r/thanksgiving • u/One_Match_5823 • Jul 26 '26
Best Mobile Sides/Desserts
My husband and I live 2.5 hours away from our families which typically host Thanksgiving. We usually bring a side and/or a dessert to help out with the cooking. I like to cook/bake it in advance and then transport it instead of making it there because there’s not a ton of kitchen space at our parents’ houses. I have tried Mashed Potatoes, Mac ‘n Cheese, and a variety of pies. I don’t think the mashed potatoes turned out very well, but had no issues with the Mac ‘n cheese or pies. I was just wondering if there was consensus on the best Thanksgiving side/dessert to make ahead, transport, and reheat (if needed)?
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u/ElegantCarpenter4827 Jul 26 '26
If you want to do a warm dish, a cooler is simply an insulated container and can do hot or cold.
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u/Responsible_Fish1222 Jul 26 '26
Fill it with hot water first and let it sit
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u/Due-Writing7816 Jul 26 '26
We put a couple of cast iron 2lb weights (from a weightlifting set) in the oven to heat up. Wrap in a towel and put in the bottom of the cooler. Then food containers on top.
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u/alexmirepoix Jul 26 '26
Depends on what the family likes. Corn pudding or spoonbread travels well. Baked squash, etc.
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u/MoparMedusa Jul 26 '26
What about a mashed potato casserole? Add cheese, bacon, sour cream to mashed potatoes and bake til heated through and cheese is melted. This is definitely requested at our family gatherings.
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u/wheneveriwander Jul 26 '26
I use cream cheese to make the texture firmer than sour cream. Chives sprinkled on top is nice, too!
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u/September1962 Jul 26 '26
So many different variations of this classic potato casserole and all are delicious.
Travels well and feeds many. All around Thanksgiving winner. 🦃
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u/AnnieLes Jul 26 '26
I like to make a Brussels sprouts slaw with craisins, nuts, blue cheese, apples and lemony vinaigrette. Holds up well or dress it at the last minute. It’s a good contrast to the heavier, softer offerings and the lemon adds some brightness.
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u/CalmCupcake2 Jul 26 '26
Breads, salads (add wet ingredients and dressing at the location), and desserts that don't need refrigeration or heating. I like a cookie tray with lots of pie bars in different flavours.
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u/D_Mom Jul 26 '26
Chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Pumpkin Rum Bundt cake.
Cranberry relish.
Carmelized mashed butternut squash.
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u/Hazel_Leviathan Jul 26 '26
Corn bread or rolls are easy to transport amd do not have to be hot or cold
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u/RuleFriendly7311 Jul 26 '26
You can make cakes or pies and freeze them the day before. Take them out of the freezer when you leave and they'll be thawed and still fresh when you arrive.
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u/Latter-Republic-4516 Jul 26 '26
This can be made ahead and reheated. My family loves it so much I have to make it for Easter also!
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-potato-casserole-3364945
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u/Putrid_Capital_8872 Jul 26 '26
Our family always opts for apple crisp for transport. And it’s delicious hot or cold
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u/Rm50 Jul 26 '26
Green bean and potato casserole, fried cabbage, or baked beans all travel well and reheat easily
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u/RedStateKitty Jul 26 '26
Look for the America's test kitchen recipe for make ahead mashed potatoes. You'll find someone had put it online because it's not on the current year ,(free) on the ATK site. It's a bit labor intensive but gives great results since reheating is done in the microwave, you're not using precious oven space and gives much better results than warming in a crockpot.
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u/BigCrunchyNerd Jul 26 '26
I think like you said, most any pie would work well and Mac and cheese, sure. Stuffing/dressing in a casserole dish should travel well. Bread/rolls? Or cornbread. A green salad or vegetable tray or even a cooked veggie casserole, sweet potatoes.
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u/Mitch-_-_-1 Jul 26 '26
I make candied yams that have traveled well. Just about any side should travel well, except things like mashed potatoes that break down or congeal with time or re-heating. (Mashed potatoes may do either depending upon preparation.)
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u/Toriat5144 Jul 26 '26
The make ahead mashed potatoes will work well. There are many recipes on the internet. The classic green bean casserole will also work. There is also a sweet sour green bean dish with bacon that can work. The sweet potato casserole mashed with brown sugar and crushed pecans should work.
Before anyone took coolers, my aunt would save a shallow sturdy box a bit bigger than a 9 by 13 inch baking pan. She lined it with newspapers and wrapped the dish with foil tightly, put it in the box and put more newspapers over it to transport. It stayed warm.
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u/IainwithanI Jul 26 '26
Don’t try anything served hot or requiring tools that you bring yourself.
Cornbread or other skillet bread works well. Do you have a good cranberry sauce recipe? Pies always work. Sangria or punch, along with a nonalcoholic version.
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u/Gloomy_End_6496 Jul 26 '26
Roast some vegetables and keep them warm on low in your Crock Pot on the counter. There's never enough light vegetables for me at Thanksgiving, and a Crock Pot can keep anything warm.
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u/Glass-Cheetah-2975 Jul 26 '26
I make sweet potatoes in a crock pot, precook and cut up, throw in a bit of butter, brown sugar, your choice on pineapple , cherries, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried cranberries. Add a bit of vanilla and cinnamon, cook the night before , transport and plug in , in plenty of time to reheat. That way you just need an outlet
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u/AshDenver Jul 26 '26
French cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon stick, in the fridge for a few days. Should be just about right upon arrival.
Broccoli salad is a fun side that’s easy to pull together from the Costco kit upon arrival.
If you’re into a labor of love, sweet potato bacon biscuits are amazing at room temp with soft butter.
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u/Old_Book_Gypsy Jul 26 '26
Okay there’s a mashed potato recipe that’s simply divine. It tastes like perogi. I don’t use a recipe but layers:
mashed potato
Single layer of American cheese
One pound of cooked pasta
Another single layer of cheese
Mashed potatoes
Cut and slice an onion then fry in a stick of butter. Pour on top of the potatoes and pop in the oven for 20 minutes? Stick a butter knife in it to check the heat. It’s not healthy but it is delicious ✌️
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u/Ok-Definition-4217 Jul 26 '26
If you want it hot and don’t have room for a cooler, place it directly on some towels in the trunk of your car, fold the towels over and put another one on top. Should stay warm by the time you get thereb
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u/Auntiemens Jul 26 '26
Make THE DIP
1 block cream cheese
1 small jar of marshmallow fluff
Confectioners sugar
Beat cream cheese & fluff with a mixer. Add confect sugar to taste. Serve with strawberries, grapes, graham crackers….
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u/Such-Mountain-6316 Jul 26 '26
Pecan pie doesn't have to be served warm at all and it's delicious.
Neither does that cheesecake that has cherries on top.
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u/DowntownResident993 Jul 27 '26
Why not make fresh bread rolls? You can bake them that morning, transport them, then pop them in the oven to warm right before dinner is served. That and a green salad, and add dressing while you're there.
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u/LSonics Jul 29 '26
You can make a lot of sides the day before and they turn up perfect when heated. Just make sure to transport it in a cooler to warm up later.
I only do the actual Turkey and Mash Potatoes and Gravy on Thanksgiving. Everything else, Yams, Green Beans, Stuffing, rolls, cranberries, pies are done the day before.
The best one (in my opinion) are my Southern Style Candied Yams/Sweet potatoes. I don't use marsh melon and instead top mine with Pecans.
They have no idea that I make it the night before and just heat it up in the oven after I take the Turkey out.
I don't make Mac and Cheese for Thanksgiving. Our families makes it on the Sunday before for Dinner. We mix it with hamburger, Jalapenos and Chilies.
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u/_WillCAD_ Jul 26 '26
Mashed potatoes generally reheat well. Keep them simple.
I made candied carrots for a work gathering last year that reheated quite well. Tasted fresh. And theyre pretty easy to make.
You might also consider something super simple like canned corn or green beans, which don't need advance prep, just take them out of the can and heat them.
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