How to Host Your First Thanksgiving: 7 Tips for Success

This time last year, I agreed to host Thanksgiving dinner (for the first time) for our very large family. Think 30+ people. How hard could it be? Just make a giant turkey, some side dishes, and call it a day, right? Needless to say, I learned some lessons along the way!

Outside of my Sips N Tips life, I work on a college campus and actually live in a residence hall on campus. (Oh, the stories I could share!) We have a little apartment that we call home, and it’s attached to a big lounge space that students occupy for study sessions and programs throughout the academic year. Part of the reason hosting Thanksgiving seemed like such a great idea was because of the huge amount of space we could use in the residence hall. It was the perfect place for 30 plus people to spread out, play games, watch football, and enjoy each other’s company.

As we now prepare to host for a second time (yes, last year was so successful that people actually wanted to come back!), I thought I’d share some tips on how you can be a great Thanksgiving host, no matter what size of group you’ll be inviting over. Keeping these things in mind will help keep you sane throughout the day and make sure you actually enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.

 

1. Start with Mimosas

A little sparkling wine with some spiced apple cider is a perfect way to start the holiday. I call it my Thanksgiving Mimosa, and I’ve made it a tradition. Ease the nerves and get into the holiday spirit before you dedicate your day to the kitchen. Pair it with a sweet treat for breakfast, put on the Thanksgiving Day Parade or some good music, and make sure you sip alongside some good company. It’s a foolproof way to put you in a good mood before the chaos ensues!

2. Lists, lists, and more lists!

Of course, you’ll be sure to make your grocery lists and get shopping done before Thanksgiving morning. Go a step further than grocery lists and write out a day-by-day list leading up to Thanksgiving morning. On each day, write down a few simple tasks that you can chip away at to alleviate some of the bird-en (HA! Get it?) on the big day. Things like washing your produce, seasoning your turkey, or even making your pumpkin pie filling ahead of time can be huge time-savers, and will allow you to enjoy more of Thanksgiving Day with friends and family instead of your kitchen utensils.

 

3. Make it a potluck.

It takes a lot of food to feed 30 people, especially on Thanksgiving Day. So, encourage your guests to contribute their favorite Thanksgiving dishes to your party! It’s a great way to honor individual family recipes and traditions. Create a sign-up sheet in advance of the big day to make sure that the appropriate number of appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and drinks are provided. That will prevent ten pumpkin pies and zero mashed potatoes from showing up the day-of. Bonus tip: put out some little food labels and markers so your guests can indicate what their dish is called and who made it. You’ll hear people appreciating each other’s great cooking throughout the meal!

4. Say “yes” when others offer to help…to a point.

Thanksgiving is all about the food, which means it is the one holiday where people are generally aware that it takes days of kitchen preparation to feed the masses. It also means that you will find guests wandering into your kitchen throughout the day asking how they can help you! The more organized you are, the better you will be able to delegate out tasks. Take advantage of the help if you need it. With that said, don’t be afraid to ask people to get out of your kitchen, too. Sometimes the chef just needs some space and time to think to get the job done! Redirect your guests to some games, football, or other family members instead. Better yet, put them on drink refill service for everyone!

5. Don’t try to do it all.

Hosting Thanksgiving doesn’t mean it’s your time to show off all the awesome recipes you are capable of making. There’s no time for that on a day like Thanksgiving. Pick a few things that you definitely want to contribute (obviously, you should plan to make the main dish if you’re the host) and call it a day. I speak from experience on this one: doing too much just ruins your ability to enjoy the holiday! Instead, find little munchie appetizers like seasoned nuts or a cheese board to contribute. These don’t require much additional cooking (if any), but will still please your crowd.

6. Collect and share recipes.

Chances are you and your guests will be trying new, delicious dishes throughout the holiday. Sharing each other’s recipes after the big day will be a nice little “souvenir” that your guests can take home and use to recreate the dish! Plan on doing this ahead of time by asking your guests to bring a few copies of their recipe. Or, start an email chain after the holiday where everyone can share their recipes, tips, and techniques digitally. If you really want to go over the top, collect everyone’s recipes in advance and design a recipe card collection for each family to take home after the night is over. A true host never forgets a party favor, right? This one is perfect!

 

7. Stop and smell the turkey.

Even for the most organized host, the day will be a whirlwind. Make sure to stop every now and then, engage with your guests, admire your efforts, and soak in the experience. You’ll only be a first-time host once! Make sure to take pictures throughout the day, too. I was so busy last year that I don’t have a single picture from Thanksgiving, despite days of preparation and lots of help from family members. After the fact I had to collect a few photos from other guests! (Thanks, Brian Moore Photography!) As hard as it may seem, make it a point to stop and smell the roses…uhhh, I mean turkey.

Tips 1 and 6 are my personal favorites, what about yours? What other tips can you share for first-time Thanksgiving hosts? Let me know in the comments below, and share this post with your friends and family, too!

Happy feasting!