Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and getting a head start on your holiday menu can make the big day a little easier. These freezer-friendly recipes can be prepared ahead of time, leaving you with less to do when Thanksgiving arrives. From creamy mashed potatoes and comforting casseroles to festive cranberry dishes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Try recipes like our Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Cranberry Salad for delicious additions to your Thanksgiving table that you’ll want to make year after year.
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01 of 15
The Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This healthy mashed sweet potato recipe has just 5 ingredients and is dinner-ready in 20 minutes. Using sweet potatoes for this classic side dish adds color to your plate along with a little sweetness and a boost of vitamin A. With classic and simple flavors, it can easily be paired with any of your favorite dishes.
02 of 15
Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel
This riff on the Thanksgiving favorite combines a traditional pumpkin pie filling with swirls of sweetened cream cheese. And since it’s only Thanksgiving once a year, we’ve topped it all off with a buttery spiced-pecan topping. This easy pie recipe will please anyone at your table this holiday.
03 of 15
Sautéed Leek Mashed Potatoes
In this healthy mashed potato recipe, we flavor the mashed potatoes with leeks lightly sautéed in butter and tangy buttermilk. These mashed potatoes are an amazing side for grilled steak or chicken.
04 of 15
Cranberry-Brie Bites with Puff Pastry
Festive for any holiday gathering yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner party, these cranberry-brie bites are the perfect appetizer. Made with just three ingredients, these bites come together quickly and present beautifully.
05 of 15
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re cooking for a crowd–say for Thanksgiving dinner.
06 of 15
The Only Pumpkin Bread Recipe You Need
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.
This cozy, fall-ready loaf is the only pumpkin bread recipe you need. Moist and tender, this pumpkin–chocolate chip bread combines pumpkin puree, a mix of all-purpose and whole-wheat flours, and aromatic spices like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and cloves. Optional mini chocolate chips add little bursts of sweetness.
07 of 15
No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole
Instead of loading up this comfort food side with tons of brown sugar and marshmallows, we have turned to sweet spices, vanilla and inherently sweet dried fruit to enhance the natural sugar of the sweet potatoes. A topping of pecans and pepitas replaces traditional marshmallow topping to keep it healthy and add texture and color for a beautiful casserole.
08 of 15
Cranberry Salad
This colorful and healthy cranberry salad recipe will brighten up any holiday meal. It’s sweet but not overly so, with juicy oranges, crunchy walnuts and crisp celery and apples.
09 of 15
High-Protein Pumpkin Bread
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This easy pumpkin bread gets a protein boost from yogurt and a nutty pumpkin seed topping. Warm spices combined with pumpkin make this the perfect fall breakfast. Bake a loaf on the weekend and enjoy it during the week as you dash out the door. If you like your pumpkin bread a little sweeter, drizzle it with the optional glaze after it cools.
10 of 15
Vegan Mashed Potatoes
You don’t have to be a vegan to appreciate this easy holiday side dish. These vegan mashed potatoes have plenty of flavor thanks to sweet caramelized onions and the magic of nutritional yeast, which adds rich depth of flavor while keeping these mashed potatoes dairy-free.
11 of 15
Custard Pecan Pie
While every bit as delish as the classic pie, this one has less sugar. Cane syrup, a toasty alternative to corn syrup or molasses, sweetens the pie along with brown sugar. Because the filling for the pie is wet, we brush the crust with egg white and par-bake it to create a barrier to prevent sogginess.
12 of 15
The Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This is our go-to recipe for homemade cranberry sauce. It’s simple (just five ingredients!), is lightly sweet without being too sugary and has just the right amount of zesty flavor from orange peel. Plus, it’s so easy—it goes from stove to table in just 20 minutes!
13 of 15
Cranberry Nut Bread
Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Sally McKay, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood
This cranberry nut bread brings together the tartness of fresh cranberries with the crunch of walnuts, all wrapped in a moist, tender loaf. Whether enjoyed as a breakfast, snack or dessert with coffee, cranberry nut bread offers a little bit of holiday cheer in every bite. To make it a little sweeter and to bring out more citrusy flavor, drizzle it with the optional orange glaze before slicing and serving.
14 of 15
Mashed Potatoes & Turnips with Leeks
Classic mashed potatoes get a healthy twist when you add turnips, a cruciferous vegetable that’s rich in vitamin C. Turnips provide a touch of sweetness, while a savory leek topping completes this simple, easy side dish.
15 of 15
Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie
While pumpkin pie deserves respect as a Thanksgiving icon, it’s fun to shake up tradition. Surprise your family and friends with a frozen pie this year–it just might become one of their holiday favorites. No need to let them know how easy it is.
Read the original article on EatingWell