Make-Ahead Dishes You Need This Thanksgiving, Gallery

The holidays in general can be fairly stressful time of year. When family and friends gather, meal time often becomes a theatrical performance, a dance in the kitchen that involves innumerable pots and pan. Oven space is at a premium, the dishwasher is in a perpetual state of operation and your drunk uncle is causing trouble once again.

In spite of all this, people really do love the holiday season. Once the clock strikes midnight on the last night of October, the world around you feels instantly transformed as the country begins to prepare for America's busiest kitchen holiday of them all: Thanksgiving.

But if the thought of cooking Thanksgiving dinner is already causing a cold sweat to collect at your brow, don't worry — there is a solution. We reached out to our network of food bloggers and asked them to share some of their favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes. Many of the classic dishes that are expected to make an appearance on the Turkey Day table can actually be prepped ahead of time, even stored in the freezer until that day arrives. From cranberry sauce and stuffing to bread rolls and pie, get a head start on your Thanksgiving Day food prep with these easy and delicious make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes.

This recipe from Tasty Ever After is delicious and creamy and makes for an incredibly easy soup that will be a great start to Thanksgiving dinner. You can make this soup well in advance and store it in the freezer for up to three months!

For the Chipotle Roasted Butternut Squash Soup recipe, click here.

This delicious, homemade "drunken" cranberry sauce made with cherries and red wine, from Sweet and Spicy Monkey will complement a Thanksgiving turkey perfectly. This will last up to a week in the fridge, but cranberry sauce also freezes really well. Just store it in an airtight container or freezer bag and keep it in the freezer for up to three months, then defrost it overnight in the fridge

For the Drunken Cherry Cranberry Sauce recipe, click here.

This pumpkin bread from Delightful Food Mom is the perfect thing to enjoy on Thanksgiving morning, with a cup of tea of coffee, before the chaos begins. You can store this at room temperature, wrapped, for one to two days, hold it in the fridge for up to a week, or keep it in the freezer (wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap) for two to three months.

For the Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread recipe, click here

This nostalgic recipe from Food in Jars will deliver everything you ask for in commercial canned cranberry sauce and more with the iconic 'just out of a can' shape and even better flavor!

For the Home "Canned" Cranberry Sauce Made in a Tin Can Mold recipe, click here.

Did you know you can make apple pie ahead of time and freeze it?! That's right! All you need to do is follow the directions completely, build your pie, fill it, top it and then bake it according to the recipe. Let the pie cool completely, chill it in the fridge then wrap it well and pop it in the freezer. Before serving, defrost the pie overnight in the fridge then gently reheat it in the oven at 350 F for 20 to 30 minutes.

For the Mountain Rose Apple Pie recipe, click here.

Forget the marshmallows in this sweet potato casserole from Liz's Healthy Table and say hello to crunchy, nutrient-rich pecans instead! You can freeze this recipe easily or just make it the day before and keep it in the fridge.

For the Pecan Topped, Slightly-Sweet Sweet Potato Casserole recipe, click here.

This Brussels sprout casserole by Take a Bite Out of Boca is a healthy take on the traditional green bean casserole and can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until it is time to heat, serve and eat!

For the Shredded Brussels Sprouts Casserole recipe, click here.

Make these tasty seasoned pecans from Moore or Less Cooking for the perfect pre-dinner snack. With paprika, sugar, cayenne pepper, butter and salt, these pecans are sure to go quickly!

For the Sweet, Spicy, and Salty Pecans recipe, click here.