Last Minute Thanksgiving – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Sometimes, life doesn’t stick to the script. I’ve been there. Standing in my kitchen, overwhelmed by the stress of a looming event, while it felt like things are falling apart. If that’s you this Thanksgiving, then I’ve got you covered. You can still pull off a terrific holiday meal and keep it as low-stress as possible.

I can’t fix the bigger picture. I wish I could. But, I can help with the meal. I developed this Last Minute Thanksgiving guide so that you can enjoy a wonderful dinner, even if you’re starting the day before. It even has a printable shopping list. You’ve got this.

Last Minute Thanksgiving

First, let’s agree that a last minute thanksgiving meal doesn’t try to do ALL the things. Focus on the most important sides. I asked around, and these are the ones that my community agreed were at the top of their “I want it homemade” list: mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, and cranberry sauce.

You might want something else. Stuffing is one of the most popular side dishes, but it takes a bit more time to go through all the steps to make it homemade. And, I know a lot of us need rolls at the table (so buy them at the store this time). Maybe sweet potatoes are your family’s thing (swap for mashed potatoes or green bean casserole).

If you take the time to customize the list, it will probably looking a little different than mine. That’s ok. The structure of it still works with light adaptations. The point is that for a last minute Thanksgiving to work, it has to put the focus on the people first. It will be less stress, less cooking, and more connection.

There’s a full grocery list and a timeline at the bottom of this post outlining exactly how to get things done with a minimum of stress on Thanksgiving Day.

Turkey or Ham (or Chicken!)

The first decision will probably be your easiest. Will you make a turkey or a ham? My family LOVES this ham, so we make it every year. But, your family might need a bird for it to feel like Thanksgiving. If you don’t have the mental, fridge, or oven space for a turkey, you can get by with a rotisserie chicken or two.

This is all about keeping things as simple as they can be. If you’re not cooking for a crowd, and you just need a meal on the table to share with the family, chickens are a wonderful option to keep the kitchen stress at a minimum.

How to Thaw Turkey Fast

Even if it’s the day before Thanksgiving, you can still thaw the turkey in time for dinner. You’ll need a big container and cold water, per Butterball’s turkey tips:

1. Thaw the turkey, breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. (I’ve used the kitchen sink for this method.)
2. Change water every 30 minutes and if turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate the bird every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled.
3. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey.

Once the bird has thawed, you can cook the turkey in just 1 hour. Yes, 1 hour. The key is to break down the turkey into smaller pieces before cooking. I have used this method for over ten years, and I will never go back to roasting the whole bird. So don’t stress the turkey. It’s actually one of the final steps for the holiday feast.

Mashed Potatoes

While the turkey is in the oven, you’ll have an hour to prep sides. I use about half of this time to chop and boil the potatoes for these Buttery Herb Mashed Potatoes. Mash them, finish them with butter, cream, and seasonings and then press some foil or parchment right over the top of the potatoes.

Once they’re ready, just put the lid back on the pot and push them to the back of the stove. They’ll keep warm for a good while this way and be ready to eat when you are.

Crockpot Creamed Corn

Crockpot Creamed Corn just might become your family’s new favorite side dish. And it’s very likely to become yours just based on how simple it is to make. You’ll quite literally dump everything in the crockpot a few hours before the meal, cover it with a lid, and walk away. I’m not even kidding. Just give it a stir when you’re ready to serve it.

Green Bean Casserole

I happen to be married to a man who thinks that it isn’t Thanksgiving if there isn’t a Green Bean Casserole in sight. That said, for me? I’m just as happy with a great salad. Whichever route you go, plan for about half an hour prep time.

If you’re like me, and love a great salad, don’t forget that you can prep it ahead of time and then tuck it into a Ziploc bag in the fridge to stay fresh. I adore this Spinach Apple Salad with Honey Cider Dressing. (And I also love that it lets me cross something else off my list early in the morning!)

Cranberry Sauce

I know a lot of people enjoy cranberry sauce from a can. And, if that’s your preference, there’s no judgement here! But, it’s also super easy to make, which makes it another great side dish for a last minute Thanksgiving. So, if you can boil water, you can this sweet and tart homemade cranberry sauce in about 10 minutes.

Additional Side Dishes

The four side dishes above are what I would serve, if I were making my Thanksgiving feast at the last minute. But, you can swap out sides for the ones that make this holiday shine for your family.

If you have a little more prep time, Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing converts even the most diehard stuffing haters to fans and these Vanilla Bean Whipped Sweet Potatoes are like no other Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes you’ve had before.

Last, but never the least, My Aunt Judy’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad was the hardest thing for me to leave off the list. I only make it for holidays, because if I’m being honest? It’s one of my very favorite foods and I can’t ignore it when it’s in the house. Breakfast? yes, please. Lunch? definitely. Post dinner snacking? oh, yeah. I will eat it every meal until there is nothing left in the pan. It’s that good.

Final Notes

Let me just acknowledge that there are no desserts in this list. While I enjoy holiday baking, in the busiest seasons on life, that’s the first thing I let go of most years. Bakeries and grocery stores do a respectable job of handling that for me and giving me back the hours in my life that I need for other things.

If you want to bake your own pumpkin pie or other traditional dessert, please do that! These are just suggestions. Just know that there aren’t any rules.

If what you need to do to enjoy the holiday most is to buy a rotisserie chicken, a package of mashed potatoes, a box of macaroni and cheese, a couple cans of green beans, a bag of frozen corn, and a pumpkin pie? Do that. Give thanks for the grocery store that makes it possible and enjoy the moment of peace and time off of your feet.

This is the link to download the shopping list organized by grocery store department. Wishing you and your family a stress-free, Happy Thanksgiving!