The Last-Minute Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. If you’re hosting this year, take a minute to let that soak in, follow that with a couple of deep breaths, and then calmly refer to our ultimate guide to hosting Thanksgiving, below. From last-minute menus to ingredient substitutions to tips on avoiding child meltdowns, we have answers to all of your questions. Behold: Everything you need, save for the turkey and the guests.

 

The 2018 Williams-Sonoma Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving

Out of an Ingredient? Here’s Your Last-Minute Thanksgiving Substitutions Cheat Sheet

So you forgot to buy brown sugar. Or you ran out of heavy cream. Or someone drank the wine you were planning on cooking with. Take a deep breath, follow our cheat sheet and everything will come out okay.

 

Hosting Your First Thanksgiving? Follow These Pro Tips

For a first-timer, Thanksgiving duty is often a high-stress affair. Avoid that feeling by following our tool pointers, recipe suggestions and Thanksgiving kitchen wisdom.

 

Yes, You Can Host Thanksgiving in a Small Space

If you live in cozy quarters, it can be hard to host Thanksgiving in a way that doesn’t feel cramped—and serve the meal so that everything comes out of the kitchen at the same time. From rearranging furniture to halving recipes, here are our tips for hosting in a tight space.

 

Make Unexpected Guests Feel at Home

Showing up with an unexpected plus-one to the biggest dinner holiday of the year isn’t an etiquette-approved move, but an unexpected guest is still a guest in your home, so know how to handle the situation with class.

 

How to Make Kids Just as Happy as Adults at Thanksgiving

If you’re mostly accustomed to adults-only dinner parties, it can be daunting to have to welcome young children to the Thanksgiving table. Equip yourself so you’re ready in the event of picky eaters, emergency nap time, hunger-induced crabbiness, boredom and more.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Pulling Off a Perfect Potluck

Everything you could possibly need to know about hosting a potluck this Thanksgiving.

 

Set Up Your Potluck for Success

We’re sharing seven of the most important tips we’ve learned about hosting great potlucks. (Hint: Make it BYOD!)

 

What to Keep on Hand to Avoid a Potluck Gone Wrong

Is the Thanksgiving potluck at your place this year? Have a checklist of important foods to pick up, housewares to keep on hand and more.

…Plus Every Menu You Could Want, Too

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Menu   For those of you who have found yourselves pressed into hosting duties at the last minute, and those who are simply the spontaneous sort who don’t believe any meal should take more than two days to plan, it’s still possible to pull off a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Top-Rated Thanksgiving Menu   Our highest-rated Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving recipes comprise this showstopping menu.

First-Timer’s Thanksgiving Menu   This menu includes all the classics your loved ones expect, but nothing too demanding when it comes to time or technique.

Classic Thanksgiving Menu     This dinner’s the definition of elegant simplicity: A simple roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, pumpkin pie. Who could want anything more?

Traditional Thanksgiving with a Twist   Winter panzanella, “everything” bagel-topped Parker House rolls, bourbon pumpkin pie: This is the traditional meal with a contemporary.

5-Hour Thanksgiving Menu   There are people who plan for Thanksgiving months ahead. Then there’s the rest of us. If you fall into the latter category, here’s a menu you can pull together at the last minute in just five hours.

A Very Portland Thanksgiving Menu   We partnered with Chef Joshua McFadden to create a Pacific Northwest menu that includes Roasted Squash with Yogurt, Walnuts and Spiced Green Sauce, an Onion and Pancetta Tart, and a vibrant and not-too-sweet carrot pie that’s good enough to have guests re-thinking their annual pumpkin pie tradition.

Haven’s Kitchen Thanksgiving Menu   Haven’s Kitchen, a cooking school, event space and café in New York City, hosted Thanksgiving feast with friends. Here’s what was on the global-inspired menu.

Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Menu   The secret to a great menu that doesn’t contain any butter, cream or cheese is to add interest to your dishes with flavors of crab, bacon, fresh herbs and bold, tangy vinaigrettes.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Menu   From turkey two ways to cranberry-port chutney,  of these great-tasting recipes contain no gluten or dairy, so just about everyone can fill a plate and go back for seconds.

Get more recipes, inspiration, and cooking tools at our Thanksgiving Headquarters!