Thanksgiving Prep List

Any time you host Thanksgiving, there is a lot of work that needs to be completed days leading up to the dinner. Just like any party you host at your home, there is cleaning that needs to happen. There are supplies that need to be gathered and purchased. There are groceries you need to shop for, and things you need to set up. Lastly, food needs to be cooked and prepared for all your guests.

This may seem like a lot (which it is) but if you have a good system in place, you will always be well prepared before any guest shows up at your door, even those who arrive a couple minutes before the start time 😊.

The key is to have a master Thanksgiving Prep list. I find the best way to do this is to have an excel spreadsheet. The first column will be the “Category” (clean, get supplies, purchase, set up and cook).

The next column will be “Action” (what you need to clean, what supplies you need to get, the items you need to purchase, the things that need to be set up and the food that needs to be cooked).

The column after that is the “Day” column (the day that you intend to accomplish said item).

The last column will be a “Completed Y/N” column because you know the list mom likes to check things off, or better yet filter them out 😊.

It’s also nice to have a “Notes” column for miscellaneous tidbits you need to add.

Clean

This is the first category on the Thanksgiving Prep list. It is always a good idea to make a list of everything you will need to clean and/or tidy before the party. I start cleaning a week before the party. I leave the rooms that we spend the most time in last, because I know they get messed up on the daily. Figure out what you will accomplish each day leading up to the party so that you are not stuck cleaning the whole house the day before or the day of the party.

Get Supplies

“Get Supplies” is the next category on the Thanksgiving Prep list. For every party, I always have a list of supplies I need. I start off by making a list of people who are attending the party. Then, I figure out how many of those people are adults and how many are kids. Once I have a head count, I can then figure out the number of chargers, plates, silverware, napkins, glasses, chairs and tables I will need.

Once I figure out how many tables I need, I can then figure out how many centerpieces I will need to make.

Knowing the number of people also allows me to gauge how much food I will be making. Once, I know how much food I will need, I then need to figure out how many platters, serving spoons, gravy boats, bread baskets and bowls I will have to get for the party.

Purchase Necessary items

Now that I have determined how many people I will be having at the party, the supplies I will need to be able to accommodate everyone, and the amount of food I will need, it is time to make a list for everything I need to purchase. In some cases I will add an extra column for “store” on the Thanksgiving Prep list. This column will include whether I need to purchase the item at the local grocery store, Costco or online store. Then, when it is time to shop I can filter on each store and have my list ready to go.

Set up

Most of the set up happens the day before the party. The set up needs to happen last for a variety of reasons. First of all, the supplies need to be purchased. The tables need to be rearranged (which is tough to do ahead of time without disturbing your normal flow). Lastly, you are busy with cleaning, shopping and purchasing supplies.

Set up always includes moving tables together, putting the chairs out, cleaning and ironing the table cloths and napkins, setting the table, creating and adding the place cards, making and setting up the centerpieces, filling up the coolers (for beverages), stocking the bar, creating the menu, and making sure you have all of the food and recipes set.

Cook

The last category on the Thanksgiving Prep list is “Cook”. This will most likely happen the day of, or in some cases the night before the party. I usually create a separate list for cooking. For this list, I include columns for “Item That Needs To Be Cooked,” “Cooking Appliance” (stove/oven/microwave/grill/toaster oven), “Cooking Times” (what time each item needs to be cooked), “Cooking Duration” (how long the food needs to be cooked for) and “Oven Temperatures.”

I always have my list filtered on the items I am cooking (okay, let’s be honest my mother-in-law and my husband are the cooks😊). Then, I filter the times each item needs to go in the oven or stove, and the temperature it needs to cook at. Having a list like this allows me to stay organized the day of the party. It allows me to make sure that there is room for everything in the oven and stove and that everything is cooked and prepared on time.

Check out my Thanksgiving Recipes blog for ideas on what to cook for Thanksgiving.

Summary

There you have it! This is everything you need to know about prepping for Thanksgiving. This master Thanksgiving prep list can be tailored to fit your needs. It will keep you organized and on top of everything, that way you don’t stress the days leading up to the party. It is important to keep everything organized and written down especially if you host every year.

Having this list has been the best thing for me. I host Thanksgiving every year, so each year I pull up my spreadsheet and follow the lists.

Subscribe to my blog if you want access to the master excel Thanksgiving prep list. I will have all the columns there so you can add the necessary information that you need for your Thanksgiving dinner.

For all my subscribers, I also will be sending a BONUS Thanksgiving Prep Guide that will include everything you need for hosting your Thanksgiving Dinner Party.

For more lists on all things “mom,” subscribe to my blog!

Get all the lists for moms you need. Mom lists are the best lists!