Alright, let’s be honest—Thanksgiving cooking can turn into a full-on kitchen marathon. But with the right tools? Total game-changer. We found a few smart, sanity-saving gadgets and tools that will make your Thanksgiving meal prep so much easier. Think digital thermometers that take the guesswork out of turkey timing, gravy separators that prevent the oily mess, and choppers that save your fingers and your patience.
These aren’t gimmicks; they’re the behind-the-scenes MVPs that make your feast go from stressful to smooth. So go ahead, pour that pre-dinner wine—you’ve got this. Your kitchen’s about to feel a lot more like mission control (and a lot less like chaos).
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2025 Thanksgiving Meal Prep Must-Haves
Invest in your first (and last) roasting pan…at a huge discount for a limited time!
If you’re cooking a turkey for the first time this year, you’re going to need a roasting pan. Sure, this Viking roasting pan is more expensive than some of the budget options out there. But it’s 42% off for a limited time, and it will still look brand new twenty-five years from now. This one even comes with a meat thermometer. Nice!
Know your meat is done with a reliable meat thermometer
Don’t get caught wondering if the turkey is done. Go ahead and get a reliable instant-read meat thermometer. I use this one in my kitchen and it’s been durable and reliable. I love the magnet on the back, so I can stick it right on the oven door.
Keep everything warm with an easy-to-store silicone food warming mat
When you’re cooking a feast, it’s hard to time everything to finish at the exact same time. This food warming mat lets you cook at your own pace, and keep things warm until dinnertime. When you’re done, just wipe it down and roll it up to store it till Christmas dinner.
Make perfect from-scratch gravy with a fat separator
We can all agree gravy from scratch is the only way to go, but it’s so much easier with this fat separator that has effortlessly removes the fat using the bottom release mechanism. And you can even throw it in the dishwasher when you’re done.
Effortlessly break down your turkey with meat shears
These handy meat shears function as both scissors for cutting through bone to break down a turkey or chicken or to get through shellfish shells, but they also adjust to “knife mode” and can be used for slicing meat or veggies. Very handy to have around the kitchen.
Skip dish duty with cute Thanksgiving paper plates
Not every family is pulling out grandma’s china dishes to set the table, and we are totally here for that. Spend more time with your family and less time in front of the sink with cute Thanksgiving paper plates. We won’t judge.
Make your Crock-Pot multi-task with silicone slow cooker dividers
I love these slow cooker dividers so much. Seriously, I use them probably weekly in my kitchen because it allows me to cook two meals at once in my slow cooker–without any mess. The easily pour leftovers straight into storage containers for the fridge too.
Speed up your meal prep with a food chopper
If you wouldn’t pass as a cast member on The Bear, don’t worry. You can get your mise en place ready quickly with a handy food chopper. Store in air tight containers in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to cook.
Easily season your turkey with a brining bag
Never heard of a brining bag? Well, this is about to make your Thanksgiving meal prep so much easier. Just fill the bag with your turkey and brining ingredients, and let it rest till it’s time to cook. No spills to worry about.
Serve big crowds with an affordable triple slow cooker
If you are expecting a large crowd, you may want to upgrade to a triple slow cooker for Thanksgiving dinner. With three 2.5 quart sections, you can easily cook and serve your sides without anything going cold.
Don’t let anything burn with a 6-pack of kitchen timers
Once you’ve used the microwave timer, the oven timer, and your phone timer…you’re still going to need to keep track of when things are done. This 6-pack of kitchen timers will make sure nothing gets burned or taken out of the oven too early…and you can use them throughout the year for reading homework, piano practice and more.
Feast on leftovers with these disposable leftovers containers
If your family is like mine, you’re going to cook way too much food on Thanksgiving. Prepare for leftovers now with these disposable leftovers containers with festive lids. Consider your meal prep for the week done.
