8 Genius Thanksgiving Hosting Hacks You Need to Try This Year

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our link, at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure here.

Is it your year to host Thanksgiving? Before panic sets in, allow us to ease your nerves a bit. While we totally agree that hosting your family for the holiday requires a mounting to-do list — from creating a menu, cooking and baking said menu, creating a beautiful fall table scape. The amount of time in the week before never seems to be enough.

This year, we decided to put our foot down and call on the creators at our fingertips to help ease some of the overwhelm the holiday can bring. Whether you’re looking for easy dessert ideas, creative ways to get rid of leftovers, or fun crafts that everyone can enjoy, we’ve got you covered. 

These 8 Thanksgiving hosting hacks will inspire you while simultaneously helping you save time and be more productive when the big day arrives. Keep reading to learn how you can duplicate these ideas in your own home.

Must-Make Thanksgiving Recipes…

8 Genius Thanksgiving Hosting Hacks

1. Prep Thanksgiving dishes and utensils…

@victoriafoxco Thanksgiving hosting tips part 5! #thanksgivingprep #thanksgivinghost #hostingtips ♬ original sound – victoriafoxco

Make sure you have everything ready to go before the big day, and one easy way to do this is by prepping Thanksgiving dishes and utensils ahead of time. Set out all the dishes you will need for each recipe. Label the dish with a Post-it note that corresponds to the name of the recipe, and place the utensils needed to serve the food. This will save you so much time in the midst of the chaos of Thanksgiving.

2. Measure out all your ingredients the day before…

@girlinthegreenapron Thanksgiving Hack Part 1. Dry Mixes 🥧 #thanksgiving #thanksgivingrecipe #pumpkinpie #cornbread ♬ original sound – Girl in the Green Apron

Measuring our ingredients into individual bags has become our favorite way to prep for big holiday meals. We portion out all our ingredients into freezer bags and label them, so that we grab them and begin making the recipe. 

This hosting hack saved us so much time last Christmas when we made our homemade cinnamon rolls.

3. Set up an easy drink station for guests to use…

@cortneymorris_ This simple hosting hack will put an end to cup chaos and help your guests keep up with their own! You can find it in my bio via Amazon and LTK! #amazonfinds #amazonhome #hostingtips #thanksgiving #thanksgivinghosting ♬ original sound – Cortney Morris / Amazon Finds

How cool is this plastic cup dispenser? You’re going to absolutely love how seamless this makes your drink station run on Thanksgiving. Everyone can easily access the tips and write their name on the outside, so they can keep track of their drinks.

4. Serve appetizers for guests while the main course cooks…

@mozielife A cozy thanksgiving charcuterie. Details @ link in bio. #foryou #thanksgivingvibes ♬ I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) – Taylor Swift

Our family tradition is to host Thanksgiving dinner, so we make several snacks to eat throughout the afternoon while we wait for the big meal. We have been making this Thanksgiving charcuterie board for several years now. It’s the perfect snack board to munch on while you’re watching a football game or playing games with your family.

5. Create a customizable pie bar…

@sierra.honeycutt #ad Thanksgiving Pie Bar … but make it mini! Always a hit especially with @Reddi-wip around here – the ultimate crowd pleaser that makes everyone smile. What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving dessert?! #thanksgivingrecipes #thanksgiving2024 #thanksgivingdesserts #thanksgivingdessert #reddiwip ♬ original sound – sierra | mom hacks + habits

If you’re looking for a fun way to serve several pie flavors this year, creating a customizable pie bar is a genius idea. You can opt to make your own pies or buy store-bought pies. To serve them, use a cookie cutter to cut or small round pie bites to place on several platters. This gives your guests a variety of desserts to choose from. 

6. Your fall tablescape can be beautiful and easy to create…

@vickiwitucki EASY Fall Tablescape 🍁🤎 #tablescape #thanksgivingdinner #hostingtips #hostingideas #tablesettingideas #tablesetting #interiordesigntips ♬ the best season – Amanda Rosa

A minimal table setting can still be gorgeous. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a centerpiece or dining plates to create a cozy look. Use faux fall stems to create an autumnal centerpiece. Keep the dinnerware minimal and neutral. Place a knotted napkin on each plate to complete the look. You can even add a personalized name plate for everyone in your family.

7. Have some fun games on hand to play…

@averystiber Annual Thanksgiving Olympic Games!! Turkey Trotters vs. Gobble Gamers vs. Pumpkin Eaters ‘23 🦃🍁🍾👏 #thanksgiving #games #familyolympics #fyp ♬ Nfl Theme – Official Sports Bar Version – Playin' Buzzed

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays to play games with our whole family. It creates some pretty amazing memories. Whether you’re trying your hand at a Thanksgiving Olympics or a pickleball tournament with your neighbors (like us), setting aside time to create unique and fun moments will be something you’ll remember for years.

8. Make a leftover station for guests before they leave…

@joyfullyso Thanksgiving leftovers tip * Use foil muffin tins for everyone to build their own leftovers tray. Pop on the lid for easy transport and storage. When it’s time to enjoy the leftovers, remove the lid and the tins are ready to reheat in the oven. Yum! #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdinner #christmas #holidayhosting #hostingideas #hostess #holidaytiktok ♬ Christmas song "Let's decorate" – 3KTrack

At the end of the day, when everyone is feeling sleepy, full, and content, make sure they have leftovers to take home. We love this Thanksgiving leftover hack with a disposable muffin tin container. Each guest can fill their muffin container before they leave, so they have some festive food to enjoy the next day.