Thanksgiving planning gets crowded when every dish needs attention at the same time. These 23 recipes include casseroles, breads, breakfast bakes, and sides that can be scheduled or prepared ahead, with a few fresh dishes for the day itself. Timings and serving details help with the menu plan, while the variety covers brunch, dinner sides, and a little something for the table between meals.
French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Golden and creamy at the center, French Dauphinoise Potatoes take about 65 minutes from start to finish. Thin potato slices bake with heavy cream, milk, Dijon, garlic, thyme, and cheddar until tender under a browned top. The dish can be assembled ahead and reheated, which makes it handy when oven space and timing matter. Pair it with a roast or other holiday main, then let it rest briefly before serving.
Get the Recipe: French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Blueberry Muffins
A basket of Blueberry Muffins gives a holiday breakfast a simple, familiar start, and the batch takes about 35 minutes. Flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, egg, oil, vanilla, and blueberries form the batter, with no elaborate steps to juggle. Bake them before guests arrive and set them out with coffee, or freeze extras for another morning. They offer a useful make-ahead option while the larger Thanksgiving menu is still taking shape.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Muffins
Ham and Potato Casserole
For a filling dish that can be portioned easily, Ham and Potato Casserole serves six and takes about 70 minutes. Diced potatoes and cooked ham are joined by onion, milk, broth, and shredded cheese for a full pan with familiar flavors. Prepare it before the busy stretch and bake when needed, or serve it as a hearty brunch option during a long holiday weekend. The casserole also gives leftover ham a clear place on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Potato Casserole
Pumpkin Bread
A maple-frosted loaf brings a seasonal note to the counter, and Pumpkin Bread takes about 70 minutes to make eight servings. Pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond milk, and vanilla give the crumb its flavor, while cream cheese and maple syrup make the topping. Bake it a day ahead and keep it covered until serving. Slices work for breakfast, a coffee break, or an easy sweet to offer before the main meal.
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Cheese Ball
A chilled centerpiece makes the snack table easy to set up, and Cheese Ball serves twelve after about 30 minutes of preparation. Cream cheese and Cheddar blend with pecans, walnuts, green onions, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, and a touch of hot sauce. Shape and chill it ahead, then bring it out with crackers shortly before guests arrive. It can be prepared before the oven schedule fills up, leaving more time for hot dishes.
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German Pancakes
Puffed edges and a soft middle give German Pancakes a distinct place on a holiday breakfast table, with a total time of about 23 minutes. Eggs, flour, milk, salt, and butter make a simple batter. Since this one is best served straight from the oven, it suits a smaller brunch or a quiet morning before the gathering. Add fruit and maple syrup at the table for an easy finish, and plan it for the meal before the larger holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: German Pancakes
Cabbage Casserole
A crisp cracker topping sets Cabbage Casserole apart from the richer sides, and the dish serves six in about 50 minutes. Green cabbage and onion bake with mushroom soup, mayonnaise, butter, and Parmesan, then get a buttery Ritz cracker finish. Assemble the pan in advance and bake it while the rest of dinner comes together. It gives the holiday table a vegetable side that can be portioned alongside ham or turkey.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Casserole
Cinnamon Roll Cake
The swirled layers of Cinnamon Roll Cake bring bakery-style flavor to brunch without shaping individual rolls. Milk, yeast, butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon build the dough and filling; total time is about 195 minutes. Make it the day before and warm slices briefly for serving, or schedule the longer rise while preparing other dishes. A simple vanilla glaze finishes each piece for a sweet breakfast or coffee-table option.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Cake
Four Cheese Mac n Cheese
Creamy pasta makes Four Cheese Mac n Cheese a familiar side for a crowd, and the recipe takes about 45 minutes. Elbow pasta is coated in a milk-based sauce with Cheddar, Gouda, mozzarella, and Parmesan for a rich, baked finish. Prepare the components earlier, then bake closer to dinner so it reaches the table hot. It pairs well with roasted mains and gives guests an easy choice among the holiday sides.
Get the Recipe: Four Cheese Mac n Cheese
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
All the familiar toppings come together in Twice Baked Potato Casserole, which serves six and takes about an hour. Potatoes are mixed with sour cream, milk, butter, Cheddar, bacon, green onions, and seasonings for a scoopable side. The casserole can be assembled ahead and baked before dinner, saving prep work during the final rush. Set it beside a roast or ham when the menu needs a substantial potato dish.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
Flaky layers and a savory finish make Buttery Cheddar Biscuits a welcome addition to a holiday bread basket. The recipe takes about 30 minutes and makes twelve, using flour, cold butter, cheddar, thyme, and buttermilk. Mix and cut the biscuits ahead, then bake near serving time, or freeze them for later. Their small size makes them easy to pass with soup, casseroles, or the main course.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
Breakfast Casserole
A savory morning bake brings mushrooms, spinach, bell pepper, and onion together in Breakfast Casserole. It serves six and takes about 30 minutes total, including 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking. Almond milk, vegan butter, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, and a crisp panko topping make up the rest of the dish. Assemble it in advance and bake for brunch, a practical way to feed guests before the holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Breakfast Casserole
Green Salad
A crisp bowl adds a fresh pause among richer holiday dishes, and Green Salad comes together in about 10 minutes for two servings. Mixed greens are tossed with pecans and a dressing of olive oil, sherry vinegar, Dijon, and maple syrup. Wash and dry the greens and mix the dressing ahead, then toss shortly before serving to keep the leaves lively. It is a small-batch option for an intimate meal or a light side.
Get the Recipe: Green Salad
Broccoli Casserole
A cheesy cracker crust gives Broccoli Casserole its classic holiday-side character, with enough for six and a total time of about 55 minutes. Broccoli combines with mayonnaise, mushroom soup, eggs, onion, paprika, cheddar, and crushed cheese crackers. Assemble the casserole earlier in the day and bake it as the main dishes rest. The familiar flavors fit beside turkey, ham, or a vegetarian centerpiece without adding a complicated last-minute task.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole
Sourdough Bagels
Chewy homemade rounds make Sourdough Bagels a special breakfast choice, with a batch of eight and about 290 minutes from start to finish. Sourdough starter, warm water, sugar, salt, and bread flour form the dough, with everything seasoning available for the tops. Much of the time is for rising and shaping, so plan the schedule ahead or bake them the day before. Serve them at brunch with cream cheese and other toppings.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bagels
Eggs Benedict Casserole
A brunch favorite becomes easier to serve to a group in Eggs Benedict Casserole, which serves six and takes about 65 minutes. English muffin cubes, Canadian bacon, eggs, milk, Dijon, and paprika bake together, with a lemony hollandaise sauce to finish. The pan can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning, keeping the stovetop clear for other dishes. It is a strong choice for a holiday breakfast or brunch spread.
Get the Recipe: Eggs Benedict Casserole
Mac and Cheese
A stovetop classic can fit into the menu without taking over the day, and Mac and Cheese takes about 20 minutes. Elbow pasta gets coated in a smooth sauce of butter, garlic, mustard, flour, milk, and mature cheddar. Make it close to serving for the creamiest texture, or prepare the sauce and pasta separately beforehand. It works as a side for a holiday roast and is usually an easy pick for younger guests.
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Pineapple Casserole
Sweet and savory notes make Pineapple Casserole a distinctive side for a holiday table; it serves six and takes about 45 minutes. Pineapple and Cheddar are combined with flour and sugar, then topped with buttery Ritz crackers. Assemble the dish earlier and bake it with the other sides, or reheat leftovers the next day. Serve it beside ham for the familiar pairing, where the fruit’s sweetness balances the savory main.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Casserole
Coffee Cake
A cinnamon streusel top makes Coffee Cake well suited to a relaxed breakfast or afternoon coffee break. It takes about 45 minutes and yields sixteen servings, with sour cream in the batter and a buttery brown sugar topping. Bake it in advance and keep it covered so guests can take slices as they arrive. The generous batch helps cover brunch and snacks without needing another dish prepared at the last minute.
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Smooth, savory-sweet Mashed Sweet Potatoes serve eight and take about 55 minutes from prep to table. Sweet potatoes are cooked with onion, then mashed with butter, milk, maple syrup, rosemary, and Parmesan for a side that suits both roasted mains and vegetable dishes. Prepare the mash ahead and reheat it gently before dinner, adding a splash of milk if needed. It can take one task off the Thanksgiving-day schedule.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Cauliflower Casserole
A browned breadcrumb topping gives Cauliflower Casserole a crisp finish over tender florets, with six servings and about 45 minutes of cooking time. The sauce uses butter, flour, and milk, while Parmesan, paprika, and panko add flavor and texture. Assemble it in advance and bake it when the oven is free, making it easier to coordinate with other sides. Serve it alongside a roast or as a vegetable-forward option.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Casserole
Dinner Rolls
Soft rolls help round out a holiday meal, and Dinner Rolls take about 2 hours and 45 minutes to prepare, including rising time. Milk, yeast, sugar, egg, butter, flour, salt, and honey form the dough for tender, lightly sweet rolls. Shape them ahead and refrigerate or freeze as directed, then bake near dinner for a fresh basket. Their timing is easier to manage when planned before the oven gets busy.
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Vegetable Frittata
Colorful slices make Vegetable Frittata an easy addition to brunch or a lighter meal, with a total time of about 40 minutes. Eggs and milk bind mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, tomatoes, and green onions, while mozzarella and Parmesan add a browned top. It is best cooked close to serving, though the vegetables can be prepped earlier. Cut it into wedges for a simple breakfast option while the holiday kitchen is warming up.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Frittata