35 Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Freeze

Best Side Dishes For Thanksgiving To Make Ahead will be a true time-saver. No matter, if you are making dinner at home, are attending a potluck meal, don’t get stuck making everything the day of or the night before. 

These are great for Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes to Freeze or simply make a few days ahead of time. 

Here are some quick Thanksgiving Side Dish recipes you can prep ahead of time and just roast before heading out to dinner.  Be sure to check out our Cheeseball Recipe that you make ahead and freeze.

 

Best Side Dishes For Thanksgiving To Make Ahead

Plus super simple Thanksgiving casserole side dishes you can make ahead and freeze. These frozen Thanksgiving side dishes will travel well too, I plan on defrosting during our travels.

Make ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Can Be Frozen is a true time-saver.

 

Best Side Dishes For Thanksgiving To Make Ahead & Freeze

Best Side Dishes For Thanksgiving To Make Ahead

Every year I make a corn casserole it is a super easy Thanksgiving side dish, it only has 6 ingredients. Every year I make it a few days ahead of time. This year I made it 2 weeks ahead of time and my corn casserole is waiting in my freezer.

I will simply thaw it out just to reduce oven time and then add the final layer of cheese at the end.

A lot of people are looking for other recipes for leftover corn, here are our top 12 recipes for leftover corn on the cob. 

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe

Make ahead thanksgiving dishes corn casserole recipe

Can You Freeze Corn Casserole?

Bet you are wondering : can corn casserole be made ahead and frozen?  The answer is yes yes yes and here is how:

Bake your Jiffy Corn casserole and allow it to cool completely before covering and freezing. Do not add the cheese until you bake it to serve.

Allow it to cool overnight in the fridge, then put the Jiffy Corn casserole in the freezer.  

 

corn casserole make ahead thanksgiving side dishes

How should I reheat my Make ahead Corn Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving?

Do not add the cheese until you bake it to serve. Allow Jiffy Corn Casserole to thaw the night before and reheat in over 15-20 minutes then add cheese.

Can I freeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

Another great casserole For Thanksgiving Side Dish that can be made ahead is this Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

parsnipsBest Side Dishes For Thanksgiving To Make Ahead

 

For quick and easy Thanksgiving side dishes that the whole family will enjoy but a bit healthier, I would recommend the Sea salt Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe or this Ina Garten recipe for Roasted Parsnips and Carrots.

Both recipes you can prep the veggies a few days in advance and then just roast after the turkey comes out.

They do not have to be eaten super hot so you could probably roast them the night before and just heat them for a few minutes before serving. You can easily double or triple this recipe.

Roasted Parsnips and Carrots Recipe
  • 2 pounds parsnips, peeled
  • 1 pound carrots, unpeeled
  • 3 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or parsley ( I used herbs de Provence)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

  1. If the parsnips and carrots are very thick, cut them in half lengthwise. Slice each diagonally in 1-inch-thick slices. The vegetables will shrink while cooking, so don’t make the pieces too small.
  2. Place the cut vegetables on a sheet pan. Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss well.
  3. Roast for 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the vegetables, tossing occasionally until the parsnips and carrots are just tender.
  4. Sprinkle with seasoning

To make ahead:  prep your veggies and keep in the fridge. Or you can roast in the morning you plan on serving and allow to sit at room temperature for a few hours or place in the fridge and reheat slightly before serving.make ahead Thanksgiving side dishes

 

Pin this Make Ahead Corn Casserole for Thanksgiving side dish

 

Corn casserole, make ahead Thanksgiving dishes

No matter what you choose to make this Thanksgiving, be sure and remember to be thankful you have food to prepare and friends and family to enjoy it with.

As the cook, I can say sometimes you can get so wrapped up in the preparation you lose sight of why you are cooking at all. 

30 more casseroles for Thanksgiving

Other Thanksgiving Recipes you Can Make Ahead Of TIME:

 

Best Make Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes

Best Make ahead Thanksgiving sides that you can freeze or make a day or two in advance.

MAKE AHEAD THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES

Make-ahead Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

Make Ahead Stuffing Recipes 

Make Ahead Veggie Side Dishes

Make Ahead Breads

Potato Side Make Ahead Dishes

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts

Can’t make recipes ahead of time, check out our list of Instant Pot Recipe for Thanksgiving

 

 

instant Pot thanksgiving SIde Dishes

corn casserole make ahead thanksgiving side dishes

Corn Casserole Recipe

Yield: 4-6 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

A great make ahead Thanksgiving side dish Corn Casserole Recipe can be frozen and reheated for dinner Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 8 ounce box Jiffy cornbread mix
  • 2 15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 15 ounce can creamed corn (not drained)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Coat an 8x8-inch or other 2-quart baking dishe with cooking spray.
  2. Mix all ingredients (except cheese) and pour it into a greased 8x8" casserole dish.
  3. Cook uncovered for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees. Then add the cheese and cook an addition 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Notes

To Make ahead do not add cheese. Allow casserole to completely cool before putting it into freezer. Allow it to thaw the night before and reheat in over 15-20 minutes then add cheese.

Can Be doubled. Bake in 9x13 or 4 Quart Casserole. Adjust time until the center is firm.

Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 403Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 13gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 106mgSodium 462mgCarbohydrates 40gFiber 3gSugar 10gProtein 11g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.

 

 

 

 

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Side dishes? Do you make them ahead or cook everything on Thanksgiving?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Thx we do it all too and it is nice to have make ahead side dishes. Just made cranberry sauce yesterday

  2. Thank you for the recipes. Will have to use some of these since my wife and I are making everything.

  3. Thank-you! I love dishes you can make ahead! I’m going to try the Corn Casserole one this weekend as Canadian Thanksgiving already happened last month.

  4. It really does add stress during the weeks before but relieves your oven and stress on Thanksgiving

  5. Love the corn casserole. I will be making these ahead of time so that I can spend time with family on the holiday.

  6. These are brilliant and I will DEFINITELY be making a few of these to save myself some time on Turkey Day!

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