Ina Garten Just Shared Her Thanksgiving Menu, and I Might Just Follow It Exactly

We can always count on Ina Garten to get us through the holidays. Whether she’s dropping her best hosting hacks or teaching us how to make store-bought mashed potatoes taste homemade, the Barefoot Contessa has no shortage of helpful tips.

Recently, Garten shared the details of her Thanksgiving menu, and it’s so easy, we might just scrap our own plans for hers instead.

Ina Garten’s Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Menu 

The only thing better than having a Thanksgiving meal plan laid out for you is being given a day-by-day breakdown that ensures your holiday goes off without a hitch. In a recent Instagram post, Garten outlined her four-day plan for a stress-free feast, along with preparation cues to keep you on track.

It’s important to note that Garten’s menu begins with a thawed turkey. Frozen turkey takes about 24 hours per five pounds to thaw in the refrigerator, so be sure to plan accordingly. 

Here’s a closer look at Garten’s 2025 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Menu.

Monday: Make-Ahead Gravy and Turkey

On the Monday before Thanksgiving, Garten begins with her make-ahead turkey gravy, which can be prepared up to a week in advance. Next, she prepares a dry seasoning mix for the turkey using salt, thyme, and lemon zest. You can follow suit or swap in your go-to dry turkey rub. Then, she places the turkey in a shallow dish. To avoid spills, consider using a roasting pan or vessel with tall sides instead. The turkey is then covered in the dry seasoning mixture. Butter and liquid flavor injections should be reserved for later use. Her method then states to cover the turkey tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator until Wednesday, when you’ll take the next step.

Tuesday: Pumpkin Flan With Maple Caramel

When it comes to the holidays, pie is a classic dessert option. This year, Garten is doing things a bit differently and wowing her guests with Pumpkin Flan with Maple Caramel. For those unfamiliar, flan is a baked custard. In its most basic form, it contains just five simple ingredients. However, there are many variations, such as pumpkin pie flan and caramel-glazed flan, that take the dish to a new level. Garten chose this recipe not only because it’s delicious, but also because it can be refrigerated for up to three days in advance. As a bonus, since it’s served cold, it won’t take up precious oven space on Thanksgiving Day.

Wednesday: Leek and Artichoke Bread Pudding and Make-Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

​​The day before any holiday is often just as busy as the day itself. Luckily, on Ina’s to-do list, there are only two dishes to prepare: Leek and Artichoke Bread Pudding and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Both dishes will develop flavor overnight, making the Thanksgiving feast even better. You can follow these recipes exactly, or prepare your own sides, such as make-ahead stuffing or twice-baked mashed potatoes. It’s important to let these dishes cool before covering tightly and transferring them to the refrigerator. Additionally, this is the day on which you’ll remove the plastic wrap from the turkey and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow the skin to dry out and become extra crispy when roasted.

Thursday: Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts

It’s officially Turkey Day! Thanks to all your hard work, you can heat the prepared dishes and enjoy the holiday alongside loved ones. Today, the main focus will be on roasting the turkey. At this point, you can add any liquid, fresh herbs, or stuffing to the bird and pop it into the oven. 

Additionally, there’s one quick side dish to prepare as well. Garten is making Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts on the stovetop since the oven is occupied. You can take this time to assemble any remaining dishes on your list.

Garten leaves us one last tidbit of information to ensure the day runs smoothly. “I hate carving a turkey at the last minute,” she writes in a post on her website. “I discovered that I can roast the turkey early, carve it an hour before people arrive, and arrange the pieces on an oven-proof serving platter on top of a puddle of gravy. Then, I just put the platter in the oven 30 minutes before serving to reheat the turkey.”

If that isn’t one of the best tricks for a relaxed holiday, we don’t know what is. So, if you’re still hammering out the details of your own menu, feel free to take a note from the Food Network star and try out this simple, make-ahead menu.