The weeks before Thanksgiving can fill with errands, school events, and holiday planning, leaving little room to decide what is for dinner. This collection brings together soups, casseroles, pastas, slow-cooked dishes, and one-pan meals that can be portioned for busy days. With a mix of hearty meat and vegetable options, these recipes give the dinner plan some breathing room before the holiday arrives.
Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna
Layered into one hearty pan, Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna combines tender vegetables, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, marinara, and toasted pine nuts. It serves eight, making it a practical choice when dinner needs to cover more than one sitting. The baked pasta format is easy to portion, and leftovers can become a ready-made lunch during the packed weeks before Thanksgiving. Add a green salad or roasted vegetables when serving it for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna
Marry Me Chickpea Soup
A creamy sun-dried tomato broth gives Marry Me Chickpea Soup its rich base, with chickpeas, pasta, spinach, and cream rounding out each bowl. The soup takes 35 minutes and serves six, so it fits a night when the schedule leaves little room for a long cooking project. Make it for a family dinner, then portion the extra servings for lunches that need only a quick warm-up.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chickpea Soup
Vegetable Pasta
Roasted vegetables bring caramelized edges to Vegetable Pasta, while garlic and Parmesan tie the penne and colorful produce together. The recipe takes 35 minutes and makes four servings, offering a meatless option for a week when the dinner plan needs variety. Cook it for a weeknight meal or divide it into containers for lunch, with extra Parmesan ready to sprinkle on just before eating.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Pasta
Stuffed Acorn Squash
A quinoa filling with apple, celery, onion, nuts, and dried cranberries turns Stuffed Acorn Squash into a complete-looking meal with sweet and savory notes. The recipe takes 1 hour and 5 minutes and serves two, so it suits a smaller dinner or a couple of planned lunches. Its individual squash halves are easy to plate, and the filling gives a lighter break from the richer casseroles and pasta dishes in this collection.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
For a one-dish dinner, Chicken and Broccoli Casserole bakes diced chicken, uncooked rice, and broccoli in creamy cheddar sauce. It takes 50 minutes and serves six, and the recipe notes that it reheats well later. That makes it a useful batch-cooking choice for the days when errands or holiday prep crowd out dinner time. Serve a portion on its own, since the rice and vegetables are already built into the casserole.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Jambalaya
Shrimp, beef sausage, long-grain rice, tomatoes, and Cajun-seasoned broth simmer together in Jambalaya, a one-pot meal with plenty of substance. The recipe takes 50 minutes and makes six servings, giving a household dinner plus extra portions for another day. With the rice cooked right in the pot, there is no separate side dish to plan. Keep the leftovers in the meal rotation for a busy evening before Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Jambalaya
Japanese Chicken Curry
Tender chicken, potatoes, and carrots simmer in a golden curry sauce in Japanese Chicken Curry, with grated apple and honey balancing the curry roux. The recipe takes 40 minutes and serves six, making it a helpful batch dinner for a busy week. Spoon each portion over rice for a filling meal, and set aside extra servings so one cooking session can cover more than one night.
Get the Recipe: Japanese Chicken Curry
Goulash
Slow-cooked beef chuck and paprika give Goulash its deep, savory character, and the recipe serves six with egg noodles to spare. It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes, so it works well when a quieter day allows dinner to cook ahead of a hectic stretch. The tender beef and broth make a substantial main course, while the noodles round out portions for an easy meal during the weeks before Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Goulash
Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
Creamy Marsala and mushroom sauce keeps Slow Cooker Chicken Breast tender, with garlic and a splash of cream finishing the dish. The recipe takes 2 hours and 40 minutes and serves four from one pound of chicken, so it offers several portions without a large grocery list. Let the slow cooker handle dinner while other tasks get done, then serve the chicken with a simple vegetable or a grain.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
Turkey Bolognese
Ground turkey and crushed tomatoes form the hearty sauce in Turkey Bolognese, which clings to pasta with a hint of balsamic sweetness. It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes and serves eight, making the sauce a strong candidate for cooking once and portioning across several meals. Spoon it over spaghetti for dinner, or save extra sauce for a quick lunch when holiday planning takes over the afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Bolognese
White Chicken Enchiladas
Green chiles and sour cream make the sauce tangy and smooth in White Chicken Enchiladas, while Monterey Jack melts over the top. The casserole takes 50 minutes and serves four, bringing a comforting dinner to a busy night without a complicated menu. Its baked format is easy to divide into portions, and the creamy sauce and cheesy top make each serving feel complete. Add a simple salad or beans alongside.
Get the Recipe: White Chicken Enchiladas
Sheet Pan Fajitas
Charred bell peppers and seasoned chicken give Sheet Pan Fajitas the familiar smoky flavor of a fajita dinner, all cooked together on one pan. The colorful filling can be portioned into tortillas at mealtime, which makes it easy to prepare the main components ahead of a crowded week. Set out avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, or cheese as toppings, and let everyone build a plate or taco to suit their appetite.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Fajitas
Lamb Meatballs
Fresh mint, dill, and little pockets of feta bring a bright savory flavor to Lamb Meatballs. The recipe pairs them with fluffy rice, tzatziki, tomatoes, and pickled onions, so the meal includes both a hearty base and fresh toppings. Shape and cook the meatballs for a planned dinner, then portion them with rice for a different kind of make-ahead lunch during the weeks before Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Meatballs
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Creamy sauce, tender chicken, noodles, and crisp breadcrumbs make Chicken Noodle Casserole a familiar dinner that comes together in less than 30 minutes. It suits a night when there is no time for a lengthy prep session, and its casserole format makes serving straightforward. Pair a portion with steamed vegetables or a simple salad, then keep the recipe in mind for weeks when holiday tasks leave little time for elaborate cooking.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Noodle Casserole
Baked Feta Pasta
Cherry tomatoes soften around feta to create the creamy sauce for Baked Feta Pasta, coating bow-tie pasta with tangy, rich flavor. Fresh basil and black pepper finish the dish, giving a short ingredient list a lively final touch. Bake it for dinner and divide the remaining pasta into lunch portions, a handy option when the weeks before Thanksgiving bring more plans than open evenings.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta
Pork Fried Rice
Hoisin-glazed pork, scrambled eggs, carrots, peas, and bean sprouts fill Pork Fried Rice with savory flavor and varied texture. The recipe brings rice and protein together in one pan, so there is no separate main dish to prepare. Make it for a quick dinner, then portion any extra for lunches that need a satisfying, ready-to-heat option during a busy week.
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice
Mexican Spaghetti
Seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and Rotel bring taco-inspired flavor to Mexican Spaghetti, which cooks together in one pot. That setup keeps the meal simple to prepare and limits the dinner dishes on a week already crowded with holiday errands. The hearty pasta can be served straight from the pot, with green onions or parsley on top, and extra portions can help cover a later lunch or supper.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Spaghetti
Cabbage Rolls
Tender cabbage wraps a savory beef-and-rice filling in Cabbage Rolls, which bake in tangy tomato sauce. The rice absorbs the sauce as it cooks, giving the filling a moist texture and making each roll substantial enough to serve as the main dish. Prepare a batch for dinner, then portion the rolls for another meal during the busy stretch before Thanksgiving. A little extra sauce and a side of bread complete the plate.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Rolls
Rasta Pasta
Chicken, colorful bell peppers, and penne come together in a creamy Cajun sauce in Rasta Pasta, with thyme and Parmesan adding savory depth. The pasta makes a filling one-dish dinner that can be divided into portions for later meals. Serve it when a simple bowl of comfort is welcome, or pack an extra serving for lunch so a busy day does not require another full cooking session.
Get the Recipe: Rasta Pasta