22 Pack-and-Go Dishes For the Road (And Thanksgiving Table)

Ideally, you’ve prepped the casseroles, pies, and sauces days (maybe weeks!) before the big Thanksgiving meal. Then, the morning of, you’d simply pull those pans out of the freezer and warm them up as brothers, sisters, cousins, and grandparents walk through the door.

At least that’s my ideal world. But not everyone’s a perfectionist. In fact, embracing the messy, collaborative nature of Thanksgiving is probably more in line with seasonal gratitude. Instead of the host doing everything alone, the best Thanksgiving meals are potlucks where everyone shares the cooking.

If you’re asking (or have been asked) to bring a dish for Thanksgiving, you’ll want something portable and easy to assemble. No delicate tiered cakes or sloshy soups. We’re talking rolls, stuffings, and potatoes—the dishes that can handle bumpy transports and ample time on the counter. Take a gander at our top candidates:

Mains

Turkey Pot Pie
Turkey Pot Pie
by Erin McDowell
Thanksgiving Root Vegetable Pie
Thanksgiving Root Vegetable Pie
by Marian Bull
Lentil Walnut Loaf
Lentil Walnut Loaf
by Gena Hamshaw
Sausage and Apple Pie
Sausage and Apple Pie
by Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie with Parsnip and and Potato Mash
Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie with Parsnip and and Potato Mash
by Gena Hamshaw

Stuffing

Sourdough Stuffing with Kale, Dates, and Sausage
Sourdough Stuffing with Kale, Dates, and Sausage
by Ali Slagle

Sides

Mashed Maple Chipotle Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Maple Chipotle Sweet Potatoes
by ashleyza
Carrot, Lentil, and Feta Salad
Carrot, Lentil, and Feta Salad
by Christopher Kibler
Cornbread with Chorizo
Cornbread with Chorizo
by boulangere
Baked Quinoa with Roasted Butternut Squash & Gruyère
Baked Quinoa with Roasted Butternut Squash & Gruyère
by Alexandra Stafford

Dessert

Apple Galette with Tahini Frangipane & Honey-Hibiscus Glaze
Apple Galette with Tahini Frangipane & Honey-Hibiscus Glaze
by Sarah Jampel
Pear and Chestnut Pie
Pear and Chestnut Pie
by Skye | From My Dining Table
Ginger Apple Torte
Ginger Apple Torte
by drbabs
Thanksgiving Babka
Thanksgiving Babka
by Ivorygalny

In case you need a little more Thanksgiving help:

What are your transportable Thanksgiving dishes? Share any tips or disaster stories in the comments!


(via Food52)

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