How to Host Thanksgiving: 6 Tips to Master Turkey Day

The joy of Thanksgiving comes from togetherness — it’s a time to be grateful for what we have and thankful for one another’s company. But it’s also true that hosting the Thanksgiving meal can be stressful, especially for whoever’s tasked with planning and executing the meal, making sure that everyone’s favorite dishes are on the table and all the right pies make it on time. Even a simple Thanksgiving dinner can be a challenge — especially if it’s your first time hosting. 

Never fear! You’ve got this. Whether you’re hosting a small Thanksgiving dinner or an epic feast, the first step is to take a deep breath — preparing a successful holiday meal is within your reach. And of course, keeping in mind a few Thanksgiving safety tips will go a long way toward making sure that everybody has a grand time, from appetizers to the last piece of pumpkin pie. 

Here are six of our best tips on how to host your best Thanksgiving and avoid any Turkey Day fails, too. And you might as well confirm that you’re covered for the big day, so speak to a Farm Bureau agent about protecting your home and family. 

Tip 1: Borrow from Santa and Make a List, Then Check It Twice 

Staying organized is at least half the Thanksgiving battle. So, well before the big day arrives, sit down with a cup of coffee and a pen and paper and start brainstorming. Make a list of your guests and the food you know you’ll need. Note anything your guests are planning to bring.  

Then decide on your recipes. If you’re using recipes you found online, print them out to avoid switching between browser taps (and taking up valuable counter space) on the big day. Once you’ve figured out what you’ll be making, draw up your shopping list, taking care to make sure you’ve got the right quantities for anything you’re doubling or tripling.  

Remember, you’re probably going to need to order your turkey and other components such as pies well in advance of the holiday. But that’s not the only advanced shopping you can do. Figure out what you can pick up early to beat the crowds. Consider scheduling grocery delivery if that’s helpful to you as well.  

Also consider whether you can prep (and maybe freeze) any components or recipes ahead of time, like sauces or casseroles. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, you might be able to toast breadcrumbs and nuts, make dessert, assemble a cheese platter or put together the cranberry sauce. 

The night before, put out your ingredients, draw up an order of events (especially useful if you have some helping hands) and lay out your serving dishes, pans and everything else you need to get cooking. 

Tip 2: Get Ahead of the Game

When you’re getting ready to cook, you don’t want to have to vacuum, too. Get any non-food tasks out of the way before you dive in. Clean the house, gather all the dishes and linens and set the table ahead of time. 

This is also a great time to enlist help from friends who don’t cook. Ask one of your guests to come over early in the week to help you clean. Task a friend with making a playlist, buying drinks and ice, mixing martinis or setting the table.

Tip 3: Stick With What You Know 

Trying new recipes can be risky, and it adds uncertainty to an already daunting list of kitchen duties. Skip the fancy new turkey technique or finicky pie dough and stick with tried-and-true recipes when you host Thanksgiving. If you don’t have any, ask friends and family for their favorites, or find highly rated recipes online. 

Often, favorite chefs or websites will release a set of recipes for a Thanksgiving meal, complete with shopping lists and instructions for how to make sure everything gets on the table at the same time — especially helpful if you’re not a confident cook. Scan the comments to glean helpful tips or adjustments from other home cooks who’ve tried the recipes.  

Tip 4: Don’t Do It All 

The mark of a successful Thanksgiving meal isn’t whether every single item was homemade. If there’s something you don’t like cooking, don’t have a good recipe for or just don’t care much about, outsource it! 

Buy a pie from your favorite bakery (most require pre-ordering), order sauces or dressings from an upscale grocery store and grab your favorite frozen dinner rolls. And if someone offers to bring part of the meal, take them up on it. You’ll be glad you did. 

Tip 5: Simplify Your Menu 

Here are some easy ways to make your Thanksgiving meal simpler: 

• Skip fancy appetizers. Put out some nuts or crackers and dip, or a tin of anchovy fillets and potato chips. A big meal is coming, so you don’t want people filling up anyhow.
• Opt for at least one or two pre-made components. Often a good grocery store will sell pre-made stuffing that you can bake alongside the turkey, or delicious candied yams. Nobody will care, as long as it’s good. 
• If you want to bake dessert at home but pie is too much to handle, try a boxed cake or brownie mix. Everybody loves them, and they take up no time at all.
• Set up a drink station with sodas, seltzers, wine and beer, and any other drinks that people favor, and let them serve themselves.

Tip 6: Take Help Where You Can Get It 

Finding tasks for guests who want to help can sometimes be more stressful than doing it all yourself. Have a few easy chores ready for eager partygoers to tackle: serving drinks, chopping crudité to set out before the meal, setting the table, opening wine bottles or stowing away coats and bags. The last thing you want to do is rush around when the turkey’s ready to come out! 

Saving for the Holidays? 

Being a holiday host means you may incur additional expenses to supply food, drinks and decorations for your guests. Talk to Farm Bureau today to make sure your savings plan is on track for the holidays.