Wanna know my favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner? Keep on reading to learn what I use to have the best holiday meal!
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I made my very first turkey in 2010 at the age of 40…
Yup – you read that right – 40.
I had been going to my mom’s house in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving ever since I got married in 1993 and had never cooked a turkey before then.
So when we decided to stay home in San Diego for Thanksgiving in 2010 – I am not even exaggerating when I say I was PANICKED!
I am pretty sure I lost sleep for the entire month of November that year thinking – how on earth do you make a juicy turkey?
And to be quite honest – no one in my family even likes turkey!! So add that to my anxiety ;0.
But not to toot my own horn – but I found a few secrets to making a delicious Thanksgiving meal – and easily I might add!
So now – many years later, I am sharing everything I have found to make the holiday season easier for you too!
I have also written a blog post with a Thanksgiving timeline to help you take the stress out of hosting this festive meal!
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the other links on this site are also affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you love something as much as I do at no additional cost to you… but I only recommend what I actually like myself!
Read the full disclosure here.
In a rush?
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![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Thanksgiving-meal-essentials-pin-683x1024.png)
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My Top Thanksgiving Meal Prep Essentials
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Thanksgiving Turkey Essentials
Dry Brine
This right here is the key to the perfect turkey!
And with dry brine it is easier than you are thinking!
I found dry brine right off the bat back in 2010 and honestly cannot live without it for my Thanksgiving meal prep now…
I promise you this should be the #1 item on your Thanksgiving essentials list ;)!
![](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Turkey-brine-1024x855.jpg)
Brining Bags
And this would be #2…
Seriously could not imagine brining my turkey – dry or wet – without these reliable bags!!
Been buying both of these products for over a decade and they have never steered me wrong ;).
After placing my turkey in the brining bag the day before Thanksgiving, I put it in a plastic container in my garage refrigerator to brine for 24 hours.
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Turkey Herbs
Once I have cleaned all the brine off of my turkey on Thanksgiving morning – I rub an entire cube of butter onto my uncooked turkey with turkey herbs.
I am already tasting the deliciousness of the meal – how about you???
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![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Turkey-herbs-1024x934.png)
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Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking Essentials
Quality Roasting Pan
I have had the same roasting pan since 2010.
And cannot live without it.
I use it for every holiday and every large family gathering for a meal.
Do yourself a favor – invest in a quality roasting pan that you will come to depend on for decades like I do ;).
![](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/all-clad-roasting-pan-1024x721.jpg)
Bulb Baster
You 100% cannot make a turkey without a bulb baster.
While dry brining makes basting a turkey not as crucial as without the brine – I still love a crispy flavorful crust.
And so I baste the crap out of my turkey with MELTED BUTTER!
Well – and turkey juices of course.
![](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Turkey-baster-1024x983.png)
Turkey Forks
![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
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Reliable Oven Thermometer
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Potato Masher
I mean really – how would you mash potatoes without a masher?? And also – is it even Thanksgiving dinner if you don’t have mashed potatoes on the table?
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A Good Handheld Mixer
While I have been using an electric mashed potato mixer for the last ten years, this year I have decided to just use a handheld mixer after I have mashed up all my cooked potatoes with the above masher…
I think it is going to be much faster and easier!
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Baking Pans
These are my all time favorite baking pans! I have them in every size and shape even ;).
I honestly think they are so pretty that last year when I had the largest group of guests yet for Thanksgiving dinner, I decided to just leave my Parker House Rolls in the pans to serve them ;).
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Ceramic Baking Dishes
You just can’t go wrong when a dish is pretty and functional – can you??
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Pots and Pans
Once again – don’t even think about hosting Thanksgiving if you don’t have the right pots and pans.
You are just making a frustrating experience for yourself!
What’s that Boy Scout motto? Be prepared?
Yea – be that…
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The above saute pan is my go to pan for almost every meal I cook. A kitchen essential for sure!
A Veggie Chopper
My all time favorite kitchen item when it comes to cutting up onions! Don’t even know if I could go back to the “old fashioned” way of using a knife for that vegetable…
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Thanksgiving Side Dish Essentials
Cranberry Relish
This cranberry sauce has also been a table favorite since 2010.
I make my mom’s incredible cranberry bread every year (find that recipe here) – and many people at my Thanksgiving table will put this cranberry sauce on that bread.
I am telling you – it is just as good as homemade cranberry sauce AND OBVIOUSLY EASIER!
I actually add a “little bit” of orange liqueur to this jar and heat it up a bit to mix the flavors and then VOILA – on the table it goes!
![](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Thanksgiving-cranberry-sauce--768x1024.jpg)
This new BOURBON flavored cranberry sauce was just released last year and was quite well received at our table last year ;).
Stuffing Mix
Another item that makes prep for the meal 100 times easier.
My mom used to make homemade croutons from old bread for her stuffing.
WHICH I LOVED.
But when I started having my own Thanksgiving dinner – there was no way I was up for any more time consuming tasks like homemade croutons.
And then I found this mix.
Can I just say – OMG yup…
I buy two boxes for Thanksgiving and two boxes for Christmas and then crave it the rest of the year 😂.
![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Focaccia-stuffing-bread-1-1-930x1024.png)
Apple Cider
My youngest daughter has a favorite homemade apple cider recipe that we have been making for as long as I can remember for all of our holiday gatherings (recipe coming soon!).
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However, if I am in a pinch and stressed for time – this mixer has been a great substitute!
And the large cinnamon sticks are honestly practically impossible to find anyplace else!
I just love the extra long size of them ;).
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Thanksgiving Serving Essentials
DO NOT FORGET THE SERVING DISHES!
In fact – I usually use my plain white serving bowls and platters on the Thanksgiving table but I just came across this super cute set of all things pumpkin shaped.
And now I might need to add these to my shopping cart while I order the above food essentials 🤪.
Pumpkin Platter
![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Serving-platter-1024x1012.jpg)
Simple White Serving Bowls and Platters
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I hope you found this post with my favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner helpful!
It truly is a beautiful time of year – with the decorations, the food, and most importantly – the people at your table!!
Speaking of tables – be sure to take a peek at my Thanksgiving tablescape post for inspiration on how to make your table festive ;).
I also have my favorite pumpkin cookie recipe for you in case you are like me and love pumpkin cookies but not pumpkin pie!
I know – weird. Don’t ask me for a reason… I have none.
Looking for an item that wasn’t linked in this post?
Be sure to check out my ‘Home Tour’ pages or ‘my Curated Collections Shopping Pages’ here.
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#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Thanksgiving-meal-prep-essentials-green--683x1024.png)
![My fifteen favorite products for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Items that will make your prep faster, easier and more enjoyable so that you can have a more festive Thanksgiving day with your loved ones!
#thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingprep #thanksgiving #holidaymealideas #holidayfood](https://pashaishome.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Thanksgiving-meal-essentials--683x1024.png)
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Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.
~ Unknown
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