Easy dinners for Thanksgiving week
Thanksgiving week is lopsided: one huge meal, and a few nights around it when nobody wants to cook. A little planning keeps those nights easy and helps you actually use the leftovers.
Before Thanksgiving: keep it simple
The two or three nights before the holiday are prep nights. Your oven and fridge are busy, so plan dinners that use one pan or the stovetop and very little fridge space:
- Sunday: a big pot of soup or chili that gives you a second meal later in the week.
- Monday: a one-pan rice or pasta dinner.
- Tuesday: the leftover soup or chili, plus toast or a simple salad.
- Wednesday: the easiest night of the week: breakfast for dinner, quesadillas or sandwiches. Save your energy for pies and prep.
Shop once, in two lists
Write your Thanksgiving list and your weeknight list separately, then combine them by store section. That way the weeknight basics don't get forgotten under the turkey and stuffing, and you avoid a second trip on the busiest grocery days of the year.
After Thanksgiving: plan the leftovers
Decide on day one what the leftovers will become, so they don't sit in the fridge until they're thrown out:
- Friday: turkey sandwiches or a "leftover plate" night.
- Saturday: turn turkey into soup, quesadillas, fried rice or a casserole.
- Sunday: freeze what's left in meal-size portions.
Leftover safety basics
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, and eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days or freeze them, per the USDA's leftovers and food safety guidance. Reheat leftovers to 165掳F.
Want December planned for you?
Dinner Refill sends a printable month of weeknight dinners with grocery lists. Try the free sample week first. More free help: what to do with leftovers, cheap family dinner ideas for December and 30-minute family dinners. Our sister site Crave has ideas for leftover turkey.