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Almost everything on my Thanksgiving table is cooked before Thursday morning, and these make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes are the ones I’ve been making that way for years. The lineup runs from cheese straws and deviled eggs to cornbread dressing, squash casserole, and butter beans, with a bourbon glazed ham, a few salads, and a dessert table full of pies and cakes.

Most of the casseroles are assembled completely and sit covered in the refrigerator until they bake. Set them out about half an hour before they go in the oven. Cranberry sauce tastes better after two or three days, and cheese straws keep in the freezer for weeks. I bake the cornbread for the dressing early in the week, and the pies, cakes, and cheesecake get made on Wednesday. Save Thursday’s oven for the turkey and the dressing.

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1
Cheese Straws — crispy, buttery, homemade crackers that are easy to make and a great appetizer!
Southern Cheese Straws
Cheese Straws — crispy, buttery, homemade cheese straws are easy and a great appetizer!
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2
overhead of deviled eggs on a board.
Southern Deviled Eggs Recipe
Southern deviled eggs with a creamy filling of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, a touch of Dijon, and sweet or dill pickle relish, finished with a sprinkle of paprika.
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3
A large stockpot filled with turkey brine.
Turkey Brine Recipe
Get ready for the juiciest, most flavorful turkey ever with this easy turkey brine recipe, using kosher salt, fresh herbs, and dried spices.
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4
Herbed butter on a white plate.
Herb Butter
Discover the magic of herb butter, with sage, thyme, rosemary, or any of your favorite fresh herbs. A must-try on steaks, turkey, or fish.
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5
Sliced baked ham garnished with orange slices and parsley in a white dish.
Bourbon Glazed Ham
This bourbon glazed ham recipe features a honey and brown sugar glaze with bourbon and orange juice—better than store-bought and half the price!
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6
A white bowl filled with fresh cranberries and a mound of orange zest, ready to be cooked into a delicious fresh cranberry sauce.
Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest and Pineapple
Fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest, pineapple, and a little horseradish makes a great topping for turkey, ham, or pork.
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7
Bowl of diced peaches mixed with raisins on a white table.
Peach Chutney
A savory and sweet peach chutney that can be made with fresh or frozen peaches and goes great with Thanksgiving ham or turkey.
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8
A round skillet with freshly baked golden Southern cornbread on a gray surface, accompanied by a folded white cloth.
Southern Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe
Southern buttermilk cornbread with no sugar, made with white cornmeal and baked in a hot cast-iron skillet until the edges turn crisp and golden.
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9
A white dish with cornbread dressing. 
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Made with cornbread, celery, onion, sage, and lots of good chicken stock–this classic Southern Cornbread Dressing is great for Thanksgiving dinner and as a side dish anytime! 
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10
A serving of apple sausage stuffing on a plate with the dish in the background.
Apple Sausage Stuffing
Apple Sausage Stuffing with mushrooms, sage, and other fresh herbs and vegetables is a delicious variation of traditional stuffing.
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11
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole features a traditional pecan and brown sugar streusel topping rather than melted marshmallows.
Sweet Potato Casserole
A creamy sweet potato casserole that’s topped with crunchy pecan and brown sugar streusel.
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12
A close-up of a wooden spoon scooping out a portion of baked corn pudding from a white dish.
Corn Pudding Recipe
Creamy corn pudding made from scratch with two kinds of corn, three eggs, and a little cornstarch, baked until golden at the edges.
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13
A plate of Southern broccoli casserole topped with melted cheese and black pepper, served on a beige dish.
Southern Broccoli Casserole
Southern Broccoli Casserole with crispy bacon, cheese, onion, and topped with toasted cheese crackers is the best broccoli casserole we've ever had! Your family will love this one!
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14
Closeup of a spoon of squash casserole held over the baking dish.
Squash Casserole
Squash Casserole with grated Cheddar cheese, crumbled buttery crackers, and fresh yellow squash.
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15
A fork holds a bite of creamy macaroni and cheese above a bowl, with another full bowl in the background next to a striped cloth.
Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Creamy baked mac and cheese with no eggs, made with a half-and-half cheese sauce and six cups of grated extra-sharp Cheddar, then baked until the top is golden brown.
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16
A bowl of Southern mashed potatoes with a pat of butter on top.
Southern Mashed Potatoes
Southern Mashed Potatoes with creamy russets, melted butter, sour cream, and heavy cream for a comforting, homestyle side.
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17
A dish of green beans seasoned with herbs and pieces of bacon, served with a fork.
Southern Green Beans Recipe
Southern green beans are easy to make, tender beans that are flavored with bacon or ham hocks. These green beans are a must-have side dish on every Southern table.
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18
Butter beans with bacon and a wooden spoon.
Butter Beans Recipe
Butter beans cooked the old-fashioned way with bacon and just a little sugar.
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19
A plate of roasted pearl onions garnished with fresh herbs.
Honey-Glazed Roasted Pearl Onions Recipe
Pearl onions roasted in a dry sherry and honey glaze until golden brown, a side dish for weeknights and holiday dinners.
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20
A bowl filled with a colorful three-bean salad, featuring green beans, wax beans, red kidney beans, diced red onions, and green bell peppers, mixed with a wooden spoon. Parsley garnish on the side.
Three Bean Salad
Old-fashioned three bean salad is a great side dish for grilled or roasted meats.
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21
A spoon drizzles dressing over a salad with kale, roasted sweet potatoes, red onion, and chickpeas on a stacked plate.
Kale Sweet Potato Salad Recipe
A hearty kale and sweet potato salad tossed with chickpeas, cranberries, and a honey Dijon vinaigrette for the perfect blend of flavor and texture.
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22
Salad with kale, pomegranate seeds, apple slices, pine nuts, and shaved cheese, with a fork and creamy dressing.
Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad Recipe
Brussels sprouts and kale shredded fine and tossed in a lemon Dijon dressing with apples, toasted pine nuts, pomegranate arils, and shaved Parmesan.
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23
A bowl of salad with arugula, apple slices, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and cubes of feta cheese. Two small bowls with pomegranate seeds and walnuts are in the background.
Apple Pomegranate Salad Recipe
A fresh, colorful salad of apples, pomegranate, greens, and feta tossed in a sweet maple-balsamic dressing.
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24
Butternut Squash Soup in a large pot on a grey board with a striped towel.
Butternut Squash Apple Soup
Butternut Squash Apple Soup–roasted butternut squash, apples, and caramelized onions in a rich and creamy soup. Perfect for holiday menus!
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25
Cubed unsalted butter on a wooden board with a knife, perfect for making pie crust, alongside a metal measuring cup and an opened butter wrapper in the background.
Easy Pie Crust Recipe
An easy, foolproof pie crust recipe created by Mitchell Davis of the James Beard Foundation.
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26
This Southern Pecan Pie recipe is a classic but swaps old-fashioned cane syrup for some of the corn syrup. The result is intense and delicious flavor, not just overwhelming sweetness!
Southern Pecan Pie with Cane Syrup
This Southern Pecan Pie recipe is a classic but swaps old-fashioned cane syrup for some of the corn syrup. The result is intense and delicious flavor, not just overwhelming sweetness! 
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27
Overhead view of half a sweet potato pie in a white plate.
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie is an old-fashioned Southern dessert that’s economical and easy to make and quite delicious.
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28
Three pies are displayed on a kitchen countertop next to black canisters and a container holding assorted cutlery, with one featuring a golden gingersnap crust perfect for any pumpkin pie recipe.
Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust
A spicy pumpkin pie filling baked in a crunchy gingersnap crust. It’s a pie marriage made in Heaven.
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29
A slice of double crust apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, served on a white plate. An apple and a striped cloth are in the background.
Double-Crust Apple Pie
Double-crust apple pie with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg and sweet apple filling between two flaky layers of pie crust.
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30
A slice of fudge pie on a stack of two plates, with a golden flaky crust and rich, creamy filling, set on a marble surface. A blue cloth is in the background.
Fudge Pie Recipe
Old-fashioned fudge pie made with Hershey’s cocoa powder and mixed in one bowl. Bake until the center is gooey and the top is crackly.
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31
Closeup of pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling on a platter.
Pumpkin Roll
This Pumpkin Roll has the best flavor from cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger–and delicious cream cheese filling!
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32
Overhead shot of a serving of pumpkin bread pudding in a dish with whipped cream.
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Served warm or room temperature with maple whipped cream, this pumpkin bread pudding will have your guests raving. It’s wonderful and easy.
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33
Two pieces of pumpkin sheet cake on a plate.
Pumpkin Sheet Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Tender, spicy Pumpkin Sheet Cake topped with a to-die-for white chocolate cream cheese frosting is sure to become a favorite among family and friends.
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34
Slices of pound cake on a plate.
Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This cream cheese pound cake is perfect every time, with a buttery, moist, and tender crumb.
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35
A slice of red velvet cake with three layers and white cream cheese frosting on a white plate, with a fork and red napkin in the background.
Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe
A guide to making the best red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. It's tender, moist, and always delicious.
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36
A slice of classic cheesecake topped with glazed strawberries and strawberry sauce on a plate.
Classic Cheesecake Recipe
This classic cheesecake recipe does not need a water bath and is creamy and perfect every time.
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About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a recipe developer, writer, and fourth-generation Southern cook sharing trusted recipes that help keep Southern food traditions alive. Every recipe is carefully tested and designed for today’s kitchens, gatherings, and family tables.

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