there can make your home feel cozy and welcoming for your guests. Here are some ideas:

   • Decorate your front door. Place decorative squash or dried corn around your front door or arranged in a basket nearby. A fall wreath can also add a cheerful, seasonal touch.
   • Add flair to the dinner table. A cute fall-colored tablecloth, candlesticks, and fall flowers on the table can add a pretty touch to the meal.
   • Put little touches of fall around your house. Consider setting out candies in a fall-themed bowl or put fall-colored candles in strategic places around the house.
   • Add cozy fall warmth to your living area. Braff recommends “cute throw pillows on your couches or a nice rug” to help make things feel more like fall.
5. 
   5
   Make a Thanksgiving playlist if you want to play music. Braff says that music can make a holiday event feel more exciting. “Find a good playlist and have it selected ahead of time.” She recommends thinking about your guests’ tastes to curate music that works for everyone.

   • The music doesn’t have to be fall-themed—something like light jazz, pop hits, or chill classical can all be good options.
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Section 3 of 4:

Preparing 1–2 Days Before Thanksgiving

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1. 
   1
   Set your table. While your guests won't be arriving until the next day, it is still extremely helpful to set your table the day before. Bring in all the chairs and place all the plates, napkins, cutlery, and decorations on the table. Space out each setting so the guests won’t bump elbows every time they take a (delicious) bite of food!

   • If you happen to know which of your guests are right-handed vs. left-handed, keep that in mind when setting the table—placing a rightie next to a leftie will cause them to bump elbows while they’re eating!
   • If you’re planning to have fresh flowers on the table, wait and get them the day before Thanksgiving so they’ll be fresh.
2. 
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   Cook what you can in advance. “Prepare as much as possible beforehand to avoid chaos and fatigue the day of the holiday,” recommends Cigliano. “Make everything you can ahead of time, then warm it the day of.” Most desserts and sides can be made in advance.

   • If something has a crispy topping (like green bean casserole), wait to add it until just before serving.
   • Some people make their mashed potatoes the day before Thanksgiving, while others prefer to make them the day of.
   • Most people make their stuffing or dressing on Thanksgiving Day.
   • You can also prep any ingredients that you’ll need for dishes you plan to make on Thanksgiving Day, like chopping veggies or pre-making sauces.
3. 
   3
   Finalize your timeline for Thanksgiving Day. Create a detailed schedule for Thanksgiving Day. “I recommend cooking the turkey the day of,” says Cigliano. Start by deciding what time you’ll start cooking the bird—it will take around 3–4 hours to cook, plus at least 30 minutes to rest before you carve it.

   • After the turkey comes out, plan to finish cooking side dishes or reheat dishes you made ahead of time.
   • Plan out your prep for any dishes that you’re making day-of. Plan things earlier in the day if they’ll be okay sitting for a while or if they take a long time to cook. For instance, you might plan to make your mashed potatoes first thing in the morning, then keep them in a crockpot on low until dinner.
   • If you’ll need to pick up ice or anything else on Thanksgiving Day, plan when you’ll do that, as well.
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Section 4 of 4:

Hosting on Thanksgiving Day

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1. 
   1
   Eat breakfast and get ready. Don’t skip breakfast—you’ll need fuel for the day. Plan to get started early in case anything last-minute pops up, but don’t stress. Stick to your schedule and plan to enjoy the day. After all, it’s your holiday too!

   • If you plan to change into another outfit before dinner, be sure to set it out now, since things can get a little hectic once people start arriving.
2. 
   2
   Put the turkey in the oven. You’ll have a few hours to finish the rest of the details while your turkey is cooking, so make it a priority to put the turkey in on time. If that starts late, everything else will run late, too.

   • Pretty soon, your house will fill with the delicious smell of roasting turkey. Then it will really start to feel like Thanksgiving!
3. 
   3
   Finish up any last-minute projects. Go through your house and look for anything that’s out of place, decorations you meant to put out, and other final details. If there’s anything that needs to go into the oven after the turkey comes out, finish getting it ready.

   • If you prepared side dishes ahead of time, take them out of the refrigerator about 1–2 hours before you plan to reheat them. That will allow them to come up to room temperature, which means they’ll need less time in the oven or microwave.
4. 
   4
   Set out appetizers and drinks before guests arrive. If you’re putting out cheese, crackers, hors-d’oeuvres, or other snacks, put them out right before you expect your first guests to arrive. Have drinks available, as well. If you think you’ll be too busy finishing up the meal, ask a friend or family member to arrive early to help with that.

   • Serving appetizers and having drinks out will help guests enjoy mingling while you finish up your last dishes.
   • This is also a good time to turn on your playlist, if you made one. If your guests are sports fans, put a football game on the TV—it’s okay if the sound is off.
5. 
   5
   Welcome your guests as they arrive. You might be busy in the kitchen, but take a moment to greet your guests. After all, the point of the holiday is to spend time with the people you love, so make time to let them know you’re glad they’re there.

   • If there’s anything you still need help with, feel free to delegate as people arrive.
6. 
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   Warm the side dishes while the turkey rests. Use a meat thermometer to check when the turkey is ready—it should read 165 °F (74 °C) at the thickest part of the breast and the innermost parts of the thigh and wing. When the turkey is fully cooked, let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

   • Use that time to finish cooking or heating up your side dishes.
   • If you’ll be serving bread (like dinner rolls), heat those up last—they only need a few minutes and will be tastiest if they’re served warm.
7. 
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   Bring the dishes out for everyone to admire. When you’re ready to serve the meal, carve the turkey and place all of the serving dishes on a table or counter. It’s usually easiest to allow everyone to serve themselves, buffet or family style.

   • Pat yourself on the back—you successfully pulled off a Thanksgiving meal! Make yourself a plate, have a seat, and enjoy the company.
   • If anyone offers to help you clean up after the meal, say yes!
   • Send guests home with leftovers (there’s usually plenty).
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• Question

  How do you prepare turkey in advance?

  

  Ollie George Cigliano
  Private Chef & Food Educator

  Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.

  

  Ollie George Cigliano

  Private Chef & Food Educator

  Expert Answer

  Plan about 5 days ahead when it comes to prepping your bird. Get your turkey in advance, allowing it 3 days to defrost (if it's already frozen) in the fridge. If you're dry aging your bird, add an additional day; if you're brining (dry or wet), give yourself an extra day of prep as well.

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  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  Can I host Thanksgiving dinner as well as a football viewing party in my man cave?

  

  Community Answer

  Of course! Lots of people have simultaneous dinner/football viewing parties on Thanksgiving. Just plan ahead for how you want to time things so that people aren't cooking or eating during the games (unless you don't mind people eating around the TV).

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  Can I make mashed potatoes the day before?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, you can. Just store them in the fridge and reheat them in the microwave when you're ready to serve them.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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