Printable Thanksgiving Checklist

Thanksgiving is under a week away and I am knee-deep in all things planning. Like most people, Thanksgiving has always been one of my all time favorite holidays. Over the last few years, the Corbett household has been home base for turkey day and that’s the way we like it. This means that I usually work the holidays so if I’m hosting, planning is a must. So I made this free printable Thanksgiving checklist for all of us!

I have created this printable Thanksgiving Checklist the keep you on schedule and stress free.

First and foremost, plan out your menu and decorate your interior. Then you can start chipping away on the items on my checklist. I started this list with two weeks out, but it is never too late to get started.

Two Weeks before

• Start clearing out you freezer and fridge. I like to plan all of my weekly meal plans around what I need to clean out space for in the fridge.
• Put together all of your recipes and build your shopping list. With big menus, I like to use apps like PepperPlate. You can enter your recipes into a particular menu and it will put together a shopping list for you. 
• Once you have compiled your list, go shopping for all the non-perishable items. 
• Get together your menu and all of the serving dishes you own and assign dishes. You can even assign meals to serving dishes with post-its.
• Take inventory of all of your table and glassware to make sure that you will have enough. 
• You can rent ANYTHING! So if you don’t have enough chairs, tables, glassware, etc. Call up a party supply company and reserve your rental needs.
• Do yourself the ultimate favor and schedule a wash and blowout the day before Thanksgiving. That way you don’t even have to think about styling your hair. 
• Create a playlist to listen to during your Thanksgiving meal. You could always just find a station on Pandora or Spotify that you like. 
• Wash and press your linens. If you are short on time go ahead and drop them of at the dry cleaners.
• Stock up on foil, freezer bags & take away food containers. I always like to have inexpensive containers so that way you can load up you guests with leftovers to minimize food waste.

One Week before

• Confirm your final guest list and schedule any airport pick-ups.
• Plan all seating arrangements if that is your thing. I love a beautiful tablescape and having name plates is such a lovely touch. 
• Make all finishing touches to the guest rooms. Make sure there are clean sheets on the bed and those little details that make all the difference. Candles, flowers, snacks…
• Go ahead and set the table. You could also just gather up everything that you will use and place it close by for ease on Thursday.
• Wipe down all appliances. I don’t know about you, but I am a use every pot in the kitchen kind of girl. If I start with a extra clean kitchen, the clean up after the Thanksgiving bomb has gone off is so much easier!
• Manage yard work and decorate the exterior of your home. The entrance sets the tone for the festivities that are taking place inside, so don’t forget that little detail. I usually will start decorating for fall in September and then add and take away as we work our way through the season. 
• Make or buy extra ice and store in your freezer. We have an older refrigerator and the ice maker can be pretty slow. Also, if guests reach out to ask if you need anything, the answer is always ice!
• Prepare the brine for your turkey and make stock. Brining your bird is a must and you can go ahead and get that out of the way. Same applies if you are making a homemade stock. I use this thanksgiving stock recipe that will keep in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 6 months.
• Review your recipes ingredients and grocery lists to ensure that you will have everything that you need.
• Figure out when you will need to start thawing your turkey. Then make a schedule for baking and food prep.
• I also like to write out an hour by hour Thanksgiving day plan. It helps me to wrap my head around how the day will look. 
• Go ahead and plan out your outfit as well. Plan for function of course, but you want to be fashionable as well. Keep your apron in mind too.

Two days before

• Finish up all of your shopping and pick up any orders from specialty shops. Make sure to include some fresh flowers and greenery.
• Go ahead and prep your ingredients for your planned out recipes. Chop up all of the veggies, make cornbread and prepare any desserts that can be made ahead of time. Then store them all in airtight containers.
• Put turkey in brine and store in the refrigerator. If you are short on space, a cooler is a great plan b. Just make sure that you are keeping the temperature where it needs to be.
• Tidy up the house with some light housekeeping. Pay attention specifically to the guest bath, kitchen, living and dining rooms.

One day before

• Make all side dishes that can be prepared ahead of time. I also like to put together a breakfast casserole so that I can just pop in the oven first thing in the morning. 
• Spot clean common areas in your home and empty trash cans. Give some cleaning love to any door knobs or lights switches.
• Disinfect your sink and countertop. I also like to put a little citrus in the disposal and run it. 
• Hang fresh hand towels and stock your guest bathroom with toilet paper and special guest amenities.
• Time for some self care! Go to your hair appointment.
• Create a self-serve bar and stock all the supplies. I also like to set up a water and coffee station in our dining area.
• Arrange flowers in vases and make sure to add a small vase to the guest rooms.
• Charge your camera and assign someone to be the photographer.
• Chill the white wine and champagne in the refrigerator.

Thanksgiving Day

• If guests ask to help, LET THEM!
• Set out water and coffee on the station.
• Make the casserole for breakfast.
• Prepare and start cooking your turkey.
• Set out any food/snacks for the football games.
• Make gravy and any last minute dishes. Roast the vegetables and heat the stuffing.
• Don’t forget to unplug and enjoy your friends and family!

Clean Up

• Again, let your guests help!
• Clear the table, wash large platters and return dishes to guests.
• Pack leftovers for you and guests and put yours away in the refrigerator.
• Soak pots in soapy water, empty kitchen and recycling bins.
• Pretreat any table linen stains.

The day after

• Wash table linens
• Put away clean serving ware.
• Put away extra furniture or have them ready for rental company pick-up.
• Treat any carpet/upholstery stains.
• Make turkey broth. I like to slice up all the turkey and use the bones and any extra veggies to make some turkey broth to store in the freezer for later. 

Congratulations, you have made it!! I hope that you found my best tips and tricks helpful. Please print out my free Thanksgiving checklist to help you enjoy one of my favorite holidays. It always amazes me how we are supposed to be enjoying time with our loved ones, but end up driving ourselves crazy to make it perfect instead. It never needs to be perfect. As long as there is good food, company and wine, it will be a huge success. Happy Holidays!!