14 Thanksgiving Hacks You Must Try This Year

Are you hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year? If so, you might benefit from these Thanksgiving hacks to make the day less hectic.

Between making a turkey, creating side dishes, prepping the table, keeping all the items warm in the process, and so on, Thanksgiving Day can be overwhelming, and I am here to share some awesome, sanity-saving Thanksgiving Day hacks to make dinner easier for you.

These hacks will really help you enjoy a simple day of preparing for Thanksgiving without all the chaos. With a little planning and work, you can be set and ready to go on Thanksgiving and still have enough time to curl your hair and paint your nails!

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14 Thanksgiving Hacks You Must Try This Year

1. Make a List

Have a list handy of all the sides you are going to be making and any prep work you need to do so you stay organized and won’t miss or forget anything. Do this a day before to minimize stress.

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2. Prep Ahead

Prep as much food as you can early. That can mean cutting up veggies for your stuffing and other side dishes. Make pies and other desserts the day before so there is less stress the day of.

3. Set The Table Ahead of Time

Prep the table with decorations and such the day before Thanksgiving. Then, find another comfortable place to eat in the meantime.

4. Mashed Potatoes

If you have your potatoes ready to go but are struggling to keep them warm, simply toss them in the slow cooker and set it on low. Or make them ahead of time, and when ready, let them cool and freeze in Ziploc bags or Tupperware. Toss them in a pan or crockpot and let them warm-up slowly. Add in your butter or milk and use an electric mixer once they are warmed to bring them back to a nice fluffy consistency.

5. Overcooked the Bird

If you overcooked your bird, use chicken broth. Just warm up some chicken broth and pour it on the turkey to add-in moisture. It works great on carved turkey!

6. Cook Your Turkey In a Slow Cooker

You can cook your turkey overnight in a slow cooker like this one, and wake up to a moist turkey. You can also toss it in the oven the night before and cook it on low overnight.

7. Sheet Pan Desserts

If you’re serving a really large crowd, make your favorite pumpkin pie on a sheet pan or make pecan pie bars. This will make the desserts go further while keeping the great taste!

8. Buffet Style

Create a buffet-style dinner. Have dishes and plates ready for everyone to walk down a line. It helps with congestion on passing dishes around the table and leaves more space on the table.

9. Guests Bring A Dish

Have each family member bring a side dish or dessert. This can help limit the amount of food you have to cook yourself and save you some time and money.

10.Break Out the Coolers

If you have coolers, use them for storing ice-cold drinks. You will need the fridge room for all your dishes, especially once you put it all away after you finish eating!

11. Pre-Made Items

Don’t be afraid to buy dinner rolls, select desserts, cranberry sauce, and other items pre-made. Find pre-made or pre-packaged dishes that you like and go that route. Not everything has to be homemade.

12. Lump-Free Gravy

Instead of all-purpose flour, use quick mixing flour to prevent clumps.

13. Casseroles

Make casserole dishes like green bean casserole in the crockpot. This really helps limit oven time. Just ask to borrow crockpots from a few friends and create multiple dishes to serve up.

14. Baking Pies

Make sure not to cook the crust too much. Wrap aluminum foil around the crust of pies and bake the pie like normal. Then, about 15 minutes before the pie is done, remove the aluminum foil and finish baking your pies. You will have the perfect golden crust every time!

What are your best Thanksgiving tips?

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Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming and stressful. These Thanksgiving tips and hacks would make dinner easier and less hectic for the big day. These are 14 Thanksgiving hacks you must try this year!

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