My 2025 Thanksgiving Menu (with schedule!)

October 30, 2025
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A collage of various dishes, including turkeys, desserts, and side dishes, with text overlay - '2025 Thanksgiving Menu with Easy Prep Schedule'

My favorite time of the year is finally upon us! I absolutely love hosting Thanksgiving and look forward to this dinner all year! I’m putting together my menu already, so I wanted to share it with you, too! This menu is also great for Friendsgiving celebrations.

Plus, I’m including my Thanksgiving dinner prep schedule, which helps me stay on top of everything. Having a schedule is key to having a smooth and easy going holiday celebration!

My Thanksgiving Menu

Here’s what I have on my menu for Thanksgiving dinner this year! Find more Thanksgiving recipes listed below in this post:

Garlic Butter Turkey brined in my Apple Cider Turkey Brine and smoked! Making turkey gravy with the drippings.
Creamy Butter Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
Pear Frisee Harvest Salad
Olivier Potato Salad
Bacon & Cheese Garlic Butter Rolls
Bacon & Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sausage Stuffed Delicata Squash
Chanterelle Cheese Crostini
Prosciutto Wrapped Cheese-Stuffed Baked Dates
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
The Best Pecan Pie (no corn syrup!)
Pistachio Tiramisu

Easy Thanksgiving Prep Schedule

Having a prep schedule for Thanksgiving is a must for me! It helps me keep on track and takes aways much of the stress since I’m not rushing to complete dishes last minute.

1 1/2 weeks ahead

Buy your turkey and start defrosting (large turkeys can take an entire week to defrost!). Here’s a quick timing reference:
- 3 to 4 days for small to medium turkeys
- 4 to 5 days for large turkeys
- 6 days for extra large turkeys
Purchase dry goods and items that don’t perish quickly – drinks, wine, potatoes, aromatics, dried herbs, garlic, onions, carrots, etc.
Wash and prepare table linens.
Deep clean the kitchen and house.

3 days ahead

Brine your turkey using my Apple Cider Turkey Brine.
Buy all remaining items and groceries needed for dinner. Don’t forget to get some flowers for the table!

2 days ahead

Choose and prep all serving plates, roasting pans, and trays.
Set the dinner table.
Plan how you are going to arrange all the dishes and prepare the space: buffet style or family dinner style.
Clean the guest bathroom and make sure it’s stocked.

1 day ahead

Prepare the turkey butter spread. Stuff the turkey, add the butter, and set the turkey into the roasting pan, then back into the refrigerator.
Prepare salad dressings and cranberry sauce.
Some salads (like potato salad) can be made the day before.
Make no-bake desserts and desserts that can be reheated. You can prepare the cinnamon rolls, then refrigerate them and bake them the next day.
Prepare as much of the recipes as possible – wash your produce, premeasure ingredients, chop and prep what you can.
Prepare the appetizers, but don’t bake them yet. You can cover them and keep them stored in the refrigerator.
Finish setting the table with flowers and decorations.

Thanksgiving Day

Start the day with the turkey! I always smoke my turkey, so I get my smoker going first thing in the morning, too.
Bake sweet desserts.
Finish making salads; keep the dressing on the side until ready to serve.
Make mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole.
Make turkey gravy after turkey is done and resting. Rest the turkey for about 1 hour.
Reheat any dishes that you prepared the day before.
Take a moment to rest and reset before all the guests arrive. Change out of your kitchen clothes into something festive, do your hair/makeup, and enjoy a glass of wine!

Get all my Thanksgiving recipes here:
https://tatyanaseverydayfood.com/holiday/thanksgiving/

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Start planning your menu with a delicious Thanksgiving turkey! I have many different turkey recipes on my website. My Garlic Butter Turkey has always been a subscriber favorite! Make sure to brine your turkey for even more flavor!