How to cook Thanksgiving dinner in one oven: Video tutorial

Juggling the preparation of holiday dishes can be overwhelming. It’s a mad dash to ensure the turkey is cooked, the cheese is melted on the macaroni, the green bean casserole is perfect, the rolls are rising in the oven and all the other culinary delights on the menu are just right!

The task is even more daunting if your holiday feast has to be prepared in just one oven. However, I’m here to tell you that it can be done with proper planning and portioning.

Watch this video for tips on how to cook Thanksgiving dinner with one oven.

Thanksgiving cooking timeline

The best way to tackle preparing a large meal is with a plan. Start by making a list of what needs to be cooked, how long it needs to cook and at what temperature. Once everything is in place, it’s time to start the choreographed cooking dance.

When it comes to oven temperature, there are two options: set it to a moderate temperature of 350-375ºF or average the temperatures of the dishes.

If possible, avoid cooking all the dishes in the oven at once. But if you need to put more than one dish in, stagger the placement on the racks so the heat can be evenly distributed. Be mindful that many ovens have hot spots, so remember to reposition the dishes every so often.

Always keep an eye on the dishes as they’re cooking and set a lot of timers.

How to cook Thanksgiving dinner with one oven

When preparing a holiday spread your oven space is precious real estate, so use it wisely.

If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, scale down and make smaller portion sizes. For example, consider making a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. If you can’t scale down the portion sizes, consider using smaller pieces of dishware, like loaf pans or smaller casserole dishes. If you need extra, the disposable loaf pans from the grocery store can come in handy. Plus, it makes cleanup a breeze.

If you’re cooking for a large crowd and can’t make less, consider splitting the large dish into two smaller ones. Bake one immediately and bake the other later. It also helps to cook dishes in advance so they only need to be warmed up before the meal.

You can use your oven to keep food warm, just set it to a low temperature, like 250 or 275ºF.

What day is Thanksgiving 2024?

Thanksgiving is on November 28, 2024. The food-heavy holiday is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to make a one-oven Thanksgiving meal