2019 Veg World Thanksgiving Menu and Prep Guide

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Me too! I put together my Thanksgiving menu, featuring mostly Veg World recipes, and a helpful guide on how to prepare. Download your free PDF of the menu and guide, and refer to this post for links to the recipes!

photo of cranberry sauce in a bowl with text overlay Thanksgiving Menu

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Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away, and it’s my goal to help you have a stress-free holiday!

If you’re hosting dinner for your family and friends, and need a little help with your menu inspiration, I’ve got a whole assortment of Veg World recipes just waiting for you. My menu includes lots of make-ahead recipes and tips too!

But the best part about this post is the Thanksgiving prep guide that I put together. Not only did it help me visualize how my own Thanksgiving week will go, but I hope it will also help you organize your time, so that you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests!

**Click this link to get a printable PDF of my menu and prep guide.**

green bean casserole made with maple almonds and crispy shallots in a square baking dish — Healthier Green Bean Casserole with Almonds

Veg World Thanksgiving Menu

Here’s what I have planned for dinner this year! I included breakfast, just in case you have guests staying with you like I do. It’s so important to have a good breakfast on Thanksgiving day…you’ll need the energy if you’re hosting!

Breakfast: Easy Broccoli Cheese Egg Bake and Spiced Parsnip and Apple Baked Oatmeal
Appetizers: our lovely guests are providing the apps, but if I were to make some simple ones from the blog, I’d pick the Roasted Turnip Hummus and Lighter Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
Cocktails: Cranberry Moscow Mule from Spoonful of Flavor
Mains: I am SO excited to try this Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey and Make Ahead White Wine Gravy from Half Baked Harvest this year… it looks divine!
Sides:
- Cranberry Sauce with Parsnips and Beet and Carrot Veggie Applesauce
- Bell Pepper and Cheddar Savory Muffins (a fun twist on classic rolls!)
- Healthier Green Bean Casserole with Almonds
- Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dates
- Sweet Potato Casserole (I’m making my mom’s recipe, but my recipe linked here is great too!)
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes from Creme de la Crumb
Desserts:
- Homemade pies from my MIL, but if you’re looking for a good pie recipe, my Spiced Carrot Pie is perfect for the occasion!

I highly recommend clicking on each recipe and printing out the individual recipe, or taking screenshots of them on your phone of iPad so you can easily refer to them on Thanksgiving.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dates

Timeline and Tips for Thanksgiving Prep

2 weeks before (aka NOW!)
- Finalize your menu and order the turkey (allow for ~1 pound of turkey per person)
- Do an inventory check of baking and serving dishes
Saturday and Sunday (weekend before)
- Organize your grocery list, pick up turkey, get rest of groceries
- Get place settings and anything you need for the table/serving out from storage
- Make the Cranberry Sauce and Veggie Applesauce and freeze for later
Monday
- Purchase alcohol and any groceries that you want to be as fresh as possible
- Set the table if you can, or at least organize place settings and store close to the table
- Make the Maple Roasted Almonds for the green beans
- Make sure the turkey is thawing in the fridge
Tuesday
- Prepare candles, flower arrangements, centerpieces, etc
- Prep the Sweet Potato Casserole (but don’t bake it yet), cover, and chill until Thursday
- Make the Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes and store in fridge
Wednesday
- Last minute grocery store trip
- Make the Bell Pepper and Cheddar Savory Muffins and store in an airtight container
- Prep the Broccoli Cheese Egg Bake and Parsnip and Apple Baked Oatmeal, cover with foil and put in fridge
- Put serving dishes and utensils out and close to the kitchen
Thanksgiving morning
- Put the egg bake and oatmeal in the oven. Enjoy!
- Make the Cranberry Moscow Mules
- Slice the brussels sprouts and prep other salad ingredients, roast the green beans, and slice the shallots for the GB casserole (store in containers in the fridge)
- Put the turkey in the oven!!!
Thanksgiving mid-day – before your guests arrive
- Reheat the mashed potatoes in the slow cooker on low
- Put together the Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Make the crispy shallots for the Green Bean Casserole on the stove and put it together when they’re finished (you can reheat that later or serve cold)
- Put the appetizers and cocktails out
60-90 minutes before dinner
- Put the sweet potato casserole in the oven
- Make the gravy
- Remove turkey from oven and let it rest before carving
- Reheat any other dishes as needed