How to Plan a Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking Schedule

A large meal is manageable when the oven, hob, and resting time are planned as shared resources rather than separate recipes.

1. 1.List every dish and finish time

   Include reheating, garnishes, and resting. Give each item an honest active and passive duration.

2. 2.Reserve the oven first

   Put the largest, least-flexible roast on the oven timeline, then add dishes that can share its temperature or reheat later.

3. 3.Use rest time deliberately

   A roast resting under loose foil creates a useful oven window for sides and lets juices settle.

4. 4.Build the final 20 minutes

   Keep only plating, gravy, and quick vegetables for the last stretch. Everything else should already be ready or holding safely.